Yesterday Wikipedia went down for 24 hours, the reasons it gave for this were due to the U.S. SOPA and PIPA legislation currently under review to be passed by Congress. In a nutshell, this legislation aims to try and prevent copyright infringement, by targeting sites suspected of copyright infringement and stopping them having prominence on search engines, and cutting off their access to online payment services - but Wikipedia says it's protest has nothing to do with money....
Today it has been stated that Independent Record Labels in the UK have lobbied the government to prevent the sale of British label giant, EMI as this will mean that other majors (Sony and Universal) will have a disproportionate market share. For those out of the know, EMI is essentially a record label that went bust, entered administration, and has been sold to Sony and Universal.
EMI went bust despite owning the catalogues of the Beatles, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue plus many more. The music industry market has become majorly distorted and the main reasons behind this distortion come down to a very simple entity - money; there isn't any of it left in music.
It's a very well blown trumpet - but piracy actually is killing the creative industries. It is honestly a fact. If anyone out there has a dream of becoming a singer, or playing in a band I would advise them to look at the link below, it shows you how many LEGAL streams/downloads/plays etc an artist needs in order to make minimum wage: just so you can see how much money you're (not) going to be earning....
This week a British student named Richard O'Dwyer was extradited to the U.S. for creating a website that simply lists where films could be downloaded. He faces 10 years in prison in America if he is convicted. Google does the exact same thing. A 23 year old computing student will have his freedom taken away by mimicking an internet company, when all he was trying to do was pay his University fees.
In 2007 an American Judge ordered Jammie Thomas-Rasset to pay $222,000 in punitive damages for illegally downloading 24 songs, think about how many songs any of you have illegally downloaded.
Now neither of these court rulings are clever or fair - they are both disgustingly stupid. But they do demonstrate how desperate the creative industries have become. They are up shit creek without a pair of armbands let alone a rubber dinghy and a fucking paddle.
Remember: ONLY the creative industries invest in new talent. That is a fact. .
Whether anyone agrees with SOPA or PIPA or not, quite frankly, is irrelevant, because it all comes down to money. The Internet giants oppose this legislation because they make so much money from the way the web is run and are scared of it being jepoardised. Facebook, Google, Twitter, Wikipedia - are worth literally BILLIONS; why the hell would they care about the little guys (artists) getting proper payment for their work?
Copyright legislation is always about money - and at least the record companies admit that.
So the next time you read a heartfelt quote from Wikipedia about how 'they care passionately about the rights of authors' - know that that is bollocks. Wikipedia are a business - they care about a profit margin. Songwriters and Screen-writers are authors and Wikipedia don't give a shit about them?
The next time Wikipedia 'appeals' for some 'donations' to 'help' run its services, do me a favour - don't. Instead, go out, and donate some money towards a struggling band who can barely pay their rent - let alone bank a billion.
And lastly - for the record Jimmy Wales: knowledge at the expense of creativity is not only wrong, but pointless, you hyprocritical fuck.
So that's it - 2011 is now over, and we enter the (apocalyptic?) year 2012.
Already so much hype around 'the next best thing' and desperately trying to forget the past mistakes of the last year. But to be honest 2011 wasn't an all bad year? I mean yes - Steps did reform... but Westlife did split up! I myself can look back at the past year and say with my head held high - "well its better than a kick in the bollocks innit?"
Here's my run-down on the people who got it right in 2011 - (despite what the rest of the british public may think..) . Here are the champions of blighty to whom I say "Jolly good Job well done" and "Dat's some bear good tracks bruv".
25) Matt Cardle
The Yearly debut of another X Factor winner is always a talking point come September - although not well received by the public (compared to previous winners) I can't help but feel that this was always doomed to anti-climax? Mr Cardlejust doesn't sit nicely in the X-Factor-Winner-Equation... However 'Starlight' is an absolute corker regardless.
24) Natasha Bedingfield
Unbeknownst, I'm sure, to the entire British public but Natasha Bedingfield actually released an album this year - Strip Me Away was released back in May and featured songs from her last 2 American albums. 'Tis a shame because the album (although a complete flop stateside) I think may have actually done well in blighty if it had had even the slightest of nudges promotionally. I advise you to fire your whole marketing team Natasha.
23) Birdy
After first breaking through with debut track 'Skinny Love' Birdy's album of covers showed an intriguing tenderness for the teenage singer... maybe some original stuff next time?
22) Loick Essien
After a great start with 'How I Roll', sadly Loick's follow-up single 'Me Without You' failed to match the same success - 'tis a crying shame, a great track with a chorus that just clicks.
21) Natalia Kills
One thing Britain seems to be missing is our very own Britney Spears/Madonna/Ga-Ga hybrid pop superstar (although celebs like Cheryl Cole come close in terms of hype) - this act tried her best but didn't quite hit the nail on the head sales wise.... oh well...
