Today, after releasing an album, the singers and the recording studio
have to follow up on the process of illegal copyrighting and flow of
copies. The recording studios around the world lose billions of dollars
every year due to the unlicensed and on line sale of recorded CDs. By
taking into consideration the increase in expenditures for recording
and the decrease in original albums, singers and composers no longer
have the desire to create new songs. How can singers control the
illegal sale of CDs and the violation of copyright laws? This issue is
common in all countries. There are demonstrations being organized all
over the world (CDs and video cassettes eliminate the ‘’pirate”
products with bulldozers) in trying to prevent them by different
laminated holographic signs and promising the consumer all kinds of
prizes, including travel, a free ticket to a concert, etc. “However,
nothing helps. As soon as a new album gets released in Yerevan, the
“pirates” immediately get to work by filling the market with
low-quality and cheap records and CDs. We work while they get rich,”
says Forsh (Vahan Gevorgyan). The recording studios can not lower the
price of the CD due to several expenses: the price of the CD (200
dram), the price of the song and music (approximately $300 dollars),
lyrics (approximately $100 dollars), arrangement ($300 dollars),
recording ($12 dollars an hour), design and printing. Let’s not forget,
as they say in Russian, “raskrutka” (publicity): a video clip must be
shot, the clip must be broadcasted on TV and radio. Obviously,
consumers tend to buy the cheaper, low-quality CDs copied by the
“pirates”. There are two-three semi-underground forgers who, according
to Forsh, “have backup and are prosecutors”. They have cut up the music
industry and each person works in his respected field. The Rabiz style
of Armenian music belongs to one person (some Karen with a nickname
K.K.), contemporary music to the other (some David with a nickname
H.D.). “For me, the biggest insult is when I feel good about releasing
an album but the next day I see a copied version in stores. I spend
extremely large amounts of money to make a CD. My music is sold in
other countries but not in Armenia. The copies are done poorly, the
remixes are weird, the list of songs is mixed up and the song is cut in
the middle,” says Shushan Petrosyan.
If you can’t beat them, join them
Many of the singers who can not prevent the illegal copying of their CD
are forced to come to terms with the “pirate”. They simply have no
other choice. By recording one copy in, for example, Moscow or the
U.S., they then bring it and give it to the “pirate”. David from the
H.D., who deals with the contemporary music, purchases the CD from the
singer for $300-700 dollars, gives 50 records and 50 CDs to the singer
and sells as much as he can. Of course, there is no legal contract
signed. It becomes impossible to appeal to the court. The singer
himself brings the original record, in contast to the agreement which
hasn’t even been signed, does not get involved in anything. If the
singer does not bring the record to the “pirate”, it doesn’t
matter-there will be another recording session. It has already been a
couple of years that Shushan Petrosyan’s and Haiko’s albums are being
sold and bring a lot of profit to the go-between or semiunderground
businessman. A couple of years ago, Nune Yesayan had a conflict with
H.D., and she has even appealed to the court, won the case and now has
a contract with H.D. according to which the original CDs are spread in
the same place.
After releasing his song “Mekhakner” (White Lilies), singer Bghdo has
had a serious “talk” with everyone: “Don’t mess with me, or I will cut
your head off.” Today, they don’t lay a finger on Bghdo, Nune Yesayan
or Tata. Shushan Petrosyan says: “One time, the low-class H.D.
approached me and offered pennies for my CD. I have spent $7,000
dollars on the album entitled “My sweet homeland” and he wanted to buy
it from me for $500 dollars. Until now H.D. is working money off my CD.
Everyone tells me, “Your disk is selling well.” I don’t know how to
tell them that that is not my CD. H.D. and K.K. are cowards. “
During a telephone conversation, H.D. David said that he has not had
and does not have any unsigned contracts with the singers,he does not
do recordings because he is only involved in “sales”. He has a store
where “anyone brings what he or she wants.” “If the singer comes and
says that the CD is not original, then we don’t sell it. It is better
that you talk with K.K.,” said H.D., obviously avoiding the response.
The legal side of all this seems irresolute. There are no state
loop-holes that can make an impact on the businessman who don’t pay any
taxes and violate copyright laws-especially when the one violating the
laws has backup. All tries for fighting against the “pirates” (besides
threats and “brotherly conversations”) get turned down. The only
solution is to produce a cheap CD so that the copying won’t be
profitable for the forger. Either say “to hell with the pirates” like
Ruben Hakhverdyan, or be like Artur Grigoryan, who doesn’t get involved
in anything and avoids “scandals which do not prove anything”.