A Note on Legacy Arts
Act 1: The Gathering at the Country Club
Scene 1: Inside the Country Club
(The scene is set at the country club near Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. A banner with the label’s name, “mOHiKonTok,” is displayed prominently. A group of artists, musicians, and songwriters is gathered for a seminar on copyright awareness. Mr. Nas, the founder of mOHiKonTok, stands at the front.)
Mr. Nas (Passionate): Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today. We’re here to talk about something that’s near and dear to our hearts—legacy arts.
(The attendees listen attentively. Mohi and Kontok, invisible commentators, observe the crowd with interest.)
Mr. Nas: Legacy arts are the timeless melodies, the soul-stirring lyrics, and the stories that make our culture and world more vibrant. But there’s a piece missing from this puzzle—a work that often goes unnoticed: copyright.
Artist 1 (Curious): What does copyright mean for us, Mr. Nas?
Mr. Nas: Great question! Copyright is about protecting your creative content. It ensures that your work is recognized and rewarded. It’s about taking a rightful share of your legacy arts.
Scene 2: Copyright Numbers Explained
Mr. Nas (Explaining): Take, for instance, the International Standard Recording Code or ISRC. This code is like a unique identifier for your songs, ensuring they’re attributed correctly.
Artist 2 (Enthusiastic): So, it’s like giving our songs a passport?
Mr. Nas: Exactly! It opens doors for your songs across the world. But that’s not all. There’s the Universal Product Code (UPC) for the bigger picture. This code makes your music accessible on digital platforms like Apple iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon.
Artist 3 (Excited): Do we get to be on those platforms?
Mr. Nas: Yes, you do. And more importantly, you get to claim your rightful share of streaming revenue.
Act 2: Understanding Baul Genre
Scene 1: The Baul Genre
Mr. Nas: Now, let’s delve into the soul of Bangla Baul music. It’s a genre that’s unlike any other. It combines philosophy and melody in ways that touch your very being.
(Sohan Jajabor, a Baul artist, joins the gathering. He and Mr. Nas exchange a warm greeting.)
Sohan Jajabor (Passionate): The truth about Baul’s music is that it needs recognition. We must label it as a genre, much like Country or Soul songs.
Artist 4 (Curious): But what’s so unique about Baul?
Sohan Jajabor: Baul’s songs carry a profound philosophy within their melodies. It’s a message that transcends boundaries. It should be accessible to everyone.
Scene 2: The Mission of mOHiKonTok
Mr. Nas (Determined): And that’s what mOHiKonTok is here to do. We make songs and stories accessible through labels to all music platforms. We ensure that the voices of unheard Bauls are heard.
Artist 5 (Inspired): It’s about preserving our cultural legacy and reaching a global audience.
Mr. Nas: Precisely. We’re not just creating music; we’re preserving heritage.
Act 3: Taking Action
Scene 1: The Importance of Copyright
Mr. Nas: Now, let’s talk about how you, as artists and songwriters, can take action. Remember, your songs are copyrighted as soon as you create them. But you need to take the next step.
Artist 6 (Intrigued): And what’s that step, Mr. Nas?
Mr. Nas: You can get a copyright through a music publication company, government agency, or an attorney. An attorney helps with patents, but for distribution, labels are your best friends.
Scene 2: The Path Ahead
Mr. Nas (Inspirational): So, artists and songwriters, remember, your music is your legacy. Let’s work together to ensure that our legacy lives on for generations to come.
Artist 7 (Eager): We’re in, Mr. Nas. Let’s make our mark on the world.
Mr. Nas: That’s the spirit! Together, we’ll take the proper steps toward preserving our legacy arts.
(The attendees applaud as they leave, inspired and determined to take action. Mohi and Kontok, still invisible, watch the crowd disperse.)
Kontok (Impressed): This is a remarkable mission, Mohi. They’re on their way to taking a rightful share of their legacy arts.
Mohi (Smiling): Indeed, Kontok. The melody of change has started, and they’re composing it.
The mOHiKonTok mission revolves around assisting artists in managing their audio content for licensing, particularly with the Apple iTunes store and more. It’s important to note that the songs available on the iTunes Store do not contain Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection. These songs, called iTunes Plus, are free from usage restrictions and boast top-notch quality with 256 kbps AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) encoding. This encompasses spoken words, podcasts, audio poems, songs, and relaxing music.
Preserving Songs with Copyright
(The stage is dimly lit, and a solitary figure steps forward, bathed in a soft, focused spotlight. They exude an air of reverence and determination.)
Artist (Passionate): Let’s talk about preserving songs – songs that are more than just words and melodies; they’re the soul’s resonance, captured in musical notes and verses. The life’s work of artists breathed into existence, each piece a cherished creation.
(Their voice is unwavering, a profound belief in their words.)
Artist: These songs are a testament to the human experience, the stories of our lives, our joys, our sorrows, our triumphs, and our heartbreaks. They’re the ties that bind generations, the threads of cultural tapestries, songs that transcend time.
(They raise a hand to the heavens as if invoking the power of music itself.)
Artist: But let me tell you a secret, a truth that sometimes hides in the background – the power of copyright.
(Their tone becomes almost reverential.)
Artist: Copyright, a guardian, a protector of creativity. It’s not just a legal framework; it’s a shield against the fading of musical treasures. With these songs, they’re shielded from the ravages of time and safeguarded against obscurity.
(They take a deep breath, filling their lungs with the essence of music.)
Artist: Copyright ensures that every note, every lyric, and every carefully crafted chord is honored, preserved, and passed down to the future. It’s the pact between the artist and the world, a promise to keep the music alive.
(A sense of urgency now courses through their words.)
Artist: These songs, they’re not just soundwaves in the ether; they’re the heartbeats of an artist, the stories of a culture, the anthem of a generation. And they deserve to live, to breathe, to echo through time.
(With each word, their conviction deepens.)
Artist: Copyright is the armor that shields these songs, ensuring they stand the test of time, and every time we hear them, it’s like meeting an old friend, a timeless companion in life’s journey.
(Their voice softens, filled with gratitude.)
Artist: So, let’s not forget the power of copyright. Let’s preserve these songs, ensuring that the echoes of melodies past resonate in the hearts of generations to come.
(They stand tall, the embodiment of music’s protector.)
Artist: The songs are waiting, and copyright is the key to unlocking their eternal voices.
(As they exit the stage, the spotlight follows them, leaving a sense of hope and reverence for the music that echoes through time.)
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