50 Cent: File-Sharing Doesn't Hurt Artists, Industry Should

Curtis James Jackson III, aka 50 Cent has been a drug dealer, he?s been shot, he?s a hugely successful artist - selling over 20 million albums - and he even has his own label, G-Unit Records.


Thirty minutes before getting up on stage at a club in Oslo, 50 Cent gave an interview with Pal Nordseth. Most of the interview was spent with him denying using cocaine on live TV in Zagreb.


Pål asked 50 Cent: ?How are G-Unit Records doing in these times of file-sharing?


?Not so good.? he responded. ?The advances in technology impacts everyone, and we all must adapt. Most of all hip-hop, a style of music dependent upon a youthful audience. This market consists of individuals embracing innovations faster than the fans of classical and jazz music.?


?What is important for the music industry to understand is that this really doesn?t hurt the artists.?


Thats quite a statement. Organizations like the RIAA are always talking about how the artists get hurt by file-sharing but 50 Cent clearly doesn?t agree. In fact, he appears to appreciate the value of a good fan, whether he buys or file-shares his music, as he explains:


?A young fan may be just as devout and dedicated no matter if he bought it or stole it.?


Indeed. It?s been said time and time again - get the music out there by any which way, fill the gigs and capitalize on the merchandising and ends will meet. 50 Cent agrees:


?The concerts are crowded and the industry must understand that they have to manage all the 360 degrees around an artist. They, (the industry), have to maximize their income from concerts and merchandise. It is the only way they can get their marketing money back.?


He finishes up: ?The main problem is that the artists are not getting as much help developing as before file-sharing. They are now learning to peddle ringtones, not records? he said.


?They don?t understand the value of a perfect piece of art.?

Good to hear that an actual music artist agrees with file sharing. The futur lies heavily in the Internet and as we progress forward, we will see new ways to make profit using the Internet. However the method, the transition wil be rough for a good 10 years or more. Eventually file sharing will be OK and maybe even a part of the individuals personal connection with the artist.

File sharing will be like ads one day; the real value will lie in certified users being a part in actually making money from contributing to the development of new technology. For example, a new product or idea comes forth, many people will flock into it with their ideas on how it can grow and succeed. The ones who contributed the best and sharpest ideas will have future rolls in that line of buisness.

The value of physical things will sky rocket and will be valued the most. File sharing will be what makes the world closer and normal every day people will be super stars in a way. Nearly everyone will have to do with something in the virtually connected world that will be their source of income according to what they have physically attributed to a company or buisness.