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Copying, superstars and artistic creation

Author

Listed:
  • Alcalá, Francisco
  • Gonzalez-Maestre, Miguel

    (Departamentos y Servicios::Departamentos de la UMU::Fundamentos del Análisis Económico)

Abstract

We provide a new perspective on the impact of unauthorized copying and copy levies on artistic creation. Our analysis emphasizes three important aspects of artistic markets: the predominance of superstars, the dynamics of talent sorting, and the importance of promotion expenditures. In the short run, piracy reduces superstars’ earnings and market share, and increases the number of rich and young artists. From a dynamic perspective, piracy may help more young artists start their careers, thereby increasing the number of highly talented artists in the long run. The long run impact on artistic creation of levies on copy equipment may crucially depend on whether their yields primarily accrue to superstars or are allocated to help young artists.

Suggested Citation

  • Alcalá, Francisco & Gonzalez-Maestre, Miguel, 2009. "Copying, superstars and artistic creation," UMUFAE Economics Working Papers 5606, DIGITUM. Universidad de Murcia.
    • Handle: RePEc:mur:wpaper:5606
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Benefits of piracy
      by chris dillow in Stumbling and Mumbling on 2010-04-20 12:28:00

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    1. Alcala, Francisco & Gonzalez-Maestre, Miguel, 2005. "Artistic creation and intellectual property," MPRA Paper 1287, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 17 Dec 2006.
    2. C. Bellégo & R. De Nijs, 2015. "The redistributive effect of online piracy on the box office performance of American movies in foreign markets," Documents de Travail de l'Insee - INSEE Working Papers g2015-17, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques.
    3. Piolatto, Amedeo & Schuett, Florian, 2012. "Music piracy: A case of “The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Poorer”," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 30-39.
    4. Handke, Christian, 2012. "Digital copying and the supply of sound recordings," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 15-29.
    5. Daniel Marszalec & Maria Martin-Rodriguez, 2020. "Piracy as promotion? The Importance of Diffusion in the Music Industry," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1139, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Artistic creation; Superstars; Private copy; Piracy; Levies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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