Downloading Music From the Internet
 

As usual, I was watching a cable news program last night and thought this would be an interesting thread to start. Some musicians and record companies are upset that people are able to download music from the internet and are asking congress to intervene. They say the websites that allow this practice are stealing and it would drastically reduce the amount of music people would otherwise purchase (hence, reducing revenue for them).

Although it is legal for us to buy and share music with our family and friends, they want to make it illegal to share with strangers via the internet. However, it was noted by rapper Chuck D. that this issue isn't isolated to the United States, but a global issue.

Has anyone ever downloaded music from the internet before?

I have not personally copied music from the Internet, but I know people that have. In fact many people at my school make cd's for people and sell them at $5.00 a pop http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif. It is great money for them, but I can see how the record industry could be a little frustrated http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif. What I really want to know is how these Internet companies obtain the material that is transferred over the Internet. Is there a leak in the record industy? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/confused.gif

From what I gathered from the news story, people purchase the cds, and then put them on the website for people to download. I just don't know how they put the music on the website. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/confused.gif But once its there, anyone can download it.

[This message has been edited by AKAtude (edited July 12, 2000).]

Technology is a wonderful thing, but sometimes it also brings with it a lot of problems. I don't know how they expect to control what happens in other countries.

Hello Ladies,

I download music on a regular basis from napster. Primarily just to see how a CD is before I buy it. I know that some stores allow you this option but usually its only one song, or a couple of them Sometimes artist's CD's only have one song i like and then the rest of the CD is not to my liking. This way i can just listen to the song on my laptop and delete it from my music library when i grow tired of hearing it. much cheaper than buying CD's. I don't burn CD's though, if i am going to spend the time buying the blank CD's and spend the time it takes to burn them i may as well buy them.

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The truly educated never graduate!

I download at least a song a week from napster and I love it. It really comes in handy because I tend to only like one or two songs from a CD so why waste money on the whole thing? It also helps if you want a song from way back when that you can't even find the TAPE for...

I never made a CD or anything...all the music is on my computer. But I can't play it in the car, or even in my room...so if I download something I really like chances are I'll end up buying it.

Hello Ladies of AKA,

AKAtude- interesting topic. I've caught bits and pieces of this story on the news as well. I believe it was the rock group Metallica and rapper Dr. Dre who have brought these issues to everyone's attention. I'm somewhat confused at this situation because there are people that say that the internet is worldwide, so no certain government should be controlling who has access to it. I hear other groups saying that government intervention is needed. My question is... if the United States passes a law that affects the downloading of music, what will be next? Can the musician "go after" a website allowing music to be downloaded, but is based in for example, Japan? I think that this is just the beginning.

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Prestigious #22
"24 Reflections of Perfection"
Spring 1997

I also download music from napster. I think that site is an excellent way to sample songs off a new released CD to see if you want to buy the whole thing or not. Though mostly I download those older songs that I can't seem to find in record stores here.

Maybe I am showing my lack of technology savvy by saying this, but I really don't see how Napster or any other company that has CDs on the internet is any different from what's already happening. For example, the radio is free and we are able to listen to the music of various artists without playing a dime. Plus, for those of us that are REALLY old school, I know you used to record your favorite records off the radio! It makes me laugh just to think about it! The DJ talking all over the song...your mother in the background yelling for you to wash your hands 'cause dinner was on the table, you forgetting to turn the recorder off so you get all of the commercials. Even though we have 'graduated' a bit I still will copy CDs on to a cassette tape so that I can play them in my car. I think these artist are afraid that because of the increased quality of burning CDs people will begin to sell them, thus cutting them out. If that is the case, they need to take the legal action afforded to them. Music is still copywrited and you cannot sell it unless you are authorized by the record labels. I do see a future of them being more aggressive with bootleggers if this continues. Maybe we will also come to a day where there will be commercials on CDs and that is the way artists get their money. I shudder to think that could happen!

