Illegal Song Downloading.

That's horrible you shouldn't do that! First of all the bands or singers hate when fans do that because they don't make any money off of it so it's a waste. Second, It's illegal. I heard that my cousin's friend got arrested for downloading illegal songs and Movies. Most of the time if you download illegally their is a chance your computer will get a virus too...But whatever it's wrong!!!

Patrick Stump:

I'm kind of mixed on this one. I'm for it because if you only want one song by them, then you can just get that one song quickly and convieniently.

You can do that legally on iTunes.

Mocking Bird;Perfect:

That's horrible you shouldn't do that! First of all the bands or singers hate when fans do that because they don't make any money off of it so it's a waste. Second, It's illegal. I heard that my cousin's friend got arrested for downloading illegal songs and Movies. Most of the time if you download illegally their is a chance your computer will get a virus too...But whatever it's wrong!!!

Not all bands and singers hate it. Some just want to get their music out there. It depends on the artist.

The Brightside.:

Mocking Bird;Perfect:

That's horrible you shouldn't do that! First of all the bands or singers hate when fans do that because they don't make any money off of it so it's a waste. Second, It's illegal. I heard that my cousin's friend got arrested for downloading illegal songs and Movies. Most of the time if you download illegally their is a chance your computer will get a virus too...But whatever it's wrong!!!

Not all bands and singers hate it. Some just want to get their music out there. It depends on the artist.

Right. Like indie or underground bands need it to spread their music and build a fanbase.

And some popular musicians, like Ryan Ross, have said they don't mind it if it's the only way they could get the music.

Personally I do it very very little. I rip live stuff off of YouTube but I only used Limewire once, because it makes me very paranoid.

I don't like iTunes too much for downloading though, because they keep 90% of the revenue, and it comes with tons of DRM.

^I'm kind of the same

I'll rip live stuff from YouTube if I really want it. Limewire annoys the hell out of me so I've only used it a couple of times.

I'm not much of an iTunes fan either. I've bought albums off there only to find that they don't download properly and I waste my money.

If I've just found out about a band I might download one of their songs and then go and buy the rest if I really like them.

I don't like downloading stuff off Limewire muh anymore either. The stuff I rip off Youtube is mainly interviews, live stuff or music vids of songs I already have. [I like watching video clips >_> ]

I've never bought anything off iTunes, as I generally don't like anything iPod related after getting my iPod for christmas.

I prefer buying the albums as not only do I feel like I'm supporting the artist, but I love having my CD collection, complete with all the album artwork.

I do download stuff off of Limewire, but usually I only use it if I just want the odd track that I can't find, or if I want different versions to songs that are on the albums (like Funeral For A Friends 'Juneau' and 'Juno' - I had no clue where else to find Juno)

Sometimes if theres an album I really want and I dont have the money at the time, I'll download it before hand. But I will always make a point of buying the actual CD as soon as I can.

I would rather buy the cd or digital download, but being poor and obbessed with music, i have to download illegally to get the music. I mainly download movies though. I would rather have all my friends sitting around my computer than paying the $20 each to go see the movie in the theater

violent_red:

I would rather buy the cd or digital download, but being poor and obbessed with music, i have to download illegally to get the music. I mainly download movies though. I would rather have all my friends sitting around my computer than paying the $20 each to go see the movie in the theater

Well no kidding, everyone would rather all the things they want to be free, but that isn't how it works. You're stealing someone else's hard work and effort. You say you "have" to download illegally, but that isn't true. If you cannot afford music, or any sort of product for that matter, that doesn't justify stealing it. You can live without music, it isn't something you have to have.

Kurtni Von Teese:

violent_red:

I would rather buy the cd or digital download, but being poor and obbessed with music, i have to download illegally to get the music. I mainly download movies though. I would rather have all my friends sitting around my computer than paying the $20 each to go see the movie in the theater

Well no kidding, everyone would rather all the things they want to be free, but that isn't how it works. You're stealing someone else's hard work and effort. You say you "have" to download illegally, but that isn't true. If you cannot afford music, or any sort of product for that matter, that doesn't justify stealing it. You can live without music, it isn't something you have to have.

Exactly. No matter how much you really want something it doesn't give you the right to steal it, especially when you can get it legally for only 79p.

I could say I need some new lipstick but if I didn't have the money does that give me the right to jack it? No.

