A person sitting in front of a desk with a laptop and headphones working on media leaks

Jordan Mallory

The frequent piracy and leaking of media are a blight upon the entertainment industry: but why should we care? And what can we do as audiences?

The act of leaking media has been a metaphorical fly buzzing around the entertainment industry for decades. It seems as though no matter how many times you try to exterminate one pest, they’ve already multiplied. You could use several other metaphors to conceptualise the detriment that leaking is causing to the industry.

“Leakers” could be compared to the Hydras of Greek mythology; cutting off one head only results in three more emerging. You might even describe the desperation to stop these criminals (because that’s what they are) in their tracks as a game of whack-a-mole that may never be won. No matter how you try to paint it, leaks are becoming more prevalent. And they are causing irreparable damage to the structure of entertainment. 

One of the earliest instances of music leaking on the internet occurred in 1993 with Depeche Mode’s album, Songs of Faith and Devotion. At the time, the World Wide Web was still in its infancy. Yet this leak marked the “first crack in the pipeline.” Despite this, the album went on to achieve significant success for the group, indicating that this particular leak did not significantly impact future sales or revenue. However, not every artist or group can claim the same outcome.

Money Down The Drain

A study conducted by the Institute for Policy Innovation reveals that music piracy and theft result in an $12.5 billion annual loss to the US economy. Within these losses, the sound recording industry suffers an estimated annual loss of $2.5 billion in earnings. As consumers, we have multiple legitimate avenues to access music. There are streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube, as well as the option of purchasing physical media. However, with piracy at unprecedented levels, revenue from these channels will continue to steadily decline.

As cyberspace expanded and evolved, so did the technologies enabling music piracy. Marketed as a means to make music more accessible, file-sharing services like Napster reared their ugly heads in the 2000s. If you are old enough to recall the battle that transpired between Napster and Metallica, then you understand just how long artists have been fighting against their music being shared across the world without their consent.

This issue appears to worsen with time. In a recent interview with Zach Sang, Ariana Grande spoke about her ongoing battle with online hackers and leakers. Recently, a leak of her song “Fantasize” went viral on TikTok. In the interview, she revealed the song was not originally written for her but for another project. Still, it does not take away from the very principle of the problem…and the other tracks intended for the album, which also saw the light of day too early.

https://twitter.com/sushirrrry/status/1760359697150783517?s=46

The Overflow of Media Leaks

It’s estimated that two in ten fans will engage with some sort of leak should they find it. This means there are a number of listeners who may actively seek out and share pirated music. With the advancements we’ve seen and information becoming more and more accessible, hubs have been developed for this exact purpose in all corners of the web. Social media sites such as Twitter and Reddit are often utilized, as well as specialized websites, including Has It Leaked, which allow you to set alerts when new leaks have been found. For those wanting instant gratification – perhaps the selfish root of leaks – these sites are a gold mine. 

“For those who enjoy the excitement of release nights … leaks can ruin the entire experience”

Media leaks and piracy extend beyond the music industry; the film industry faces similar challenges. The story, though with a different star in the spotlight, is still the same. Anti-piracy ads were a staple during VHS and DVD previews in the 90s and early 2000s. They were fast-paced and gritty. They were meant to terrify you away from stolen work and back to the theaters or your local Blockbuster. Despite advertiser’s best efforts, movie leaks are even more accessible than before.

Outside of the financial implications, the art and passion of an artist, writer, or filmmaker must also be taken into account. Countless creatives pride themselves on their work and often put an immense amount of time and effort into their projects. Deriving their work from personal circumstances, bearing their heartbreaks or their triumphs in lyrics or scripts comes with an emotional price tag that can’t be paid when their work is stolen.

Stop Media Leaks At The Source

Why should audiences care? Despite some fans admitting to indulging in the occasional leak, there are various fandoms across spaces like Twitter advocating for their favorite artist. Social media has allowed creatives, musical artists especially, to connect with their fans on a more intimate level. Those fans are often invested from the inception to the premiere, most times even more than the casual listener. For those who enjoy the excitement of release nights and the feeling of sharing every emotion felt during the very first listen with a community of other fans, leaks can ruin the entire experience.

And then one other question arises: will we ever be able to stop pirating? The answer may be both more cynical and less definitive than some might hope. In an individual effort, the everyday fan can cause a large dent in the demand for song, album, or movie leaks by simply not consuming them. However, we still have a long way to go in finding the solution to leaks, whether that be by having artists vetting their teams more thoroughly or investing in the development of more high-tech security to protect their assets. Because, at the end of the day, their work is not only their art but their livelihood, and it will take both the creator and the consumer to repair the leak.

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Featured image courtesy of Erwi on Unsplash. Image credit found here. No changes have been made to this image. 

Jordan Mallory is a Midwest-based Entertainment & Pop Culture Journalist. Published in various outlets, including Out Front Magazine, and the host of pop culture nostalgia podcast The Chew; if she's not writing.. she's probably at a concert!

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