Friday, March 4, 2011
Online Music Downloading
Online Music Downloading: A Blessing or A Curse?
I am a musician. I play guitar, bass-guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, piano, and a little bit of the violin, and I sing as well. That being said, music is a very important part of life to me, and honestly the longest amount of time I will go without listening to music is the amount of time I have to spend in class. Outside of the realm of school and academia I am constantly listening to something, whether it is in my car, in my house, in the shower, or through my headphones as I am going on a run or long boarding, music is just…my life, and I have quite a vast and diverse collection of it. My stash of music (most of which is on my lap-top or I-pod) contains over 40,000 songs from various artists spanning decades as well as almost every genre of music, and I most certainly do not believe I would have a collection nearly a fraction of the size of mine without the ability to download and share music online.
I am pretty sure that the last time I actually went to a store to buy an actual album on CD was in 2002 when I bought By The Way, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and it blows my mind to think that it has been 9 years almost. It seems crazy to think that there were once times when I had to actually get up and drive to the music store, wander around, find my CD, buy it, and then listen to 10 or 12 songs that I did not like what so ever only to hear the one, two, or three songs I did actually like, it seemed kind of a waste of money and time to me, which is why I am so glad that there are different ways to obtain music these days.
Within the realm of Online Music Downloading, there exist two basic types, legal music downloading, and illegal music downloading, otherwise known as Piracy. Both are used today, and there are several pro’s and con’s to each type of downloads.
I am pretty sure that the last time I actually went to a store to buy an actual album on CD was in 2002 when I bought By The Way, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and it blows my mind to think that it has been 9 years almost. It seems crazy to think that there were once times when I had to actually get up and drive to the music store, wander around, find my CD, buy it, and then listen to 10 or 12 songs that I did not like what so ever only to hear the one, two, or three songs I did actually like, it seemed kind of a waste of money and time to me, which is why I am so glad that there are different ways to obtain music these days.
Within the realm of Online Music Downloading, there exist two basic types, legal music downloading, and illegal music downloading, otherwise known as Piracy. Both are used today, and there are several pro’s and con’s to each type of downloads.
The legal way to obtain music from the internet would be by subscribing and paying membership (or paying a fee per each song downloaded in some cases, such as I-Tunes) to an Online Music Download Retailer. These legal services, such as Apple I-Tunes, or the newly re-done Napster, obtain permission from record labels to distribute their music online for a fee. When a user wants to download a song, they simply go to the website they have chosen and simply download the song of their choice (after paying a fee, if the web site charges per-song fees). Once the user has successfully downloaded the song they are able to then transfer it to their cell-phone, MP3 player, or burn it on a CD for car trips (my usual method). In the past some companies have configured their files in such a way that they cannot be altered or replicated once downloaded, however in 2009, Apple announced they would be removing the copyright protection on their MP3’s, and now even companies such as Wal-Mart and Amazon.com sell MP3’s for downloading. (Boutin)
This method of obtaining music is good because it is legal, relatively safe, and most importantly the artist(s) responsible for creating the material receive compensation for their work. Typically when an online MP3 sale occurs (for simplicity reasons let’s just say it cost $1), the Online Retailer will pocket 30% of the sale, or in this example 30 cents. They will then send the remaining 70% to the record company who granted permission to them to sell the material in the first place. The record company will then give 15% of their 70% to the artist, which in this instance works out to be about 10.5 cents. If the artist is the original composer they will receive an additional 9.1 cents (it is a typical arrangement amongst big name record companies) meaning that for each download made, an artist stands to make almost 20 cents thanks to online music downloading. (Boutin)
Another reason that this method is good is because when one downloads music from a source such as I-Tunes or Napster or Amazon, there is very little chance that the user will receive a virus or a different song than what they wanted (unless they themselves clicked download on the wrong song which would simply be another case of Human Error). The one and only drawback to legal online music downloading is the fact that one has to pay money in order to use these services. Even so the price of membership is not outrageously high. On average I-tunes sells songs for .99 cents, Wal Mart has lowered some of their prices to .64 cents, and for 5 dollars a month a user can download everything and anything they could possibly ever want from Rdio. (Boutin) That sounds fairly reasonable to me.
