RIAA
Made to represent the interests of major record labels, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has been suing computer users for using the internet to download music. While the RIAA says they only target the worst downloaders, their list of lawsuit targets includes a 12 year old girl, a dead man and a disabled single mother. The RIAA says they do this because downloaded music keeps the record labels from making the money they could get by selling albums.
Opponents of the RIAA say that downloading music doesn’t stop people from buying more music, and downloaders are more afraid of viruses than being sued. They also say that RIAA costs built in to CD prices take money away from the artists.
Do you consider downloading music stealing or sharing? Does the music industry have the right to prevent downloading or do consumers have the right to exchange copyrighted materials? Do you think downloads are cutting into the music industry’s profits?
December 11th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Musicians and the industry are entitled to their fair profits for the work and entertainment they provide.
December 11th, 2007 at 11:44 am
I can’t afford to buy expensive CDs. Charging per song is OK but these should be affordable.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
its faster and costs less the music industry should get the money they deservre for the music they make, but they should make CDs affordable and not 17 dollars for the CD bacause you like only one song
that is the only reason people should download songs
very rarely do people download enitre CDs thet mostly download only the one song and it costs them little or nothing to do so
December 16th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
downloading music is free whereas buying the CD costs money….i rest my case….downloaders rock on =)
December 18th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
i think that it saves money to download music and as much as everything else costs at least one thing in this world should be free
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:58 pm
everyone loves music nd most ppl download than buy cd’s dowloading is better cuz u can just get the one song that you want rather than buy a whole cd just to get that one song
December 23rd, 2007 at 4:16 pm
i think that downloading musi is terrible for the cd industry
December 24th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
i think that the music downloads are easier and they save a lot of time.
December 24th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
i personally do not care 4 the industry.
December 24th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
I believe that downloading music, like using lime-wire, is stealing. It is taking music and not paying. It could ruin a music seller’s job because people will download the music instead of buying it. This would drive a music seller out of business.
December 26th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
who doesn’t download music?
& a dead guy?
December 26th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
i dont.
December 27th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
The music industry deserves the mney. Without them, you wouldn’t have the song. krysta, you say you have to download a cd just because you buy one song. There are sites on the net where u can (legally) download 1 song 4 .99.
December 27th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I think that the RIAA is a bunch of losers. They need to realize that Consumers aren’t criminals, and that we are entitled to the ability to copy our music. The artists don’t get money from the labels anyway.
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December 27th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
its totally fair to download music off the internet
amen
December 27th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
the artists should get the money from the music they work hard to produce, its only fair. if you only like one song you can just buy that one song off itunes or windows media player. how would you like it if people were taking songs that you worked very hard to produce for free?
December 27th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
i believe that music is a great deal in society right now and most of the people like some gender of music and the fastest, and less costly is downloading music. there for i’ll be doing it, besides is easy to put in your ipod. so what the jeck enjoy technology……..
December 28th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I Personally don’t care one bit about the RIAA, they are a bunch of losers and interfere with people’s privacy. and the Itunes Store is legal anyways…
December 29th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
I download music all the time. It ’s not what I would consider as a bad thing… it shouldn’t be considered illegal to share music.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
I think that downloading music isn’t stealing. The music indrusty does not have the right to block music
December 29th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
I think that it is ok to buy music on the internet within reason and if the artist gives the ok.
but if it is like a fan website giving out free sound bites then i don’t think that is ok
December 30th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I BELIEVE THAT DOWNLOADING MUSIC REALLY ROMOTES THE SONGS AND THE ARTISTS. ARTISTS REALLY DO NOT MAKE MONEY ON RECORD SALES. THEY MAE MONEY ON CONCERTS.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I think downloading should be allowed. That way, kids can sample songs at home first before deciding if they want to buy it. Maybe the download has a limit on how many times it can be played. Also, why would a dead guy be a suspect? HE’S ALREADY DEAD FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!!!
December 30th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Downloading music is 100% stealing and is strictly forbiden
December 30th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHATEVER WE WANT FREEDOM OF CHOICE I DOWNLOAD MUSIC SO WEHAT SUE ME!!!!!!!
December 30th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
The music one listens to or makes are choices an individual has. This country preaches all sorts of freedoms to other countries, including freedom of choice and the freedom of speech. Why should the music we listen to in America be any different considered?
Basically, people should be allowed to do whatever they want in terms of music.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
downloading illegaly is stealing
January 1st, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Sharing music is NOT stealing because someone to buy the cd’s in the first place. Also the RIAA will never find the people who set up the sites and the the greatest offenders because they know how to use a computer to well and will always cover there tracks.
