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The Ugly Truth About Downloads

Recently, a rather lengthy discussion article that had gone viral was brought to my attention. This article was focused on the current youth’s outlook towards the music industry and went into very good detail the multi-faceted ways in which people are “robbed” by illegal downloading or cheaper streaming services, and how Internet companies are the only ones who stand to benefit.

The argument on how downloading music harms the industry as a whole is nothing new, but I found that the depth in which profit is generated for OTHER industries an interesting and thought-provoking discourse.

There are complete ‘movements’ devoted to ‘free culture’ in this day and age, the majority of which don’t realise exactly what they are asking a human’s thought processes to establish and maintain.

I’ll let you make your own mind up on this subject with the link at the bottom of this page (prepare for a lot of reading – perhaps make yourself a cup of tea), but leave you with the death-rattling summary that is put forward by the author, David Lowery:

“…Many in your generation are willing to pay a little extra to buy “fair trade” coffee that insures the workers that harvested the coffee were paid fairly.  Many in your generation will pay a little more to buy clothing and shoes from manufacturers that  certify they don’t use  sweatshops.  Many in your generation pressured Apple to examine working conditions at Foxconn in China.  Your generation is largely responsible for the recent cultural changes that has given more equality to same sex couples.  On nearly every count your generation is much more ethical and fair than my generation.   Except for one thing.  Artist rights.” 

Read the article and make up your own mind here.

I’ll come back with some analysis in a week or so’s time.

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Author Details

Josh Forner

Josh Forner is a 24 year old songwriter and Music Business graduate from Melbourne, Australia. His songwriting reflects struggles, heartache, love, beauty and the wonderful (and sometimes not so) world in which we live. He draws influences from The Eels, Crowded House, Dave Matthews Band and Jackson Browne - just to name a few.

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