The other method of procuring music from the internet is Piracy. Piracy is the act of creating, reproducing, and distributing material for sale (or in some instances for personal use as well) without the original artist or record label’s consent. Piracy is such an ugly sounding word, and for this reason many of these types of websites will call themselves “P2P” or “Peer to Peer” file sharing.
To engage in a P2P file sharing community is quite simple really. All one needs to do so is select one of the various websites offering the capability, sign up, and then start downloading. When one signs up for one of these websites, they are effectively allowing other users to view what they already have on their computer: MP3’s, movies, pictures, programs, etc. When a user finds something they want to download they basically make a copy of what is on the other user’s hard drive and then download it to themselves. If more than one user have the file that a user is trying to download, then it is all the better, as it will allow for a faster download. (Collins)
The advantages to illegally pirating music are that it is easy, and most importantly completely free. There are however, some drawbacks. The largest drawback to illegally pirating music is the fact that it is illegal to do so. When a user illegally downloads a song, they are paying no compensation to the artist, and for lack of a better term robbing them of what is rightfully theirs’ for their hard work and creativity. They may also be subject to legal persecution as in the case of Ms. Whitney Harper, who was charged with pirating music and faced fines of $750/song she illegally downloaded. (Wallstreet Journal) Random, but still interesting, recently an Irish High Court deemed that the practice of illegal music downloading is not illegal within the borders of the country, so if you want to illegally download music, go to Ireland. (Irish Voice)
The other method of procuring music from the internet is Piracy. Piracy is the act of creating, reproducing, and distributing material for sale (or in some instances for personal use as well) without the original artist or record label’s consent. Piracy is such an ugly sounding word, and for this reason many of these types of websites will call themselves “P2P” or “Peer to Peer” file sharing.
To engage in a P2P file sharing community is quite simple really. All one needs to do so is select one of the various websites offering the capability, sign up, and then start downloading. When one signs up for one of these websites, they are effectively allowing other users to view what they already have on their computer: MP3’s, movies, pictures, programs, etc. When a user finds something they want to download they basically make a copy of what is on the other user’s hard drive and then download it to themselves. If more than one user have the file that a user is trying to download, then it is all the better, as it will allow for a faster download. (Collins)
The advantages to illegally pirating music are that it is easy, and most importantly completely free. There are however, some drawbacks. The largest drawback to illegally pirating music is the fact that it is illegal to do so. When a user illegally downloads a song, they are paying no compensation to the artist, and for lack of a better term robbing them of what is rightfully theirs’ for their hard work and creativity. They may also be subject to legal persecution as in the case of Ms. Whitney Harper, who was charged with pirating music and faced fines of $750/song she illegally downloaded. (Wallstreet Journal) Random, but still interesting, recently an Irish High Court deemed that the practice of illegal music downloading is not illegal within the borders of the country, so if you want to illegally download music, go to Ireland. (Irish Voice)
Also since Peer to Peer file sharing communities are largely un-regulated, there exists the possibility for anybody to post anything under any name, so when one believes they are downloading “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd there’s a chance they may in fact not be downloading Free Bird, but rather a different song, a pornographic movie, no song at all, or maybe even a virus. (Collins) By connecting one’s computer to a network such a Peer to Peer network, one is putting their computer at risk for all sorts of spyware or viruses, since everybody and anybody within that community has access to a user’s hard drive. (Collins) I know all of this from personal experience.
In my personal opinion, online music downloading is a very beneficial advent to the human race. It allows us the opportunity to experience and hear music, movies, and other arts that we may or may not have experienced otherwise. True music aficionados (such as myself) once believed that the process of converting audio tracks from CD/Cassette/Vinyl to digital media and then compressing them to 128 kbs altered the quality of the sound, but with the advances in technology, and the more modern 256 kbs, the difference in quality of sound between a downloaded MP3 and the same song on a store bought CD is nearly un-noticeable. Online music downloading is the way of the future in regards to how music is sold these days, and I think it is a great idea, even though I personally could be happy listening to my vinyl records until the end of my days.
In my personal opinion, online music downloading is a very beneficial advent to the human race. It allows us the opportunity to experience and hear music, movies, and other arts that we may or may not have experienced otherwise. True music aficionados (such as myself) once believed that the process of converting audio tracks from CD/Cassette/Vinyl to digital media and then compressing them to 128 kbs altered the quality of the sound, but with the advances in technology, and the more modern 256 kbs, the difference in quality of sound between a downloaded MP3 and the same song on a store bought CD is nearly un-noticeable. Online music downloading is the way of the future in regards to how music is sold these days, and I think it is a great idea, even though I personally could be happy listening to my vinyl records until the end of my days.
