【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. standardize / ˈstæn dərˌdaɪz / (v.) – to become consistent or similar
Example: The record company standardized the operating procedures in all its branches.
2. rampant / ˈræm pənt/ (adj.) – referring to something that spreads very quickly and is hard to control
Example: Online piracy is rampant nowadays.
3. outlet /ˈaʊt lɛt/ (n.) – a store or merchant that sells particular products
Example: We are looking for an outlet that sells music albums.
4. reignite / riɪgˈnaɪt / (v.) – to cause to occur or happen again
Example: The announcement of the singer’s next album release reignited the fans’ excitement.
5. pioneer /ˌpaɪ əˈnɪər/ (v.) – to be the first one to do or make something
Example: Rock and roll was pioneered by musicians in the 1950s.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
In an effort to combat online piracy, the music industry will standardize the global release schedule of music albums starting this summer.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), representative of record companies worldwide, consulted various artists, musician unions, record labels, and retailers about this shift in schedule. After nine months of consultation, they decided to globally release all albums on Fridays. Before, albums were released on Mondays in the United Kingdom, Tuesdays in the United States, Wednesdays in Japan, and Fridays in Australia.
This movement was done because having varied album release schedules in different countries gives online black markets more opportunities to sell the albums. Piracy has especially become more rampant in regions where retailers receive the albums later than the others. But with the standardized schedule, there will be enough time for the product to reach several outlets. Also, black markets may have less access to the albums because of the standardized global release schedule.
Aside from addressing the problem on piracy, having one album release schedule can also help reignite excitement among fans. It will also make it easier for artists to globally promote their albums simultaneously.
Napster, an online distribution service, pioneered the peer-to-peer (p2p) file sharing system. This system allows a person to share files from one computer to another.
Because of this system, music sales in the United States have dropped by 53% in 2013. In the same year, the music industry lost more than $7 billion because of online piracy. In addition, the American consumers paid for only 37% of all the songs acquired in the country in 2009.
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【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Do you think standardizing the global release schedule of albums is a good move? Why or why not?
· If you were to decide on the album release schedule, what day would you choose? Why is that so?
Discussion B
· Does Japan have strict laws against piracy? Kindly discuss your answer.
· How else can the problem on piracy be addressed?
