The Good Advice Committee's first task was to determine whether or not it was appropriate to download songs for free from the Internet. Good arguments were made on both sides, but in the end, the committee voted no, 4-1.
NATE: NO
I find nothing wrong with downloading music off the internet. Most of the songs that are being downloaded are from artists who already have more money than they know what to do with. The last time I watched "Cribs" on MTV, it doesn't look like Jay-Z was losing out from everybody downloading his songs for free.
LINDA: YES
Some people download for free things they can't find or stuff that won't be released in stores. Artists usually make money from touring and record companies lose money from free downloads. So if we aren't buying music from an artist and they aren't making money, then the label may drop them. Then you will have a hard time listening to your favorite artist. One view on controlled downloading when you have to pay is that people may do it too much. Then the artist might start focusing on singles and albums will become a lost art.
AMANDA: NO
I tend to tread the line on this issue. Though I've been known in the past to utilize Kazaa and Napster, I also understand the music industry's point of view: Too many people downloading free songs from the Internet means the music industry loses lots of money. However, I also see it from the consumer's point of view: Surely the industry does not make its fortune off of CD sells alone; look at the millions they make off of $100 tickets for sold-out shows on any given night.
While I admit to downloading songs for free, I tended to only download one or two songs from a CD or music that has never been released (at least in the US). If I liked several songs on a particular CD, I would just go out and buy it. And even sometimes, after downloading a few free songs, I would realize how good a CD was and end up purchasing it anyway. I feel if a person wants to get free music, they'll find it one way or another. If someone wants to settle for crappy-quality music from a free service, then let them get what they're (not) paying for. That's why, most of the time, I end up buying the CD. Or I just go to iTunes and pay for a top-quality single.
JOHN: NO
1) It gives opportunity to experience music which may not be available in all areas. Believe it or not, all towns across America do not have Tower Records or FYE, but you can get internet access anywhere. Also, many areas of the country don't have radio stations that cover multiple genres. I couldn't imagine living in a town where all you got to listen to was country or pop. Whoops!! I did that already!!
2) It's cheap! I believe the record companies make more than enough money off of the performers. I don't believe it's taking money out of the performers pockets, but the record companies. They are the ones that have made the music industry such a despicable place!! Well, them and the guy who founded the Backstreet Boys. The companies sign artists for next to nothing and keep 80 to 90% of the money made from their records sales. The only way the performer makes any money is to go out and tour relentlessly. That, or create their own label and work off of that, but the big companies always end up buying the little guys, so it's a vicious circle.
3) It gives people opportunities to hear music created by their favorite bands that may never be mass produced. Some of the most downloaded songs are live performances. Nine times out of 10 you will never see these songs ending up on a cd you can buy at a store.
4) See #4 and think about the cost of CDs. The average compact disc costs less than 4 cents to make. You can buy a spindle of 50 CDRs for less than the average price of most new CDs. With minimal packaging a music CD (without DVD features, etc) should cost about $5. You can rarely go into a normal record store (excluding Wal-Mart and Target) and get a CD for less than $14.99. Some CDs sell for upwards of $18.99 at the time of their release. Then, the record stores make you think you're getting a great deal by paying only $15.99 for it!! Insanity!!
5) Access. I may hear a song i really like off of a movie that I'm watching at 3 am and want to hear that song again or some other things from the same artist. At that hour there are few places, if any, that are open. At that hour I probably wouldn't be in any shape to travel anyway. However, I can crawl to my computer and download the song in less than 2 minutes. Problem solved!
BEN: NO
Downloading free music is not a crime. How is that any different than taping songs off the radio? There's no guarantee in the quality, and it surely won't be as good as if you had purchased the CD. What's worse is if I were an aspiring musician, I would want as many people listening to my music as possible, regardless if every single person paid. How are you going to acquire fans, to attend concerts, spend more money and buy other novelty items?
If you want a song on your computer, I would recommend visiting iTunes, and if you find it, buy it outright. If not, try the free avenues.
RESULT
Is it wrong to download songs for free from the Internet? NO, 4-1
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