ShareThis“I love watching great artists from all over the world. Ang akin lang dito, ‘yung regulation lang. Idea lang naman ‘yun. Hindi ako nagba-ban.”
Thus said popular singer Kuh Ledesma as she called for a stop to music downloading and the uploading of video of concerts on the Youtube and similar sites.
Kuh Ledesma
She also called for a music festival for all Pilipino artists every month of February which is celebrated as National Arts Month by the government through the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
“Kung ang local films natin ay may festival, sana ‘yung February is a festival of OPM music naman,” she said.
The music diva said that the practice, which has become rampant, should be stopped.
She likened downloading of music and uploading video of concerts in the Youtube to “stealing.”
“The practice has become brazen if not rampant,” she stressed.
“We are praying na magkaroon ng magandang way para hindi na mado-download or anything like that,” she said.
Kuh said she is sad with technological advancements that allow for music downloading.
She pointed out that “it was much better before because hindi rampant ‘yung pagdo-download, which to us is really stealing people’s art.”
Another “problem” that Ledesma wants addressed is the popular video-sharing site, YouTube.
“Kahit sa YouTube na nagco-concert ka and everybody’s taping you, sana wala na,” she added in an interview.
Kuh, who considers herself a champion of local music and artists, acknowledged though that the medium had made possible the careers of some of the OPM artists she wants to protect like Arnel Pineda and Charice Pempengco.
The singer said in a Bulletin report that she did not call for the prohibition of concerts featuring foreign acts.
“I’m not for banning,” said stressed.
“I love watching great artists from all over the world,” she said. “Ang akin lang dito, ‘yung regulation lang.
“Idea lang naman ‘yun. Hindi ako nagba-ban.”
Kuh earlier expressed alarm over the staging of concerts that feature foreign acts, arguing that it is eating into potential earnings of local performers.
The call was met with mixed reaction, with some local musicians like Aiza Seguerra saying that it was “unnecessary.”
“Music should not be regulated, but shared,” Aiza said. “It’s up to the people if they want to watch [concerts featuring foreign acts]. Huwag natin silang tanggalan ng options. At the same time, kaming mga local artists ay kailangan naming pagbutihan para at least kahit paano, kami ay at par kami with these artists.” she added.
Kuh said she was merely airing a “suggestion” as she maintained the need to protect the interest of local artists.
“Huwag nating kalimutan to support what we have here. ‘Pag ‘di inalagaan ang sariling atin, matatabunan tayo ng foreign products. We are for globalization but at the same time we need to protect our [own interests],” she said.