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I FEEL THAT WE HAVE INTERNET 4 A REASON SO WE MIGHT AS WELL USE IT I MEAN NOT EVERY 1 CAN BUY CD 4 ONE OR TWO SONGS THEY WANT TO LISTEN TO NOW DAYS NOTHING CAN BE DONE WITH OUT THE INTERNET SO I FEEL DOWNLOADING MUSIC IS SHARING NOT STEALING
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
sINGLES/ALBUMS COST TOO MUCH. iF i CAN GET IT FREE ON THE iNTERNET, WHY NOT?
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:44 am
LOOK MUSIC IS STOLEN IN OTHER WAYS. NEW CD’S HAVE NEW DEVICES TO NOT STEAL THIER MUSIC N YET THIER ARE DEVICES TO ELIMINATE THEM SOLD AT STORES. N BOOTLEGERS WILL NEVER FADE. I LOVE BOOTLEGGERS 5 FOR 20 IS BETTER THAN 1 FOR 20! HAHA
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:00 am
MUSIC IS BETTER FREE.YET IF YOU R TRUELY INTO UR ARTIST U WILL BUY THE CD ANYWAY
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
personally i think weve got bigger problems than this anyway. so what if some people found free routes to music that they want to listen to? especially if some of the biggest offenders are twelve year old kids. how are they supposed to find the money to buy all the fifteen dollar cds they want anyway? move on already. people are going to do what they want with the downloading of music anyway and frankly, with ticket prices for concerts as high as they are, are extremely wealthy musicians really all that worried about missing out on some album sales?
January 4th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
downloading isn’t stealing it’s sharing
January 4th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
i AGREE WITH eNRIQUE!
January 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I believe that stores require to much money for CD’s and that when i download it only costs a dollar or so but in stores its lie 10 dollars and i dnt always have that much money on me so yea i agree with downloading music
January 6th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I thin that it can be considered stealing, but i don’t thin that its hurting the music industry as much as they mae it seem. Everyone is still maing cds and music and no one seems to be loosing money. I now that if i don’t have the otion of downloading music then i wont buy because i dont have enough money. i’ll still go to the concerts if I can.
January 13th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Free downloading should be forbidden, but downloading systems that allow users to pay for each individual song should be allowed. Still, I agree with the opponents of the RIAA in that downloading doesn’t seem to have detracted much from the music industry. So perhaps, the best solution is find means to control free downloading, although that would be virtually impossible to monitor so many individuals. I am guilty myself of some free downloading. But actually, most of the times, I do end up buying CD’s because the quality of the music is better and it’s less time consuming to purchase the songs in this manner than to wait for them to download. And even so, there are still sites, such as purevolume.com, that allow for legal free downloading because the artist has authorized that these songs can be downloaded for free. Therefore, there are methods to obtain good music without spending too much money and staying within the confines of the law.
January 19th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
If the artists wanted to make a better profit, they would be better off producing their own music to the web and cut out the record labels altogether.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
it is technically stealing because the artist and the recording company who make the music have rights to their own music. They have the option of sharing it by selling it. However, the price of the music itself is somewhat higher than what it should be. Furthermore, illegally downloading music does not return a profit to the recording companies
January 29th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
too many people download songs from websites its stupid to sue each 1!!!!!
i myself sometimes do. theres no point in sueing every one who does!!! stooges!!
February 1st, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I love downloading music all the time!! It is a lot easier than buying the CDs all the time. I still buy CDs though. It shouldnt be an issue to download music.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I agree in the fact that musicians have the right to mae money off of their wor. Although free downloading engines such as limewire are extremely easy to use and still available to everyone. If the artists wanted to sue those who download music for free they should just get rid of the illegal downloading sites all together. If they are not willing to do that then they should deal with it!
February 10th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
On the one hand the right to own one’s own material and creation is truly imortant, the record industry will eventually see that by allowing access to their songs freely, they will be getting mareting for their truly unique content such as concerts, dolls, osters and such for free. They will eventually become aware of this and then we wont have 15 yr olds being arrested for enjoying an artists songs.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I thin that downloading music is stealing. the artist does not get money for his/her song that they wrote
February 18th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
The Riaa is a conglomerate of the Man, and the recording artists who mae way to much money anyway. The riaa needs to be disbanded and not allowed to exist any longer. Screw the man!!! Let indi music live.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
i dont think th that downloading music online is stealing because on some sites it says that it is not illeage on the other hand the sites that do say it is illiage if you do nmot listen then it is stealing and is illiagl
e.downloading maes it easier to get music,faster and saves room of a cd.the riaa does not run the world or someones way to get music so they should stay out of it.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:44 am
i think that downloading music is not stealing because some people cannot afford or do not have the time to go to the store and buy an album. and with all the music changing constantly, maybe you dont want an artists whole album but just one song that you really like. and even if you buy them on itunes you might love it one day and hate the music the next day. its better to changer your intrest in music without losing money. It is also alot easier then buying each song seperatly.
