quoting RoCkInSmUrF:

it helps the artist in various ways of advertising who they are and giving a sampling to the people listening but when nobody purchases any cds it hurts them since the labels cant figure out who's getting bought and who's not.
i use filesharing to check out the songs that i don know from the artist but later on i buy the cd.

Thats what I do. I'll download an album and if I like it, then I go out and buy it. I'm weird in the way that I love the CD cover art, photos and notes on the inside. Plus, I want the artist to do another album, so buying it is support.

it helps the artist in various ways of advertising who they are and giving a sampling to the people listening but when nobody purchases any cds it hurts them since the labels cant figure out who's getting bought and who's not.
i use filesharing to check out the songs that i don know from the artist but later on i buy the cd.

The business just has to learn to adapt... I think within five years we will be comaparing music to water... it will be a freeflowing service... when you wake up you'll have music playing... drive to work... music playing... taking a shower... music playing... music for the moods... File sharing is by no means the end of the business, it's just given the business a little scare... we're always looking for something new... one last thought... music has been around since the beginning of time.... nothing could stop music... people will always need it....

i think file sharing is one of the best things thats ever come up. simply because of the fact that at most places, a lot of music is simply unavailable. they dont sell the cds.there arent no opportunities other than p2p to be exposed to the kind of music you want.i wud noe this cuz ive been there. and i think the only thing that kept me frm drifting away frm my type of music is file sharing.

I don't think filesharing damages the music industry as badly as people claim.
I agree with the whole "more artists, less business people" argument- maybe if they put less emphasis on taking advantage of the fan's pockets, then we might get back the legitimate artists back.
the filesharing helps people who just want the one song (or one that doesn't even appear in the shops). And sampling- always better to get a taster before buying it instead of buying it, hating it and giving it back.

I think the only reason why the music industry is so annoyed by it is, firstly, money... but it's also making the Top 40 hard to monitor. Personally, the Top 40 is a total waste of time- they completely disregard anything that isn't mainstream pop.
anyway, that's another rant for another time.

" it's kind of helping because it's getting people to listen to their music... "

I also agree with that statement.

There are several CDs I purchased, only after hearing songs from them which I downloaded using napster or other file sharing programs. I think file sharing is also a great way to see what you like before you blow your money on the album and figure out you only like one track or something.

The ironic thing is you aren't even paying for the CD or the plastic; you are paying for the license to use and hear that music. Plain and simple.

It seems that we have created a corporate world where we can put licenses on virtually anything even if it isn't something tangible, and if you fail to abide by those license laws, then you are a criminal.

pffft.

*cranks up some pirated music* Amen...

Now you see what happens when you let governments slip the power of the people to the power of industry, since after all: there is money to be made.

I buy almost all of my cd's now that I have a job and I'm not a drain on society *grins* but yea... when I do d/l I usually do it to sample the music to see if I want to buy the album... or if there's only a couple songs there... I don't believe piracy is killing music... it's kind of helping because it's getting people to listen to their music... don't get me wrong... i'm a musician... and I would put my music on d/l systems just for that fact to get my music heard...

Well, my opinion in the matter follow the lines of previous response.

The industry might die but the artists is still gonna be there, providing creativity to the world and seperating artists and business men.

file sharing isn't the end of the music industry and I would go so far as to say it's benificial to musicians around the world as well as music lovers.

Here's why I think so:

What do you call someone who uses a creative outlet to express their emotions, thoughts and feelings?

An artist.

What do you call someone who creates for the purpose of profit or simply to make a living?

A business man.

The music industry, unfortunately, is plagued with business men and very few artists.

Someone who is passionate about what they do will do it because they love it and because it brings them pleasure and satisifaction from creating something people can relate to or enjoy. These artists will continue to do what they do because it is a part of them and serves as a tool to express their inner-most feelings.

Those who cry about profits and revenue losses are not artists; they are business-men. Fuck the business men, get them out of every creative industry there is because they do more harm to the industries than good. It is only because of these frauds in every industry left and right that we now see the signs of degradation because of their soul-less uninspired dribble. They ruin the industry with their ideas of money and access as opposed to the purpose of the industry itself.

But yeah, like anything else, the music industry is just that today: an industry. As I see it 90% of the people who make music today are not artists, they are businessmen who regurgitate the same shit we've been hearing for decades. I can't say I see the harm in the collapsing of the music industry because it just means the collapse of the "industry" (a la all the business people), those who are passionate about music and love music will still continue to create it regardless if they make a living or not from it.

No one ever said that you are guaranteed compensation and revenue just because you create. There are thousands of creators who do more than these musicians do everyday of their lives and they get nothing in return. It's no different, except for how we as society have turned to look at "musicians".

I download illegal music, but I still buy CDs. I usually download music if I just want a few songs, but if I really like it, then I buy the CD. I guess it's just a way of previewing the music to see if it's worth my money. It's also a way for music to get out there and to get to more people, I guess. I'm not trying to justify anything, I'm just giving an explanation.

I do understand how this is killing the music industry. Because people (like me) download music, they up the prices for CDs and such, making us want to buy less and download more. The cycle goes on.

I understand why musicians would be pissed, but I am really too lazy to give a damn.