Musicians Have a Right to Pursue Downloaders

Re “Don’t Sever a High-Tech Lifeline for Musicians,” Commentary, Feb. 2: Janis Ian is a wonderful artist, and we support her right to allow free Internet downloads of her music. The court ruling in the Verizon case doesn’t change that one bit. What Ian argues is that illegal downloading, unlawful though it may be, is helpful to some artists, so we shouldn’t be able to find out who is engaging in it. That’s a non sequitur, and it boils down to Ian imposing her view of what’s best on all artists. The problem is, the online approach that Ian has chosen may not work for others, and it’s unfair to criticize them for exercising the same creative control over a business model that she is so passionately trumpeting.

It’s illogical to argue that the rising tide of illegal downloading has somehow lifted all the boats of the entire music community. If unauthorized file-trading offered such promotional benefits, why would we have two straight years of declining sales while illegal downloading is skyrocketing?

The court ruling affirms the right of artists and others to fairly choose for themselves. Those who believe their music is “stolen” through illegal downloading can act to stop it. And those who support free downloading to market their own music are free to continue.

Cary Sherman

President

Recording Industry Assn.

of America, Washington