March 1st, 2008 at 10:19 am
downloading music is unfair in some way. but it should not be ilegal
March 1st, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Back in the old days we used to make copies (cassette tapes) of music. Someone bought the album to begin with. If the music industry was smart, they would figure out a way to generate advertising revenue when they put out songs (how about a 5 second promo for a candy bar, for example).
March 1st, 2008 at 7:35 pm
i think that many people steal music because you get sick of music eaasily and you waste money by paying as much as 99 cents per song
March 2nd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
What the… America is a free country, who gives a load for the CD industry. They don’t realize that all industries will close down sooner or later and new ones will come. Downloading will soon become the main resource for most electronic devices. Thought stated.
March 8th, 2008 at 9:06 am
many people still buy cds despite the fact that downloading is available. leave us downloaders alone!!!!
March 8th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
i really do agree and i do believe cds should be cheaper…
come on 18 $ a cd that iz rediculous!
March 8th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
dowloading is illegal when stated. some things are free like certin games etc. but sharing amongst users shouldnt be illegal. artists will always be making money from cd sales and further more from every other little thing they do and get being payed for doing- such as justin timberlake getting payed over 1 million dollars to show up at a party.
March 11th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Its fine to download music, considering that CDs are so high priced nowadays. Why do these artists need the money anyway? they sell tickets to their concerts for like 50 bucks……
March 11th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I thin that more artist should do what Radiohead did so that the RIAA can’t get mad at anyone for downloading music and then you don’t have to ay a lot of money for something that really shouldn’t cost twenty dollars I thin Radiohead does it best because Radiohead rocs you lie a hurricane.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:27 am
I believe downloading music promotes CDs.
March 21st, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I think downloading music without paying for it is stealing. I prefer to buy cd’s, even if it is a little more expensive.
March 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
peer 2 peer will never go away … so the record companies are toast … and in some sense …. feeding us music of their choice at high prices … they have made their own bed !
March 24th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Downloading some music is okay but if someone makes a habit of only getting music by downloading it should be considered stealing.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I think that no matter how much we music lovers love being able to download free music, we have to realize that by sneaking around and getting music illegally, the musicians we love suffer. They need to make a living, too. I do, however, think that the RIAA should choose their battles a little more carefully.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:20 am
i think that the record companies deserve there moiney stop the free downlowding
March 27th, 2008 at 10:32 am
downloding songs is cool coz u can buy individual songss w/o havin 2 get the full album. I like drowning pool they have some pretty terrible songs so downloadin comes in handy
March 28th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Why are they having this argument when companies like Apple make devices to download songs? If they don’t want people to download songs so badly, get rid of the MP3 players instead of the downloads.
March 29th, 2008 at 10:20 am
There’s no harm in downloading music. Even if I download some songs, I’ll still buy the CD.
March 29th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
The foundations of onder civilization was based on piracy. The piracy was condoned by every odern governent and help to shaped the political and econic structures that exist today.
Long live pillaging, plundering the entertainent industries hoard of usic and video….Lets not forget the wine either..
Avast ye atessssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 30th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I think that downloading usic can be both sharing and stealing. When you download usic off of iTunes, you are not stealing because you are buying the usic. When you get it off of Liewire, you are stealing because you aren’t paying for the usic. That isn’t fair to the artist or the copany because they aren’t getting the $$$ for their hard work. Even if it’s Britney Spears, she still ade the usic and deserves the $$$ for her work. That is what I think about downloading usic.
April 5th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Bands don’t get cash for their CDs anyway, the record label wants to get lots of $$$, not the bands. The bands I listen to are okay with piracy, in fact, they support it. So I do it.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I agree with other points. downloads should be charged. the artists have to be paid for their efforts. it’s a business; their career.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I think illegally downloading |V|usic is stupid not because of the law,; but ’cause of the digital risk involved; so |V|any files contain viruses etc that it’s silly and not worth it if these progra|V||V|es are gonna |V|ess up the co|V|puter. bleh.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:40 am
ok, so whats so different about taking a blank
CASSETTE TAPE, recording the song OFF THE RADIO and listening to it later?
the difference here is now your on a coputer, with an ip address that is connected to you (proxys realy dont hide you) and big brother is always watching.
big business keeps getting bigger while keeping the little guy little. your constitutional rights are being taken away fro you slowly in the nane of progress.
