The so-called peer-to-peer (P2P) phenomenon or file-sharing specifically of music has been sought to be stopped at the threat of legal prosecution. The Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 1998 reinforced the earlier existing copyright laws of the United States. The legal move was based on the premise that illegal downloading of music infringes on the intellectual property rights of musicians and artists as it reduces the amount of money they should be earning.
Internet music piracy has been blamed for decreased CD sales although not everyone is convinced. This is because majority of those who choose to download in this manner are not actual potential buyers. They share music in the same way that they share other things to their friends since these people are teens and college kids.
File-sharing has been credited for playing a big part in furthering the popularity of songs. This move is generally spontaneous and those who do it for no financial consideration rarely have criminal inclinations of copyright infringement. That said, it doesn’t change the fact that illegal downloading remains legally unacceptable, although it appears to be socially acceptable.
Even when the Recording Industry Association of America or the RIAA has conceded to the truth that file sharing is only one of the many factors that negatively affected CD sales along with slow economic conditions as well as competing forms of entertainment, ceasing of illegal downloading of music is still being actively campaigned for. Not because you pay a site to download music automatically means you are not violating any law. It can happen that the site itself has no right to distribute the music which you downloaded.
Given the very complicated situation, isn’t it possible to harness the strength of P2P towards the benefit of the music industry, especially since there appears to be nothing yet that can absolutely stop file sharing?
Tags: File Sharing, peer-to-peer
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music
It appears that in spite of best efforts by the music industry to push CD sales and legal download, not enough revenue is being generated to sustain people of particular interest to the recorded music industry. These are the music publishers, the rights owners, and the companies offering downloads. Because of the prevailing situation, companies like Apple and Amazon are pushing for a cloud-based alternative to digital music services. All indications point to the inclination of consumers towards access over download. This simply means that music lovers will more and more prefer to stream their desired songs rather than to physically own records and albums.
Subscription to mobile music streaming services is expected to become mainstream by the year 2016. This forecast if realized, spells positive developments for consumers as well as the mobile music streaming providers and the middle men in the business. Musical artists will have the advantage of unlimited access to various options for product distribution although there are serious concerns about the income-generating capability of selling recorded music.
In a survey conducted in September 2011, streaming music online for free and downloading digital music files for free have percentage shares akin to current mainstream activities including buying physical copies of CD or vinyl and purchasing music files online. The same survey shows that a very small number of consumers would pay to stream music online. Industry observers are almost in complete agreement that digital music consumers will travel the same path as that of online social gamers where only a few opted to pay for the privilege of getting premium service and many settle for less as long as there are no monetary considerations involved.
The increasing usage when music and service is offered for free is observed universally. This is the reason why internet service providers and electronic device manufacturers are scrambling to bundle music access into their offered packages. Concerns about audio quality take a backseat for now to instant access.
Tags: cloud-based digital music, mobile music streaming service
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music
Android has recently released its latest version for mobile phones which like its predecessors is named after a dessert. Called the Ice Cream Sandwich, it brings the features of Honeycomb (an earlier version), to the fore plus some added ones . Mobile phone users will be happy to know that these new offerings include facial recognition unlock, photography enhancements, network data usage monitoring and control, offline email searching, unified social networking contacts, and information sharing using NFC. The version initially comes with Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus phone but with the release of the source code last November 14, 2011, work for developing ports for other mobile devices has begun.
Android is an operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablet computers, netbooks, among others. The system is aimed to be provided under free and open source software as developed by Open Handset Alliance led by Google. The only known instance when Google withheld the source code was for its tablet-only Honeycomb release which was blamed on its rushed production.
Multitasking just got easier and more pleasantly visual with the release of this newest Android version. Users are assured of a powerful medium for communication and sharing. Widgets can be resized to allow either expansion or shrinkage in showing content. The new voice input engine offers an open microphone system that allows for unlimited dictation in the preferred language. The fun factor which has become a must for all gadgets and devices, is not lost in this version as graphical transformations such as background change and morphing effects are provided. The Android Beam allows instantenous sharing of music, videos, apps, and the like between two NFC-enabled devices by merely tapping send. It also introduced built-in support for connecting Bluetooth Health Device Profile designs.
Tags: Ice Cream Sandwich Android, music sharing
Categories: Mobile Phones, Music
With companies like Napster fighting expensive and well publicized legal battles in the past, consumers could be forgiven for thinking that all music download sites are illegal. However, this is far from the truth – there are hundreds of websites allowing customers to legally download songs. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself whether any money is exchanging hands – if a site allows you to download without paying, then chances are it is illegal, whereas legal sites will ask you to pay a nominal fee for each track, ranging from $0.79 to $0.99. Below are some of the major retailers online that allow customers to legally download music.
