Everything is posted to the internet! Music, movies, research articles, books and even your paper on Abraham Lincoln. The way we share files and information is so expedient that we hardly think about where they come from. However, there are rules in place to make sure that people aren't profitting on the work of others.
The number one example that I wanted to talk about is music. The honest and ethical people will use sites like iTunes, Spotify or Pandora to get their music. As for the rest of us with more blurred principles will download music with software to rip the sound off of youtube videos or visit The Pirate Bay.
The access to music is virtually limitless. With "Fair Use" laws and copyright protection it may seem risky to be downloading things off of various sites. I am not here to talk legalities but instead ethics.
I have always operated under the values that music is an artistic expression and as a musical artist the aim is not to make money but to get their music out. Therefore it is actually a benefit in a way to the artist to download their music, whether legal or not, because it provides exposure! If a band is good enough and gets enough notoriety it should prompt people to go to their concerts to see them live.
Yes, I understand what you're saying. Getting people exposed to your music is half the battle. But consider this: Much like publicity, there are both positive and negative forms of exposure. Check out the recent antics of Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber, for example. It's more than a matter of gaining exposure, it's about generating a following of interested individuals.
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