Running Head: DOWNLOADING MUSIC
Downloading Illegal Music
Recording music has been in the United States since the beginning of the 1880's. Music is a part of everyone, for entertainment, for developing human cultures, and to express ideas and thoughts. Music is now obtained by the easiest of means, easier than going to the store or borrowing a CD from a friend, by downloading it online. Many do it for free via different small websites. Downloading music from the internet is good for all parties.
A year ago, if you wanted to download music from the Internet, the only way to do it was so called "illegally". Different companies are making money out of the websites, as downloading music online becomes explosively popular. Some music artists have realized that the MP-3 format is a great way to promote what they're doing, especially if they don't have unlimited access to the radio or MTV. Yes, they are losing a lot of business, but it's because they have lost touch with the new generation of youth. It's a battle that they're really going to be able to win. They're losing valuable time catching up with technology and figuring out where the industry really needs to go next.
The youth who are downloading MP-3s don't even feel as guilty as they would if they were stealing penny candy. They feel so alienated from the music business and all the money related to the music business.
It is not going to be easy to solve the problem by suing 12 year olds and 72 year olds for downloading too much free MP-3. Most college students today have downloaded an extraordinary amount of MP-3s.
And it's not just the big bosses at the RIAA are focusing on money making -- artists, particularly new artists, want an opport ...