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50 Cent stands behind file sharing

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 08 Dec 2007 6:48 User comments (34)

50 Cent stands behind file sharing In an interview before he got up on stage in Oslo, Curtis Jackson, better known as the rapper 50 Cent, made a few notable comments about file-sharing, even going as far as to say “What is important for the music industry to understand is that this really doesn't hurt the artists!”
It is important to mention that 50 Cent is not some small, up and coming artist. He has sold over 20 million albums as a solo artist and owns his own record label, G-Unit Records.

During the interview, 50 was asked “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.”


For years now, anti-piracy groups such as the RIAA have gone on about how file-sharing hurts not only the industry, but the artists as well. 50 Cent clearly does not agree.



“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 added.

“They don’t understand the value of a perfect piece of art.”


Source:
TF

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34 user comments

19.12.2007 01:55
vinny13
Inactive

I see file-sharing beneficial as far as concerts go... You don't gain in record sales but your music is spread out among a bigger community. Those that like it enough will probably buy the CD(most of us now have MP3s though...) and even go a concert when whoever is around.

Right now, I want to go to a Led Zeppelin concert... 20 years before my time. Even if I could it'd be sold out anyways. Life sucks lol :(

29.12.2007 02:44

I'm not a big fan of hip hop, but I got to admit his comment took balls, and I agree with this rapper, who now is in my cool book, by the way, even in this time of file sharing a true fan still buys the music, be on-line (mp3´s) or in physical form (cd), it's only when you don't know the group or only care for one song (if any) when file sharing it's real useful, and even then up coming groups already have websites when you can "sample" their music before you actually buy it.
Just A Thought

39.12.2007 03:55

Originally posted by bangor09:
I'm not a big fan of hip hop, but I got to admit his comment took balls
Hell yeah, I don't know about you but if I got shot 9 times and lived, and then became famous and rich like this guy, I'd have the biggest balls in the world I tell you what.

49.12.2007 05:58

Wow, I've never been into 50 Cent or any artists of similar genres, but this guy has earned my respect.

One of the first things he's ever said that I agree with, this.

59.12.2007 06:20
ali2007
Inactive

that's 50 cents true brother right there

69.12.2007 07:00
nobrainer
Inactive

It is a well know fact that artists make virtually no monies from sales of albums and yes piracy would help the artists by spreading their music far and wide encouraging the populous to attend the live gigs but its not about the artists, its about the record companies exploiting the artists for profit and getting the consumers to bend over and lube up by charging extortionate rates for the music that fuels piracy, but when you think that a huge portion of the monies gets filtered back to the riaa for stopping file sharing you start to understand DRM and the companies that make the software and fight for more restrictions and then what companies actually profit from the fear spreading of piracy.

sony, universal, warner group and emi have a lot to answer for in this world of backstabbing everyone for profit in the music industry, but the same companies do the same with the movie business!

easy way to stop this is to boycott anything made by these people.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 09 Dec 2007 @ 7:07

79.12.2007 11:05

50 cent is not cool.
Have you ever seen him do an interview?
I reckon he just said this to get himself some cool points with filesharers.
Also, he didn't get shot 9 times. He was lying. google it.

Anyway, wasn't 50 cent supposed to quit as a solo artist because kanye outsold him???

89.12.2007 11:56

Originally posted by DjDanio:
50 cent is not cool.
Have you ever seen him do an interview?
I reckon he just said this to get himself some cool points with filesharers.
Also, he didn't get shot 9 times. He was lying. google it.

Anyway, wasn't 50 cent supposed to quit as a solo artist because kanye outsold him???
Yes dear we all know 50cent is not the brightest rapper on stage...however you can't argue with what he said on this.

99.12.2007 16:01
SamNz
Inactive

Quote:
Originally posted by DjDanio:
50 cent is not cool.
Have you ever seen him do an interview?
I reckon he just said this to get himself some cool points with filesharers.
Also, he didn't get shot 9 times. He was lying. google it.

Anyway, wasn't 50 cent supposed to quit as a solo artist because kanye outsold him???
Yes dear we all know 50cent is not the brightest rapper on stage...however you can't argue with what he said on this.
ill second zippy and he is getting free advertising to people that would never listen to him otherwise. also prolly half of his fans fileshare. damn even i downloaded his new cd (kinda disappointing as well)

109.12.2007 17:10

Do i detect a hint of tall poppy syndrome there DJDanio..lol..

119.12.2007 19:03
tripplite
Inactive

50cents went to an ivy college, he is a businesses man that now how to sell a product

129.12.2007 19:31

Originally posted by tripplite:
50cents went to an ivy college, he is a businesses man that now how to sell a product
that makes the wannabe jokes all the more funny :P

139.12.2007 20:21

Actually, 50 cent got his GED while in a boot camp incarceration facility.

