As music piracy continues to strike a jarring note across the globe, a singer from West Bengal is trying a different tune to ward off the freeloaders (pirates).
As music piracy continues to strike a jarring note across the globe, a singer from West Bengal is trying a different tune to ward off the freeloaders (pirates).
For the first time in India, perhaps, as a solo artiste, Pratik Choudhury is doing a “web launch” of his latest album, Bheemroti. The album is being launched exclusively on the Web and no physical format of the music, that is CDs or cassettes, will be available in the market.
Those who want to listen to Choudhury can go to his website, where the album will be available, and download it for $2.99 or its equivalent in rupees, depending on that day’s exchange rate. Choudhury’s feat might well get into the record books. The Limca Book of Records has asked the singer to send them all details of how he did it. Though one or two rock bands in the country may have gone for a web launch, Choudhury will be the first solo artiste to do so.
The singer tells DNA that piracy is taking a huge toll on the financial prospects of singers. Choudhury has so far worked only with Sony Music. But, with this album, no music company was involved. He produced it himself and managed to cut production costs significantly.
Overall, sales, especially in non film music, are showing. For instance, according to a music industry source, around 10 years ago, if one lakh units (CDs and cassettes) of a non-film music were launched nationally, sales often crossed 2.5 lakh units over a 90-day period. Today, sales barely cross 20,000 units, rues the source.
A leading music store in Kolkata, which sold 400 units per week, of a particular artiste a few years ago, barely sells 40 units now. “It’s not that people are not listening to music. It’s the free downloading that’s killing the industry,” says another industry source.
Choudhury is upbeat that this effort will allow him to reach his fans outside Bengal where his music is not available. He will get a global reach through the online platform without compromising on his earnings.
“There’s a thriving Bengali community abroad who want to listen to my music but have often complained my tracks are unavailable overseas. Now, they can,” says Choudhury.
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