I have a friend who writes music, plays various instruments and tours with some of the big names in contemporary Christian music. He was doing fine selling his CDs at concerts and bookstores until internet sites offered access to his albums for free. He said people have NO idea how damaging their music theft is.

His album sales fell off so much that he changed his focus from touring/selling CDs to writing & selling guitar method books & curriculum and running a recording studio in Nashville. He said there was a huge ripple throughout the music industry when stealing music became commonplace over the internet. Many small or local bands died out and only the big names survived, living solely on the income from their concerts because people no longer bought CDs.

Knowing someone who was personally affected by music theft has made a difference in my actions.

Jul- who has access to an extensive music CD collection and doesn't copy music from the internet...well, except for some cool Sesame Street songs and Mr Scruff's Fish Song...long ago... but that still makes her guilty....iaAM