, Sony's top-selling Chinese-language artist, was contractually unable to perform a set at the show but accompanied Taiwan's Jolin Tsai on piano for two songs.Although the anti-piracy message was clear from the concert's title and signage at the show, not every artist chose to address the issue directly from the stage, and Chinese press reports made little mention of the concert's message.
"Piracy has to be stamped out all over the world. Piracy takes away money from these artists here. Piracy robs governments of tax revenue. And piracy is linked to organized crime; don't forget that," Richard Denekamp, president of Sony Music Entertainment Asia, said Nov. 14 at the concert's press conference.
Denekamp expects the event to be the largest concert in China this year.
Sony Music International president Rick Dobbis said, "The problem in China is so severe that we have to take responsibility for our action, to do the difficult work of speaking up."
About 90% of all music sold in China is pirated, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. The majority of music is still sold on cassette, although CDs are increasing their share of the territory's market.
"Even the government fails to realize that piracy has killed the local music market. No investment in local artists means no ultimate local return," says Andrew Wu, managing director of Shanghai Epic Music Entertainment, Sony Music Asia's joint venture in China.
Prices for CDs of international and local artists have been reduced to narrow the gap between pirated goods and authentic product, Wu said. "It's not a choice -- it's a response."
Reuters/Billboard
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