How the Stars Are Fighting Back Against Music Piracy

Stealing Music: A Special ET Investigation

New Year’s Eve 2022: ET Breaks Down the Best Countdowns to 2023

Jenna Ortega's Best ET Moments: From Disney Star to the Big Scre…

T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach's ABC Fates Unknown as Workplace Inve…

Priyanka Chopra Shares Special Meaning Behind Matching Tattoo Wi…

'The Bachelor's Christina Mandrell Spotted in Taylor Swift's 'Fi…

Jamie Lynn Spears and Beverley Mitchell Bond Over Kids on ‘Speci…

Dolly Parton Promises to Give Fans New Music for Her 77th Birthd…

Ariana Grande Reminds Fans in Epic Way Why She Hasn't Dropped Ne…

Taylor Swift's 'Lavender Haze' Music Video Decoded: All Easter E…

Lisa Marie Presley on Elvis and Following in Dad's Footsteps Wit…

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's Relationship Timeline

'Darcey & Stacey' Season 4 Trailer: A Matchmaker and Georgi's Re…

Mel B Teases a Spice Girls Announcement Is Coming Soon! (Exclusi…

Shemar Moore Announces He's Expecting First Child (a Girl!) at 52

Chelsea Handler's 2023 Goals Include Love and a New Talk Show (E…

Jeremy Renner Takes His First Shower in a Week Amid ICU Hospital…

'The View' Co-Hosts Giggle Live on Air Over a Possible Fart?!

How 'RRR' and 'Naatu Naatu' Became a TikTok Hit and Awards Seaso…
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, music piracy is the main reason that industry revenue has been cut in half since 1999, and the stars are fed up.
NEWS: ET's Complete GRAMMY Coverage
"The whole music business has suffered because of piracy," John Legend told ET.
Last year, Taylor Swift was visibly uncomfortable when a British interviewer asked for an advance copy of her album, 1989. The pop star denied the request, saying, "It's not out yet. I don't even want to talk about it. I don't trust technology. I don't want to talk about leaks. It freaks me out. I'll have a meltdown on your show."
And it seems no one has been able to avoid the effects of piracy. Unfinished songs from Madonna's upcoming album, Rebel Heart, were stolen before she was ready for anyone to hear them.
NEWS: Sam Smith Keeps "Spontaneously Crying" After GRAMMY Wins
"I was very upset about having my record out before I was finished," Madonna said. "Nobody wants the work out before it's finished."
Billboard magazine editor-at-large Joe Levy says that pre-release piracy often happens while the music is still being produced.
"That music is on a computer; that music is on a phone; that music is vulnerable," Joe said.
NEWS: Who Were the Best Dressed Stars at the 2015 GRAMMYs?
At the GRAMMYs on Sunday, Recording Academy president Neil Portnow addressed the piracy problem.
"For the artists, songwriters and producers we must promise them that new technology and distribution will pay them fairly," Neil said. "A song is just as much a property of the creator as somebody that built a house. If that's taken away from you, that's like ripping your heart out."
Nowadays illegal music is just a computer search away and the RIAA let ET into their top-secret war room, showing some of the tactics they use to take down pirates.
NEWS: ET Takes You Inside GRAMMY Weekend's Biggest Parties!
As the culprits are uncovered, a cease-and-desist demand is immediately sent. There were approximately 20 million take-down notices sent in 2014 alone.
"Where it hurts people is down the line writers, producers, musicians are just going to make less money because they're getting paid from the sale of recorded music and fewer people are buying recorded music and the value of recorded music has gone down," Legend said. "Then it hurts them more than anyone else."