Why buy music when you can download it for free? Simply, because it is illegal. If that doesn’t stop you, think about who you are affecting as you download song after song.
Not only are you stealing from the artist who makes the music, You are also affecting the jobs of other innocent people.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which represents the recording industry worldwide, reports that 95 percent of all music downloaded online is illegal. So what is so bad about this?
According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), people who download illegally contribute to the 71,060 U.S. jobs lost when they download music without paying for it on a file sharing website. Most people do not understand the damage they are doing when they are downloading songs online. Those jobs lost are not the famous musicians you always here about. The list goes on and on from the employees behind the scenes such as producers, managers and song writers. When you do not buy the song you are helping take away someone’s income. If this does not affect you, think about who it does affect. Ask any music majors, without a strong music industry, they are in trouble.
Yes, there is no way to completely stop illegal downloads, especially on college campuses. College students are some of the most avid music listeners. Losing their business in the music industry would greatly effect it, but when all their music is illegally downloaded it can effect it negatively.
Think you can not be traced? Think again. Your Internet protocol address is tracked every time you connect to the internet, including file sharing websites. In August 2009, a Boston University student was fined $675,000 for illegally downloading 30 songs and putting them on a file sharing website. I do not know about you, but most people can not afford a large fine. In fact, the RIAA can sue for as much as $150,000 per song illegally downloaded.
Pay $0.99 to $1.29 on iTunes per song, or end up paying thousands or millions of dollars to record companies if caught. It is ultimately your decision, just remember who you may be stealing from. n