Either Don’t Delist Me or Share Audience Data: Kamra to BookMyShow
In a recent turn of events, the popular comedian Kunal Kamra has made headlines for his open letter to BookMyShow, a leading online ticketing platform in India. The letter has sparked a heated debate on the issue of artists’ rights and data ownership. As the story goes, Kamra’s solo shows were delisted from BookMyShow’s platform following a controversy over his jokes on Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde.
However, in his letter, Kamra has taken a strong stance, refusing to back down and demanding that BookMyShow take one of two options: either reinstate his shows on their platform or provide him with the contact information of the audiences who had booked tickets to his solo performances. This move has raised important questions about the relationship between artists and ticketing platforms, and the ownership of data collected by these platforms.
The controversy surrounding Kamra’s delisting began when he made a series of jokes about Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde during a solo show. The remarks were met with backlash from the Shiv Sena party, which led to Kamra’s shows being delisted from BookMyShow’s platform. While some have defended Kamra’s right to free speech, others have criticized his jokes as being offensive and divisive.
However, in his letter to BookMyShow, Kamra has taken a different approach. Rather than focusing on the controversy surrounding his jokes, he has emphasized the importance of artists’ rights and the ownership of data collected by ticketing platforms. Kamra has argued that the data collected by BookMyShow from his solo shows is his intellectual property, and that the platform has a moral obligation to provide him with access to this information.
In his letter, Kamra has written, “Please ensure that you hand over the contact information of all the audiences you’ve collected from my solo shows. The least I deserve, should you choose to delist me, is access to them.” This demand has sparked a heated debate on the issue of data ownership and the relationship between artists and ticketing platforms.
Some have argued that Kamra’s demand is reasonable, given that the data collected by BookMyShow from his solo shows is his intellectual property. Others have argued that Kamra is being unreasonable and that his demand is an attempt to bully BookMyShow into reinstating his shows on their platform.
However, the issue of data ownership is a complex one, and it is difficult to take a clear stance without considering the broader implications of Kamra’s demand. On one hand, artists have a right to control their own intellectual property, including the data collected from their performances. On the other hand, ticketing platforms like BookMyShow have a legitimate interest in collecting and using this data to promote their own business interests.
In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards artists seeking control over their own data and intellectual property. This trend has been driven in part by the rise of social media and the increasing importance of online platforms in the music and entertainment industries. As a result, artists are now seeking greater control over their own data and intellectual property, including the data collected by ticketing platforms like BookMyShow.
In the case of Kamra’s letter, his demand for access to the contact information of audiences who had booked tickets to his solo shows is not an unreasonable one. In fact, it is a reasonable request, given that the data collected by BookMyShow from his shows is his intellectual property.
Moreover, Kamra’s demand is not an attempt to bully BookMyShow into reinstating his shows on their platform. Rather, it is a legitimate request for access to his own intellectual property. If BookMyShow is unwilling to reinstate his shows, then it is only fair that they provide him with access to the data collected from his performances.
In conclusion, Kamra’s letter to BookMyShow has raised important questions about the relationship between artists and ticketing platforms, and the ownership of data collected by these platforms. While some have argued that Kamra’s demand is unreasonable, others have argued that it is a reasonable request, given that the data collected by BookMyShow from his solo shows is his intellectual property.
Ultimately, the issue of data ownership is a complex one, and it will require careful consideration and negotiation between artists and ticketing platforms. However, one thing is clear: artists have a right to control their own intellectual property, including the data collected from their performances. And if ticketing platforms like BookMyShow are unwilling to provide artists with access to their own data, then they should not be surprised when artists take matters into their own hands.
Source: https://x.com/kunalkamra88/status/1909195974318215341
