Downloading music has made the joy of having some of our favorite musicians tracks easier and faster for our enjoyment. Downloading music is better than waiting on the release of their actual album release; especially, with itunes right in the palm of our hands, and at the point of our fingertips. Maybe for those who may own an iPhone, iPod, or even iPad. Even though downloading music in our current generation seems so easy. Many people make it seems so hard; especially, when doing it illegally. With fans downloading some of their favorite recording artists’ music illegally, they’re not only breaking the law. They’re also breaking the pockets of these same artists’.
When looking at the music industry, artists’ always seem to be behind and for some strange reason at a disadvantage within the music industry. They’re always cheated out of their funds and rights. At the end of the day, it seems as if the labels get richer, while the recording artist get poorer. It’s also important to remember that it’s not only the artist these illegal downloaders are cheating. Along side the recording artist and the record labels; there’s the producers and publishers/ songwriters, who do receive rights and pay to those same records that people illegally download off the Internet.
What really puts an artist at a disadvantage is the fact that an artist may sell 1000 units through digital download, and may absolutely see nothing in return from the record labels. When hearing this, you may think this is impossible. In recent news, Public Enemy’s Chuck D. claims that Universal Music Group artists get paid $80.33 for every 1000 download. Chuck D. has decided to sue Universal Music, believing that the label has miscalculated Public Enemy’s royalties for digital downloads. In the class action suit, he proves in a printed document that artists at UMG receive $80.33 for every 1000 downloads. When the group should've receive $315.85. Chuck D. trust that digital downloads should be seen as licenses and not have the same expenses as physical album.
