Ok, time to grasp the nettle on one of the most controversial topics in music history, illegal file sharing. Now, let’s get it clear, there is a difference between illegal file sharing and music piracy. Music piracy is the illegal duplicating and distribution of music for individual financial gain. This, you must agree, is wrong. There´s one thing wanting to share some music with your friends, but to sell other peoples music to your friends and people you meet, is outright uncool.

So, illegal file sharing. This is when people share music with each other without the permission of the person who owns the rights to the music, whether this be the individual artist, or the label they are affiliated with. Now if an artist creates music without the intent of making any money from it, there is nothing wrong with sharing this music with all who want to hear it. But where it gets a little grey is when the music has been created with the intent not only for people to enjoy it, but also to make money from it. It seems quite fair for artists wholly committed to making music to ask for some sort of reimbursement from the people who get satisfaction and enjoyment from their creations. So yes, sharing and downloading music against the artists expressed disavowal, is wrong. It is perhaps less wrong to download and share music from someone who is super rich already, or if you are dirt poor (how would can you own a computer, then?)…but yeah, its still wrong.

This post is not in any way trying to protect the revenue streams of corporate record labels, nor does it condone the suing  of college students. Quite the contrary, we are expousing a view which we believe to be in the interests of small artists; we want them to be able to earn a living from a pursuit which we value very highly, music! If you really like an artist, buy their music! If you listen to music, buy it!

This clip is great! It also raises some interesting questions. If you think you can get away with stealing cars from your Toyota, the same rational lies behind stealing music. Just because you can get away with it, doesn’t make it any less wrong – or does it? What wrong with music being free? Ooooh, feels like a post about file sharing is brewing!