Works Cited
Collins, Alan; Cox, Joe; Drinkwater, Stephen. “Seeders, leechers and social norms: Evidence from the market for illicit digital downloading” Spec. Issue Digital Piracy of Information, Economics, and Policy. Volume 22.4 pages 299-305 print.
Collins, Alan; Cox, Joe; Drinkwater, Stephen. “Seeders, leechers and social norms: Evidence from the market for illicit digital downloading” Spec. Issue Digital Piracy of Information, Economics, and Policy. Volume 22.4 pages 299-305 print.
This article was very helpful in explaining how and why Peer to Peer file sharing networks are illegal and speak of the potential dangers and harms associated with the usage of such services. It was very informative and written in a very academic manner, and written by rather credible individuals from the University of Portsmouth in the UK. I found it rather informative, interesting, and useful.
Grossman, Lev. “The Men Who Stole the World” Time Magazine, 24 November, 2010 online.
This article was in Time Magazine last year, and it discusses the lives and history of four young men who practically revolutionized the idea of online music downloading. I thought it was rather neat, and being as it came from such a reputable source (That being Time Magazine), I think it is rather credible.
This article was in Time Magazine last year, and it discusses the lives and history of four young men who practically revolutionized the idea of online music downloading. I thought it was rather neat, and being as it came from such a reputable source (That being Time Magazine), I think it is rather credible.
Boutin, Paul. “No Free Free-Bird” Wired volume 18.12 page 39 print
This article explained Apple’s removal of copyright protection on all of their MP3s in the I-Tune’s store. It also provided information on the background workings of legal online music downloading and gave insight as to how paying money for songs will compensate the Artist and how much of each sale they actually will receive.
”High Court Won’t Consider Defense Against Music Piracy Suit” Wall Street Journal Online 29 November, 2010.
”High Court Won’t Consider Defense Against Music Piracy Suit” Wall Street Journal Online 29 November, 2010.
This article was mainly about what happens when one illegally downloads music. The article tells the story of young Whitney Harper, who allegedly believed that all of the music she was downloading was not actually downloaded to her computer but was in fact online radio stations. She is currently locked in a legal feud with record companies who are trying to force her to pay a fine of a minimum of $750 for each song she illegally obtained through Peer to Peer file sharing.
Anonymous “File Sharing Okay” Irish Voice Volume 24.41 page 11
Anonymous “File Sharing Okay” Irish Voice Volume 24.41 page 11
This article gave insight to a recent decision made in Ireland regarding the legality of illegal online music downloads. Oddly enough the Irish Courts were OK with the illegal sharing, downloading, and reproduction of music via the internet.
Online Music Downloading
Online Music Downloading: A Blessing or A Curse?
I am a musician. I play guitar, bass-guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, piano, and a little bit of the violin, and I sing as well. That being said, music is a very important part of life to me, and honestly the longest amount of time I will go without listening to music is the amount of time I have to spend in class. Outside of the realm of school and academia I am constantly listening to something, whether it is in my car, in my house, in the shower, or through my headphones as I am going on a run or long boarding, music is just…my life, and I have quite a vast and diverse collection of it. My stash of music (most of which is on my lap-top or I-pod) contains over 40,000 songs from various artists spanning decades as well as almost every genre of music, and I most certainly do not believe I would have a collection nearly a fraction of the size of mine without the ability to download and share music online.
I am pretty sure that the last time I actually went to a store to buy an actual album on CD was in 2002 when I bought By The Way, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and it blows my mind to think that it has been 9 years almost. It seems crazy to think that there were once times when I had to actually get up and drive to the music store, wander around, find my CD, buy it, and then listen to 10 or 12 songs that I did not like what so ever only to hear the one, two, or three songs I did actually like, it seemed kind of a waste of money and time to me, which is why I am so glad that there are different ways to obtain music these days.
Within the realm of Online Music Downloading, there exist two basic types, legal music downloading, and illegal music downloading, otherwise known as Piracy. Both are used today, and there are several pro’s and con’s to each type of downloads.
