File-Sharing

File-sharing or piracy is the question.What is should be considered stealing and what benefits does it have for the industry. What can the recording industry do to either stop or work with the file-sharers. When I was in high school I used file-sharing programs more. I was always looking for new music or downloading some of the old classics. I think part of the reason why file-sharing is so popular is that there is a large amount of music out there, an amount we couldn't possibly buy, but often enjoy listening to. I would never walk in to a store and steal a CD, but some how it doesn't seem the same when you download off the of the internet. To begin, I think it has to do a lot with the idea that it is called file-sharing. I would never think to steal or pirate music but if I'm just sharing that really great song from someone else just like me it seems legal. I see nothing wrong with barrowing a Cd to burn from a friend, so why should sharing with other music lovers like my self be anything different. In addition, I believe in the long run we are helping the music industries more then we are hurting them. We are making their music and their artists more popular and many of us still do buy the CD. The RIAA said that record stores around the country are closing because of piracy. I think this is an effect of more music being used digitally. People have less need for a store when they can download it off of itunes instantly opposed to having to drive to buy it. File sharing is not going to go away, and its time that the record industries start finding a new way to deal with this. Licensing music to online radio stations and providers is a start but its not enough. Itunes does offer good deals and I do find myself now using it opposed to downloading illegally. However, the average college student thinks about the money in the record companies pocket compared to the money in theirs. So obviously they are going to choose file-sharing over buying a over priced Cd. Cd prices should lower after the initial release and continuously cost less. Music that is over a certain age should be shared legally for free. I'm not advocating stealing from record companies because their rich, but I'm also not advocating selling over priced music to people who just want to hear all that is out there. Music is something we all love. It has the power to effect our emotions, make us happy when we are sad. Music is something that everyone deserves to enjoy, which is why I advocate change for file-sharing within the industry whatever that may be.