GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 341
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Some people think that illegal Internet downloads are having a negative effect on the music industry. Others feel that they have little or no impact on artists.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer 1:
Some say that illicit music downloads from the Internet create an adverse impact on the music industry while others feel that they cause little or no effect on the singers. This essay will discuss both these views. Personally, I believe that while illegal music downloads open up a great opportunity for musicians to gain fame, it reduces revenue and hamper career growth for those artists.
On the one hand, some argue that downloading music illegally does not hurt musicians. This is because the Internet has provided a singer with the golden opportunity to market their songs to more audiences at a faster pace. In consequence, artists can shoot to stardom, and fans become very eager to see their favourite singers play live. Eventually, they can earn more money. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, for instance, the ticket prices of live shows have been constantly increasing, providing a huge income stream for performers despite the increase of illegal online music downloads.
On the other hand, others say that illegal downloading is damaging the music sector. Singers and artists, in simple words, earn money by selling their music and albums. Therefore, if people download them illegally, they reap no profit from them. As a significant number of people steadily download music illicitly, instead of paying, it significantly cuts into the sales of music albums. For example, the British Phonographic Industry sheds light on the fact that 8.5 million people enjoy pirated music which costs the industry almost ten million pounds a year. Thus, illegal downloading severely damages businesses, which will eventually lead many record companies to bankruptcy. That means it will also shrink job opportunities for music producers, songwriters, artists, sound engineers and so on. For these reasons, I think that illegal music downloads have a catastrophic effect on the music industry.
In conclusion, even though some people believe that downloading pirated music has a negligible effect on the music sector, this essay finds that the industry is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy as illegal music downloads cost the sector billions of pounds in lost revenue, thus shrinking employment opportunities for people in this sector.
Model Answer 2:
The proliferation of illegal Internet downloads has ignited a contentious debate regarding its effects on the music industry. On one hand, some argue that these illicit downloads have inflicted considerable harm on artists and the industry as a whole. Conversely, there is an opposing viewpoint suggesting that the impact on musicians is negligible. This essay will explore both perspectives and argue that illegal Internet downloads have indeed had a detrimental effect on the music industry and its artists.
The primary argument against illegal downloads is their profound impact on the income of musicians. When copyrighted music is downloaded without authorization or compensation, artists are deprived of the revenue they rightfully deserve for their creative efforts. For example, the decline of physical album sales and the prevalence of torrent websites have led to significant revenue loss for artists, particularly those who rely on record sales as a primary income source. This has left many musicians struggling to sustain their careers, let alone flourish in a digital age where royalties from streaming services often fall short of expectations.
On the opposing side, some contend that illegal downloads have a negligible effect on artists and the music industry. They argue that these downloads can serve as a form of promotion, as individuals who download music for free may subsequently attend concerts, purchase merchandise, or even legally purchase music from artists they discover. Moreover, proponents of this view suggest that digital piracy allows for greater fan engagement and exposure for emerging artists who may not have the marketing resources of major labels.
In conclusion, illegal Internet downloads have undoubtedly had a detrimental impact on the music industry and its artists. The erosion of revenue, particularly from physical sales, poses a significant threat to musicians’ livelihoods. Therefore, it is essential to address this issue to ensure the continued sustainability of the music industry and the livelihoods of its creators.
It is considered by some individuals that unauthorized copying of music from online sites is resulting negative consequences for the business. At the same time, others think it has an insignificant influence on musicians. This essay will discuss both views and argue that while the internet downloads violets the copyrights of the artists, I believe it makes them more popular.
On the one hand, getting music from online sources illegally brings negative consequences because the owners of musical work invest a lot of money to record their musical products. Undoubtedly their copyrights must be respected, and their right of earning money by selling products created by them has to be protected. A recent statistic on the industry shows that in less developed countries such as Armenia, more and more artists are going into bankruptcy because of this problem.
On the other hand, others contend that unauthorized downloads may have no negative effects on the artists since they may earn money participating in some concerts, and one guarantee of being invited to some events is being popular. In the era of the internet, most of the population are using online websites as a mean of entertainment rather than watching TV. It means musicians get popularity if their artistic work is downloaded by many individuals.
To conclude, it is believed by some people that getting musical products from the web may bring a bad effect on the business whilst others consider that it does not have negative consequences for the authors due to the fact that they may get more popularity if their music is downloaded by many individuals.