DOWNLOADING MUSIC

[Nice_Guy]

I use Limewire all the time but have also noticed a lot more viruses.

The files that are shown as the exact thing you typed in the search box & all in under case are very suspect. Just look for the files that are being downloaded by a few people is what I do.

[digger]

That is a myth.

The whole system of bands getting advances (i.e. thousands upon thousands of pounds worth of money, i.e. a living) from record labels relies on the fact that people are buying their CDs

It's probably a little different in my case... most of the bands I listen to either release their own stuff, or use small indie labels to release their music. Only major artists tend to get paid massive advances for their albums. If Metallica and Coldplay go skint, i'm happy.

[RaM]

Same here. I've bought so many shit CDs, I've spent thousands on stuff I've never listened to. So, if there's a band I like, I'll see them live. They make more money from me going to a gig then they would me buying a CD.

That is a myth.

The whole system of bands getting advances (i.e. thousands upon thousands of pounds worth of money, i.e. a living) from record labels relies on the fact that people are buying their CDs

I don't think thats entirely correct. Even for the biggest bands, the advance they get for an album doesn't increase or decrease depending on you buying a single album.

However, tickets for a gig, or the cost of a band shirt at a gig go straight to the artists (of course not all as direct profit as venue hire, manufacturing etc. come into account).

Smaller bands especially will get more from you attending their shows and buying merchandise than they would from album sales.

[theothehero]

Yes, it is illegal.

Yes, everybody does it. (Well...most people...)

From a legal point of view...I think you'd be pretty safe. It would Limewire that gets in trouble, not you. No government would be bothered to hunt down hundreds of thousands of people. (I hope...)

Viruses...just be careful what you download. Its usually pretty obvious. Because the things you download from Limewire are coming from someone who already has that file on their computer, most of them are god because most people aren' stupid/twisted enough to keep viruses and deliberately rename them as songs for people to download...but it does happen.

i dont think limewire would, they only supply the platform for people exchanging files. im pretty sure theres a disclaimer that says you agree only to put shareware and free files on it.

the distributor would be the one who gets "hunted down" as they supply hundreds of people with an illeagle copy.

[Boomer]

Yes, it is illegal.

Yes, everybody does it. (Well...most people...)

From a legal point of view...I think you'd be pretty safe. It would Limewire that gets in trouble, not you. No government would be bothered to hunt down hundreds of thousands of people. (I hope...)

Viruses...just be careful what you download. Its usually pretty obvious. Because the things you download from Limewire are coming from someone who already has that file on their computer, most of them are god because most people aren' stupid/twisted enough to keep viruses and deliberately rename them as songs for people to download...but it does happen.

i dont think limewire would, they only supply the platform for people exchanging files. im pretty sure theres a disclaimer that says you agree only to put shareware and free files on it.

the distributor would be the one who gets "hunted down" as they supply hundreds of people with an illeagle copy.

Correct and a nice little loop whole for the time.

Same as Justin TV dosen't promote the use of streaming football but live streams. Justin TV will ban someone that loads a game but users will have an alias email address and will be up and running again in minutes.

I heard recently that youtube receives a ridicuous amount of vidoes loaded every minute and cannot police them all.
Therfore they rely on us, the public to report.

[wave of mutilation]

I don't think thats entirely correct. Even for the biggest bands, the advance they get for an album doesn't increase or decrease depending on you buying a single album.

RaM, I may not be conveying my point entirely clearly. Obviously the initial advance is fixed, regardless of the eventual sales that occur for that particular release.

The point is about the future, the stuff the band goes on to do next. If the CD flops, is the label going to want to give them another advance to make another album of music? No - If the label isn't making money, they wont invest in the band, thus the band wont recieve another advance, wont be able to make the record - which can effecitvely lead to no more music for you from the band you like

[wave of mutilation]

That is a myth.

The whole system of bands getting advances (i.e. thousands upon thousands of pounds worth of money, i.e. a living) from record labels relies on the fact that people are buying their CDs

It's probably a little different in my case... most of the bands I listen to either release their own stuff, or use small indie labels to release their music. Only major artists tend to get paid massive advances for their albums. If Metallica and Coldplay go skint, i'm happy.

true, advances will vary, but they're still given by indies, who will also help the music to actually get recorded to a decent standard

[Eboue-Why?]

Thanks for your help Ladies and Gents. Sounds like you've gotta be careful!

[REB]

i use the pirate bay and its excellent,

filled up mine and the mrs creative zens last weekend we have been robbed by the record companys enough down the years so now im getting my own back

[RaM]

i dont think limewire would, they only supply the platform for people exchanging files. im pretty sure theres a disclaimer that says you agree only to put shareware and free files on it.

the distributor would be the one who gets "hunted down" as they supply hundreds of people with an illeagle copy.

Then how would you explain the trouble that Kazaa has had???

[QuartzGooner]

i use the pirate bay and its excellent,

filled up mine and the mrs creative zens last weekend we have been robbed by the record companys enough down the years so now im getting my own back

In the UK we have been charged a lot more for music over the years than in the USA.

Even so, an artist should get paid for someone using their owrk.

More artists are now moving away from major record labels anyway, and so the advance becomes less iportant.

Money is earned from gigs and merhcandise, as others have said.

Even for artists on major labels, sales of CDs are less important as qualifiers for whether a band gets dropped from the label after poor album sales.

Instead, radio play and internet "hits" from sites such as youtube, myspace and facebook count in the bands favour when a record label assesses how popular the band is.

At long last, the balance of power is shifting in favour of the bands, away from dominating and dinosaur like major record labels.

The ones I feel sorry for are smaller indie labels, who relied on a sharp ear to bring through new bands and break new trends...and now have little place in a free for all market.

The PR companies are growing though. In a crowded and anarchic market place, marketing becomes more important than ever.

[Red Gunner]

Why pay for something when you can just steal it?

I am a pirate and proud

Those musicians and actors are rich enough without my money