Pirate copies of Ira, Eurovision CDs on sale at the monti

Even before Ira Losco had set foot on home soil from Estonia, monti hawkers were busy selling pirate copies of the official Eurovision Song Contest CD and her hit single, 7th Wonder.

Visual & Sound Company director Grace Borg said that on Monday, the very same day that Ira arrived from Estonia, she had gone to the monti in disguise and bought a pirate copy of the Eurovision`s CD with the songs of the 24 competing countries.

Ms Borg is also the official representative of BMG, the official record company that releases this CD, selling at Lm7.50.

The hawkers were also offering pirate copies of the CD compilation of Malta`s Song for Europe Festival, which should be selling for Lm4.95 from licensed record shops.

However, both CDs were selling at the monti for Lm2 each, Ms Borg said.

"A few days ago I also bought Ira`s single from another stall for Lm2 instead of Lm3.99. The abuse is rampant."

Ms Borg has already filed a complaint with the fraud squad on behalf of BMG and she called on the Song for Europe organising committee to do the same.

When contacted, committee chairman Charlò Bonnici said that they too would be filing an official complaint.

Ira herself appealed to fans not to buy the pirate CDs. She was adamant she would not sign any of them.

Ms Borg, who is also the official representative of giant record companies Universal and Sony, also wondered why the committee was so committed to the German record company Cap Sounds.

She hit out at Cap Sounds, saying that although a week had passed since Ira placed second, it was still promoting last year`s Malta entrant Fabrizio Faniello on the web site, without any mention of Ira.

Since 1996, Malta`s winner has always signed a contract with Cap Sounds, which has been responsible for recording the CD and promoting and supporting the singer abroad.

Last week Mr Bonnici said the committee had approached Universal and BMG in a bid to get them to record Malta`s winning song for Eurovision, but no definite plans have yet been made.

"It is not easy to get large companies to record our song. They liked our product, but they do not seem prepared to sign up Malta yet," he had said.

The committee was grateful for the help it got from Cap Sounds, but it was leaving its options open and would be starting fresh talks with other record companies.

"In the meantime we are also seeing how Cap Sounds, through its association with Coch Music, which is part of Universal, can further push our cause," Mr Bonnici said yesterday.

"The fact that we have now placed second increases our chances of being signed up."