The Case for MP3's

I have over 8000 albums and CD's, I've been collecting them since I was 5 years old and still I need more. Music is a passion and an addiction.

The recent controversy surrounding Napster and the action brought against them by the RIAA has highlighted a need. 10's of millions of MP3 consumers across cyberspace can't be wrong.

Many people, for whatever reason download MP3's to listen to the latest hits etc without giving anything back.

Although it's hard to feel sorry for record companies who have fleeced us for years, and in the main supply us with what they regard as software (the music) for our hardware (Hi-Fi's etc) - I do feel some compassion for the artist (primarily) and the record companies (secondary).

If people use MP3's as a substitute for CD's etc they would have bought, then they are robbing the artist and the record companies of royalties and sales.

However, I see it this way:

the airwaves are clogged with record company product: insipid lifeless dull karaoke plastic pop bands and singers; banal hip-hop; turgid posturing heavy metal; pedestrian stadium behemoths - and I don't want to listen to it.

Far better, to find like minded people via the Internet, swap music in a compact format, sample it - if you want to hear more, you can buy it, if you don't, you can dismiss it and delete it.

In the last few months I've bought over 100 CD's, music I would not have heard, let alone purchased if it were not for the miracle of MP3, Audio Galaxy and groups like this one.

So if the radio won't play what I want to hear, and the record companies won't nurture and promote quality artists like they used to, what else is left?

Roll on MP3 - and to the record companies I say embrace it don't kill it.