How to Prevent Piracy?

             My Reference

            Going out to buy that new CD that finally released after you’ve been waiting for what seems like forever is always a lot of fun. You run to the store and ask the sales associate where it is located and then you suddenly find yourself staring at the album cover. You take it to the register to purchase it, go to your car and you begin to carefully unwrap the plastic covering. It is finally open and you take out that old CD and you put in the new one. Next thing you know your cruising home listening to your new favorite album. That’s how it goes right? Isn’t that how everyone feels when they finally get their hands on that new CD they’ve been dying to hear?

                It would be nice if that was the case. That would mean the retail stores are receiving income, the record labels are getting paid, and most of all your favorite artists are being supported; however,  it seems like in today’s market no one is purchasing music anymore. The revolution of MP3 players has tremendously impacted the music organization. People are beginning to feel like CD’s are more of a hassle than anything else.

                Don’t get me wrong, it is still main stream to obtain music physically rather than digitally; yet, it is only a matter of time until that will change. Since 2003 digital content has been exploding. It is easy, convenient and it is nearly accessible from any device. Piracy plays a critical role in the music industry because now people can easily pirate individual songs and full albums. Pirating has tremendously impacted the music industry’s profit. Most people justify their illegal actions of pirating music by saying that record companies make so much money that one album being downloaded by them won’t hurt their profits. However, since 2000 there has been a near 36% decline in the revenue within the music industry.

                Piracy is affecting record labels, artist, and jobs. The decline in sales has become disturbing. It is simple, pirating music is stealing music. People who are caught pirating music can suffer jail time and/or large fines since they are ignoring the copyright laws. Piracy is becoming increasingly popular with college students. Many kids in college love to listen to music. I see young adults always plugged into their MP3 players with their headphones on, rather they are in school, home, or in public. Music is embedded into our culture and into our routine daily lives.

HOW TO PREVENT PIRACY?

                However, if everyone pirates music than how can the music industry survive? It is critical for people to understand that buying music enables the recording company to promote our favorite artists and to produce the albums that we all love. What are some ways that we as students can do our due diligence by not pirating music and preventing other people from pirating music?