Benny Mardones and Eddie Money speak out against music downloads

"If retailers and artists do not offer music consumers what they want, when they want it, they will turn to other resources, such as contaminated P2P networks," -- Singer-Songwriter Benny Mardones

American pop singer-songwriter Benny Mardones, best known for the hit single "Into the Night," which hit the Billboard Hot 100 Top 20 in 1980 and again in 1989, has joined a growing national campaign of artists against illegal Internet music filesharing.
"If retailers and artists do not offer music consumers what they want, when they want it, they will turn to other resources, such as contaminated P2P networks," said Mardones, who is on tour to promote his new Warrior Records CD, "Let's Hear It for Love."
Studies show that more than $2 billion worth of music and more than $20 billion worth of movie content was downloaded illegally last year. SafeMedia Corporation, based in Boca Raton, Fla., has developed technology -- "SafeMedia's 'Clouseau®'" -- that makes it impossible to send or receive illegal Peer-2-Peer transmissions or file sharing. SafeMedia CEO & President Safwat Fahmy, who created "Clouseau," has submitted testimony to Congress describing his company's global "P2P Disaggregator" (P2PD) technology, which examines incoming and outgoing packets of information and destroys contaminated P2P network, while allowing legal P2P to reach its intended destination.
"The technology moves through multi-layered encryptions, analyzes network patterns and updates itself frequently," said Fahmy. "The packet examinations are noninvasive and foolproof. Clouseau prevents the illegal back and forth flow of copyrighted files like you would find through LimeWire, Morpheus or eMule."
"I want better control of the distribution of my music, so everyone gets paid in a fair way," said Mardones. "It's nice to know there is technology out there like SafeMedia, which will help us with the problem of illegal music, downloads."
Earlier this week Singer Eddie Money said: "If you like music, don't steal it."
Money is on tour promoting his new Warrior Records CD, "Wanna Go Back." He is one of the first this year to join other musicians and celebrities in the war on illegal Internet filesharing of music and movies.
"Music piracy is illegal and extremely detrimental to all of those who make a living creating original musical works," said Money.
Benny Mardones & the Hurricanes will appear Saturday, June 23, at Dulles State Office Building Auditorium in Watertown, N.Y. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Hospice of Jefferson County. Mardones, nicknamed the "The Voice" because of his near four-octave vocal range and soulful, passionate delivery, will perform his classic hits -- including "She's Just 16 Years Old / Into the Night," "Mighta Been Love," "For A Little Ride" and "I Started a Joke."
"This one-night performance will be Mardones' first concert there in more than a decade ... it's a show you will not want to miss," said Jim Ervin, Warrior Records, NY/LA, a division of L.A. Entertainment, Inc.
The opening act is Fred & the Ed's.
Tickets are on sale now by phone at 866-468-7619, online at www.ticketweb.com, or locally at all Watertown and Carthage, Kinney Drugs stores.
For further information on Benny Mardones, visit him on the Web at: www.MySpace.com/bennymardones