by Shawn Grundy

Created on: September 17, 2008

This will undoubtedly be earmarked as one of the most controversial issues of our time. For one because of the sheer amount of people involved, two because it spans the entire globe, and three because there are actual facts supporting both sides of the argument. It's interesting that this argument is viewed by so many subjectively, when in reality it's not subjective at all. There are laws in place that directly outlaw this.

Now, I am neither a proponent of or against downloading internet music in general, although I do think that the title "Internet music" is as broad as the side angle of a 747 Jetliner. There are many types of "Internet music", some of which advocate being downloaded for free so to lump all music on the Internet into one category is not realistic. For instance, there are bands looking to promote their music to land a record deal. These bands obviously want to get as many people as possible to download their music in hopes that they will make a name for themselves. There are also musicians (believe it or not) that are proponents of music downloads and advocate peer to peer networks. Groups like Steve Winwood, Jason Mraz, and Heart to name a few. Some have even claimed that P2P Networks have increased their exposure. Mraz states that half of the people who attend his concerts found him on P2P networks. These people pay for tickets and purchase band products like T-shirts and other concessions. These are the venues that help the bands most, financially anyway. It's the labels who profit most from Record sales.

So then, let's look at some of the major points of this argument. One side will have you believe that downloading songs off of the internet, even if only a few, is the equivalent of committing murder and the other side will have you believe that it is perfectly fine both legally and ethically.

Let's pretend for a moment, that I am the chief detective on solving this case once and for all. I have two interrogation rooms, both with cold, blank gray concrete walls, a wobbly desk with a chair on each side and a single hanging light directly above the table in each of the rooms. Hopefully that paints the picture of most interrogation rooms that we see on TV. In the first room I have representatives from the Record Industry and in the other, advocates for downloading music. Let's assume this argument focuses on the use of peer to peer networks for the alleged illegal downloading of copyrighted music.

Let's start with the Record Industry executives.

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>