Internet and Downloading Music:

 How can downloading music from legal sites like iTunes be an asset to the music industry?

 

 Through the internet, consumers are able to buy music from legal sites such as iTunes. This is very beneficial as it circulates income for the music industry. Downloading music from iTunes is helps the music industry as it is a much cheaper way than having to physically produce a CD and Album for an artist. Through iTunes it is all virtually done, which makes the cost of releasing a song a lot less expensive then it was 10 years ago. The independent sector benefit hugely from this as they don’t have as much capital as conglomerate companies, therefore iTunes is a cheap and more accessible way for them to market their artists online. This also allows them to target a wider audience, as it is done online and can be seen by more people for a lower cost. This helps independent labels as they often cannot afford to provide their tracks digitally. Legal sites such as iTunes, finances the music industry to its maximum potential as it aims at a mainstream audience and the cost are much lower.

 

How can downloading from illegal sites strip money from the music industry?

 

Downloading music from illegal sites strips the music industry of its income, thus making it more difficult for them to develop new songs; creating a halt in the music industry as no consumer is paying for the music. The music industry makes money by owning the copyright of an artists song, however when illegal sites share the songs with the public it causes the music industry  to miss out and lose money as people are getting the songs for free. Which in turn makes the music industry go bankrupt as they cannot fund anymore songs.

 

What arguments are there to suggest that all music that has been downloaded (legally or illegally) will benefit the music industry in some way?

 

With legal downloading this benefits the music industry financially as people are buying their music, which therefore is bringing income to them. However some people may not be able to afford the music that they sell, and therefore the conglomerates cannot reach out to a complete global audience. With illegal downloading the conglomerates miss out and loss money as people can download the song for free, which reduces and stops income for the music industry. However with consumers sharing the songs for free, the song can gain global acknowledgement and therefore can reach worldwide fame, but without the financial benefit.

 

How can illegal download sites act as a statement against the dominance of the music industry by rich conglomerates?

 

Illegal download sites can act as a statement against the dominance of the music industry by rich conglomerates as it stops the rich conglomerates from making money. The statement can show that people aren’t willing to pay so much for all the songs that these conglomerates make and would rather have it for free. It also stops the conglomerates from getting what they want which is money from a global audience, and therefore this is a statement against that. This in turn makes the rich conglomerates vulnerable to bankruptcy, as eventually there will be no demand to buy songs but instead get the songs for free.

 

What impact has the downloading of songs had on the ways in which people consume music – are more  people downloading individual songs rather than whole albums do you think?

 

I think this has had an impact as more people are downloading individual songs rather than whole albums. It is because of the online age that we live in that allows consumers to choose what songs they want. Rather than 10 years ago where if a person liked one song they would have to buy the whole album, which would cost the consumer a lot more money than just the single song itself.

 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of downloading music for the music fan?

 

The modern day technology has had advantages and disadvantages as conglomerates may not make as much money, as people will choose individual songs rather than having to buy a whole album at a higher price. However, on the other hand downloading songs has made it a a lot cheaper and more accessible for the conglomerates to sell their songs online, in places such as iTunes. The advantages for the music fans are that it’s a lot more convenient and accessible to buy, they are now just a few clicks away rather than having to go out to a shop and buy it. A disadvantage is that it’s not the same experience as buying it physically and being able to hold it in your hands.