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Poll

POLL: HOW DO YOU GET YOUR MUSIC?

 Monday, June 15th, 2009 at 9:45am by

virgin megastore closingIt was fun while it lasted… having places to buy music in NYC, that is. With Circuit City gone, Best Buy cutting shelf-space and many independent stores gone the way of Tower, the final nail was pounded into the coffin of physical music retail in New York City this weekend as the Virgin Megastore in Union Square closed its doors for the last time. Virgin was the only place left you knew you could get just about anything — albeit sometimes for a high price — and was always a fun diversion or time-killer that would inevitably end in some totally unnecessary but killer CD purchases. With MySpace and file-sharing now the prevalent way of finding out about new music it seems quaint that I’d often go into Virgin (or Tower) and buy CDs solely from sampling them on listening stations, but I can’t tell you how many good CDs I found that way.

With physical music stores an increasing rarity and a modicum of online music options (both legal and illegal), how do you get your music these?

n

{democracy:45}

[Thanks to Nona T. for the Virgin Megastore pic.]

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  • Allan

    I use the site swaptree.com to trade my old CDs for new ones. In addition, I utilize torrents.

    • metalvinny

      You are the reason stores are closing!!!

  • key

    generally I make all my purchases from cmdistro or amazon but occasionally i’ll go into best buy to get a cd. not that i don’t pirate stuff, but I do purchase albums often. I tend to do it more, though, when not working an unpaid internship.

  • bearwizard

    i voted mailorder but when i do download music its .rar blogs

  • Metal Fuckin’ Dave

    I fucking hate this. It sickens me. I feel like I am becoming part of a dying breed, and I likely am. There is a certain sterility to purchasing music (especially by the song) on the internet that I simply cannot accept as a reasonable means of discovering music. Back in the day (as in…not even a decade ago) it was fun to buy an album and listen to every track. You always had the CD or LP packaging to peruse while you listened to each song, hoping it stood up to or surpassed the last. And discovering that song 6 or song 8 or whatever track it was may be the “greatest fucking song EVER”….well those days will be gone soon. Perhaps it is for the best, though I doubt it. We are in the age of short attention spans and lightspeed broadband. I shall live in the woods with nothing but my cds and records, and possibly a word processor to pass the time with writing…

    • Mike =O

      true :[

    • http://www.myspace.com/437666934 Noel

      im fucking 17 and I totally agree, at least you probobly got most out of that time, where as i now, am cornered and surrounded by, well, what your expressing…

    • Demogorgon

      Nothing will beat the good old LP, sadly it is getting harded and harded to get them these day

    • dr j

      I never download single songs. I download full albums from .rar blogs and then purchase the albums from Best Buy or a local music distributer close by my house if I like them unless they are commercially unavailable; but I still get the full LP and I still listen to them in order. Plus I’m sure that even in your day, people bought many CDs based off singles they heard off of the radio and only listened to that one song, despite the rest of the songs on the album being available.

  • alliaphagist

    Mostly Napster for me. With the volume of music I listen to, it’s the most economical legal option. I also trade CDs at Swapacd, and buy from online mailorders, mostly from The Omega Order.

  • wormdrive

    Luckily i have R5 records in town for new music (opened by Russ Soloman Tower Records Guy) and a Dusty Crusty used record store right next door. They have bands performing almost every day for free.
    I am addicted to colored vinyl so i order alot from the internet.

  • \m/Eluveitie\m/

    I steal Vince and Axl’s cds

  • Sean

    I still buy most of my stuff from a small independent store here in town that specializes in all of the non commercial stuff. But I imagine its only got so many years left the way things are headed. I download stuff on occasion to try it out, but anything I like I’ll purchase. I’ve bought some stuff from itunes but I really prefer owning the actual cd.

  • Double D

    I buy my vinyl from local stores (Hyde & Zeke and Wayward Council), but I get my mp3′s from torrents. Why buy when you can get it for free? And don’t give me that bullshit about supporting the artist. Fuck the artist. Daddy needs his oxycontin.