I am pretty sure that the last time I actually went to a store to buy an actual album on CD was in 2002 when I bought By The Way, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and it blows my mind to think that it has been 9 years almost. It seems crazy to think that there were once times when I had to actually get up and drive to the music store, wander around, find my CD, buy it, and then listen to 10 or 12 songs that I did not like what so ever only to hear the one, two, or three songs I did actually like, it seemed kind of a waste of money and time to me, which is why I am so glad that there are different ways to obtain music these days.
Within the realm of Online Music Downloading, there exist two basic types, legal music downloading, and illegal music downloading, otherwise known as Piracy. Both are used today, and there are several pro’s and con’s to each type of downloads.
The legal way to obtain music from the internet would be by subscribing and paying membership (or paying a fee per each song downloaded in some cases, such as I-Tunes) to an Online Music Download Retailer. These legal services, such as Apple I-Tunes, or the newly re-done Napster, obtain permission from record labels to distribute their music online for a fee. When a user wants to download a song, they simply go to the website they have chosen and simply download the song of their choice (after paying a fee, if the web site charges per-song fees). Once the user has successfully downloaded the song they are able to then transfer it to their cell-phone, MP3 player, or burn it on a CD for car trips (my usual method). In the past some companies have configured their files in such a way that they cannot be altered or replicated once downloaded, however in 2009, Apple announced they would be removing the copyright protection on their MP3’s, and now even companies such as Wal-Mart and Amazon.com sell MP3’s for downloading. (Boutin)
This method of obtaining music is good because it is legal, relatively safe, and most importantly the artist(s) responsible for creating the material receive compensation for their work. Typically when an online MP3 sale occurs (for simplicity reasons let’s just say it cost $1), the Online Retailer will pocket 30% of the sale, or in this example 30 cents. They will then send the remaining 70% to the record company who granted permission to them to sell the material in the first place. The record company will then give 15% of their 70% to the artist, which in this instance works out to be about 10.5 cents. If the artist is the original composer they will receive an additional 9.1 cents (it is a typical arrangement amongst big name record companies) meaning that for each download made, an artist stands to make almost 20 cents thanks to online music downloading. (Boutin)
Another reason that this method is good is because when one downloads music from a source such as I-Tunes or Napster or Amazon, there is very little chance that the user will receive a virus or a different song than what they wanted (unless they themselves clicked download on the wrong song which would simply be another case of Human Error). The one and only drawback to legal online music downloading is the fact that one has to pay money in order to use these services. Even so the price of membership is not outrageously high. On average I-tunes sells songs for .99 cents, Wal Mart has lowered some of their prices to .64 cents, and for 5 dollars a month a user can download everything and anything they could possibly ever want from Rdio. (Boutin) That sounds fairly reasonable to me.
The other method of procuring music from the internet is Piracy. Piracy is the act of creating, reproducing, and distributing material for sale (or in some instances for personal use as well) without the original artist or record label’s consent. Piracy is such an ugly sounding word, and for this reason many of these types of websites will call themselves “P2P” or “Peer to Peer” file sharing.
To engage in a P2P file sharing community is quite simple really. All one needs to do so is select one of the various websites offering the capability, sign up, and then start downloading. When one signs up for one of these websites, they are effectively allowing other users to view what they already have on their computer: MP3’s, movies, pictures, programs, etc. When a user finds something they want to download they basically make a copy of what is on the other user’s hard drive and then download it to themselves. If more than one user have the file that a user is trying to download, then it is all the better, as it will allow for a faster download. (Collins)
The advantages to illegally pirating music are that it is easy, and most importantly completely free. There are however, some drawbacks. The largest drawback to illegally pirating music is the fact that it is illegal to do so. When a user illegally downloads a song, they are paying no compensation to the artist, and for lack of a better term robbing them of what is rightfully theirs’ for their hard work and creativity. They may also be subject to legal persecution as in the case of Ms. Whitney Harper, who was charged with pirating music and faced fines of $750/song she illegally downloaded. (Wallstreet Journal) Random, but still interesting, recently an Irish High Court deemed that the practice of illegal music downloading is not illegal within the borders of the country, so if you want to illegally download music, go to Ireland. (Irish Voice)
The other method of procuring music from the internet is Piracy. Piracy is the act of creating, reproducing, and distributing material for sale (or in some instances for personal use as well) without the original artist or record label’s consent. Piracy is such an ugly sounding word, and for this reason many of these types of websites will call themselves “P2P” or “Peer to Peer” file sharing.