The thing with illegal downloading is that you can get away with it.
You can't with shoplifting. Believe me if you could, people would steal from shops instead of buying things.
So I find the comparison with other types of theft pretty irrelevant.

Dark.:

The thing with illegal downloading is that you can get away with it.
You can't with shoplifting. Believe me if you could, people would steal from shops instead of buying things.
So I find the comparison with other types of theft pretty irrelevant.

That's a generalization. Many people and get away with shop lifting and a lot of people do actually get caught and fined/sued for illegal downloading.

If you love the music and the bands you shouldn't be not doing it because you can't get away with it you should do it because it's theft, it's wrong and it's unfair to the artist.

Romanticide.:

Dark.:

The thing with illegal downloading is that you can get away with it.
You can't with shoplifting. Believe me if you could, people would steal from shops instead of buying things.
So I find the comparison with other types of theft pretty irrelevant.

That's a generalization. Many people and get away with shop lifting and a lot of people do actually get caught and fined/sued for illegal downloading.

If you love the music and the bands you shouldn't be not doing it because you can't get away with it you should do it because it's theft, it's wrong and it's unfair to the artist.

Yes but people generally think that they will not get away with shop lifting and will get away with illegal song download.
I still think comparison with other types of theft is irrelevant.

Dark.:

The thing with illegal downloading is that you can get away with it.
You can't with shoplifting. Believe me if you could, people would steal from shops instead of buying things.
So I find the comparison with other types of theft pretty irrelevant.

Why? It's the exact same illegal action; stealing. What you get away with and what you don't doesn't matter, they're both still crimes and you're a theif either way.

I used to download all the time, and now I just can't be bothered, because I know at the rate I did download, I probably deserved to be sued or some shit. [I have 3000 songs on my computer and I think about 300 of them are legal.]
I do download from bands who say they don't care because then I don't feel bad about it, but that's it.

Kurtni Von Teese:

Dark.:

The thing with illegal downloading is that you can get away with it.
You can't with shoplifting. Believe me if you could, people would steal from shops instead of buying things.
So I find the comparison with other types of theft pretty irrelevant.

Why? It's the exact same illegal action; stealing. What you get away with and what you don't doesn't matter, they're both still crimes and you're a theif either way.

Yes but people don't steal not because stealing is immoral, they don't do it because they can get caught. If we want people to stop downloading illegally we should punish the people who already do it, to get a signal across. I find it irrelevant to argue about morality, or to try to convince people that it's not moral to download a song illegally, they'll still do it.
What was the saying? The thief who's yet to be caught is a honest man.

Dark.:

Kurtni Von Teese:

Dark.:

The thing with illegal downloading is that you can get away with it.
You can't with shoplifting. Believe me if you could, people would steal from shops instead of buying things.
So I find the comparison with other types of theft pretty irrelevant.

Why? It's the exact same illegal action; stealing. What you get away with and what you don't doesn't matter, they're both still crimes and you're a theif either way.

Yes but people don't steal not because stealing is immoral, they don't do it because they can get caught.

I'll admit that's true in many cases but I don't think it's really a valid arguement, since if it was always the case all us people who downloaded legally wouldn't bother paying

I think that downloading is ripping off the band.
Think about all the time and energy they put into releasing that song/album.
If you go and get it without paying, how does that band earn money?
What would you do if everyone downloaded their new album and nobody bought the CD, then the band couldn't afford to make another album?
BUY THE ALBUM LEGALLY.
Also, don't think just because you can get away with it, it makes it alright.
It doesn't. It just means that you are skilled at ripping people off and that is nothing to be proud of.

I don't really agree with it. But if it's the only way you're able to get music then whatever.

Space Monkey:

I think that downloading is ripping off the band.
Think about all the time and energy they put into releasing that song/album.
If you go and get it without paying, how does that band earn money?
What would you do if everyone downloaded their new album and nobody bought the CD, then the band couldn't afford to make another album?
BUY THE ALBUM LEGALLY.
Also, don't think just because you can get away with it, it makes it alright.
It doesn't. It just means that you are skilled at ripping people off and that is nothing to be proud of.

I agree with you 100% but for the record bands also make a large percentage of their money from shows and touring.

It's not just the bands who loose out on money. The record labels, management and everyone who helps and provides of the bands also loose out. If it wasn't for them the bands who's music you are ripping off wouldn't even be out there for you to enjoy.