Download music should or shouldn't - Essay Example

?BACKGROUND What is “Music downloading”? It is in easy terms transferring music from anywhere via the internet to a personal computer. This includes both legal and illegal music downloads. Illegal downloading is to download a licensed or copyright material, whatever it is music or software, without prior permission from the concerned authorities or without paying for them. It is also referred to as peer-to-peer sharing. Few of the well-known websites allowing legal music downloads include Amazon MP3, Kazaa, Nokia Music store, Napster, E music and Zune Marketplace, etc. At times, the songs downloaded are encrypted with the Digital Rights Management that does not allow the user to make multiple copies of the song downloaded and might not even allow it to play on other than a few specific audio players. Many a times they come encrypted with the codec normally a MPEG-1 Layer 3 or may be Windows Media Player. This not only reduces the file size considerably but also the bandwidth required for downloading and playing it. Such music resources have been made available to consumers as a strategy to escalating technology and requirements of the end-consumer. This makes easier for consumers to use music. This makes not only digital uprising but also makes legal music download fun for consumers. IS DOWNLOADING MUSIC RIGHT OR WRONG? Is music downloads right or wrong is a long dated debate? Let’s first understand that it is not that clear as it appears. People break the copyright laws of the music industry every single day. Knowing or un-knowingly they commit this crime from everywhere around the world. There is some music that is available online for legal purchase, and for those which cannot be found online regulations with respect to music downloads differ any every country. This makes the issue worse since it cannot be dealt with at the same time (Beal). It is believed via polls and surveys that illegal down loaders’ spend highest the music. This is actually a fascinating fact that claims highest spends on an already under the weather industry by illegal users. The polls further put forward that consumers who admit that they download music illegally are spending around 77 pounds every year on music compared to only 33 pounds of consumers who claim that they only purchase or download legal music content. This in-turn gives an alarming notice to the music industry, since the government's plan of busting illegal down loaders’ can seriously harm the industry. Even the stars have different views about illegal downloading. Lily Allen and James Blunt are supporting the bust out of the illegal music downloads, on the other hand, the pop star Shakira believes that illegal downloading or file sharing actually takes her closer to her fans (Shields). WHY IS ILLEGAL DOWNLOAD OF MUSIC ETHICALLLY NOT RIGHT There are laws in every country to protect individuals from all professions. It is their right of course. Similarly, there are defined laws for protecting people in the music industry. Illegal music downloads have not only affected the stars themselves but also retail owners all over the world because they have lost some serious business. This, in turn, means that just because individuals are downloading music illegally a number of people might be getting unemployed in this time of economic crisis. In other words, every instance a song is downloaded illegally; an individual snatches something from another individual somewhere around the world for themselves. If anyone wants to download music, he should do it legally. There are multiple sources available to download legal music. There are cheap options available, as well. There are a certain programs that have been declared as legal as mentioned earlier. Now these are all legal because licensing agreements have been signed. Flouting copyright law is a serious offense (Downloading Music). PROs AND CONs OF DOWNLOADING MUSIC Pros Downloading music can get to the masses in minutes, which is not only handy and easily accessible to them, but also a potent treat for the music fans all over the world since they can get their hands on the music almost instantly. Downloading music is free. This saves the music fans a handsome amount of money since the legal copies cost a little too much for a normal man. The individuals who support music downloads say that it not only helps increase the popularity of the artist/singer, but it has also contributed a substantial chunk in the current success of the music industry worldwide. Cons It is rightly said that things that we get easily without putting in an extra effort are not that precious to any individual as would be a product which requires an extra effort from the consumer. Same is the case with the music downloads. The music downloads lead to a fall in sales of the retailers of music stores, in turn of the music companies and ultimately the stars themselves too. This can have a disturbing effect on the music industry because of the loss of funds. At times, downloading music is not even totally free. Downloading from websites may charge a subscription fee which might be equal to purchasing an actual copy (Oak). CONCLUSION On one hand, the music download is facilitating the consumers and increasing its demand but, on the other hand, it’s not only reducing the sales figures of the music industry but also making it an inexpensive and common commodity. Next time when anyone has an option of downloading free illegal music, they should always give it a second thought because they might be affecting someone else’s life. Works Cited Beal, Vangie. "When Is Downloading Music on the Internet Illegal?" 12 22 2004. Webopedia. 21 October 2011 . "Downloading Music: What's the Big Deal." n.d. Math & Reading. 21 October 2011 Read More