  • Stephen

    Even though it pains me to do so, I buy most cds online from the US as they are always cheaper than buying from (and supporting) independant record shops from home (the UK)

    Personally, as someone who enjoys owning albums, now seems to be a better time than ever for buying as cds are getting cheaper to buy and cd packaging is becoming more impressive than ever (Torche – Meanderthal and new Sunn O))) and Coalesce spring to mind)

  • Gigantic Faggot

    I pirate 80% of all music I have on my hard drive and feel guilty about doing it 10% of the time. If I like the artist I try to see them when they come to town or I’ll pick up a copy of their album in stores. That said, the amount of shit the music industry attempts to shove down our throats is why I choose not to purchase the turd sandwiches wrapped in plastic filling up our stores. Try it before you buy it.

    • Shep

      Same, also if they have a decent T-shirt I might buy that as well/instead of an album to support them a bit more.

    • groverXIII

      I’m seconding this.

  • Pete

    Hail Vintage Vinyl and independent record stores!

    • JRTME

      VV is where I am buying most of my stuff now.

      Them and when Best Buy has it on sale. Everything else is pretty much gone.

  • http://www.myspace.com/jay234t Brutal Jay

    There’s a really cool record store where I live called Earshot. They have a huge selection of metal albums and it’s all really cheap. They also have some cool shirts and stuff there.

    • http://www.garrettwilliams.net TheProfitOfDoom

      Earshot kicks ass! I moved here from Atlanta a few years ago where there’s Criminal Records, Wax ‘n’ Facts and a few others who have saddly closed their doors in the past year. Fortunately, it seems, Earshot is still going strong. They arrange in store performances, CD listening parties and all kinds of freebies. In the past year I’ve seen Withered, Earth and most recently Graves of Valor performing there. I still buy CD’s whenever I can, but I mainly get my music through Vuze, I’m poor…

  • http://www.jesse-flip.deviantart.com Jesse Flip

    I download the album, if it’s good enough I’ll go out and buy it.

  • bucketochicken

    Going to a record store or getting CDs in the mail still has that excitement for me. I love tearing off the cellophane and looking at all the artwork, lyrics, thank yous… New CDs even smell good – like a new National Geographic – that glossy petroleum-y plastic-y paper smell. I like having something tangible to hold and look at while I listen, I like actually knowing the song names (as opposed to just knowing it as “track 5″ or whatever), who the band members are & what they do, etc.

    Downloading music is all fine and good too, but it’s so much more impersonal, and I dunno, a lot less special. I kinda don’t like the immediacy of it. The instant gratification is not all that gratifying at all. I never want to hear any leaked music before it’s released… that’s like opening xmas presents in mid-September. Takes away all the specialness and magic of the anticipation, and the reward for waiting. Plus you know for sure you’re hearing the version of the music the artist wants you to hear, as opposed to some sh*tty unmixed/unmastered, unfinished product with horrible lo-fi sound quality.

    • Itheus

      Well stated my friend!!

  • Dark Oxygen

    Torrents to try, Amazon / other online stores to buy.

  • cookie

    “Buy at Shows” needs to be an option. Try to support bands by buying merch at their shows. Its where I get most of my CD’s and LP’s

    • PD

      Yeah, I was like “uhh, shows?”
      But I’ll DL something first and then I usually end up buying the album at the show.

  • LeRoi

    The fact that almost 50% choose to download music illegaly just proves, that most people in here doesn’t give a fuck about the music. Don’t pay and don’t download full albums seems to be the new norm.
    That’s also why most comments on this site is a complete waste of time – if you only heard one song from an album, you really should shut up and just start your own Facebookgroup.

    But what do I know? I’m old, out of touch and most of you emo-kids would probably call me a conformist.

    • Gigantic Faggot

      Butthurt label rep.

      • RobotScythe

        Actually I BUY all my stuff and download it form iTunes and Amazon anymore BECAUSE I care about the music. I don’t give a shit about packaging anymore..just make sure the damn album is GOOD. And I can typically purchase more albums at one time by downloading them as opposed to buying them all at stores.

