This may seem like it is an old issue to bring up, but it is still very new. Illegally downloading music: the controversial issue.

Against it: It is perfectly fine to go online and listen to a band’s music to see if you like their sound. Its a completely different story when you download their music without paying for it (i.e. limewire and other similar sights). There are sites that charge you for downloads, (i.e. itunes.com, walmart.com) and those sites are legitimate. The problem is, it is getting more difficult for artists to earn money. Most of the time, the money they earned goes back into the band. Gas for tour busses, plane tickets, and other transportation costs need to be paid for somehow. It is the same with their meals while they are traveling-they cost money. If the artist can not afford to travel, how are they going to keep playing shows for you? What’s the point of someone spending so much time and effort on a piece of music when their listeners aren’t going to appreciate it? Musicians work hard at what they do. If you think about it, downloading free music is like stealing from an online store. You wouldn’t steal a CD from a CD store, would you? It would be hard, plus they have security devices. The internet is no different-they can track where the music is being downloaded to. So not only are you sacrificing the future of your favorite musician, you are risking yourself by sending out your identity to whatever downloading host you use. (If you’re really into computers you’d understand better.) Point is, if you really like an artist, why not buy their CD to not only support them, but to have the satisfaction of owning it.

For It: For most young teenagers, getting to a CD store can be a problem. I’m from Jersey, and here, you have to be 17 to drive…if you have a car. And in my area, the closest CD store is ten miles away, and you’d have to be crazy to walk there. So that right there makes it more difficult. Another idea people are going by, is that you can buy CDs, T-Shirts, or other miscellaneous merchandise at a show. This is very true, but why would someone buy a CD they already downloaded for free? Bands do not see much of their record sales-most of it comes from merch. So what’s the purpose of buying a cd? (It does count as merch by the way…) Some use the money saved by downloading to pay for tickets to shows, and then purchase t-shirts to support the band. There are ways of peacefully getting around illegal downloading, but you have to do it right. If you’re going to download free music for a band you love, at least go to a show or buy some merch from their site. Support them somehow. (Hey, some bands, especially smaller ones, have their own street teams. Join one. Or two….)

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Teen Magazine Writer