Sound #25: Am I a music pirate?

I used Windows Media Player to rip songs from a disc and burn it to a blank disc. The procedure was very easy. Fourdogmom told me about Roxio, so I ripped and burned another disc to try out that site. It was also very easy to perform. I did not notice much difference in the procedures, except that Roxio has the capability to make a jewel case cover.

I still use CDs. It is more practical for me to use the CD player in my car and at my desk at work.

Sharing music is not a new concept, remember when you bought a 45 or an album and your friend bought a different one and you "shared". When cassettes became popular, you recorded music from your record collection onto cassettes or you recorded directly from your favorite radio station versus buying the cassette. The Internet is just that "friend" who has all of the latest hits that you "borrow" music from. But, musicians are caught in the middle with piracy of their music. Allowing free sharing creates a larger fan base, but they are losing the revenue that would be made from the sale of the music. What is more important to the musician, popularity or money? I understand that having both would be the ultimate solution, but in this time of technology, the musicians may have to make a choice.