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Simon Cowell's Label Searching for Source of Leaked Song

by Warren Riddle on August 29, 2009 at 08:02 AM


'American Idol' curmudgeon Simon Cowell's SyCo record label is on the hunt for music pirates who have gained access to, and leaked, the yet-to-be-released song "Don't Let Me Down." The song, which features Justin Timberlake, is performed by SyCo recording artist Leona Lewis, the 2006 winner of British talent show 'The X Factor.'

According to Reuters, SyCo and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) have enlisted the help of police in both Europe and the States to track down the bandits. In a public statement, the IFPI's Jeremy Banks said, "Such pre-release leaks, however they are sourced, are highly damaging to our members who invest considerable budgets in marketing and promoting music ahead of release." Yeah, particularly if the leaked song is so terrible that no one who hears it will actually want to buy the album.

Even though the music industry loses a significant amount of money to music pirates who illegally distribute ripped-off songs and albums, this particular situation doesn't really seem too unfair. After all, the team behind "Don't Let Me Down" is blatantly ripping off, and disgracing the name of, one of the greatest rock 'n' roll songs of all time. For shame, Cowell. [From: Reuters]

Tags: law, music, p2p, piracy, simon cowell, SimonCowell, top

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