Illegally Downloading Music

[mrdii]

I'm an illegal downloader for the most part but when I really feel connected to an artist I sometimes pay for their product, as it's more of a loyalty thing rather than a musical one. This usually involves independant artists and stuff..

Like Say_whut said, it's easy to do - and if I'm also honest, if I'd have paid the going rate of 70p per song, I'd have around £1000 less money in my account, which I value as a lot of money.

I know it's 'wrong' to an extent, but there are bigger problems in the world (nobody is saying there aren't) so it doesn't bother me too much.

My problem is when people claim it majorly harms an industry, because research shows it doesn't. Most people who illegally download would choose to anyway, as they don't feel loyal (like I said earlier). So instead of an artist saying "I lost £50k on illegal downloads!", the reality is the people wouldn't have paid for it in the old days. And of course, there's more to making money by sales.

*Yes, 10 years ago music sold a lot more* - but people were forced to legally pay, and it was a golden era/peak.

[Dub_freak]

I've got some rips of old school stuff that is like £50+ on discogs, and tbh the producer and label wont be seeing any money if i pirate or buy second hand anyway, which is the reason i buy music, to support the artist and label.

This time last year i pirated everything, but since joining this forum and getting into Dubstep i've spent about £500 on music. most of which was spent on buying stuff i pirated because i felt guilty about it. I admit to pirating more 'mainstream' stuff because their already rich anyway, steal from the rich give to the poor i guess.

[Maccaveli]

I basically work by the principle 'download everything that interests me, then buy the ones that truly grab me.' My hunger for music and my diversity in taste far exceeds the contents of my wallet. I still support artists, I just don't support ALL artists, so I (mostly) don't feel guilty about it. This is why I think it'll be a massive shame if internet piracy ever gets killed, I know that personally I'd probably know shit all about music if I hadn't been able to obtain so much of it for free. For example, I probably would have never found Phaeleh and bought all his releases had I not been able to sample all kinds of dubstep for free. I'd probably still just be listening to Eminem, 50 Cent and 2Pac like I did when I was 13...

And yeah, what Dub_freak said about mainstream artists. I mostly enjoyed the new Kanye West & Jay-Z album, but fuck paying to listen to two guys brag about how much money they have.

EDIT: Forgot to add that its been my intention for years to buy every tune/album I've ever loved but not paid for once I'm older and have disposable income... it just isn't feasible right now

[AxeD]

since joining this forum and getting into Dubstep i've spent about £500 on music. most of which was spent on buying stuff i pirated because i felt guilty about it.

Shit man

[say_whut]

And yeah, what Dub_freak said about mainstream artists. I mostly enjoyed the new Kanye West & Jay-Z album, but fuck paying to listen to two guys brag about how much money they have.

It's funny you mention Watch the Throne, I had NO qualms downloading it for free (it was a pretty decent album I thought) but I totally agree that they don't need anymore money. I think it should have been free anyway IMO just because of who they are. But that's a different discussion completely.

I think that on the whole, it's hip hop that benefits most from the Internet and downloads. I mean Lil Wayne does stupid numbers and I strongly believe that's due to his mixtapes (tragically, they are better than his albums) and Internet presence. The Internet is a fantastic resource and I would be in the same rut as many other teens - listening to rap. I will often download albums then if they really prove their worth ill buy them - I did this with Kanyes last solo purely because I was cautious it'd be shit, turned out quality. I did the same with Rustie too, and even Burial.

I don't feel guilty as I reckon an artist should produce something of a great calibre before I give them my money. But, I do feel my value of music has decreased, for example, I downloaded Sully's album, played it through a few times and for about a month I haven't bothered with it. Maybe it's just not my taste but I reckon if I'd bought it I'd be making a far more conscious effort at trying to get into it since I paid for it.

[Maccaveli]

Yeah that's a fair point, I had Benga's Diary of an Afro Warrior on my iPod for about a year before I found it in a second hand record/CD store. Soon as I owned it as a physical copy I gained a new appreciation of the album, its a feeling I really can't explain.