To engage in a P2P file sharing community is quite simple really. All one needs to do so is select one of the various websites offering the capability, sign up, and then start downloading. When one signs up for one of these websites, they are effectively allowing other users to view what they already have on their computer: MP3’s, movies, pictures, programs, etc. When a user finds something they want to download they basically make a copy of what is on the other user’s hard drive and then download it to themselves. If more than one user have the file that a user is trying to download, then it is all the better, as it will allow for a faster download. (Collins)
The advantages to illegally pirating music are that it is easy, and most importantly completely free. There are however, some drawbacks. The largest drawback to illegally pirating music is the fact that it is illegal to do so. When a user illegally downloads a song, they are paying no compensation to the artist, and for lack of a better term robbing them of what is rightfully theirs’ for their hard work and creativity. They may also be subject to legal persecution as in the case of Ms. Whitney Harper, who was charged with pirating music and faced fines of $750/song she illegally downloaded. (Wallstreet Journal) Random, but still interesting, recently an Irish High Court deemed that the practice of illegal music downloading is not illegal within the borders of the country, so if you want to illegally download music, go to Ireland. (Irish Voice)
Also since Peer to Peer file sharing communities are largely un-regulated, there exists the possibility for anybody to post anything under any name, so when one believes they are downloading “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd there’s a chance they may in fact not be downloading Free Bird, but rather a different song, a pornographic movie, no song at all, or maybe even a virus. (Collins) By connecting one’s computer to a network such a Peer to Peer network, one is putting their computer at risk for all sorts of spyware or viruses, since everybody and anybody within that community has access to a user’s hard drive. (Collins) I know all of this from personal experience.
In my personal opinion, online music downloading is a very beneficial advent to the human race. It allows us the opportunity to experience and hear music, movies, and other arts that we may or may not have experienced otherwise. True music aficionados (such as myself) once believed that the process of converting audio tracks from CD/Cassette/Vinyl to digital media and then compressing them to 128 kbs altered the quality of the sound, but with the advances in technology, and the more modern 256 kbs, the difference in quality of sound between a downloaded MP3 and the same song on a store bought CD is nearly un-noticeable. Online music downloading is the way of the future in regards to how music is sold these days, and I think it is a great idea, even though I personally could be happy listening to my vinyl records until the end of my days.
In my personal opinion, online music downloading is a very beneficial advent to the human race. It allows us the opportunity to experience and hear music, movies, and other arts that we may or may not have experienced otherwise. True music aficionados (such as myself) once believed that the process of converting audio tracks from CD/Cassette/Vinyl to digital media and then compressing them to 128 kbs altered the quality of the sound, but with the advances in technology, and the more modern 256 kbs, the difference in quality of sound between a downloaded MP3 and the same song on a store bought CD is nearly un-noticeable. Online music downloading is the way of the future in regards to how music is sold these days, and I think it is a great idea, even though I personally could be happy listening to my vinyl records until the end of my days.
Works Cited
Collins, Alan; Cox, Joe; Drinkwater, Stephen. “Seeders, leechers and social norms: Evidence from the market for illicit digital downloading” Spec. Issue Digital Piracy of Information, Economics, and Policy. Volume 22.4 pages 299-305 print.
Collins, Alan; Cox, Joe; Drinkwater, Stephen. “Seeders, leechers and social norms: Evidence from the market for illicit digital downloading” Spec. Issue Digital Piracy of Information, Economics, and Policy. Volume 22.4 pages 299-305 print.
This article was very helpful in explaining how and why Peer to Peer file sharing networks are illegal and speak of the potential dangers and harms associated with the usage of such services. It was very informative and written in a very academic manner, and written by rather credible individuals from the University of Portsmouth in the UK. I found it rather informative, interesting, and useful.
Grossman, Lev. “The Men Who Stole the World” Time Magazine, 24 November, 2010 online.
This article was in Time Magazine last year, and it discusses the lives and history of four young men who practically revolutionized the idea of online music downloading. I thought it was rather neat, and being as it came from such a reputable source (That being Time Magazine), I think it is rather credible.
