How many times have you come across a site, where you can download your favourite band’s top 10 single, but you know it’s illegal?
What do you do? Do you give in, and download the song, knowing it’s technically stealing? Or do you ignore it and pay the £3.99 instead? And if you do download it for free, would you call yourself a thief?
If this is so wrong, why are there are downloads everywhere you turn? As soon as you access the internet you’re greeted with a delightful pop-up telling you how you can receive 10 free downloads if you press ‘this button.’ The music industry and artists complain about how it’s slowly destroying the record industry but is this really the truth?
Groups such as Metalica, Garbage and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers who’ve tried to prevent fans downloading their tracks are "shooting themselves in the foot" according to research done by Music Research and Programming, industry research experts. They surveyed 500 downloaders aged between 13 and 45 and the research reveals most of these people still go out and by the music when it’s released.
Piracy is taking millions away from the music and film industry, but are the industries really being affected as much as they make out to be? They make huge profits through merchandise and advertising so, why do they feel the need to waste so much energy trying to stop piracy when it may not even happen?
Do they truly believe that one day they’ll be able to stop the man in the back of cinema recording the latest blockbuster to sell in McDonalds? Or they’ll be able to stop some teenager sharing the latest number one with his mates through the internet?
The record and film industry should start to realise that downloads are part of modern life. Sharing files is just how young people do things when they know they can’t afford to go buy the latest Justin Timberlake album. But we wouldn’t call ourselves bad people for doing this. So why do they feel the need to, when there are much worse crimes people can commit?
About this article
This story was written by Rebecca Bridges, 17. It was published on the Reach for the Sky website.
