Janis Ian Urges Artists Speak Out, Support Free Downloads

AUGUST 16, 2002
Grammy-winning songwriter and recording artist Janis Ian today challenged the music industry by celebrating peer-to-peer (P2P) music sharing as a boon to musicians.

Ian recently published "The Internet Debacle," a pointed critique of the music industry's disregard for musicians and consumers who want to distribute and acquire music on-line. In the article, Ian assails the major record labels' argument that P2P file-sharing is harming artists.

"Free Internet downloads are good for the music industry and its artists," explains Ian. "Every act that can't get signed to a major, for whatever reason, can reach literally millions of new listeners, enticing them to buy the CD and come to the concerts."

She adds that during the heyday of Napster she saw a marked increase in CD sales from her website. She attacks technological and political measures meant to harm consumers by restricting their right to copy and back up their legally purchased music.