In today’s streaming era, the idea of music piracy feels like ancient history. Yet, in the early 2000s, pirates drastically altered the music industry by stealing and illegally distributing MP3s, which listeners would have otherwise paid for.
How Music Got Free takes viewers back to the ‘90s and early 2000s, a time when the FBI conducted a major investigation into music piracy to identify and prosecute those responsible. Despite apprehending the culprits, widespread music piracy was accused of permanently reducing the value of music.
Directed by Alexandria Stapleton, this two-part documentary premiered at SXSW earlier this year.
“From New York City to Los Angeles, to the small factory town of Shelby, North Carolina, the two-part series highlights the quirky brilliance of the once-unknown ‘pirates,’ the intensity of the FBI investigations and convictions, and firsthand stories from music’s top artists and executives,” the film’s logline states. “An incredible tale of cunning, illegality, celebrity, and innovation, these events transformed the music industry forever.”
Stapleton executive produced the film along with Eminem, LeBron James, and others. Method Man serves as the narrator, with Eminem also sharing his experiences with music piracy on-screen, along with other artists like 50 Cent, Timbaland, Jimmy Iovine, Rocsi Diaz, and Rhymefest.
Watch the trailer for How Music Got Free above. The documentary will debut on Paramount+ on June 11 in the US and Canada, followed by an international release on June 12.
