Technology advancements, particularly the internet, has made it easier than ever for artists of all kinds to reach fans. Sometimes this raises questions about copyright law, as social media and streaming sites become more important to artists’ careers, whether beneficial or prohibitive. But there may soon be a new facet that New York artists and the entities that normally work with them will have to contend with. A new music label is in the process of creating and representing “virtual artists,” which could pose interesting considerations for copyright protection.
Spirit Bomb is the new music label created by Strangeloop Studios, a company that specializes in media production. It has already secured several reputable investors and created at least one character used at a virtual music festival earlier this year. Representatives say that they believe this new venture has the potential to benefit real artists, whether they are singers, songwriters or producers. One of the benefits is that a virtual artist can do multiple appearances simultaneously, and this may open up opportunities for artists or songwriters that may not be able to secure a traditional recording contract.
The concern is that these virtual artists could complicate licensing contracts, possibly benefiting music labels while undermining an artist’s ability to fairly profit from any creation that a virtual artist might use. In an extreme scenario, music labels may prefer working with virtual artists over live ones, potentially limiting opportunities. Still, Spirit Bomb is optimistic that artists will benefit overall.
If virtual artists become more popular, there may be questions about how their work is covered by copyright law and who exactly owns the rights. This only emphasizes how important it is that artists of all kinds consider working with an attorney here in New York who understands the constantly changing landscape of copyright law. Artists deserve to financially benefit from their creations, whether they are the face of them or not.