What other sites are there and what is "CD Burning"?

I think there's one called MusicCity.com, CT4, is that right?

toocute -

Another really GOOD site is www.gnotella.com because it works just like Napster, and is actually faster for me.

CD burning is done when you have a 2nd disc drive on your computer that is re-writable. It's usually located just under the regular CD drive. You can use CD-R discs with a CD creation program and just put the songs you want onto a disk, click "create cd", and there it is. I am one of those people who makes CDs at school for $5 apiece. If I'd started sooner, I never woulda needed a workstudy. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

Thanks Ideal08 and SweetestDiva! I'll check those sites tonight.

LOL! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

toocute,

someone told me (or maybe I read it some place) that you can still get songs off Napster....there's just a "trick" to it. You have to type in things w/ "weird" spellings in order to find stuff. I know I was looking for that Aaliyah song "Resolution" and I had to type her name in as "Aliyah" instead of how it's really spelled and a whole list popped up. So I've been doing that and I've been able to find stuff still. I guess it's their way of "hiding" from the Courts and artists. It's sorta inconvenient, but I'll do it if I can have free music cuz a sista is broke these days! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/tongue.gif So try that if you still want to use Napster.
peace

[This message has been edited by ZChi4Life (edited May 09, 2001).]

A couple that I know of are: www.audiofind.com www.audiogalaxy.com www.hiphoprydaz.com


With the last site the files are saved as rm which can be played in realplayer and winamp-if you have the plugin. The files aren't as big as mp3's; therefore, the download time is shorter.

FYI there is a site www.hiphoparchives.com which is a site where you can find lyrics to songs. I just hate it when I like a song, but don't know the words to it and I'm singing the wrong thing. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by sunnydays96 (edited May 09, 2001).]

Has anybody tried to download from Napster lately? Hubby and I tried last night and it is basically on LOCK DOWN. You are blocked from downloaded a lot of songs now. You can't even swipe a song from a person on your buddy list. The party's over. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif

Well I'm not going to lie. Napster was the bomb, but now it's gone. However I've found plenty of other sites where I can get my music. I also have a cd burner. Yes I burn cd's. Do I sell them, no- eventhough I really should. To me it's no different than if I had taped a song off the radio or dubbed a copy of the tape from someone. The fact of the matter is that the internet is a larger medium for people to have access to the music and share it. If it wasn't so widespread, it wouldn't be a big deal.

Do I feel bad, no. Why? Because the prices used to be reasonable. Cd's were like 10.99 and tapes were around 8.99. Nowadays, cd's are up to 17.99-for one cd, not 2 and then you get 10 songs and only 2 are worth listening to. Then they have the nerve to sell tapes starting at 11.99.

It's a rip off and as far as I'm concerned the record companies- because they are the ones and not the artists who are banking the money- need to know how that feels.

Disclaimer: Just because I burn cd's doesn't mean that I have stopped purchasing cd's. I'll pay a reasonable price for a cd if I'm feeling the WHOLE ablum.

Suunydays

Thanks alot for the sites. Anyone else have any other music sites?

Has anyone signed up for Napster's free 30 day trial?

Nah; didn't even know it was still around in its old form.

I use WinMX. I am a bad girl, I know. :cool:

I have to wait until I have some more memory on my computer. I saw an ad for it on Yahoo, I think, but I haven't tried it. I will, though, as soon as I get some space.

*AHEM* Me too! That came out at work and I thought my colleague who's a lawyer would report me. LOL!!

LOL, please that person probably uses it too. :p. I mean WinMX has been out for a good minute, so if no one has shut it down by now, then oh well.

I get my download on daily. It comes in handy even more now that I have my ipod (and not a free one either ;) , LOL). So rather than cough up .99 for a download from iTunes, I take my happy butt right to WinMX.

pNc

It is refreshing to see that I am not the only person using WinMX(at work). :o