Featured Artists Coalition: P2P is a marketing channel

A British group representing musicians, the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), recently denounced Britain’s plan for three strikes legislation. The FAC was established with the express purpose of giving artists a voice in the P2P debate. While opposing piracy, it has argued against initiatives that aim to criminalise file-sharers other than those who do so for commercial gain.

In a statement, the FAC says: “The focus of our objection is the proposed treatment of ordinary music fans who download a few tracks so as to check out our material before they buy. For those of us who don’t get played on the radio or mentioned in the music media – artists established and emerging – P2P recommendation is an important form of promotion.”

Hip hop megastar 50 Cent recently uttered words along a similar line.

The FAC fears that criminalising file sharers might harm the use of P2P for promotional purposes and that artists might actually be worse off than without a tough stance on piracy.

However, the FAC does not go as far as proposing an alternative to the government’s plans. It says to merely want to contribute to the P2P debate.