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From: Creed Discussion List [mailto:CREED-DISCUSS@WINDUPLIST.COM] On Behalf Of Bklynbaby727@AOL.COM

I don't doubt that they work hard making their music, but their are so many other ways they get paid like through promotions, concerts, merchandise, etc..., plu I don't see it as stealing, I think that if someone claims ur music as their own then that's stealing, but ur getting credit for the music, people know ur the artist. It's like the story of Robin Hood u "steal" from the rich to give to the poor.  

<DebbiR>  So because they're rich, and have more than one income source it's ok to steal from them?  What about artists and labels that haven't made a profit yet?  Is it still okay to steal from them?

 I, as I'm sure many others do not have the money to go spend on every cd that contains a song or two I like.  And singles just aren't worth the money.  I mean how many people have bought an album for one song they liked and found out the rest of the album sucked?  

<DebbiR> so because you don't have money, it's ok to steal?  You don't want the entire box of assorted snacks at Wal-mart so you steal one package of snacks and it's ok because you don't have money and you disagree that they all get sold together?  Besides Wal-Mart is a big corporation and makes lots of money, so it's okay.  And you think that CD singles are a bad bargain so it's ok to steal them?

 If artists really wanted their albums to sell they should complain about the price of the CD's cuz that's even more of a deterrant than anything. 

<DebbiR> Artist's don't set the price of the CDs and have no control over them.  Most of them don't even have control over their music once it's recorded. 

These artists have money, fame, and power...all the consumer has is a love of music.  

<DebbiR> You must realize, right, that the vast majority of artists with record company contracts don't have fame, money or power, right?  And even those that do...you're arguing that it's ok to steal from them simply because they've managed to make money in a business where the odds are completely stacked against them?

And for those who download music to sell, that is their own morality issue for them to deal with.  

<DebbiR> For those that steal copyrighted music for any reason have their own morality to deal with.

 I thought it was all about the fans, not the money 

<DebbiR>  You're kidding, right?
 
Justify it however you want to, but face it.    It's stealing.  In this country, at this time, it's illegal to copy music that you haven't purchased without the expressed consent of the owner of the music.   Period.  Whether you think the entire album sucks or not.  Whether you disagree with the price of the product, or regardless of the wealth of the owner.

 
Do I think that the entire distribution model should change?  Absolutely.  And I think when the record company monopolies *finally* cave in and start working on a solution, it will change.  Artists will have more control over who can hear what music.  They'll probably have intellectual property control instead of their distributors or those that market them.  And we will be able to purchase digital copies of music either downloaded or on CD by the song rather than having to a dozen or so songs at a time.  And this will all come about because internet has made stealing digital copies so easy.  They're simply losing too much money to piracy under the current model.