SOPA + PIPA = ? FOR EDM

I Repeat: SOPA + PIPA = ? FOR EDM 

You don't need a Masters in Calculus to solve this terrifying equation. Elektro asked EDM industry insiders to share their thoughts on how SOPA/PIPA (if passed) could impact the genre that is our livelihood... and they answered.

ElektroDaily.com presents the DJs, labels, bloggers, producers, publicists and managers of EDM on SOPA and PIPA: Two acts that consume us all; two acts that require action to be stopped. As of today the SOPA/PIPA bill has been pulled from congress, but we're ready for the inevitable resurface:

"The main reason I oppose SOPA is that I oppose any degree of mass-censorship to the Internet, especially at the hands of governments and corporations who aren't accountable to the majority of internet users. SOPA is just one instance in this clash for control, as is Net Neutrality. I recommend reading this: " Lorin @bassnectar

“SOPA puts into place provisions that would completely kill EDM as we know it. Mash Ups, Bootlegs, Unofficial remixes would all fall under SOPA provisions as forms of copyright infringement - websites like SoundCloud could be sued for hosting copyrighted material, youtube leaks would disappear and the entire music blog universe would be under attack. Even official tracks with samples from now defunct labels still fall under the copyright protection laws of the United States - some of your favorite nu-disco and house tracks would be deemed illegal - goodbye Duck Sauce.” – Andrew Spada, Writer @dancingastro

"It is simply wrong to allow badly written laws to put a damper on internet innovation and more specifically, music innovation. Although, SOPA and PIPA have proposed good intentions against piracy--they allow for an environment where power can be easily abused by the government and groups like the MPAA. We, as artists, simply cannot and will not, let this happen at any stake. We built LAZRtag on the premise of free floating ideas transpired through the music that was freely available on blogs and social networks. To live in a world strict with more government regulated content is a detrimental environment for any music producer. Furthermore, SOPA/PIPA function on the premise of guilty until proven innocent which goes directly against our American values." 

- @LAZRtag

“It’s a bad idea because it will make it even harder for new artists to break through. If there is a talented DJ out in Iceland then he may have no other way to connect to the labels and magazines, other than via their sites.  So much electronic music is facilitated by Internet, which has created equal opportunity for artists. That’s how people become famous… look at Skrillex. He blew up in five months because of the internet.” - @jimmycarris

We participated in and endorsed a full, 24 hour SOPA blackout because the future of the music industry lies not in old media, but in the new. Social media and content sharing have already changed the entertainment industry forever; to put the powers of censorship in the hands of the government, congress and the interests of a single industry's refusal to evolve stifles innovation and threatens the internet on a fundamental level.  Quite frankly, it's evolve or die time for the entertainment industry. They have no choice but to transition into modern content models, such as Spotify's philosophy of "access over ownership," because the only way to beat piracy is to render it irrelevant.  The internet is built on freedom of information and as yesterday's blackout and its immediate effect on congress have shown, we simply will not allow bills like SOPA/PIPA to pass.  The old guard is rushing to hastily push anything through they can to get a grip on a new world they do not understand, but the transition of power has already begun.  We are The Generation now, and we'll be building the modern, free world as just that-- modern and free. Stevie Ewald, Co-Founder @GottaDanceDirty

"Curt and I not only exist as professional musicians because of the Internet, but also need it to continue making music. With Curt living in NYC and me living in Chicago the only way we can work together is by sending files back and forth over different file sharing sites. Not to mention the obscene amount of YouTube clips we send back and forth for ideas, or samples we could use... Ok, mostly it's just funny shit, but you get where I'm going with this... If SOPA passes, acts like us are going to get hit the hardest because we rely on sites like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud to give our music away for free, and if someone in Washington could shut the whole thing down with the push of a big red button, It would change the landscape of music altogether.” - Josh Young @flosstradamus

“It’s the moving of tectonic plates. At first the music business was against it- now it’s just playing catch-up.  We all need to embrace and support it each other. “- Nik Cherwink, DJ Manager @TechniqueMGMT

“No doubt that when the piracy floodgates opened, it hurt the music industry, but it also gave a lot of artists a way to be heard. There’s no point in turning back, at this point we just have to accept it as a media evolution and learn to adapt to the new system.” - @PolinaMusik

“The growth of electronic dance music has everything to do with sharing experiences and music on the web; fans uploading videos from shows they attend and DJs uploading new productions and mixes. Anything that limits the freedom people have to share is not good. That being said, the law might force companies that offer platforms for sharing content to act more responsibly and innovate to take into account the copyright holders of content.” – David Stein, Founder & CEO @DUBSET

“I think SOPA is just an excuse to cut the freedom of the net, the suits don't give a shit about the piracy.” - @MarcMarzenit

"From a management perspective, I think that anyone in the music industry will tell you that social networking is a hyper-integral part of building an artist or label in 2012, and from what I understand this legislation would be nearly boundless in it's reach. If anything prevented an artists from having an instant conduit for communication with their fans then it could be devastating. The majors have dumped millions into protecting content that will, ultimately, be free anyway. If an artist or a label now how to use the internet to their advantage then there better off for it financially. From a label perspective, I think something could probably be done, though SOPA and PIPA are grossly overbearing. I'm not sure if, logistically, YouTube will EVER be able to keep up with its users. Some of my clients use it to their advantage, for example a rap group I'm working with repurposes hugely popular viral spots and makes promotional video collages from them. If anyone 'owned' that content then that would be impossible. - Clayton Blaha, Publicist @Biz3 and Co-Owner @OWSLA

"Evolution presents civilization with the challenge to adapt and reform the world as they know it. Artists should inspire civilization to care enough to do so." - Blake Miller @MovingUnits