Metallica SUCKS

- As far as downloading music that is from a major label artist, I can't say I have much experience personally. Occasionally I will download a catchy pop song, however I feel like most people who listen to "pop" music will actually buy the album because they want to have the lyrics and band art that comes along with buying a CD. However, I truly feel like it is okay to steal money from those who have plenty to spread around. Typically mainstream artists make most of their money from concerts and sponsorships from huge corporations (ex: Brittney Spears selling her body to Pepsi Cola for advertising purposed) therefore they aren't even losing much money from the albums themselves. Additionally, the mainstream record industry really has the R&D and resources available to figure out a way to restructure the business model. If the record industry decides not to figure out a way to make records free its their own fault for losing money and not conforming to societies approach to get their music.

- Personally I do download (illegally) a great deal of music from independent artists who do not use a major label to distribute their music. My thinking is that most of these artists (who have way less money than major labels) actually have figured out how to survive selling their music without having their income coming from selling the actual CD or vinyl. I would be shocked to find out about an artist that is actually against music sharing online. (Ex: Sufjan Stevens, Radio Head Etc....)

- If the issue at hand is downloading a song I already own, I really don't think there is any problem with that. How could an artist complain about you "stealing" their music if you've ACTUALLY already purchased it. In addition, downloads can actually help an artist get their name out there. If a great deal of people are downloading their music online then they can get an idea of how popular a song is and how successful they have been in promoting their album.

- So I believe shop lifting is an entirely different issue. Its not a matter of your hurting the artist and whether they make the money (because if the store has already purchased the album then the band has already been paid) but rather the store that is selling the music and whether THEY have been paid. Its apples to oranges I believe when comparing stealing music online and stealing music in a store.

- As I pointed out above I don't think stealing music for any reason is wrong. The artist needs to figure out how to make money besides selling reocrds and use the method of downloading illegal music as a way promote the album. I definitely have found that I like a band so much from listening online that I will go to a store and buy the CD.

- Once again, as above I think that giving a CD to a friend is not a big deal. Its a way of artist promotion, and I believe that really the best way to learn about a band is through word of mouth. MTV is dead and most of the best music I have stumbled upon and have become excited about (enough to purchase other things from the band EX. concert tickets / t shirts etc...) is stuff that friends have burned for me.

- Same answer as above. Sharing music with friends is today is the best music model for promotion of an artist.

- See above....

/./......