From Beats to Deals: The Role of Intellectual Property Law and Innovation Policy in Advancing the Music Industry
Growing up, I listened to 2face Idibia's hit song “African Queen”, performed by 2face with disputes and later resolution on the composition rights and produced under Kennis Music [1] . I listened to that song being played on a tape cassette bought at a store, played on a Radio with imaginations of what the concept of love holds. Fast forward to the present, is a young adult listening to Burna Boy's hit song “Last Last”. A song made possible with licensed sampled beats of Tony Braxton’s song “He wasn't man enough”, co-written with producers Off & Out (brothers Mikael and Samuel Haataja), Chopstix, Mds, and Ruuben and performed by Burna Boy. [2] It was being played on a digital platform I subscribe to, while this time reflecting on the concept of love through experiences. I was taken aback by how the production, distribution and sale of music have evolved. The above experience reflects the evolution of music as an art performed in its earliest form by humans for purpose...