May 11th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I think whether or not downloading is stealing is irrelevant. Technology is changing rapidly and the internet has provided people with the nneans to acquire nnusic quickly and freely. The RIAA needs to take this into account and adapt.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Who cares if people download it is easy and fast.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I can’t really afford to buy CD’s. Besides, often I don’t want to buy the whole CD anyway. I want specific songs. With downloading I dont even have to leave y house to get whatever I want. I dont think downloading is stealing, record copanies are pretty weathly anyway. This way the artists can get soe oney and I can save soe.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I think that downloading is an easier alternative to buying cds. It is also eco friendly. Also, it shouldn’t be considered stealing because singers earn enough already. They can live without their earnings due to cd sales.
May 26th, 2008 at 12:28 am
its stupid that the musicians are even complaining about these issuses because they get enough money from concerts and commercials they get millions of dollars from just that, what makes you think we should give them more of our money
May 31st, 2008 at 8:46 am
The_RIAA_is_somewhat_to_blame_for_this_new_culture_of_music_downloading.
By_raising_the_cost_of_music_artificially_consumers_were_coerced_to_find_alternate_means
of_obtaining_music.
If_the_record_labels_were_to_cut_the_cost_of_music_and_institute_variable_means_for_obtaining_it
such_as_legally_over_the_internet_by_song,_then_more_consumers_may_be_encouraged_to_obtain_music_legally.
May 31st, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I THINK THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN DOWNLOADING AS EACH GUY DOESN’T HAVE THE CASH TO BUY CD’S. BESIDES, ITS A FREE COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 5th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Regardless of whether or not the RIAA exists, usicians will still continue to ake usic. The RIAA wants profits, they dont want top protect their artists, they want to protect their PROFITS.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I believe that the people should adhere to the current established laws unless there is blatant inustice to it. Regardless of whether the downloading usic is legal or illegal i feel that every citizen has an obligation to follow the law. it is what keeps society working and in order.
June 19th, 2008 at 11:41 am
dOWnloAdINg USic iS vERrrRry bAd bUt i dO it AnyWaYS! Tehehe!
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
THATwasagoodarticle.ithintherecordibngacomanyhasarighttonotleteoledownloadmusicbuttheywilllneverbeabletosotit
June 25th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
i think that that was a great article. it was special. usic is fantastic. i love it
June 25th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I think that downloading nusic should be one of our basic rights and that it shouldnt natter whether or not we purchase then because either way we do it is still spreading the artists talents and encouraging other people to listen to the sane songs.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
i love downloading nusic with a burning passion and dont really like buying a whole cd if i like 1 song off of it. i think that songs can be overpriced but whatever i love itunes anyway
June 27th, 2008 at 9:42 am
I always use y itunes account so i havent coited any felanys
June 28th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
artsts.that.mae.cds.only.get.about.24.cents.for.a.cd.they.mae.most.of.their.money.with.merchandise.and.touring.
June 29th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Its hard to tell whether you want to buy a cd or not. Downloading online gives you the opportunity to hear songs on the cd. If I really like the cd I go out and buy it.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I will occasionally buy a CD, when I like the artist and want to support them. But really, free downloading of media = WIN. Gotta love torrents…
July 1st, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I feel that people should be given the choice weather they want to spend there cash or download songs for free, but don’t forget that there is a flip side to both. for instance while purchasing a cd you will probably encounter a song that you have never heard before and you could like it then you have found a new favorite song, but also you save cash by downloading songs off the internet and you don’t have to worry about all the extra song’s you don’t want so it depends, I will write a report again if you want to discuss the reasoning for this review you can at fan fiction .co once again look up under d.hoots
July 9th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Personally, I download. Not alot. Thats probably going to ake y opinion biased, but here goes. I think it’s flattering that people want your usic. I understand that the artists who aren’t gettting payed for their works could be frustraited. If they REALLY want the oney they would get, (people would borrow CD’s fro eachother, and send usic files ANYWAY, but it would cost a little bit to pay for. People don’t want to pay for it, and they will keep getting around it. Artists ake enough $ as it is. They should accept that, and orgainiszations like this are ust going to prevent people fro actually buying usic. They won’t pay. I won’t. Closing down sites like The Pirate Bay and LieWire won’t help. New places will arise. And if it’s “illegal” why does it exist? I’d bet people in the white house download usic. Thanks for reading y 2 cents. Oh, and the key next to n doesn’t work. No, not b, (w flipped)
July 18th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
i think that downloading should be allowed becuz not everyone can go out and buy CDs and its a waste of $$
and wat if u only want 1 song
July 18th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I so totally agree!! I ean, I wouldn’t be able 2 go get a cd!!!
July 20th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Ita the artists own fault. They shouldnt sign theselves to record lables in today’s dying usic industry. They should learn to independently record and produce their albus via online labels. Pr learn to anage and sign ther own usic
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Free usic downloads is ok because the artists are already incredibly rich they dony need ore.