Emotions are definitely mixed on this issue...and both sides feel they are right.
So, my side of the coin is this. As long as the person whom the music comes from gets the credit for it, I see no problem in public domain/public distribution/free music. The use of Napster and Limewire should be permitted for such use. As long as when you listen to a song, you know who the artist(s) is, then I don't feel there should be any issue. It's a matter of publicity on this behalf; maybe if the listener likes what he or she hears, they will purchase a CD to listen to around the house or in the car. Maybe it's music from an up and coming artist and they just need the publicity before the money. These are just only some of the reasons why music should be allowed for free download/access.
On the flip side of the coin, however - suppose no one goes out and buys CD's? They just continually download album after album of every artist on the face of the earth? Eventually their music would be devalued to nothing. This would mean the artists going broke (hard to imagine but just think about it) and no longer being able to make the music they make at the rate they do now, eventually not being able to do it at all. Music isn't all about money, but when top rate studios want $100 or more per hour for recording time, how can artists possibly afford to keep recording? Let alone living period? It's just a matter of survival when it comes to record labels and paying for CD's and music. I personally don't find many CD's outrageously expensive as it is...some are, but for the most part I feel that CD's are reasonably priced.
Either way, until it is made legal, it is still illegal; whether we like it or not. Being an active composer, I struggle all the time with public domain and copyright issues...it's the same sort of deal.