AudioLunchbox
Although relatively unknown, this sites has a large collection of music form independent artists available to download, as well as the usual pop stalwarts and major names. Most tracks cost $0.99 and are available as ‘unprotected’ MP3s. However, there is no cause to worry about protection – all this means is that they will play on t he vast majority of MP3 players and computers. There are also plenty of free tracks to choose from as well.
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Categories: Music
Not all forms of music downloads are allowed. It is highly possible that songs and albums are being illegally obtained without the knowledge of the user. Free music downloads are usually comprised of unknown songs from unknown singers as a form of exposure and promotion. Pay sites typically have exclusive tie-ups with popular artists.
Anything that is much sought-after has a corresponding price and that includes the music we listen to. We all know that the making of a song has necessary expenses. It is but fair that those who took the chance in financing its realization are rewarded for their efforts. When users download music illegally, they are in effect depriving the rightful persons of their due.
We can still get to enjoy the music we love for a reasonable price from trusted sites on the Internet such as iTunes, Napster, and MP3.com. With the large number of sites offering music downloads, it is very easy to confuse the legal sites with the illegal ones. The key is to find reasonable pricing that will allow downloads per song or based on the amount of music files.
It is important to download from a legal music site to ensure that you get to enjoy your music continuously. A music which has ceased to operate may mean ceasing of the music as well as provided by the particular download. The Recording Industry Association of America can provide a list of sites where music downloads can be had without worry.
Some artists and labels have chosen to sell their music throught their own websites. Many sites offer free downloads to attract enough traffic before they initiate charging. Others offer freebies in form of streams which cannot be transferred to an MP3 player or saved on the hard drive.
Tags: Free-music, legal downloading of music
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music
The site Love to Know Music, offers free and legal downloads for members and it has quite a collection of free downloads from a myriad of artists. From Country Music, Reggae, Smashing Pumpkins, Electronica and more music from around the globe, they have them all ready for download. They might not have the big names but they have some of the most promising artists along with their music videos which they also offer for free. They even feature MySpace music codes to go with your downloads along with band profiles and the likes. The site contains genre information, band profiles, events information (Schedules), other sources of free music and tips on how you can get your hands on your favorite tunes.
The people who make up the site say they’re just like anybody else who loves music, they’re mad about their tunes. And what better way than to spread the news so others can see and hear what you’re talking about. In today’s world of paid downloads this is truly a find. Just browsed around for sites and they just popped right out. Checked it out and there they were, all free and all legal. That’s the best part, for no threat of being hounded by the RIAA for downloading and copying illegal stuff a couple of years back (see previous post). There are a lot of sites out there that still offer some of the best free music but they are getting wiped out by commercial sites. Unlike college approved sites like Ruckus, they do not have much in terms of money gaining potential. Going P2P is getting harder too but they are still around for they just keep eluding the guys who are out to get them.
P2P has lost some of its shine due to problems with privacy and malware yet many still choose them as a source of all types of downloads. Governments have been stepping up measures to limit and even shut them down but these P2P sites still manage to keep one step ahead of them all the time.
Tags: all genres, Free-Downloads, Legal-Downloads
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music, Providers, Videos
One of the sites that cater to the new generation of artists who are seeking to make it big in the music scene that offers free membership that allows bands and people to share their music with the world and other music lovers like them. There is also a premium membership that has some value added features allowing more access to all the latest gigs and events in the music world. Independent musicians love such sites and are beginning to shun from social networks due to the sheer size of the people who are flooding the tube. JukeBoxAlive gives musicians the breaks they need for their music to get in, around and about as they make their name in the independent music scene. A sudden rise in the number of these start-up bands has expanded due to programming like AI which has had many a talented artists joining the battle to become the next US top artists. Such is the influence of these programs that teens have not only developed their talent for singing but developing musical skills in the process allowing more talent to show.
They offer promotional services to get your music out on the street and into the hands of your fans. The allow you to advertise your cd’s as well and get you known in the music industry and who knows, you might make it big into a great career. They also allow you to create blogs so your fans can follow developments in your music and band. So, if you’re a band and you need exposure, get onto the site and get well underway on your path to success in the music industry.
