Everclear's Art Alexakis, Alanis Morrisette and Christina Aguilera are among nearly seventy musicians who have joined the coalition Artists Against Piracy. The group sent out its first volley in their battle with Internet-based music piracy Tuesday with full-page advertisements that read "If a Song Means a Lot to You, Imagine What It Means to Us" in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.

"I felt there was a absolute need to get the artists, the creators to educate the public about music on the Internet," says coalition organizer Noah Stone, a songwriter and musician who also runs his own Internet-based label, GME Music.com. "Napster is exciting and the fans really want it. We have to meet the demand for fast and easy music on the Internet, but we also have to remember the artists. I wanted an organization where the artists' voices are in the dialogue on this issue. Sixty-seven artists is a good start."

Among the other music acts aligned with Artists Against Piracy are Garth Brooks, Barenaked Ladies , Blink-182, Aimee Mann, Bon Jovi, Faith Hill, Hanson, DMX , Sarah McLachlan, Bryan Adams and Herbie Hancock.

Stone claims the initial ad was intended as a sign of support as the Napster debate went to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to be heard before a Senate Judiciary committee. "It was a statement we wanted to make to support Lars [Ulrich] on the day he was testifying," Stone says. "We wanted him to know that this isn't just about Metallica and Napster."

Stone says that subsequent Artists Against Piracy messages will come in the near future, including Internet ads, television public service announcements and radio spots. But he stops short of following Ulrich to the Capitol. "It is intended as more of an awareness camp," he says of the coalition. "I don't think of it as a lobbying force. But we'll see where it goes."

More information about Artists Against Piracy can be found at the group's official Web site, www.ArtistsAgainstPiracy.com.

ANDREW DANSBY
(July 13, 2000)