My Point of Perspective on Music Downloads

When I think about the idea of free music downloads, at first thought it is great, but looking deeper I see reason for concern. Downloading music from the Internet is a great convenience but in my opinion wrong if the downloads are not paid for. I think that music from sources like itunes are legitimate business and customers at times take advantage of that privilege when they steal the music without paying. The creators of those resources made music available for the artists to bring their music to more people and spread it to the corners of the globe not to take away form. These sources are not there to take away from the artist with free music downloads. Free downloading sources such as limewire, are killing the music industry. Eventually these sources will destroy the recording industry and groups will make money only on their tours and their concerts. As CD's and their album sales fall to even lower sales than they are today. With people downloading these products for free, it is stealing and eventually the artists will not be able to make any more music and will disappear. If I were a music artist I would be almost disgusted with my listeners because they want to listen to my music but without paying me for producing it.

Free Music Downloads-How they Affect Everyone in the Music Industry

About 15 years ago music was only available in stores. People would go into stores and buy CDs for themselves, for someone’s birthday, or maybe even to support some music artists’ career. CDs used to be very popular and in demand a couple of years ago, but Web 2.0 changed all of that. Free music downloads are now available all over the Internet. People either copy the CD and sell it back to the public, or they copy it for themselves from someone else and just make it available over the internet to anyone who wants it. Sites such as YouTube and MySpace have made music downloads available to people everywhere. Whether people care or not, downloading music is illegal and it is wrong. Music artists get paid for their music. According to RIAA “When you go online and download songs without permission, you are stealing. The illegal downloading of music is just as wrong as shoplifting from a local convenience store – and the impact on those who create music and bring it to fans is equally devastating.” People need to remember that when you don’t pay for the music you download, more than just the singer is affected. Other employees like song writers and sound engineers also lose income. Eventually music that is sold in stores will no longer be necessary. Every album will be on the internet. Free music downloads are just about the same as online newspapers. If you have free music downloads and free online newspapers then why go buy them. You have all the information literally right at your fingertips.

How do you feel about free music downloads? Do you feel as though they are killing the music industry or do you like the idea of free music downloads and feel as though they should be legal? You be the judge of that. How do you think that the music industry and music artists feel about all of their hard work being downloaded for free? How do you feel about all of their hard work being downloaded for free? How do you think that they get paid and how do you think they that essentially have money to survive and keep living? What role does Free Music Downloading play in your life? Are you related to this issue and personally what will you make of it?

Loren