When we go online, one of the first things we tend to do is download free music from our favorite artists.. Most of us love surfing web sites that allow us to download mp3 songs for free. Downloading music off the internet has so many upsides with the biggest being its free! But does it have a negative effect on the music industry? Does it, in some way affect the earnings of the artists? What are the pros and cons of downloading free music? Let us see.

Downloading Free Music - The Pros

• Downloading music makes it readily available to the masses. Music reaches the masses in minutes. When it can be freely downloaded, music lovers get what they need without struggling for long periods of time. When music becomes available within sometime after its release, it is a real musical treat for those waiting for the release. Their favorite music becomes handy and avilable.
• When you download music, you save on the costs that would be incurred if you would have decided to buy it. Music cassettes, CDs and DVDs cost handsomely. The original copies of music need you to shell out big bucks. If music is downloadable, you are sure to save money, thanks to the facilities of free downloading.
• Supporters of downloading music claim that making music readily available contributes to the increased popularity of the artists. The concept of making music available for free downloads has in fact contributed to the fame of the music industry. Being available for download, music reaches the crowd in a relatively lesser amount of time thus boosting its popularity.

Downloading Music - The Cons

• Though downloading music makes it easily available to the masses, it also makes it spread far and wide overly. Something that is very easily available is also of a lesser value. Something that is scarce is precious while something that is plentiful tends to be of a lesser value.
• The practice of downloading music leads to the diminishing of sales of music cassettes, CDs and DVDs. It reduces the sale figures of music companies. It has an adverse effect on the music industry.
• Some of the web sites offering the facility of downloading music take registration fees or mandate subscriptions or memberships. It is not always that downloading music is free. You might end up spending an amount close to what you would have spent on the original copies. The resources expended on the download may actually nullify those you would have spent on the original version.
• Downloading music gives rise to copyright and piracy issues. By downloading music you lose its originality. When you use the copied versions of music; you indirectly encourage piracy. As you download music, you do not go for the purchase of the original copies of music, which may result in an indirect violation of copyright.

While the facility of downloading music increases the demand for music, it brings down the legitimate sales of the original music. While the artists reach millions in a go, their works of art become an inexpensive commodity. So the next time you find your favorite music just a click away, do not take the simplest road of clicking on it. Think for a while whether your click is going to affect someone's living.