Embrace File-Swapping
Margaret Wright - March 31, 2004

It's pretty silly that a huge industry such as the music business would stoop to the level of bringing lawsuits against teenagers and broke college students, who most probably have no money to give, for downloading music files from the internet. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has been hunting down copyright-law offenders, and in this past year has filed hundreds of lawsuits against individual file-sharers, going so far as to partner up with the FBI in their crusade. They have even filed subpoenas against universities across the country, demanding they report the names of students who share copyrighted files, such as songs and movies, over the internet.

As a result, it's now virtually impossible to download anything on my campus, as popular programs such as Kazaa no longer function here at school. Last year it was not uncommon to receive a letter from the computing services warning against illegal downloads. For instance, my roommate downloaded some cheesy teen flick, and a few days letter received a summons to come down and sign a form promising not to do it again or else our internet would be shut off in our room. The University, tired of that method of avoiding trouble, instead made it so that file-swapping programs no longer work. But, honestly, is this current craze of downloading media really such a big deal?

I can't even remember what movie my roommate attempted to download, but it was the kind that she'd watch once if bored and probably never think of again. Either way, she wouldn't waste money on renting it, so downloading it wouldn't make a difference in the grand scheme of things.

As it stands, the industry wouldn't be making money off her rental or movie purchase, but who knows - after she had watched it, she might have liked it and gone out and bought it. Downloading movies and music are two pretty controversial issues, but for the moment I'm more interested in the music aspect. Although I will say I doubt the movie industry is suffering much either, as ticket sales still remain at staggeringly high levels. Music piracy can't be hurting record sales too much when CDs are literally selling hundreds of thousands of copies in a week, racking up to millions of copies. Look at the Billboard charts and see how many records have gone platinum; it doesn't look like these artists have much to worry about.

People are definitely buying CDs, and lots of them. In fact, record sales have been on the rise in past years and it seems as if sales are higher than ever before. Did people buy so much music 10, 20 years ago? Technology has only served to help the entertainment industry, making albums bigger and better with the birth of the compact disc, remastering, synthesized sound, computer rendered beats, etc. It's so much easier to record your album when you don't even have to play an instrument, or for that matter sing well, since they can go back and fix all that. The music business has gone with the flow, and certainly they'll be able to exploit the age of digital music and mp3s. Already many sites are offering mp3s for listeners to purchase; there are even opportunities to make mix CDs, or download full albums online for a certain fee. Imagine how much money the industry would save if they didn't have to bother manufacturing CDs at all? But all that is beside the point; the point is that the music industry is practically untouchable. People can download music all they want (for free), but millions of CDs are moving off the shelves weekly.

Though my friends and I swap music files, that has never stopped us from buying CDs. There's something about owning the official copy, with the packaging, cover art, and cool little booklet providing lyrics, pictures, and the like. Since I stumbled upon mp3's, I've bought more music than ever before. I probably buy entirely too much, but music is an unquenchable thirst of mine.

I've been able to discover new artists and check out interesting songs in a way I've never been able to before. If I hear someone mention a band, I'll look them up online, check out a song and see how I like it. It's infinitely easier to explore the music scene; I wouldn't run out and buy a strange band's CD - what if I didn't like it? It'd be a waste of money. But I will hop on my computer and in a matter of minutes download and listen to one of their songs. If I like it, I'll buy the CD. If I don't, no harm done. Mp3s probably do more good than harm: they allow people to check out music they wouldn't ordinarily hear. If you listen to something you like, you're more likely to go out and buy it than if you weren't able to hear a sample. I've been introduced to so many wonderful bands thanks mostly to mp3s and file swapping with my friends, and as a result my CD collection has expanded exponentially.

I don't perceive any danger in computer audio files replacing CDs or hindering sales in any major way. Most often people download that one hit they heard off the radio, rather than buy a whole CD for one song. Before the online option was available, they wouldn't have bought the CD anyway. There are always those favorite bands whose CDs the fans will buy regardless of the ability to obtain the files from the web. If you like an artist you're going to buy their CD; you'll want the packaging, etc. Not only that, but true music fans possess a sort of loyalty to their favored musicians and will want to contribute their $15 or so out of support. I'm sure not everyone is so philanthropic, but there are more than enough who are to keep the business prosperous. Yes, I have some "ripped" CDs, but if I really like an artist I will buy the real thing. Most of the CDs I "burn" are mixes, which aren't any different from the mix tapes of old. They just sound better.

What's ironic is the big bands, like Metallica, who are already rich enough and wouldn't suffer greatly from unauthorized music downloads, are the ones fighting hardest against it. Smaller bands, who could use the sales, frequently offer mp3s of their music readily available on their websites. Websites like Insound (www.insound.com) must be indispensable to smaller artists. The site has a section of mp3s for you to check out, and I've come across so many talented bands that way. I go there all the time to see what's new, and often find great songs that compel me to get into other bands. These smaller bands benefit from this immensely because it gets the word out and helps to create a buzz about them.

To put in a word for the other side, I can see how programs like Kazaa and Napster would be a cause for concern, since those artists who want their music shared can provide links on their personal websites or allow their music to be put on other sites. Kazaa doesn't allow the artist to have any say in the matter. From the musician's standpoint, it makes sense that they want credit for their work and want to be paid for their effort, rather than having people "steal" their product. Music is a product of hard work, but if you are a huge money-maker like Britney Spears you shouldn't be holding a grudge over pocket change to add to your millions. It's a tough call, since the bands that are the hit the hardest by illegal downloads are the struggling artists and rising stars that need the profit off their music the most, and there are many people who are not as selfless and idealistic as I am, who haven't bought a CD since Napster came out since they want to save their own buck instead of helping out the musicians they love. You'd think if you really loved music you wouldn't want to shaft those who make it. But people are hypocritical, people are greedy, and the world is far from perfect.

Nevertheless, file-swapping has taken the world by storm, and as tons of money is still being made, the RIAA should focus on the benefits rather than try to sue every poor soul who has stolen copyrighted material from their artists. If they feel action must be taken, there are certainly other ways to do it: for instance, when you put certain CDs into the computer it's impossible to rip the files off them. If you are an artist adamantly opposed to having your music "stolen," manufacture your CD in such a way to prevent it. I see the other side, but I'm not going to feel bad if Jessica Simpson makes one less million, because these artists should feel lucky to even be able to make a profitable career out of music in the first place. I feel more pity for scientists who are getting no funding for their disease research than for the already prosperous, incredibly lucrative music industry. As much as I love music, its industry is not what makes the world go round.

I think the RIAA needs to stop getting up in arms about something that isn't really hurting them all that much; as I've said, I think file-swapping works much to their advantage. By assaulting broke college students and young people (or any one sharing copyrighted files for that matter), they are instead causing much resentment and making enemies. These lawsuits are ludicrous, and I have to wonder if it is doing any good in discouraging music downloads. People are organizing boycotts (www.boycott-riaa.com) rather than buying more CDs. There are valid points on both sides of the issue, but all in all we ought to embrace the phenomenon of file-swapping rather than condemn it.