    • http://infinitybasement.wordpress.com billybob

      lol Emo Kids,

      I download and purchase. I couldn’t possible purchase all the music I listen to, I’d be living on the streets. I get my favourites, and I still buy CD’s but I’ve seriously been considering the reasons behind this, I live on my own and don’t own a decent CD player or home entertainment system to play them on and I listen to everything with my Laptop setup and/or my iPod. So I’m actually considering selling my entire CD library. Interested? :P

    • dr j

      That’s a good attitude, if you don’t throw money at something, you don’t care for it.

  • Senior Swanky

    I used to go to Other music but everyone who works there tends to be a prick even the semi cute hipster girl at the register so now I order a lot of stuff through mail order, Generation or Best Buy.
    Although it was sad to see Virgin go while the store was having their clearance sale I picked up a shit ton of cd’s for less then $7 I even got a PS3 for Half price which you cant beat.
    Anyone catch the Season finale of Lost? So good.

    • Pancho

      Hell yeah the lost season finale was good. It put things in another perspective and restored my faith in the show.

      As for the music buying thing? Well, I mostly download .rars and buy the stuff I like from listening to these at a local independent store…it’s a real bitch to buy CDs by good artists here in Honduras, as they quite probably have to be mail-ordered and all the taxes they mount the things with put them in the motherfucking pricey realm of $ 20 and upwards, so they have to be lavishly packaged/new albums by fave artists/fancy reissues with extras and shit for me to even consider. But I love CDs and vinyl, agree that mp3s are horribly fucking up the sound quality of music, and after having a bunch of laptops stolen, think that legally downloading music/keeping it in your PC is also a good way to lose all your music library AT ONCE. Also, what’ll happen when THAT shit becomes obsolete? At least with CDs you can buy ultra cheap CD players…

  • RobotScythe

    If it’s a band I actively collect like Slayer, Motorhead, Priest, maiden, etc. I always but a hard copy. But other than those I buy the majority of my albums through iTunes or download them from Amazon. Some people complain because they like having the album cover too, but these days I don’t have time to sit around in headphones and gaze at an album cover for hours on end. Hey, I can relate to the connection with the art..am a working artist and I appreciate the visual element of the albums. My own artwork has been inspired by much of what I’ve seen on album covers.

    But I’ve reached the point where I don’t give a shit how good the packaging is if the album is shit. And I’d rather take a chance downloading a new band’s album for $10 than buying it in the store for $13-16.

    I’ve fully embraced the digital age. I LOVE having my entire music collection on my iPod and being able to take it with me anywhere I go. Now to me, carrying around a case full of CD’s is just cumbersome. I’m all about streamlining.

    It sucks to see record stores close though, I’ll agree 100%. I ued to love killing time in Tower checking stuff out.

  • Ziltoid

    Vince, as much as I liked the Virgin Megastore, there is a much better alternative in NYC that has an infinitely better selection than Virgin ever did. J&R Music:

    http://www.jr.com/

    I don’t know if you’ve heard of the place, but there’s a store near the Brooklyn Bridge subway station, and it’s selection is amazing. Just search their site to see if they have something. And their prices are a bit better than Virgin as well, and they like to have sales quite often. I prefer physical CDs to downloads, so this store has really done a lot for me. I’ve also heard great things about Bleeker Bob’s, but I’ve never been there myself, so I can’t confirm anything.

    • SourDeez

      Bleeker Bob’s is legit, but Generation Records is right around the corner and much better for metal.

      • Io

        I second both J&R and Generation Records, they also have a ton of metal shirts for sale in the basement. Bleeker Bob’s is just okay.

        Virgin was fun to hang out at, though.

        • SourDeez

          Don’t despair, you can still hang out in front of Virgin, chain smoke, and encounter some severe weirdos. I had an undercover cop try to sell me weed when I was standing with a friend on the corner, and when I clearly realized he was a cop and his cover was blown, he continued to offer me all sorts of drugs. He was seriously desperate to make a bust. Finally he fucked off. About ten seconds after he left, I noticed that there were a bunch of union square kids railing lines in that little alcove, who gladly would have walked into his little trap. Gotta love New York.

