Desmond YoungWHILE the Jamaica Federation of Musicians (JFM) keeps warning about piracy in the music business, those who feel the brunt of what is estimated to be a million dollar racket are saying less talk and more action.
Piracy has left local producers and entertainers "in the red."
Only weeks ago Stephen Ventura of Celestial Sound Recording Studio found copies of Bocygal Rhythm being sold.
He said when he asked one customer who had purchased the cassette how much it cost he became suspicious.
According to Ventura he has even gone abroad and found pirate copies of his songs, many of which were not released in Jamaica.
"It is taxing the record business. I would let the law deal with this affair, for the key thing is to find ways to counteract the racket, Ventura added.
Barry Yorke, another record producer, said laws against piracy need more teeth.
"While these people who steal people's material continue to make a profit it app-ears they do not see anything wrong with it and it is indeed a criminal act."
Desmond Young president of the JFM said while much has been written about piracy, the message does not seem to be reaching the masses. He hinted that the material could be made simpler so that those who are flouting the law would know they are committing a criminal act.
"It's stealing another man's property," he said.
Record producer 'Chemist' refers to CD piracy as a killer. "What is happening in Jamaica is foolishness. Records are not selling here because the pirates have several songs on cassettes selling for little or nothing on the road side, so we the record producer have nothing much to gain."
Most of the pirates go to record shops asking for compilations of hit songs on a cassette. This could cost them anywhere between $500 and $600. Others tape the songs straight from the radio
