Personally, there are a few atists that I do support, but I would be lying by saying that I download their albums. I do simply for the sake of hearing the quality of music and if I love over half of that album, I will legally buy it. If I don’t, I just don’t listen to it anymore, nor do I pass on a rapidshare link of the leaked album.

people like insideoutbox, though it may sound contradictory, does make a point. Major record labels do not support these artists the way they should because of the age that we live in. It’s all about money, popularity, and what’s the flavor of the moment. They don’t look for longevity in music and artists anymore, which is why these artists flop, not necessarily because of illegal downloading.

The quality of music is so piss poor that people just prefer to have if for free because they feel it’s not worth spending their hard earned money, regardless of if they truly support the artist.

As far as Susan Boyle, I think she has a lovely voice/talent, and I wish her much success. Will I legally/illegally download her album? No, because I’m not interested in her. Unless mp3′s are encrypted with some kind of code that can block music files from being played or something, this problem will go on for a long time.

What I do know is that every person makes a decision to illegally download an album or single, thus depriving the artist of their fee.

At a time when legal downloading easily can provide a product there’s no excuse for simply taking it. I don’t care if you don’t like the record company. I don’t like the people who run my local grocery store – should I steal a bunch of food out of it?

I think the car companies leave a lot to be desired. They haven’t adapted to changes in the industry. So, should I take their cars?

Please. Ridiculous excuses for plain and simple theft.

@Mary Jo “No more irrelevant than shoplifting”

Do you realize that the label that is putting out Susan’s album (under what ungodly terms i don’t even want to know) is one of the reasons the music industry has not adapted to the technology that allows file-sharing, thus making victims out of all of their artists’ bottom lines? File sharing is an unbelievably powerful promotional tool for upcoming artists like Susan Boyle. Susan is not known throughout the world because of her label’s promotion of her album, she is known because millions of people passed on YouTube links of her TV performance, and watched the coverage of her on the news. No one paid for this.

While major labels have refused to adapt, Artists themselves are finding new income streams all the time and true fans are stepping up and contributing. Susan will make more money and have more long-term viability from you going to her shows and buying her merch than she will from you buying multiple copies of her album. Unless of course her label will screw her by recouping on that too, but that’s ok right? Long live major labels, down with illegal downloading! Let’s party like it’s 1999!

I’m in the US. :)

And I hope you’re right Devo. But it’s still blatant theft. Pure and simple. Susan Boyle has spent her life waiting for the moment when her CD is released, and some people apparently think they can simply steal it.

Also, the CNN story is wrong – there was a story on this site a while ago when Susan’s Cd became the most ordered in the history of Amazon.com in the US. See http://idolator.com/5285312/what-does-susan-boyles-amazon-record-really-mean

Today, Susan Boyle’s CD became the most pre-ordered in all of Amazon music WORLDWIDE. Including Amazon.co.uk, amazon.co.jp etc.