JEDDAH, 23 November 2002 — In a continuing trend, music sales in the Middle East fell in 2001 by 23 percent in terms of units and 15 percent in value, according to the latest figures released by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI),
This represents the biggest drop in sales and profits since 1991. The chief cause of the decline is the thriving piracy market, which makes up a staggering 50 percent of the total music market in Saudi Arabia.
“The piracy situation in the Kingdom seems to be getting worse,” said Adrian Cheesley, managing director of the Dubai-based EMI Arabia, in an interview with Arab News
“Although the retail sector in general is down, the delay in releasing new music because of a long clearance process in the Kingdom has meant that the pirates always beat the legitimate distributors in catering for whatever demand there is in the market”.
Another factor in the perpetual slump is the global phenomenon of illegal music being downloaded off the Internet, which has become very popular with the youth of Saudi Arabia.
“It has got a real following,” says Ahmed Rida, 18, a college student in Jeddah. “Everybody I know does it. It’s quicker, more convenient, and I get access to music that’s not available locally. And it’s totally free!”
The government has taken serious measures to stop piracy. Last August, Saudi authorities raided six centers for pirated computer programs run mainly by Asians, confiscating 1.2 million CDs worth about SR70 million. Special teams comprising members of the Information Ministry and Passports department, along with officials from the Riyadh province, conducted the raids in the capital and arrested 50 Asian workers.
The increase in piracy could nevertheless have serious ramifications on the Kingdom’s bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), which places high priority on the protection of copyright laws.
However, although China was inducted into the WTO in 2001, it is still considered one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of pirated materials.
