Music Download Poll

**ComfortEagle** · 08-03-2007, 09:56 AM

Above is a private poll, meaning usernames will not be associated with anyone's answers. I am trying to get an idea of the number of people who download music illegally, versus legally.

I tend to buy some albums I cannot find in stores off of iTunes...usually it's cheaper than buying the album in the store anyways.

Do you purchase the songs you download...or do you use some type of program to download them? And why?

**FOX SPORTS** · 08-03-2007, 10:19 AM

I'm not sure this poll is a good idea.

This is basically asking members to state in a trackable form whether they commit or have committed illegal activity.

**Midee1** · 08-03-2007, 10:23 AM

FOX SPORTS Wrote:I'm not sure this poll is a good idea.

This is basically asking members to state in a trackable form whether they commit or have committed illegal activity.

Can we change it to a private poll where no names will come up? That way we can at least have an idea of what kind of effect this has on the industry.

**ComfortEagle** · 08-03-2007, 11:03 AM

The results of the poll are private. Votes will not be associated with anyone's username.

**ComfortEagle** · 08-03-2007, 11:12 AM

Midee1 Wrote:Can we change it to a private poll where no names will come up? That way we can at least have an idea of what kind of effect this has on the industry.

I can tell you right now that the effect it has on the industry is a big one. I've met with music publishers at SESAC and the marketing director for Warner Bros. Recording studios in Nashville and they both agree that illegal music downloading has effected the recording industry in a negative way.

They all agree that there is hardly anything they can do to stop it, but are trying to find new ways to make music available. iTunes is a fast, easy way to allow people to download music, while still generating money for the musicians/songwriters/publishers, but as long as there are tons of file sharing programs with no consequences for downloading them illegally, there will be no way to stop it.

**alfus21** · 08-03-2007, 12:28 PM

I use Limewire which is considered illegal, every now and then but not very often. I've not bought a CD in forever I usually just listen to the radio or old CD's now a days.

**jammin' jamey** · 08-03-2007, 03:26 PM

I agree that illegal downloading has effected the music industry in a negative way. Yet, when was the last time major record labels put a Pop album that appealed to the masses? Is American Idol the best that record labels can do? Where are the next "superstars" coming from? For the most part, I think Pop music is really suffering and Top 40 stations caught up in playing Gangsta Rap have only hurt themselves by ignoring acts that appeal to the masses.

Overall, I think it's a combination of: Lack of product from labels, charging high prices for what they sell, radio afraid to play anything different or new, and the music industry in general ignoring new technology. I downloaded music illegally through mirc chat 12 years ago and the industrty really didn't take notice until the Boston kid created Napster as a way to share his mp3's with his buddies through a simple file share program.

I no longer download illegally though. I use Napster and recently began using iTunes, but my iPod is not working anymore!!!

**DevilsWin** · 08-03-2007, 03:51 PM

Music is "intellectual property", the same as personal property. Here is why you shouldn't download illegal.

Here's an analogy:

Let's say that you have a house and a nice yard in an area that is frequented by people who like to walk. Perhaps next to a busy city park. That is your property.

Then I come along and say to myself, wow that yard sure does get alot of walk-by traffic. So I decide to set up a lemonade stand. In your yard. I don't ask for permission I don't offer you any lemonade and I offer you no rent or compensate you in any way for using "Your Property".

You wouldn't appreciate it I'm sure, and neither do the artists that your stealing from, when you download illegal!

**ComfortEagle** · 08-03-2007, 04:20 PM

DevilsWin Wrote:Music is "intellectual property", the same as personal property. Here is why you shouldn't download illegal.

Here's an analogy:

Let's say that you have a house and a nice yard in an area that is frequented by people who like to walk. Perhaps next to a busy city park. That is your property.

Then I come along and say to myself, wow that yard sure does get alot of walk-by traffic. So I decide to set up a lemonade stand. In your yard. I don't ask for permission I don't offer you any lemonade and I offer you no rent or compensate you in any way for using "Your Property".

You wouldn't appreciate it I'm sure, and neither do the artists that your stealing from, when you download illegal!

That is correct.

**warriorpride** · 08-03-2007, 05:28 PM

DevilsWin Wrote:Music is "intellectual property", the same as personal property. Here is why you shouldn't download illegal.

Here's an analogy:

Let's say that you have a house and a nice yard in an area that is frequented by people who like to walk. Perhaps next to a busy city park. That is your property.

Then I come along and say to myself, wow that yard sure does get alot of walk-by traffic. So I decide to set up a lemonade stand. In your yard. I don't ask for permission I don't offer you any lemonade and I offer you no rent or compensate you in any way for using "Your Property".

You wouldn't appreciate it I'm sure, and neither do the artists that your stealing from, when you download illegal!

Well yea that is true, but I have read on some newer bands websites that there just glad there music is getting listing too.

**Beef** · 08-03-2007, 09:14 PM

If you have a educational email you can use Ruckus for free, which I believe is legal? That is what I use and sometimes iTunes when Ruckus doesn't have it.

ComeFlyWithMe · 08-03-2007, 10:59 PM

Most bands sites do say they are just glad their music is getting listened to, they get a pay check either way.

**phs1986** · 08-04-2007, 01:07 AM

My son who just graduated actually did one of his portfolio pieces on music downloads! He did some researching and found that there are a few of the university's who have actually given their students punishment for using campus computers to download music illegally. They were being tracked and they knew exactly what students downloaded what!! They had their campus computers taken from them and some were charged with fines and threatened with expolsion for a semester!! Depending upon the severity of the downloads (evidently how many).... If I can find his paper (rough draft) I will jot down some specifics... he did have TONS of stuff on this....

**ComfortEagle** · 08-04-2007, 04:48 PM

UK and EKU had a few students get in trouble a year or so back. The RIAA took one minute of one morning....I think it was like 12:01 AM, and found 6 people at UK downloading music and sent them letters saying they had been caught downloading illegally.

I don't know what happened to those at UK, but I know that one of the students from EKU just got his dorm internet privileges taken away for 3 months.