Is it ok to pay for original music when you get the same on the net for free?

Just because it's available for free, doesn't mean it's right to take it. You are basically taking money out of the pockets of the artists whose music you download...99 cents for a song you love really isn't a lot of money

It is ok and prefered that you buy your music instead of getting it for free on the internet. By getting your music for free you you are stealing money from the record companies. You can even be arrested if you get caught.

I think something should work out on this yea .... of course most us here will continue to download if we still can right ?

I try to buy original if I can get it, but when I can't find it I usually download it.

It's interesting to read all these answers, getting the viewpoints of the other side. I am an artist myself, and just let me ask those of you who say that it's alright NOT to pay for the songs: how would YOU feel if people were stealing YOUR products? Just taking them off from your desk or table, without your permission, and walk out the door, without even saying thank you - not to mention pay you for something you have worked for??? There is free downloadable music on the net, you should simply care a little bit and see that the songs have been uploaded rightfully. And of course, you also have to know the obvious: a CD with all the cover work, etc is better quality then something you download from the net. You are VERY lucky to find songs to download with sound quality that would approach how an audio CD sounds.

I think its OK to download music from Net rather than wasting money in buying it. What difference it makes to you. Both songs will have same lyrics, tune and same quality (if you download it from good site). Downloading from Net is better options practically.

I now get all my music files from Shareaza. (A free website just like Limewire.) I was a memebr from Napster for almost a year, paying a monthly membership, and then also paying per track download. It got expensive! And I also noticed with Napster that the selection was limited. I had searched for many tracks that were not available for sale and download. I learned that the artist had to approve their sale for online purchase. If the artist didnt want their material for sale, you would not be able to purchase through a legitimate site. All the free download websites offer just about anything you can imagine. Sadly, I tried to be honest in buying my music online, but with how expensve it was and when I could not find nearly half of what I was looking for, I gave up and went to the free sites. Much better here and I am saving loads of money!

It depends on your mind. I think we should pay for the originals like music and all the media instead of getting it for free online but the problem is that producers normally put the movies or cds for sale really expensive so if I would buy everything I like I wouldn't have eough money to pay for it. So I think it's ok to download media from the internet, maybe like this producers and artists start thinking in lower down product prices.

I still buy CDs. Because I feel it is ridiculous to go online and pay just as much for the same CD or audiobook, and then provide your own CD and not have the nicely done one. If I only want one song, it's usually something obscure and isn't on iTunes anyway. Then you have to use LimeWire or something like it. I don't spend a lot on music. I get 1 CD every few months. I probably would listen to a bit more music if it was free, but not a whole lot I suppose.

I'm from this people they enjoy to download.I use many programs,the best for me is bitcomet.I download many pc games and songs for my son and some softwares for me and friends.I don't see it wrong.If anyone has many to spend and buy he can do it but me i will continue to download like you.

may i correct you in some of your comments if you do not mind. i know your concern that it's kind of expensive to buy music where it should be free but the reality is if we do not pay the musicians who have composed the music that you so dearly love , in the future there won't be any to listen to and the qualityw ould deteriorate.so. you have to understand it is like saying thank you for the music that made you feel good. secondly, the music that we download is of lower quality than the one's on cd. the usual bit rate of qhat we download is 128 to 192 kbps and the bit rate of an original cd is 398 or more kbps. i admit i download music from limewire but only the music that i cannot find in the record bar because i am a music enthusiast and i do not want to be shortchanged because of its quality.i like to listen to every production tweaks that they took time to do.i hope you could be enlighten with this.always support them because they make you happy.

Yes it is a kind off stupid think, actually i buy cd just when i like very mutch the group, for example y bought "my chemical romance" new cd, because i like the band too mutch.

Its ok to pay for original song because it reflects your support towards the music industry.Don't download any free musics that hurt many artists.

ofcourse its stupid... but if u have like 7000songs and all of them are from limewire or somewhere else you can be cought and than u would have to pay not 1$ but 7euros... atleast in germany...

I do buy music but I don't like buying CDs and half the CD I don't listen to. It is very frustrating that CDs force you to buy songs you don't want.

well, hear this... I write my own music and just simply ask for donations so that people with MONEY can donate and people WITHOUT MONEY don't have to and they can get songs for free. I understand the selling of music and stealing a CD is wrong definitely! It is also illegal. I view downloading music like going 5-9 mph over the speed limit, most people do it yet no one gets pulled over for it. Going any mph over the speed limit is illegal too. Yet again no one gets pulled over for it and if they do it gets thrown out of court anyhow. So support your local artists... If you want free music, or if you play instruments such as guitar and want advice or buy guitars check out this nice website: Moogletech.com

we shouldnt appreciate piracy of any kind...but if u get the stuff for free...then u shud go for the free stuff...even after all the piracy the record companies are still gaining millions of dollars...their profit isnt threatened by piracy..they still get a lotta money...and regarding the artists...they earn most of thei income through concerts and shows..

I think people should definetly buy CD's more oftenly. Unless you go for the blind-choices of supporting untalented big names on big labels, most of the other artists who do really have some talent and something honest to say don't get rewarded financially the enough if you never get to buy their cd's. I am against downloading and only admit this as a possible solution if you later buy the cd's of the bands you download stuff from.

I am of the opinion that you should ALWAYS buy your music, no matter what circunstances you encounter yourself in. Sure I've downloaded before, I won't deny that, but I always end up buying the original CD's of whatever I download afterwards. I'm a part-time musician myself and people have to start realizing that artists NEED their music to be profitable, so as a fan the best you can do is spare some of your money and support the artist by purchasing their records or attending their gigs. I don't get why is it so hard for some people...

I'm glad I'm just an amateur musician. With people like you around I know I won't be making any money. I recall a Doonesbury toon that featured an artist who only did internet downloads. He was doing a radio interview that had to be cut short, otherwise he would be late for his job at Red Lobster waiting tables. I tried to find it but instead I found musicunited.org -- my favorite quote, "Even a street performer gets a dime in his box."