Living in the MP3 age

The internet has changed the face of the music industry forever.

There have been endless debates on the legalities of downloading music from the web. Many compare illegal streaming to shoplifting since people often don't pay for the tunes they are listening to. The famous legal battle between music streamers Napster and musicians Metallica made headlines. However the soaring popularity of music streaming confirms that it is here to stay, which is probably why musicians and record companies now offer a mixed bag of paid and free music varieties.

Easy access

Manish Bakshi, General Manager, BenQ, says, "Music has always been one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Gadgets such as MP3 players and mobile phones with in-built music options have widened avenues for music streaming. Major MP3 brands have initiated websites which give easy access to music anywhere across the world. Similarly mobile brands have also come a step ahead to initiate music clubs for easy downloads of music."

Online music stores allow people to buy music legally over the internet. Music-sites.net, for example, is a music directory on the web that allows members to browse through other music websites to access lyrics and sites are rated by listeners.

MP3 is another popular website. The site's 250,000 daily visitors can download free songs from more than 4,000 artists, along with free software to play these songs.

Another site, iTunes, offers downloads for 99 cents a song or $9.95 for a CD. This site even offers listeners a chance to visit the current Billboard charts and listen to the latest tracks being played by various radio stations.

While many people are only too happy to download free music, others believe it is a violation of the law. Sara Saleh, a student at the University of Sydney in Australia, visiting the UAE says, "Just like any other creative or artistic work, from a painting to a poem, music should be copyrighted and protected, and those responsible for making it and putting it out should be rightly rewarded for their talents and efforts."

She adds, "Although the music industry may be relatively expensive, music streaming, as an affordable alternative, is an inescapable reality. Nonetheless, illegal downloading is still stealing, since artistes, record companies and everyone else involved are deprived of profits that are deservedly theirs."

Promotion tool

Music streaming is often seen as an invaluable promotion tool for upcoming bands that don't have record labels. It allows them to bypass doors often closed by record companies. Today, many sites allow budding musicians to upload music which can then be reviewed by listeners around the world.