    • http://www.last.fm/user/BootScraperSean Anger Unmanagement

      Just to let ya know Devin Townsend is very cool about downloading and all, he says to download the new stuff to see if you like it, but buy it if you do, if you dont oh well its not for you, and if you wanted you can just download his whole discography but if you want him to tour buy a t shirt or something, families to support and all. I like Devin and his attitude.

  • Aaron R A

    While legal download options aren’t as great as physical copies, if you’re downloading shit illegally, I totally support a $10,000 lawsuit against your sorry ass. Anyone who has any real respect or love for music and the art of creating it wouldn’t pull this shit. I hate the unbridled greed of the RIAA, but you deserve what’s coming to you if you steal music.

    • ozzyzak

      Fuck that. You know pissed I would be, had I PAID for Judas Priest’s last turd of an album. Yeah, you betcha. They should have paid me 10,000 to listen to it.

  • http://outthrowingroses.blogspot.com/ Matt

    illegal downloading will never be trifled, especially by silly lawsuits handed down by people wearing suits that laugh at poor people, The real problem, well besides how it can fuck bands that deserve to see some money from their work, is that a whole generation is growing up with compressed shitty sounding music. Music should sound big and not be all bass with drums that sound like they were recorded in a tin can because of a 192 rate compression. The next generation is fucking themselves out of what makes music great and they don’t even know it. They deserve the finical debt.

  • dthrasher

    it wasn’t really an option, but i buy all of my cd’s used from stores/amazon

  • politude

    I pirate, to an extent, I will pirate a disk, and if I like it ill buy it, most bands make money off touring anyways.

  • Sven

    I wouldn’t lament the loss of Circuit City too much. Their CD selection sucked dick.

    Physical CDs take up too much space, so I don’t buy them much anymore – I don’t have the room, nor the time to have an organized CD rack. Especially considering how much space my video game / DVD / Comic Book bookcases take up. My iPod is all I need.

    If I do buy a CD, I usually go to Best Buy.

    Lately I’ve been bringing my laptop over my friends house and raiding his back collection. Can’t get sued for that!

  • Dan-O

    There is this great set of record stores in my hometown of Colorado Springs called Independent Records (not joking). Last time I was down there they seemed pretty up and running. I”m gonna miss the day when they close up though (it’ll happen), I spent many hours of my youth there.

    I generally buy mail order as I still enjoy having the physical copy. I think I’ve bought only a couple cds from iTunes and it never feels the same. Still, I’ll go all digital when the time arrives. And ALWAYS buy merch from shows, that way you know the artist is getting the money.

  • Sammy

    The last time I went into an actual chain record store, where that’s all they sell, most CDs were $18 each. That store, Sam Goody I think, is now out of business. They priced themselves out of their own market.

  • http://www.last.fm/user/wrath_of_vishnu Dillon

    This sucks. I still buy music as long as I know that I like it, because I still feel that bands deserve to have their CDs purchased for support. Either that or I’ll buy a T-shirt or something if I see a favorite band of mine live (which I haven’t done for a while due to where I live and my financial situation).

    Virgin Megastore was an okay store, I went to one in Vancouver, B.C. about 6 years ago and the one mentioned in the post earlier 4 years ago (bought Soilwork’s “The Chainheart Machine” there). What I miss the most is going to the record stores in downtown Seattle, there are some great ones worth checking out (Easy Street, Everyday Music, Silver Platters), when I lived there at home last summer, I’d spend my days off work going there and buying stuff. Hell, I remember going to a Tower Records when it was closing and saving a lot of money when I bought a lot of CDs there.

    It’s sad, as big as the mp3 may be now, the CD is still here to stay. I mean, you get a booklet, better sound quality, etc.

