Panel addresses MP3 file sharing

A panel discussion about illegal music sharing on the Internet and its impact on the popular music was held Saturday, Nov. 9, in the Donovan Room of Gilman Hall.

Hosted by The Johns Hopkins University Master of Arts in Communication in Contemporary Society, the discussion was called, "The Art of Theft: Music in the Digital Age." A reception of wine and cheese and debate followed in the Humanities Center Seminar Room in Gilman.

Speakers included seasoned record producer and artist Busy B, music attorney and digital rights expert Scott Johnson, and writer, producer and Vice President of A&R for Bla Records Steve Janis. Each of the panelists discussed their respective roles in the issue of digital music sharing. In addition, blues producer and Grammy nominee Larry Hoffman discussed his perspectives on the sharing of MP3s on the Internet and his role as a professor.

The panelists presented some of the scenarios that artists and producers face with the advent of digital music and sampling. Rhythms and syncopated beats are susceptible to duplication, and sampling allows the artist to utilize fractional portions of another artist's work in their own compositions.

Record producer "Busy B" talked about how one of his earlier rhythms was used in the creation of Kid Rock's "Bawitdaba," which has become multi-platinum album on the markets.

"I went over and met with [Kid Rock], sat down at a table with him and talked. In the end I got half my share of the money. I was verrrrrrry happy," stated Busy B.

The forum brought up issues of the development of the Internet in the role of the media in today's society. Statements from each of the panelists displayed the aggravation felt by many in the recording industry today. It was noted that in many cases that music sales "were down 25 percent" from their original average five years ago.

The essentials of copyright laws and provisions were pinpointed by Steve Johnson, who himself is involved in cases dealing with usage of copyrighted music by different artists, businesses and organizations. Hoffman, who has brought up the necessity of royalties and payment systems within different licensing organizations and producers of musical work, mentioned how a counteractive movement, such as one formulated by Sony Entertainment, was aimed at universities and institutions of great membership.

Petitions to stop "the broadband access to music ... file sharing between members of such organizations" have already hit hard several educational institutions, including The Johns Hopkins University, said Hoffman.

Bill Dang, a freshman, commented, "I honestly don't think that the University cares too much about music sharing but has to attempt to have an iron fist in this controversy due to its reputation as an educational institution in front of record labels and outside corporations."

Freshman Brian Follweiler said, "I think Internet music sharing is beneficial because it allows new artists to make themselves more readily available to the general public. Face it, a kid these days finds out who's hot and who's not by the Web.