Digitalisation of music was meant to democratize access to it: Sona

Sona Mohapatra says the practice of buying likes and viewership is a dishonest marketing fraud that needs to be tackled

People paying money to gain fame and be perceived as successful is commonplace,” says singer Sona Mohapatra adding that this practice is not limited to Badshah. After the singer was summoned by Mumbai police for buying likes she termed it as “building an empire using matchsticks”.

The singer feels the movie production houses and music labels are in on this scam (Photo: Prabhas Roy)

Mohapatra adds that the practice is “dishonest and marketing fraud”. The singer adds that it puts everyone under pressure. Moreover, at times, the money which can be used to pay composers and songwriters for their creativity, is being put to use “for inflating digital figures to proclaim millions of views and a ‘hit’.”

Mohapatra says that “it is for the people of India to stop evaluating success basis these numbers and for corporate India to set up a common body that audits such databases regularly before paying these artistes”.