In terms of this... The music industry has been responsible for advertising an artist, and therefore getting people who will come to the concerts. Sure, they are making the majority of the money off of the CDs, but they build the name for the artist. Nowadays spreading of music still is a powerful advertiser, it's just done via filesharing. The problem is that music execs who would focus on building an image for an artist are now scrabbling to make money instead of advertising the artist like they should. You'd scramble for money if you were about to get fired too. Valid points...

In response to judging whether 50 is a dumbass or whatever, just realize: he has far more money than you do.

149.12.2007 20:25

Originally posted by Moomoo2:
Actually, 50 cent got his GED while in a boot camp incarceration facility.

In terms of this... The music industry has been responsible for advertising an artist, and therefore getting people who will come to the concerts. Sure, they are making the majority of the money off of the CDs, but they build the name for the artist. Nowadays spreading of music still is a powerful advertiser, it's just done via filesharing. The problem is that music execs who would focus on building an image for an artist are now scrabbling to make money instead of advertising the artist like they should. You'd scramble for money if you were about to get fired too. Valid points...

In response to judging whether 50 is a dumbass or whatever, just realize: he has far more money than you do.
Lets look at most rappers who are more often than not acting on top of "singing" so they are smarter than they let on sometimes.

But frankly if you are as dumb as Paris no amount of moeny will save you :P

159.12.2007 20:53

The most famous rappers are multi millionares. They know that the recording industry is a start. Once they get that start up money they usually make there own record label and start selling there name on all kinds of things to make more profit for themselves. Its kinda funny cause they still rap like they're broke and gang banging but they're not.

1610.12.2007 01:13

Quote:
But frankly if you are as dumb as Paris no amount of moeny will save you :P
In her case she's not the dumb one, she get paid ridiculous amounts of money for doing nothing (going to a party and get paid, WTF?)the dumb ones are the ones paying and not getting nothing or little back...

....I'm still not a big hip-hop or rap fan (unless we are talking about the real old schoolers, to does I take off my hat).... but at least they do music and stuff, even if it not my type, they ain't getting the money for nothing.

At least Paris didn't get no money from me when I got her xxx video,^_^

1710.12.2007 01:31
varnull
Inactive

Didn't work 50cent.. I still think you suck.

Now if you want any "rrrespekt" from me you need to go give that whiney little turd Prince(or whatever his name is this week) what his girlfriend failed to do with that monster strap on....

1810.12.2007 14:33

All talk and no action!

Ok '50', put your money where your mouth is! Where are the free downloads? I didn't find them on the G-Unit web site. Are you giving your fans explicit permission to upload/download your music? Why do you have copyright warnings on your CDs? Since you own the record company and you can do whatever you want!

1910.12.2007 15:33
morguex
Inactive

“They don’t understand the value of a perfect piece of art.”

It takes balls and an awful lot of conceit to refer to rap in that manner.
.50 cent is not an artist, he just writes another crappy meaningless song and makes as much money as possible from it before he writes another (thats if he even writes them in the first place)

I mean seriously if file sharing dosen't bother him,then why dosen't he just make all of his future recordings free? Afterall he dosen't need anymore money.

2010.12.2007 16:05

I agree with most post 50cent isn't one of the greatest rappers but he said some of the realest words on the whole file-sharing issues. I listen to some rap but prefer Hiphop. File-sharing is a 50x more powerful toll to get a artist heard then anything any major record label can do because it hits homes they cant touch. Its reaching people who dont have all the means to get the music they want to hear. Its sad the RIAA cant see that if they just would simply adapt to the changes in times and technology they wouldnt be fighting a battle that will never be won by them unless someone shuts down the internet. 50cent at least recognizes this without being bias to false reports but the RIAA. You got to give him credit for being intelligent enough to see whos full of $4!t.

2110.12.2007 16:27

Well rap/hip-hop isn't something I care to listen to but at least 50 cent said something. Whether it was more of publicity stunt or something he truly believes doesn't really matter.

The more artists that speak up and point out the ridiculous archaic state of the record industry the better. The riaa has to be forced to change because they really don't want to. Neither consumer nor artist can accomplish this alone, both sides have to raise hell (in a manner of speaking) in order to dislodge the juggernaut that is the riaa.

2210.12.2007 21:37

Originally posted by silent714:
Its kinda funny cause they still rap like they're broke and gang banging but they're not.

When have you heard 50 Cent rap about being broke? With the exeption when he first came out. I like rap and 50 cent is ok to me. But he hasnt made a song about being broke since 2001. Have you heard his single 'I Get Money'? With a song like that its hard to rap about being broke.

And about him rapping like he's still gangbanging. I dont blame him if he is. What you think since he's rich he's going to act proper and civilized? No. If a situation comes up when he feels his well-being is in jepardy then I dont blame him for acting the way he had to act since he was 8 years old. Thats all he knows. Hes been rich for 6,7 years, but hes been "gangbanging" most of his life.