  • http://infinitybasement.wordpress.com billybob

    Torrents first, but I buy shit I like online. Isn’t there another Virgin in East Village? Or is this the one you’re talking about? I know the Times Square one was closing down…

  • Joe

    I like to go to the used record store and clean up, but also the big distros (CM, Earache, Omega Order) because of the pre-order goodies available online. I use the RAR blogs to find stuff like the first Nihilist demos, and other 3 song EP’s that only middle-aged tape traders (my heroes) seem to have.

  • Rock Johnson

    I steal my music. I love stealing music. I walk right into Best Buy or any other store and walk right out the front door with it.

    Stealing off the computer is for pussies.

    • Double D

      HAHA! OH SHIT!

  • Marcus

    I used to visit the local independent record store on a pretty regular basis. I became less and less impressed with them as time’s passed. To begin with, it’s one of those places that seriously resembles every cliche ever portrayed in a movie that featured a record store (High Fidelity and Empire Records always come to mind). I’ve literally seen the workers pop in a Bob Dylan cd and run around the store singing along at the top of their lungs. If that’s not annoying, this really tops it off… I stopped in the other day to browse but couldn’t stick around because the guy behind the counter had these absolutely horrible scream-o remixes of Brittany Spears’ Toxic and Katy Perry’s Kissed a Girl turned up to 11. Thank god I had Nile’s In Their Darkened Shrines at the ready to wash that from my mind.

    If that’s not enough, their new CD’s sell for no less than $15, typically in the $17-$18 range. Their used section is the only thing worthwhile. Even their new CD’s sell at much higher prices than I’m willing to pay. The guy tried to tell me that $14 for the new Depeche Mode Cd was a good deal. I went to Best Buy and bought it for $10.

    I’ve come to rely on Amazon’s MP3 service for most things. I still buy a CD if it’s reasonably priced or something I really want (like Devin Townsend’s new CD). Other than that, it’s torrents.

  • Charlie B

    I tend to “borrow” CDs from friends. Though it pains me to know that most of my friends listen to crappy music, at least a few have a decent music selection. In this area the independent music stores don’t have a wide metal section, and the large box store chains have crappy music selections. So if I don’t borrow a cd I will buy it over the net, from place such as Amazon, End Records or download from Itunes etc.

  • Sin and Death

    I’ve actually found some good cd’s cheap at my University’s store. You can’t find too much metal, but there are mainstream rock cd’s for around five bucks.

    As far as downloading is concerned, I can’t stand it. I will only download free MP3′s to sample an album and see if it is worth buying a physical copy.

  • MetalRod

    The Virgin Megastore in Hollywood also closed this weekend… =(

  • SourDeez

    Generation Records in the village has a metal collection that’s nothing to sneeze at. I’m really surprised they’re still hanging on. It’s hit or miss, but you can find some real gems there. They have really cheap metal cds in the basement. I think it’s the only store in NYC, or Manhattan at least, that actually has a section of just metal cds. Actually they have two, counting the huge bargain rack in the basement.

  • taog36

    i got over 100 gigs of music, i d/l alot, and usaly im on top of things when something leaks. i also have around 250 cds, cause any band i realy like ill buy the cd anyways to support them.

    • taog36

      i also check fye alot in the mall cause my girlfriend drags me there alot and its the only store i like. i browse the metal section and listen to cds of bands i never heard of before. and ill buy just about anything used there.

  • Hot Donut

    I voted torrents, because that’s how most of my music was acquired. However, any time one of my favorite bands releases a new album, I will buy the physical CD. Usually from a big box retailer or mail order.

    I refuse to purchase music online from iTunes or equivalent. If I’m going to spend money, then I want the physical CD, packaging, artwork, etc. Also, CD’s actually retain some value, and can be re-sold. I imagine it’s not possible to (legally) sell anything downloaded from iTunes.

    Also, I buy a lot music DVD’s, attend a lot of concerts, and buy a fair amount of merchandise. So I’m definitely supporting the bands that I like.

    I have:
    ~500 albums downloaded from torrents
    ~80 albums owned legally on physical CDs
    ~100 music DVD’s
    ~20 band T-shirts
    ~90 concerts attended in the past 6 years

  • Anthony

    Combination of buying from big chain stores, Torrents, Limewire, and through swapping with others.