This article was in Time Magazine last year, and it discusses the lives and history of four young men who practically revolutionized the idea of online music downloading. I thought it was rather neat, and being as it came from such a reputable source (That being Time Magazine), I think it is rather credible.
Boutin, Paul. “No Free Free-Bird” Wired volume 18.12 page 39 print
This article explained Apple’s removal of copyright protection on all of their MP3s in the I-Tune’s store. It also provided information on the background workings of legal online music downloading and gave insight as to how paying money for songs will compensate the Artist and how much of each sale they actually will receive.
”High Court Won’t Consider Defense Against Music Piracy Suit” Wall Street Journal Online 29 November, 2010.
”High Court Won’t Consider Defense Against Music Piracy Suit” Wall Street Journal Online 29 November, 2010.
This article was mainly about what happens when one illegally downloads music. The article tells the story of young Whitney Harper, who allegedly believed that all of the music she was downloading was not actually downloaded to her computer but was in fact online radio stations. She is currently locked in a legal feud with record companies who are trying to force her to pay a fine of a minimum of $750 for each song she illegally obtained through Peer to Peer file sharing.
Anonymous “File Sharing Okay” Irish Voice Volume 24.41 page 11
Anonymous “File Sharing Okay” Irish Voice Volume 24.41 page 11
This article gave insight to a recent decision made in Ireland regarding the legality of illegal online music downloads. Oddly enough the Irish Courts were OK with the illegal sharing, downloading, and reproduction of music via the internet.
Online Music Downloading
Online Music Downloading: A Blessing or A Curse?
I am a musician. I play guitar, bass-guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, piano, and a little bit of the violin, and I sing as well. That being said, music is a very important part of life to me, and honestly the longest amount of time I will go without listening to music is the amount of time I have to spend in class. Outside of the realm of school and academia I am constantly listening to something, whether it is in my car, in my house, in the shower, or through my headphones as I am going on a run or long boarding, music is just…my life, and I have quite a vast and diverse collection of it. My stash of music (most of which is on my lap-top or I-pod) contains over 40,000 songs from various artists spanning decades as well as almost every genre of music, and I most certainly do not believe I would have a collection nearly a fraction of the size of mine without the ability to download and share music online.
I am pretty sure that the last time I actually went to a store to buy an actual album on CD was in 2002 when I bought By The Way, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and it blows my mind to think that it has been 9 years almost. It seems crazy to think that there were once times when I had to actually get up and drive to the music store, wander around, find my CD, buy it, and then listen to 10 or 12 songs that I did not like what so ever only to hear the one, two, or three songs I did actually like, it seemed kind of a waste of money and time to me, which is why I am so glad that there are different ways to obtain music these days.
Within the realm of Online Music Downloading, there exist two basic types, legal music downloading, and illegal music downloading, otherwise known as Piracy. Both are used today, and there are several pro’s and con’s to each type of downloads.
I am pretty sure that the last time I actually went to a store to buy an actual album on CD was in 2002 when I bought By The Way, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and it blows my mind to think that it has been 9 years almost. It seems crazy to think that there were once times when I had to actually get up and drive to the music store, wander around, find my CD, buy it, and then listen to 10 or 12 songs that I did not like what so ever only to hear the one, two, or three songs I did actually like, it seemed kind of a waste of money and time to me, which is why I am so glad that there are different ways to obtain music these days.
Within the realm of Online Music Downloading, there exist two basic types, legal music downloading, and illegal music downloading, otherwise known as Piracy. Both are used today, and there are several pro’s and con’s to each type of downloads.
