Rap Star ‘Flo Rida’ Says File-Sharing is ‘Allrighta’

Praises new technology like P2P and file-sharing services as just another tool to reach fans and connect with his audience.

There’s a up coming new rap star named Flo Rida, a play on words of his home state Florida, who recently gave an interview with tech site CNet about his stance on P2P and file-sharing services.

Now, what makes it interesting is the fact that he actually embraces the new digital distribution medium, much like NIN, Radiohead, and a few others. He recognizes the potential it has for him to be able to be able to bypass record companies, radio stations, record stores, and all the former traditional gatekeepers that stood between a music artist and his audience.

If an artist is in tune with his fans “…on a personal level then you don’t have to worry about things like that(file-sharing),” he notes in the interview. “A lot of times I make sure I go onto MySpace and holler at my fans, looking at them on YouTube, showing love, making sure that I’m in tune more so on a personal level than just having a hot song…cause these are people who just might want to go to the store to get the album as well as download.”

Q: Are you one of the people that despises file sharing?
Rida: If you’re really in touch with your fans on a personal level then you don’t have to worry about things like that. A lot of times I make sure I go onto MySpace and holler at my fans, looking at them on YouTube, showing love, making sure that I’m in tune more so on a personal level than just having a hot song…cause these are people who just might want to go to the store to get the album as well as download. These are people who might want to put your poster on the wall or see your (album) art.

His hit single “Low” recently entered a 10th week at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while one of his new tracks “Elevator” rocketed from 100 to 28 thanks in part mainly to digital download sales.

Now I can’t say I’m a fan of his style of music, but I can say I’m a fan of the way he responds to his audience and sees digital music distribution as just another tool to connect with his fans. Fans, I might point out, that he actually seems to care about more so than sales figures or fighting a losing a battle against technology that execs in the record industry seem content on carrying out.

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