Legal Music Download FAQ
File Sharing vs the Top Legal Music Download Sites

What is File Sharing?

Just as the name implies, mp3 file sharing is the sharing of any type of computer file through the internet at no cost to the person on the receiving end. There may in fact be no cost to the person offering the file because they received it from someone else. To a song writer or musician this is a disheartening thought. More on that in a moment, but first a brief explanation of the technology.

To “file share” is to be part of a network of computers connected through the internet. A file sharing program facilitates this connection by allowing people from around the world to access each other's computer. Usually is it a single folder on a users computer containing music in the form of Mp3's. The user installs the program and searches for a particular piece of music. If it's a popular song, there will be hundred's of copies of this song available for download rom various computers on the file sharing network... unlike legal music downloading.

While the technology of file sharing has been used to share many different types of files, the term has become equated with the sharing of mp3 music downloads because this is the most common use of the technology. It's also the most prominent in the media because record companies are now suing individuals who share music with other users on a file sharing network.

This brings us to the comment about song writers and musicians disheartening view of file sharing. Further elaboration on this subject will also answer the question of why I feel file sharing is ethically and morally wrong... and not just because it is becoming illegal in more and more countries.

Why is File Sharing Illegal?

Let's pretend for a moment you are a song writer. You have just written a brilliant song you are ecstatic about. After years of struggling as an artist and musician, you believe this song may be your ticket to a viable career. You work incredibly hard to record the song and you are even more excited when it becomes a hit. Life couldn't be better.

Meanwhile, a fan hears the song and buys your CD. The fan takes your CD home and creates an MP3 Download of your hit song. From there, he puts it in the file sharing folder on his computer for all the world to download. As mentioned in "What is File Sharing", the person downloading the file for the first time never pays for the mp3. The only person who pays for the song is the very first person who bought the CD and creates the first mp3 to be shared

In fact, given the fact that file sharers don't like to pay for the music downloads they enjoy, the original song was probably copied from a noble friend's CD who never intended for it to be shared with millions of other mp3 downloader’s without one cent going to the artist.

The only other question that remains is this. How would you feel if you were that artist? Now, some argue that popular artists are still making millions of dollars so what's the big deal? Well, assuming that logic was ethically correct, the next time I'm in a Wal-Mart I'm going to steal a couple of CD's because they are "already making millions of dollars".

It comes down to one basic question everyone must answer for themselves. Will you download with integrity and pay for your music? If the answer is yes, there are legal music sites available that don't use file sharing networks.

What Makes Legal Music Dowloading websites different than File Sharing sites?

A few years ago, US record companies decided to challenge file sharing in the courts. First, they went after the biggest file sharing network at the time: Napster. Their main purpose was to shut it down which they succeeded at doing, but the precedence was set. File sharing was soon to become illegal even by individuals.

The record companies had a bit of a set back a couple of years later. The technology which allowed file sharing was stated to be legal, only the act of individuals sharing music downloads was illegal. Therefore, record companies began to go after individuals to set a precedence that if you download music from a file sharing system, you are breaking the law.

Then Napster had an idea. They thought "let's work together with the record companies to provide music for listeners at a cost, then pass part of the earnings on to individual artists". Legal music downloading was born. Today there are several sites like Napster including eMusic, MusicNet, Real Rhapsody, MSN Music, Musicnow, iTunes, Sony-Connect, Buy.com, Walmart, Virgin-Digital, PureTracks, and MSN Music. Some of these sites are listed in our top legal music download reviews.

So, to answer the question "what makes legal music download sites different than file sharing networks?", artists get paid out of the gingival songs you purchase. Agreements are formed with unions within each country, so some sites are only available in the US such as Real Rhapsody, because they only have an agreement to allow US residents to download music.

With all that said, there is one more important element that needs to be clarified. What about file sharing programs that charge a fee. Where does that money go?

What's the Difference between Paying for a File Sharing Site and a Legal Music Downloading Site

We've talked about what makes legal download sites different than file sharing sites. We've also discussed that on legal music downloads sites part of your fee for the song goes to the artists, just as it would if you bough the CD in a store. But what happens when you pay a fee to be part of a file sharing network? The answer to this question is quite simple. 100% of it goes into the pocket of the site owner, with a portion perhaps going to an affiliate promoting it. Bottom line, absolutely nothing goes to record company or artist.

So how do you know if you've found a legal music download site? Well, there are clues in the fee you pay. No legal music site asks for a one time fee in exchange for unlimited downloads. (File sharing programs also offer annual fees for unlimited downloading, but not legal sites). On a legal music site you will either pay from .79 to .99 cents per song, or you will pay a monthly subscription to download music.

Another sign that you are on a legal music site is if you see the site offers a free trial. I have never seen a file sharing system offer a free trial. They only want your money up front. For example, eMusic.com offers 50 free mp3 downloads during your free trial, but if you read the fine print there is a monthly fee to continue on the site. Buy.com on the other hand allows you to download and pay for each individual song.

Also, look for restrictions in the terms of agreement. For example, legal music sites only have agreements in certain countries based on their contracts with record companies representing each artist.

If in doubt about whether you've found a legal music site, bookmark our site or sign up for our newsletter. We guarantee our site only features links and reviews of legal music sites.

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