2310.12.2007 21:37

sorry double post

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 10 Dec 2007 @ 9:38

2411.12.2007 17:56

OOOOohhh mannn

You guys are retarded if you think he's just going to put up his music on the Internet for free for you. Seriously, why do you spout this communistic crap? If you like it, you can go download it somewhere else. Why should he put up the infrastructure when it's already available, and faster? That's just...dumb.

What I'm wondering is, when did he start sounding so smart and intelligent? That's some carefully worded thoughts, right there. Did someone translate it from Norwegian back to English?

2511.12.2007 19:40
emugamer
Inactive

Originally posted by phantasee:
OOOOohhh mannn

You guys are retarded if you think he's just going to put up his music on the Internet for free for you. Seriously, why do you spout this communistic crap? If you like it, you can go download it somewhere else. Why should he put up the infrastructure when it's already available, and faster? That's just...dumb.

What I'm wondering is, when did he start sounding so smart and intelligent? That's some carefully worded thoughts, right there. Did someone translate it from Norwegian back to English?
Nah, someone played a joke on him and switched speeches. He just kept reading. Probably didn't understand a word of it. Must have been someone from the Kanye West entourage.

2614.12.2007 08:18

Too many of you are way too judgemental and short sighted! I don't like rap but I am not the world. If he is selling that means many persons like his work. That is all that matters. I am sure he puts out quality work or he would not sell. You have to be doing a great many things right to get where he is. It does not matter if you do not apreciate his art.

I am sure he sees the issue far clearer than the lawyers running the music industry. I remeber Radiohead giving away music and hoping for donations. The music industry was quick to point out how the project was a huge failure and that the sales were through the floor. It was Wall Sreet that pointed out that since the artists were collecting a large cut instead of the usual pitance they actually did much better with out the music industries help and that the industry was probably going to continue going down hill. The industries stocks fell after that report. The industry responded by getting the lawmakers to start working on a new piracy law which is still in the works. Having the government spend billions of dollars to prop up this failing industy will not change their profits. Wall Street called it right! The current music industry is just too greedy to survive in this changing world. There is actually a little more cash avaiable because the market is bigger but you can't be as greedy and as stupid as they are and stay in business.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 14 Dec 2007 @ 8:27

2714.12.2007 09:01

Originally posted by phantasee:
OOOOohhh mannn

You guys are retarded if you think he's just going to put up his music on the Internet for free for you. Seriously, why do you spout this communistic crap? If you like it, you can go download it somewhere else. Why should he put up the infrastructure when it's already available, and faster? That's just...dumb.

What I'm wondering is, when did he start sounding so smart and intelligent? That's some carefully worded thoughts, right there. Did someone translate it from Norwegian back to English?

Its called free advertising it works those with moeny do buy sht, otherwise the music industry would be long dead.

2814.12.2007 16:51

50 cent is a business man, he realizes that people who download music aren't going to buy his cds anyways, but they will probably still buy a t-shirt or show up at a concert, where artists make there money. There are still people who will buy cds and that is why he won't put up the music on his site. Since he owns his own label he makes more money that he usually would, but some money is better than no money.

2914.12.2007 16:57

Originally posted by wetsparks:
50 cent is a business man, he realizes that people who download music aren't going to buy his cds anyways, but they will probably still buy a t-shirt or show up at a concert, where artists make there money. There are still people who will buy cds and that is why he won't put up the music on his site. Since he owns his own label he makes more money that he usually would, but some money is better than no money.
I dunno if I had the moeny and there was at least 5 non crappy songs on it I would buy it for 10-15.

but I is a cheap bastard ^_~

3014.12.2007 23:39

I'm not understanding what you are trying to say Zippy. Are you saying you would buy it if there were songs you liked, or if you are unsure if you would buy it even if there was songs you liked?

3115.12.2007 00:02

Originally posted by wetsparks:
I'm not understanding what you are trying to say Zippy. Are you saying you would buy it if there were songs you liked, or if you are unsure if you would buy it even if there was songs you liked?
Let me consult the vocies......

ya we would buy it if we liked it and had the money for it.

3215.12.2007 02:18

I wouldn't buy it for two reasons (1)I am not a fan of rap (2)I only buy Tim McGraw, The Offspring, and Linkin Park cds. They are my favorites, and the rest I am content just listening to the radio, possibly coming by them by...other...means.

3315.12.2007 22:04

Even if I could buy a tee shirt from him digitally I wouldn't. But that doesn't minimize his business sense. One tenth of one percent of a million is still good money when it all adds up. Tell me you don't "want to be a rock star" (to quote another genre band with a bit more intelligence!)

3423.12.2007 19:20

Quote:
“They don’t understand the value of a perfect piece of art.”
50 cent put it nicely. I feel that what he said is true and the fact is that the record industry needs to adapt with the changes. I feel that across the board its still all good however i all the changes will do is make record companies loose money because they are removed from the equation.

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