| I'm a huge fan of reality shows. The most recent | | | | expensive. Asia is at the forefront of technology and |
| one I've been following is Rockstar INXS - the show | | | | mp3's are the format of choice. So why aren't there |
| which follows the super 80's Australian band, INXS, | | | | more channels available to the Asian markets?So, |
| and their search for a new lead singer.If you haven't | | | | what did I end up doing? I did what MSN support told |
| seen it, it's a great show, the music and | | | | me to do, visit other regional MSN sites like Singapore |
| performances are incredible (blows American Idol or | | | | and Australia to see whether I could find the music |
| any Idol show out of the water). The other great | | | | there. I found music but not the Rockstar songs |
| thing about this show is that the voting (everyone | | | | from the show I was looking for. Getting a little |
| gets to vote for their favourite singer) let's people all | | | | frustrated and agitated at the fact they really didn't |
| over the world vote for their favourite singer where | | | | want to make money off me by making it |
| most other shows restrict interactions to American | | | | EXTREMELY difficult for me to buy from them.After |
| audiences only.Of course, after each show is over, | | | | all this, there is a point I'm trying to make (actually |
| the music is available to download from the MSN | | | | two points):I'm sure the artists and the producers of |
| music site. So, after hearing some great music, I | | | | the show could have made double, three times |
| quickly logged on and went straight to the MSN | | | | maybe even ten times the sales they made if they |
| music site and decided to PAY FOR the music | | | | made the song downloads available to the rest of |
| downloads. I was more than happy to contribute and | | | | the world or at least to the other markets that the |
| give these deserving artists what they deserved.But | | | | show was playing in (i.e. Australia, Philippines, Hong |
| guess what? The music downloads are only available | | | | Kong, etc) - Lesson to be learned: Don't make it |
| to US audiences! I quickly contacted MSN support, | | | | difficult for your customers or potential customers to |
| "Where can someone outside of the US buy this | | | | buy from youPiracy and intellectual property |
| music?" They quickly and politely replied and said that | | | | infringement IS a problem in Asia. However, it could |
| it is presently only available to the US market but | | | | be less of a problem if companies would understand |
| music will be available in other markets later. Later? | | | | that a normal person in Mumbai, Bangkok or Beijing |
| How much later? The shows already over!Look at | | | | isn't going to pay (or afford to pay) US$20+ for a |
| iTunes, that's only available to US, Canada and the | | | | CD. On the other hand US$0.99 per song download |
| UK as well. What about the rest of the world?It's | | | | sounds reasonable and most people could afford |
| kind of strange when I hear complaints about the | | | | that, assuming they had internet access, but without |
| piracy problem in Asia, not to say there isn't, but | | | | a reasonable access channel to these affordable |
| companies aren't helping themselves if they don't | | | | alternatives where else are they supposed to go to |
| make legitimate copies available from the right | | | | satisfy their demand? |
| channels. Where else are consumers supposed to | | | | Wayne Po is the founder and publisher of ( an online |
| turn to if they have no legitimate outlet to buy | | | | magazine helping overseas businesses who want to |
| from?Let's face it, CDs are so 90's. Not to mention | | | | expand and do business in Asia. |