| Music downloads are highly compressed audio | | | | are complicated. Some vehemently rail against |
| files transferred onto a personal computer | | | | the practice, claiming that to download free |
| from an Internet website or P2P (peer to | | | | music is to disrespect the artist that |
| peer) program. From IPOD's to MP3 players | | | | created it. Even bands unconcerned with the |
| galore, music downloading is seen as the | | | | financial aspect hate free music downloads |
| fastest way for a musician to get his or her | | | | simply because they allow their records to be |
| work out to the public. Many musicians have | | | | leaked, or made available before the official |
| developed world-wide followings by adding | | | | release date. But others see no problem with |
| downloadable music files to their web | | | | free music downloads, some even completely |
| sites.It's a trend reaching nearly epidemic | | | | embrace them. In fact, many cite the |
| proportions; music downloads are everywhere. | | | | exorbitant costs of records as justification |
| Websites all over the Internet offer music | | | | alone for free music downloads. Music |
| downloads of particularly rare or | | | | downloads and the users that either embrace |
| hard-to-find songs, and computer-savvy music | | | | or condemn them are a hotly contested topic; |
| fans have been known to spend hours searching | | | | it's an argument not likely to end anytime |
| through the mountains of downloadable | | | | soon.For the musician, however, music |
| material. They also function as a godsend for | | | | downloads are an absolute breakthrough |
| new or underground musicians; who needs a | | | | technology, allowing, for the first time in |
| record label when strategically placed music | | | | history, for a musician to develop a |
| downloads alone can garner you a dedicated | | | | following without ever leaving his or her |
| following? Even cell-phone companies have | | | | house! Marketing possibilities are unlimited |
| grabbed themselves a piece of the pie by | | | | for the musicians who avail themselves of |
| offering music downloads that serve as ring | | | | this wonderful new technology.Duane Shinn is |
| tones. The sound quality is often superior, | | | | the author of over 500 music books and music |
| the P2P programs easy to use -- music | | | | educational materials such as DVD's, CD's, |
| downloads are one of those rare pop-culture | | | | musical games for kids, chord charts, musical |
| phenomena embraced by nearly everyone.But | | | | software, and piano lesson instructional |
| despite (or perhaps because of) their | | | | courses for adults. His courses have been |
| overwhelming popularity, music downloads have | | | | written up in hundreds of newspapers and |
| stirred quite the controversy. Many P2P | | | | magazines. His book-CD-DVD course titled "How |
| programs allowing users to transfer music | | | | To Play Chord Piano" ( has sold over 100,000 |
| directly between computers offer music | | | | copies around the world. He holds advanced |
| downloads for free, much to the chagrin of | | | | degrees from Southern Oregon University and |
| several recording artists and labels. Fearful | | | | was the founder of Piano University in |
| of losing money to music fans downloading the | | | | Southern Oregon. He has also logged time as |
| songs instead of buying the full record, | | | | an assistant music therapist, piano tuner, |
| bands and labels have set out to stop the | | | | and working piano player. He is the author of |
| users from obtaining their music from free | | | | the popular free 101-week e-mail newsletter |
| programs. A virtual witch-hunt for frequent | | | | titled "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano |
| downloaders and the threat of lawsuits led | | | | Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions" with |
| many P2P programs to begin charging for their | | | | over 55,000 current subscribers. Those |
| services, though several sneak under the wire | | | | interested may obtain a free subscription by |
| by making that payment optional.The ethical | | | | going to This article was assisted by Mollie |
| implications involved in free music downloads | | | | Wells. |