Facing the Music: How SOPA and PIPA Affect the Music Industry

By Lenni Rosenblum Thu., Jan. 19 2012 at 9:00 AM

Categories: Open Thread

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Okay, so Wikipedia may be back, but make no mistake: The passing of the bills SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (PROTECT IP Act) would have a major impact on a majority of Internet users. While a free and open Internet hurts the revenue of many companies, it ultimately benefits more people than it hurts. SOPA and PIPA would mean that innovation would become more limited and creativity would be censored.

The music industry in particular would experience some interesting changes. Artists would have a harder time reaching a maximally wide audience to whom they distribute music, for free or otherwise, and the expansion of their fan base would become more limited as well. Fans wouldn't be legally able to share their favorite artists' music on websites with their friends. Meanwhile, pirates would continue to download music illegally.

The record labels are the ones hurting the most without SOPA and PIPA, yet they can afford a loss of income due to pirates considering how much money they bring in annually. Regardless, these bills affect the entire music community: labels, artists, distributors, marketers, music buyers and concert goers alike.

Let's take a look at how each of those groups are affected after the jump...