Should mp3s be free?

[methtownblue]

If there's one thing I love, its music. I love listening to all types of rock music, especially oldies. But if there's one thing I hate, its paying to listen music. I find it very hard to find new songs to put on my mp3 player without using a filesharing program. I would love to use limewire or kazaa, but I don't want my brand new laptop being slown down with all kinds of viruses and spam. Also I don't really like the idea of getting caught by the RIAA and get financially raped in court because of some petty illegal activity. So it is in my humble opinion that the laws on mp3 file sharing should be abolished. Why you say? Well for starters, having free mp3s help real musicians become noticed by others as I'm sure not many people are willing to pay for a new song from an unknown artist that they don't know is listenable or not. And if someone doesn't the song, he or she could simply delete it and look for another song and not feel guilty about wasting a dollar on itunes. Also free mp3s, in a way, supports freedom of speech, as music is meant to express an artist's imagination and feelings, which isn't meant to be corrupted by greed. Another important reason is that it can spread the word of a new great musician with great talent, and without being impeded by the need to buy the music, can spread like wild fire on websites and word of mouth alike. This can really boost the sales of an artist if one should ever decide to tour across a region, as I'm sure you can't download yourself experiencing a concert, so people HAVE to pay to see a new sensation. All in all, I think paying for music only hurts people and musicians alike, so the mp3 format should be free to use and share.
I hoped you like my argument. But of course I want to hear everyone else's, so what do you think: Should mp3s be free?

[methtownblue]

I feel too lazy for paragraphs right now, as I usually only try to form structure when I need to, like when I have a huge persuasive essay that needs to be graded by a teacher. How about this, you give me a great answer for this thread and I will write with form next time? Feel better?

[cstrikehero]

get virus protection. kaspersky is good.. norton =shit avg=shit avast=OK not great
idk.. go find something. and get bittorent with ip:blocker..

then stop complaining because musicians need the money to make this wonderful music u listen to..

so go buy it anyway

[methtownblue]

Ok I should have put this in my original argument but I didn't want to as I thought the whole thing was getting too big, but you leave me no choice! Guess what people? I'm a musician! I play the guitar and I can articulate with it very well, and let me tell you, I'm motivated to play because I love to see people enjoy the art they hear! I'm not motivated by greed, unlike most of the crappy mainstream artists that pollute the airwaves with the filth they call "music", and leave true music to wither and die in prostitute alley. All I want is some appreciation and recognition, which I'll probably never get because of organisations who try get rid of mp3s unless I am corrupted by them to follow thier terms. Most other virtouoso musicians would probably feel this way too unfortunatly. So may I ask you cstrikehero, are you a musician, or have you even tried to at least walk in our shoes for a while?

[Durandal4]

This is a debate as old as .mp3s themselves.

On one hand using Torrents and P2P services cause the artist to lose money. For example, if you download a new CD, that's 1 CD sale that artist doesn't get.

On the other hand, in a national poll, people were asked that if they couldn't download the .mp3s for free, they wouldn't buy them anyways. SO, if that's the case, then downloading .mp3s give artists recognition in which a non-pirate may hear and hope to purchase their music.

Personally, I'm fine with .mp3s costing money. I know I get mine from Torrents and Warez sites but it's still funny to laugh at a friend of mine who has 8000+ songs (no lie) and he bought every single one.

[Cake]

Free. the artist make enough from OTHER records sales, promotions, and concerts

[a2thae]

They are only going after people who UPLOAD the music...because they don't know how much money they could've cost the musician etc..so get "SUPERAntiSpyware", or "MalwareBytes", and avast and you're good to go, download the shit; but don't upload it.

This is a debate as old as .mp3s themselves.

On one hand using Torrents and P2P services cause the artist to lose money. For example, if you download a new CD, that's 1 CD sale that artist doesn't get.

On the other hand, in a national poll, people were asked that if they couldn't download the .mp3s for free, they wouldn't buy them anyways. SO, if that's the case, then downloading .mp3s give artists recognition in which a non-pirate may hear and hope to purchase their music.

Personally, I'm fine with .mp3s costing money. I know I get mine from Torrents and Warez sites but it's still funny to laugh at a friend of mine who has 8000+ songs (no lie) and he bought every single one.

8000$ for music? fuck that.

[charlee]

one word. torrents. torrents = love.

[Phoenix Fire]

Since when are mp3's not free?
Torrents.
P2P.
Dark Alleys full of black people.
Make your pick.
I have a membership on Demonoid and Leecherslair, both very high quality torrent sites, invite only.

[Durandal4]

I got membership on Demonoid, if they don't have what I want, I'll usually check warez-bb, if neither have it, it doesn't exist.

[Cuddles]

no, mp3's should not be free. they're an outdated shitty format. OGG format is already free, and much, MUCH better. smaller file size, better sound quality. (and by smaller, i dont just mean slightly smaller....i mean less than half the size)

err...wait...you were talking free as in beer, and i was talking free as in source....lets try this again: if i felt that it was wrong of me to steal music, books, tv, and anything else i steal on a regular basis, i wouldnt do it. i follow my own morals. if i go to see an artist live, i would pay, if i was buying from the artist directly, i would pay. if the artist was particularly good and asked, i would donate money. fact of the matter is, it's the music industry as a whole that would get the money if i bought a cd, not the artist, they get a tiny portion and have to make money selling tickets and merchandise at concerts.....so fuck the music industry, it needs to be non-profit. should be non-profit. it should encourage music as an art, not as whatever the fuck gets popular.

[methtownblue]

I agree with part of your answer cuddles, but some things need to be clarified. First of all, I was talking about mp3 as just your generic file medium, because it is very popular even though newer and technically superior formats are around. Also, to steal something that can be recorded and copied many times over is a little different compared to stealing something that can be felt in your hands. But I do agree on what you feel about artists who do deserve money because of talent. But money shouldn't dominate an artist's will to make music, as he or she could only as what we like to say "sell out". And yes the organisations like RIAA should be non-profit, as its not them make the music that we enjoy.

[Cuddles]

I agree with part of your answer cuddles, but some things need to be clarified. First of all, I was talking about mp3 as just your generic file medium, because it is very popular even though newer and technically superior formats are around. Also, to steal something that can be recorded and copied many times over is a little different compared to stealing something that can be felt in your hands. But I do agree on what you feel about artists who do deserve money because of talent. But money shouldn't dominate an artist's will to make music, as he or she could only as what we like to say "sell out". And yes the organisations like RIAA should be non-profit, as its not them make the music that we enjoy.

that was the whole point--reward talent, by the riaa being non-profit, and supporting only those bands that are actually worth supporting, as opposed to just whatever sells best. it would prevent the ability TO sellout.

[Foshiznay]

I sure like getting free music off of LimeWire, but if you were an artist that spent a lot of his time and money to make living, it doesn't seem fair.