The legal way to obtain music from the internet would be by subscribing and paying membership (or paying a fee per each song downloaded in some cases, such as I-Tunes) to an Online Music Download Retailer. These legal services, such as Apple I-Tunes, or the newly re-done Napster, obtain permission from record labels to distribute their music online for a fee. When a user wants to download a song, they simply go to the website they have chosen and simply download the song of their choice (after paying a fee, if the web site charges per-song fees). Once the user has successfully downloaded the song they are able to then transfer it to their cell-phone, MP3 player, or burn it on a CD for car trips (my usual method). In the past some companies have configured their files in such a way that they cannot be altered or replicated once downloaded, however in 2009, Apple announced they would be removing the copyright protection on their MP3’s, and now even companies such as Wal-Mart and Amazon.com sell MP3’s for downloading. (Boutin)
This method of obtaining music is good because it is legal, relatively safe, and most importantly the artist(s) responsible for creating the material receive compensation for their work. Typically when an online MP3 sale occurs (for simplicity reasons let’s just say it cost $1), the Online Retailer will pocket 30% of the sale, or in this example 30 cents. They will then send the remaining 70% to the record company who granted permission to them to sell the material in the first place. The record company will then give 15% of their 70% to the artist, which in this instance works out to be about 10.5 cents. If the artist is the original composer they will receive an additional 9.1 cents (it is a typical arrangement amongst big name record companies) meaning that for each download made, an artist stands to make almost 20 cents thanks to online music downloading. (Boutin)
Another reason that this method is good is because when one downloads music from a source such as I-Tunes or Napster or Amazon, there is very little chance that the user will receive a virus or a different song than what they wanted (unless they themselves clicked download on the wrong song which would simply be another case of Human Error). The one and only drawback to legal online music downloading is the fact that one has to pay money in order to use these services. Even so the price of membership is not outrageously high. On average I-tunes sells songs for .99 cents, Wal Mart has lowered some of their prices to .64 cents, and for 5 dollars a month a user can download everything and anything they could possibly ever want from Rdio. (Boutin) That sounds fairly reasonable to me.
The other method of procuring music from the internet is Piracy. Piracy is the act of creating, reproducing, and distributing material for sale (or in some instances for personal use as well) without the original artist or record label’s consent. Piracy is such an ugly sounding word, and for this reason many of these types of websites will call themselves “P2P” or “Peer to Peer” file sharing.
To engage in a P2P file sharing community is quite simple really. All one needs to do so is select one of the various websites offering the capability, sign up, and then start downloading. When one signs up for one of these websites, they are effectively allowing other users to view what they already have on their computer: MP3’s, movies, pictures, programs, etc. When a user finds something they want to download they basically make a copy of what is on the other user’s hard drive and then download it to themselves. If more than one user have the file that a user is trying to download, then it is all the better, as it will allow for a faster download. (Collins)
The advantages to illegally pirating music are that it is easy, and most importantly completely free. There are however, some drawbacks. The largest drawback to illegally pirating music is the fact that it is illegal to do so. When a user illegally downloads a song, they are paying no compensation to the artist, and for lack of a better term robbing them of what is rightfully theirs’ for their hard work and creativity. They may also be subject to legal persecution as in the case of Ms. Whitney Harper, who was charged with pirating music and faced fines of $750/song she illegally downloaded. (Wallstreet Journal) Random, but still interesting, recently an Irish High Court deemed that the practice of illegal music downloading is not illegal within the borders of the country, so if you want to illegally download music, go to Ireland. (Irish Voice)
The other method of procuring music from the internet is Piracy. Piracy is the act of creating, reproducing, and distributing material for sale (or in some instances for personal use as well) without the original artist or record label’s consent. Piracy is such an ugly sounding word, and for this reason many of these types of websites will call themselves “P2P” or “Peer to Peer” file sharing.
To engage in a P2P file sharing community is quite simple really. All one needs to do so is select one of the various websites offering the capability, sign up, and then start downloading. When one signs up for one of these websites, they are effectively allowing other users to view what they already have on their computer: MP3’s, movies, pictures, programs, etc. When a user finds something they want to download they basically make a copy of what is on the other user’s hard drive and then download it to themselves. If more than one user have the file that a user is trying to download, then it is all the better, as it will allow for a faster download. (Collins)
The advantages to illegally pirating music are that it is easy, and most importantly completely free. There are however, some drawbacks. The largest drawback to illegally pirating music is the fact that it is illegal to do so. When a user illegally downloads a song, they are paying no compensation to the artist, and for lack of a better term robbing them of what is rightfully theirs’ for their hard work and creativity. They may also be subject to legal persecution as in the case of Ms. Whitney Harper, who was charged with pirating music and faced fines of $750/song she illegally downloaded. (Wallstreet Journal) Random, but still interesting, recently an Irish High Court deemed that the practice of illegal music downloading is not illegal within the borders of the country, so if you want to illegally download music, go to Ireland. (Irish Voice)
Also since Peer to Peer file sharing communities are largely un-regulated, there exists the possibility for anybody to post anything under any name, so when one believes they are downloading “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd there’s a chance they may in fact not be downloading Free Bird, but rather a different song, a pornographic movie, no song at all, or maybe even a virus. (Collins) By connecting one’s computer to a network such a Peer to Peer network, one is putting their computer at risk for all sorts of spyware or viruses, since everybody and anybody within that community has access to a user’s hard drive. (Collins) I know all of this from personal experience.
