Assignment 5.2: Who Owns Music?


"Free Downloads Play Sweet Music"


Through surveying chapter 8, I have found that cluster 2 on "Free Downloads Play Sweet Music" is an interesting one to talk about. So I asked myself the same question, who does own the music?

I feel neutral in both sides with downloading music. Both have strong point of views on the rights and wrongs of downloading music. Everyone is entitled to their own point of view and this article by Janis Ian made a couple good ones. Just like when she was talking about why people download? Realistically, yes we download to hear the new releases, out of print-old music. Why not? You go to a store to buy the single.....come to find out they're out. Oh, but they have the album...not liking any of the songs but one. And how do artists become successful? They're successful because of us. Acutually, without file sharing (Napster, Kazaa etc.) their songs wouldn't of been heard and none of the consumers would buy. Sure enough I would preview their songs before I buy.

So what's this argument about file sharing? Yes, artists oppose file sharing because it's stealing, illegal and declines the sales. In their point of view, I would agree. I agree that nothing is free! I have nothing to worry about because I use file sharing wisely and pay for the songs downloaded on my computer and MP3.