20) Skepta
2011 saw the release of Skepta's album 'Doin' It Again', although highly anticipated the album failed to perform well commerically, although saw success on a more niche underground level - could it be the music video/hardcore porn promo for 'All Over The House' - who can say? Although his grime remix of Diddy's 'Hello Good Morning'is nothing short of genius.
The last appearance of X Factor contestants on my list I promise. But there's something about Brand Olly that.. I just.. don't... hate? Fuck knows what it is... I think he just seems too likeable - although probably a dickhead in real life. His last two songs have been good though... I just dunno why.
18) Clare Maguire
Having released her debut this year and featured on Lord's 'Chase' and 'Status' album, Clare Maguire had a mixed year I feel. An absolute powerhouse of a singer though.... although she needs to drop the Cher impersonations when she sings (listen out for the "ohhohhhhooowahhhaahaaasss")
17) Snow Patrol
The northern Irish rockers dropped their sixth studio album in November. Quietly brilliant, this album is full of crackin' musicianship - standout tracks for me are 'Lifening' 'In The End' and 'The Garden Rules'.
16) James Morrison
What a fuckin' ledge. The man is a musical great.Love his latest album 'The Awakening' although less radio-friendly, still a work of art nonetheless.
15) Emeli Sandé
I think this Scottish lass is going to be hugely-fantastically-massively successful in 2012. 'Heaven' and 'Daddy' are such great tracks, her vocals are amazing, her songs are great crafts. I think she will dominate the coming year....
14) Nero
Dubstep duo Nero from London shook 2011. I reckon they'll be an act which will truely shine through on their second album once they gain more recognition on the music scene in a pendulum-esque fashion. 'Promises' is a massive. MASSIVE. tune.
13) Calvin Harris
Another Scot that has shone through in 2011. 'Bounce' and 'Feel So Close' are such quintessentially british tracks, that Calvin hasn't had much deserved success outside of blighty, however that could all change come 2012 with his album release and the fallout from 'We Found Love'....
12) Rizzle Kicks
Fellow Brightonians - these lads breathe a refreshing breath into urban pop in the UK. For some reason they always remind me of Lily Allen.... for god sake don't ask me why.
11) Katy B
The woman who invented Dub-pop. Her album is a fantastic piece of dance music craft with absolutely no filler. This woman proved that its possible for females to release credible dance music without cavorting around in nipple tassles and a belt - not that there's anything wrong with that.
10) Example
An man who's success can be measured by the amount of celebrities he slags off on twitter. 2011 solidified the career of Example in contemporary british music - lets hope he can keep it up...
9) Kasabian
One of the few Indie rock bands that I can get into bed with. From the first listen through I liked 'Velociraptor!' - for me it shows how Kasabian manage to keep their music contemporary and current... whereas Indie rock can sometimes feel like its stuck in the past to me?
8) Wretch 32
One of my favorite debut's of 2011. I think this man has managed to perfect the balance between british grime and american hip-hop in a way that sounds effortless. His album is full of musical treasures - standout tracks for me are 'Sane's The New Mad', 'Hush Little Baby', 'Traktor' and 'I'm Not The Man'. Quality.
7) Florence + The Machine
I was a massive fan of the groups first album and I love what they've done on their second album - however it does seem to feel a bit samey to me?... Maybe a little bit of experimentation wouldn't hurt... although if it ain't broke....
6) Chase & Status
'No More Idols' was one of my highlights of 2011. I love how Chase & Status manage to keep their own unique style while working with major artists. I salute you.
5) Coldplay
Marmite struck again in 2011. Is it even rock music? I don't think thats for me to decide but their songs are pretty fucking epic. More Please.
4) Jessie J
The woman in the onesie - Jessie J has seen HUGE success in 2011. From her debut - to her signing on to be a television judge. From songs like 'Do It Like A Dude' to 'Who You Are' whether you like her or not she undeniably has two things - versatility and a megaphone for a voice box.
3) Amy Winehouse
When Amy Winehouse passed away I hated the reality that we may not hear any more music from her. Luckily however her family agreed to release another album of unheard recordings. A genuine bona-fide artist. With a monumental hair style to boot.
2) Ed Sheeran
The bloke who proves ginger's do have talent... before him the only likeable gingers in the media were Prince Harry and Linda from 'Gimme Gimme Gimme'. A songwriting master, his album is pretty epic. Touche.
1) Adele ( A cliche I know - But a cliche for a reason?)
Unless you live somewhere cut off from all mankind, like on the ocean floor or inside Kerry Katona's cerebral cortex, you may not have heard of the woman single handedly keeping the music industry alive. Her name is Adele. And her album 21 is the best thing to come out of 2011. Good Day.