Also I wouldn't exactly call listening to rap being 'in a rut', I just meant that if it weren't for torrents and such I would have broadened my musical horizons much slower. Not only that, I would've never heard deep dubstep or found this forum, and I'd probably be an ignorant douchebag who just bought Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites in an effort to understand this crazy new genre everyone's been talking about.

Illegally downloading Skream! and all the Skreamizm's was what got me into dubstep proper, and I recently went back and bought all of them as a way of saying thanks to Skream.

[didi]

If I buy a cd with the aim of playing some of the tunes on it out, and it comes in 256 kbps, I will probably pirate a 320 copy.

I haven't flat out pirated something I didn't own for a few years now.

[Pedro Sánchez]

Yeah that's a fair point, I had Benga's Diary of an Afro Warrior on my iPod for about a year before I found it in a second hand record/CD store.

Play before you Pay for a year. Nice.

[MilkyPirate]

I buy music when i have money, i like to have a hard copy mainly for artwork and also when its in digital format its so easy just to delete it or not to listen to all the tracks.
Havnt bought anything in a while tho its hard times,

[Naan_Bread]

If I buy a cd with the aim of playing some of the tunes on it out, and it comes in 256 kbps, I will probably pirate a 320 copy.

I haven't flat out pirated something I didn't own for a few years now.

CD is always lossless.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Book_( ... _standard)

So either you're lying or someone's fucking you over.

[Maccaveli]

If I buy a cd with the aim of playing some of the tunes on it out, and it comes in 256 kbps, I will probably pirate a 320 copy.

I haven't flat out pirated something I didn't own for a few years now.

CD is always lossless.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Book_( ... _standard)

So either you're lying or someone's fucking you over.

Yeah I was gonna say, are you sure you don't just have your iTunes ripping settings on 256kbps?

[LA_Boxers]

Up to about the age of 18 (Im 26 now) I downloaded lots of stuff illegally, I would still purchase Vinyl and CDs etc but alot of it would be illegal. I would pay out for garage vinyl/CDs etc but d/l hip hop and stuff like that. This would usually be poor quality and mixtape rips tho, so it was never stuff I'd play out. But I now download all of my stuff legally as I know that if I was making a living off of my music I would want people to pay for it rather than steal it.

However there are alot of people/artists I have seen complaining about their stuff be shared/illegally downloaded/leaked who openly admit to illegally downloading software. I think you have to have an all or nothing view on things. If you dont want your stuff stolen, dont steal yourselves.

[AllNightDayDream]

If I buy a cd with the aim of playing some of the tunes on it out, and it comes in 256 kbps, I will probably pirate a 320 copy.

I haven't flat out pirated something I didn't own for a few years now.

CD is always lossless.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Book_( ... _standard)

So either you're lying or someone's fucking you over.

Yeah I was gonna say, are you sure you don't just have your iTunes ripping settings on 256kbps?

I think the maximum quality on iTunes is 256 kbps AAC. The largest sellers and still can't afford to offer Wav or 320. Go figure.

EDIT: just realized you said ripping

[bass_culture]

With the amount of free legal content on the net (radio shows/mixes/free tunes) I don't think there's one solid argument which can justify piracy.

e.g.

My hunger for music and my diversity in taste far exceeds the contents of my wallet.

Does that not apply to virtually everyone here?!

[gwa]

I GET SENT SO MUCH MUSIC I DONT NEED TO BUY IT NO MORE

X X

[Pistonsbeneath]

I GET SENT SO MUCH MUSIC I DONT NEED TO BUY IT NO MORE

X X

[gwa]

HOPE U RAVED SAFE AT VAUXHALL X X

[Sexual_Chocolate]

i stole a bottle of vodka once

with the intention of going back & buying some if i liked it

[Pistonsbeneath]

HOPE U RAVED SAFE AT VAUXHALL X X

[Pedro Sánchez]

I GET SENT SO MUCH MUSIC I DONT NEED TO TURN OFF THE CAPS LOCK NO MORE

X X