| | Words in the News |
INTRO | | In Shanghai, rock musicians from China and around the world took part in a concert against music piracy. Victims of the trade in pirated CDs include include Danish band Aqua and China's most famous rock singer, Cui Jian. Duncan Hewitt reported for the BBC. |
IN FULL | |  | Listen to the report in full |
 |  | 30th November 2000 Chinese concert against music piracy |
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NEWS 1 | | | Listen to the first part of the report |
| | | For foreign and Chinese musicians alike, piracy is a major challenge. One recent survey suggested that up to ninety-five percent of all CDs sold in China were illegal copies. The head of one Chinese record company said pirates were not just copying existing albums but often recording new songs performed on television and packaging them as official new releases. Twelve record companies, including several major foreign ones, have now set up an anti-piracy alliance and are planning concerts around China. |
| | | | Listen to the words |
WORDS | | alike: both groups have similar problems with piracy piracy: the illegal copying of CDs, books or software albums: a CD containing different tracks of music packaging: putting them into boxes anti-piracy alliance: a group working together against piracy |
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| NEWS 2 | | | Listen to the second part of the report |
| | | It's hoped that the campaign will be boosted by the appearance of stars ranging from Danish pop band Aqua to Canadian, Korean and Malaysian performers and there's a rare appearance in a major venue by Cui Jian, the godfather of the Chinese music scene who remains politically sensitive since his performances for student protestors in 1989. But industry sources admit that persuading people not to buy pirated music remains an uphill battle, particularly as pirate CDs often sell for a fifth of the price of genuine ones and are frequently found on sale in supermarkets and other mainstream stores. In recent months some record companies have slashed the prices of original CDs but while this has helped to increase their market share, they say the lower prices mean their profits have barely increased. |
| | | | Listen to the words |
| WORDS | | boosted: if one thing boosts another, it causes it to increase godfather: a powerful and influential figure industry sources: people working in the industry uphill battle: it is increasingly hard to persuade people that they should not buy pirated CDs mainstream: conventional shops slashed: greatly reduced |
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