Downloading free music. Options

[GothpunkGClover]

Why is it illigal, should it be legal? give me you're thoughts.

[fameONE]

Independently selling your music is, in fact, the best way to go in the music industry. The downside is that you don't get a budget via the record label or higher corporate headquarters for promoting your music. Which, of course, limits your exposure because you're left out of a network where a little bit can go a long way. However, selling your music independently allows you to keep a large portion of your earnings. instead of having to keep feeding money to a record label that has you bound by a contract that, in turn, owns you, you get to be the one who decides where the money goes (granted everything else is taken care of).

When it comes to downloading music, Indie artists have exanded their fanbases via the internet. Hell, its a very simple strategy to release a bunch of pre-album tracks online. The internet will start buzzing about an artist they know little about, and in turn, people will want to hear more. When the album actually drops, those who were anticipating the artist's release, will run to buy the album.

Major labels have tried a similar approach to boost record sales. This same approach has gotten many artists nowhere because, at this point, it's expected. Take HipHop artists contracted to a label like Universal. No matter who the artist is; no matter what subgenre of HipHop they perform; their album will somehow, someway be available online roughly two weeks prior to the release. From Nas to Chamillionaire, this has been the running formula. If stats show that people are rushing to download the album (illegally), it gives the company a good indication that the album is going to do well, thus, making them more money. But if downloads are slow, the album gets pushed back, another single is released and more money is dumped into promoting the artist.

Illegal downloading? Whatever.