20 Mar 2016

Music for Development in the Digital Age

The music world has had its share of Internet-led shake-ups. Digital piracy and the advertisement rules of platforms like YouTube are major concerns. But there are also opportunities: online marketing, arts education, cultural awareness, and nation branding are particularly notable. How can development practice take advantage of these opportunities ? This discussion stresses (1) giving artists the capability to use the Internet effectively; (2) prioritizing open Internet access, especially in rural areas; (3) considering strong antitrust provisions in media ownership; (4) granting such provisions as solar tax credits to artists or creative businesses where needed; (5) targeting cultural elements that may inhibit Internet access for female artists; (6) promoting intellectual property training; and (7) creating a platform that carries traditional music for development.

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