Why Not? (All About Music)

Member Name: ILoveJackDaniels

Product:	All About Music
Date:	28/06/01 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Music, Get to see if you like something before you buy it, Free

Disadvantages: Hurts the record industry, Too easy to abuse

Unless you've had your head in the sand for last few years, you will have heard of Napster and the numerous other music sharing programs. They have all come under a degree of fire from the recording industry and music lovers alike, and have enjoyed a degree of success over time.

However, with the American courts taking action on behalf of the recording industry to limit the capabilities of file sharing, I think it's time people asked themselves what is so wrong with it?

I am going to try and present a balanced opinion putting across both points of view, but first I should probably mention a few of the best programs.

Napster, the most famous and the supposed original music sharing program has spent recent months in the limelight as its court case proceeds, but there are alternatives. Audiogalaxy is the best by far - taking the Napster idea and developing it to remove all of the problems that Napster suffers from (like transfer errors). If by the end of this opinion you decide to try a file sharing program, you won't do better than to visit www.audiogalaxy.com.

The recording industry is opposed to music sharing, and it is difficult not to see why. Their very existence depends on the sale of records, and they view music sharing online as a threat to this. But is it?

Most people (according to the official figures, something like 95% of users) will download copyrighted tracks. But about 90% claim that it has not affected the amount of music they actually buy.

Since the inception of Napster, the sales of CD Singles has dropped dramatically, so this claim does not seem terribly accurate, however album sales have been barely affected. This should tell the record industry something. Like most people, I use internet file sharing to see whether or not I will like an album before spending my hard earned money on it, and this should be viewed as a good thing by the record industries.

Of course, single s
ales have been declining for years anyway, however album sales have been rising since the advent of file sharing online.

People spending money on albums they decide they dislike hurts music in general. It is very easy to put people off buying music on the basis of a single song - all it takes is one bad album and you are unlikely to try new things as often as you otherwise might - especially with today's prices.

I have bought albums based on songs I have downloaded that I was recomended by others in music communities - this seems to have been overlooked by the industry as well. People will try new things when they are free and have been reccomended them by people they know and trust, and without file sharing, this would be impossible.

On some points, the record industry is right to be worried though - there is a percentage of users who download somplete albums just to avoid paying, and this should rightly be stopped.

The record industry is right to oppose these programs, but is going about it in the wrong way. Maybe instead of opposing Napster and the other programs they should consider working with them. It is ibvious to everyone that if these programs are shut down, they will continue to thrive through IRC and similar programs. Working with them could solve these problems.

For example, if a record label were to offer a selection of songs from an album online, people could still use the programs and see whether or not they would like an album, but people would find it harder to download a complete album. Maybe offering albums online a short time after their release (say 3-6 months) would solve the problem, with those who wanted to wait before deciding whether or not to buy still having the option to use file sharing..

Whatever happens, it is obvious that file sharing will continue, and unless the record industry plans to sue every individual user of these programs for copyright infringment, then they need
to change their attitude to suit the times. Otherwise they risk alienating themselves from a tool that has the potential to make tham even more money...

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