Downloading Music. Is it stealing?

Tinkerbelle · 04-03-2007, 16:28

What do we all think?

Is it just blatant theft from a band or artist? Or are share sites an excellent marketing tool for bands and artists?

Are they a way of hearing music you wouldn't normally go out and buy?

Would you be encouraged to go out and buy CD's of the music if you like what you hear or have you saved yourself X amount of pounds by downloading it?

andrewb · 04-03-2007, 16:37

It's certainly not stealing. If you download a music file, the owner still has the original, theft is when someone takes your TV and you then can't watch it. It is a breach of copyright though.

I personally have a huge thing over the way the music industry (through the name RIAA) pursues its 'goal'. Firstly, they seem to think that if you wern't able to download an album, then you would buy it. Which is COMPLETELY wrong.

A lot of people download music rather than buying it, true. However, if they couldn't download music im 100% sure many of them wouldn't be buying all those albums they have downloaded. So the music industry makes up a lot of its figures when they talk about how much has been 'stolen'.

I'll buy independent artists music, I hate buying music from major record labels, a very small percent goes back to the artist and the music labels back people like the RIAA who pursue websites like allofmp3.com who are completely legal in Russia, the RIAA is trying to implement American law in Russia, its stupid.

Another thing is DRM, you can download music legally, but its full of technology stopping you from putting the music YOU purchased on to cd's, or your mp3 player, or for example only letting you copy it a few times.

flashy · 04-03-2007, 16:44

this is how i see it, if it was stealing then there wouldnt be sites like limewire on the internet would there..........simple as that

Tinkerbelle · 04-03-2007, 16:54

I agree with most of your opinions there Cyfr

They are illegal Flashy, the music industry tries it's up most to get them closed down. Was Napster one of it's casualties? The main legal music download site is iTunes isn't it?

chav1 · 04-03-2007, 17:03

its stealing

do care

NO

the internet has provided teh means for peopel to get back what they have been ripped off .

when cds cost 15 quid a throw it was let slip that after the artist had been paid and all teh packaging etc and manufacture the total cost of making that cd was 99p which they sold at 15 quid

i dont have a problem at all downloading music for free , those that do then the answer is simple " dont do it " but before anyone gets on their high horse be sure that you have never recorded songs off teh radio , copied an L.P to cassette , used tape to tape or own a dodgy dvd or vhs copy because if you do then you are just as guilty as everyone else

Tinkerbelle · 04-03-2007, 17:08

Can someone please say what chavs said word for word then I can answer lol! It seems I'm always disagreeing with him these days .... I don't want him to feel like I'm picking on him

Tinkerbelle · 04-03-2007, 17:12

If it's the major record labels as Cyfr has said, it doesn't have that much effect but when it's Independent music, that is their lively hood chav. It's like you going to work for a month and not even getting paid minimum wage for it

chav1 · 04-03-2007, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinkerbelle

Can someone please say what chavs said word for word then I can answer lol! It seems I'm always disagreeing with him these days .... I don't want him to feel like I'm picking on him

simply put

what goes around comes around

teh music industry ripped us off for years but technology now allows us to make up for it by getting music free

since the internet became more available and with the introduction of programs liek limewire, kazza , etc etc the price of a cd has fallen simply because the record companies have been forced to so realy the only form of competition the record companies has ever had is teh internet becaus eit has forced them to reduce prices , without the internet we would probably be paying £20 upwards for a cd now

Tinkerbelle · 04-03-2007, 17:16

But what about the independant artists and bands that are making music to pay the bills?

chav1 · 04-03-2007, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinkerbelle

But what about the independant artists and bands that are making music to pay the bills?

they should get propper jobs

just an aditional thought

teh record companies and movie companies put that much pressure on govenments to stop piracy that they managed to force new laws through american congress and our govenment alone just to protect their proffit margins , more money has been spent prosecuting school children for downloading music than what has been spent stopping child abuse and other nasty crimes ( if your child gets caught downloading music you get the fine )

money talks

flashy · 04-03-2007, 18:02

there's a song in there somewhere chav

tadah · 04-03-2007, 18:03

Ive not bought a CD for about 3 years apart from TaDah. Not stealing i dont think but do know people who will not go near copies.

Neil · 04-03-2007, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinkerbelle

Can someone please say what chavs said word for word then I can answer lol! It seems I'm always disagreeing with him these days .... I don't want him to feel like I'm picking on him

Here you go, I corrected most of his spelling mistakes, I hope you don't mind

its stealing

do care

NO

the internet has provided the means for people to get back what they have been ripped off .

when cds cost 15 quid a throw it was let slip that after the artist had been paid and all the packaging etc and manufacture the total cost of making that cd was 99p which they sold at 15 quid

i don't have a problem at all downloading music for free , those that do then the answer is simple " don't do it " but before anyone gets on their high horse be sure that you have never recorded songs off the radio , copied an L.P to cassette , used tape to tape or own a dodgy dvd or vhs copy because if you do then you are just as guilty as everyone else

Tinkerbelle · 04-03-2007, 18:57

LOL!

I do agree with chav on most of it. I download alot but I also have a pretty impressive CD collection so I don't feel any remorse downloading songs.

Like Cyfr I also buy direct from an independany artist or band were possible, but when it comes to bands and artists supported by a major record label I hate feeding the money grabbing fat cats.

SamF · 04-03-2007, 19:27

Yes it's stealing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flashy Tart

this is how i see it, if it was stealing then there wouldnt be sites like limewire on the internet would there..........simple as that

There are a lot of child porn sites out there. Drug user forums. Gang discussions. They all alright because they have a few websites ?