Tags: Advertising, Bands, CD Sales, Media Exposure
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music, Providers, Resources
Like most P2p sites, this one gives you access to some of the hottest and latest music and music videos from all over that is legal. The site offers a free version of their proprietary software which you use to manage all your shared files, downloads, previews and many more. The free version allows you to download a copy of the song which you can play for 3 times before the song is either purchased or deleted. There is a low one time membership fee of $35.00 which gives you legal unlimited downloads of music and music videos with lower packages of 2-year access at $30.00 and $20.00 for a year’s membership.
Common’ guys, nothing’s free anymore on the net and paying assures your ass doesn’t get sued for piracy. If one is also interested in downloading DVD’s which you can burn (with the use of their software of course) and play in your portable, PC or view using your home theater you can opt for the additional $15.00 to get unlimited downloads.
As you might have noticed, there is a proprietary program to download, play and burn your cd’s which they use for DRM instead of you deciding which is which but it still falls in your lap if you do get to upload or download a so-called hot track or music video. DRM has been almost non-existent in the P2P world which makes it the worst place to find legal music. The software allows you to get sample tracks which you could play for three times after which you can buy them or delete them from your play list (with the free version of the software). The fee you pay removes all the annoying ads and advertising hoopla included with the other free music download sites.
Advertising is the bread and butter of most free music sharing sites like Ruckus and the many others out there and when you do register and get a paid service, you get them out of the standard free programs. You have access to all the latest tracks from Arvil, Timbaland and many more, so do check them out for some of the best legal downloads from a P2P site that’s fast and legal. Get it, LEGAL, meaning you get your music without stepping over somebody else’s toes and get sued later for DRM violation Intellectual Copyrights infringement. So MP3Rocket.com for the best P2P legal downloads. The fee you pay is a one time fee, you don’t get charged per/download or video. As long as you’re within the contract (package) scope, you get unlimited access to all the music, video and music videos you like.
Tags: free-software, One-Time-Membership, Paid-P2P
Categories: Applications, Downloading Legally, DVD Videos, Freeware, Music, Providers, Videos
The non-profit group’s aim is to promote awareness of the real issue behind the music piracy scene. There are many similar organizations that do the same and their voice is the same, stop piracy and the trade of illegal music which is booming into a major problem. Their research shows that there are over 243 million files which were shared over illegal P2P sites impacting those who compose and sing them down to the people who earn their living selling music in the retail stores world-wide. The advent of digital TV and radio contributes to the problem due to the digital format which allows it to be saved onto other digital media for playback later and some end up shared over P2P sites as well.
Of the almost 250 million files that are illegally shared over the internet, a vast majority are music files which are shared without control. The demise of copy protection software which used to be included in audio CD’s themselves has amplified the problem causing more and more people using and sharing them without proper licenses. All works of intellectual bearing are protected by several copyright and intellectual rights management yet they seem to be quite inadequate due to increasing sharing of such. The talent and gifts embodied by songs are not only the livelihood of the millions of artists around the globe but also their way of sharing the beauty of music yet they seldom get their hard earned buck which compared to a street-side performer who gets a dime or so in his hat for every performance they do. They are affected the same way and aim to raise the cause that it is illegal and against the law to do such file sharing.
Not all people prefer to share illegally yet some fall victim to malware which opens their computers leaving them vulnerable to copying by people who take over control without them even knowing it.
Tags: Illegal File Sharing, Malware, P2P, Piracy
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music
The site is hailed as one of the fastest growing legal download sites on the internet to date which charges minimal fees. Imagine $35.00 for unlimited access to all the songs, TV shows and Movies of your choice through partnerships with media giants such as MSN Music, Napster, Yahoo Music, Real Rhapsody and Wal-Mart. The total amount of downloadable content is at 12 million and they continuously add to their inventory each day. The membership gives you access to the largest online collection of music, movies games and utilities all free for you to choose and get onto your desktop. The fee mostly goes to the maintenance and operations of the web site and the massive internet library collection. You get a free software which you can use to burn cd’s that you can play on your car stereo. There is also access for easy to follow guides or if your problems don’t end there, you can get in tough with live agents who are there all the time to answer all your questions and requests. They have a 30-day money back guarantee on their subscription.
There are many legal download sites available on the internet to date and these are taking over the previously dark area of P2P download sites. Problems associated with malware and other bugs that tend to wreak havoc from P2P sites have dissuaded many from them who have turned to legal music sites such as these. MyMusicInc, for some of the fastest and best paid legal downloads on the market and in the world.
Tags: DRM_Free_Music, Free_MP3_Music_Downloads, Free_Music_Downloads, Free_Music_for_your_Ipod
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music, Paid Service, Providers, Videos