In my personal opinion, online music downloading is a very beneficial advent to the human race. It allows us the opportunity to experience and hear music, movies, and other arts that we may or may not have experienced otherwise. True music aficionados (such as myself) once believed that the process of converting audio tracks from CD/Cassette/Vinyl to digital media and then compressing them to 128 kbs altered the quality of the sound, but with the advances in technology, and the more modern 256 kbs, the difference in quality of sound between a downloaded MP3 and the same song on a store bought CD is nearly un-noticeable. Online music downloading is the way of the future in regards to how music is sold these days, and I think it is a great idea, even though I personally could be happy listening to my vinyl records until the end of my days.
In my personal opinion, online music downloading is a very beneficial advent to the human race. It allows us the opportunity to experience and hear music, movies, and other arts that we may or may not have experienced otherwise. True music aficionados (such as myself) once believed that the process of converting audio tracks from CD/Cassette/Vinyl to digital media and then compressing them to 128 kbs altered the quality of the sound, but with the advances in technology, and the more modern 256 kbs, the difference in quality of sound between a downloaded MP3 and the same song on a store bought CD is nearly un-noticeable. Online music downloading is the way of the future in regards to how music is sold these days, and I think it is a great idea, even though I personally could be happy listening to my vinyl records until the end of my days.
Works Cited
Collins, Alan; Cox, Joe; Drinkwater, Stephen. “Seeders, leechers and social norms: Evidence from the market for illicit digital downloading” Spec. Issue Digital Piracy of Information, Economics, and Policy. Volume 22.4 pages 299-305 print.
Collins, Alan; Cox, Joe; Drinkwater, Stephen. “Seeders, leechers and social norms: Evidence from the market for illicit digital downloading” Spec. Issue Digital Piracy of Information, Economics, and Policy. Volume 22.4 pages 299-305 print.
This article was very helpful in explaining how and why Peer to Peer file sharing networks are illegal and speak of the potential dangers and harms associated with the usage of such services. It was very informative and written in a very academic manner, and written by rather credible individuals from the University of Portsmouth in the UK. I found it rather informative, interesting, and useful.
Grossman, Lev. “The Men Who Stole the World” Time Magazine, 24 November, 2010 online.
This article was in Time Magazine last year, and it discusses the lives and history of four young men who practically revolutionized the idea of online music downloading. I thought it was rather neat, and being as it came from such a reputable source (That being Time Magazine), I think it is rather credible.
This article was in Time Magazine last year, and it discusses the lives and history of four young men who practically revolutionized the idea of online music downloading. I thought it was rather neat, and being as it came from such a reputable source (That being Time Magazine), I think it is rather credible.
Boutin, Paul. “No Free Free-Bird” Wired volume 18.12 page 39 print
This article explained Apple’s removal of copyright protection on all of their MP3s in the I-Tune’s store. It also provided information on the background workings of legal online music downloading and gave insight as to how paying money for songs will compensate the Artist and how much of each sale they actually will receive.
”High Court Won’t Consider Defense Against Music Piracy Suit” Wall Street Journal Online 29 November, 2010.
”High Court Won’t Consider Defense Against Music Piracy Suit” Wall Street Journal Online 29 November, 2010.
This article was mainly about what happens when one illegally downloads music. The article tells the story of young Whitney Harper, who allegedly believed that all of the music she was downloading was not actually downloaded to her computer but was in fact online radio stations. She is currently locked in a legal feud with record companies who are trying to force her to pay a fine of a minimum of $750 for each song she illegally obtained through Peer to Peer file sharing.
Anonymous “File Sharing Okay” Irish Voice Volume 24.41 page 11
Anonymous “File Sharing Okay” Irish Voice Volume 24.41 page 11
This article gave insight to a recent decision made in Ireland regarding the legality of illegal online music downloads. Oddly enough the Irish Courts were OK with the illegal sharing, downloading, and reproduction of music via the internet.
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