  • 20 eyes

    i download lamb of gods music and give it away for free, cos i hate them.

  • http://www.last.fm/user/BootScraperSean Anger Unmanagement

    Aye agreeing with most here, i download to find out new music and such, if i like the album i will go out and buy, and bands ive liked forever i will always go out and buy a hard copy e.g Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Opeth… Overall i reckon CDs are more special, something to actually hold, a mp3 is a little glyph on your computer screen which doesnt hold much value on a personal level. Even though CDs arent supporting bands as they used to, seeing as most bands make their money through touring, i still like to buy them because not many tours head my way and i like to feel like i actually support the band, not just be headphone.

  • vitruvianApe

    I was discussing the current state of popular music today verses 10-15 years ago with a friend and we came to the theoretical conclusion that since the internet men can be the lazy lethargic beings we were always meant to be and get everything, not just music but everything online.
    On the flipside of that coin, Women(and this includes guys in girl pants and girl hair, emos are women too) always have an insatiable need to GO shopping and thus are more likely to purchase physical cd’s/music in the stores. This leading to a trickle up effect of the types of bands making money and getting signed and pushed in our faces are the ones that women want to hear even though they are in a smaller listening demographic.
    Basically you can blame your girlfriends need for shoes for AFI and my chemical shitstain

  • jonowev

    A combination of many sources, both legal and illegal.

  • ERiK

    I purchase all my music through ebay or amazon. I collect good cds and the physical product is superior to mp3 form. That being said, I buy atleast 90% of my cds (and dvds) used, so it helps neither the artist nor the label. Sorry.

  • r

    I buy online (Amazon) music of bands I know or with very good reviews, for local (Peruvian bands) I buy them in independent stores. For unknown/not so sure bands I download some tracks or the album…

  • metalvinny

    There is ABSOLUTELY no excuse for stealing music anymore. With myspace, trig, bebo, imeem, isound, ilike, facebook, youtube, vimeo – you CAN hear a band before purchasing. The “I want to hear an album before I buy” excuse holds NO water anymore.

  • metalguy

    i used to steal music, then one day mt limewire stopped working, saying i needed to update something that couldnt be updated. i tried torrents, but they wont transfer to my itunes. does ANYONE know a good place for free music. i also realy dislike stealing music, and would buy if i had money

  • http://www.hibernum.net hibernum

    Today there is really no reason to pirate music anymore. With sound samples on amazon.com, free streaming on bands’ websites, and samples on myspace, etc. there are plenty of legal avenues to try before you buy.

    It was really stupid for record labels to sue individuals, as they were going after their own customers. It was stupid to shut down take a leak and steal this song if it was just a song or two (which it was if I recall correctly).

    I haven’t bought an album that was a dud in years thanks to the internet. I still buy albums because I know what I want, thanks to free clips and sample tracks. I don’t think I am the only one who would have been more supportive of the record industry if they didn’t try to fuck the future in the ass. Here’s a hint, you can’t fuck the future in the ass because it is always six inches away from you.

    Than again, maybe this is all Apple and itune’s fault.

  • Mark G.

    I haven’t downloaded an album since 2006 when I got a job and could buy CD’s. I deleted all of the downloaded music from my hard drive and bought copies of all my albums. When you download the album, you don’t really have the album. It’s hard to explain. It’s not really about money to me as much as it is about the intimacy. When you actually own the CD (or Vinyl. Whatever you’re into), you have proof that you own the album. You have the cover art to look at while you wait to go home (or to the car) and listen to it. You can read the lyrics along with the album, anticipating the next song while you do so… and I’ve always had a weird desire to read the “special thanks” section.

    I just like to have a copy, I guess. Downloading music sucks. I didn’t even like it when I did do it.

  • Matthew Grant Anson

    If I pirate a bands complete discography I buy at least one album from them. For example, I pirated Mastodon’s complete discog based off the fact that they were named Mastodon. Ended up loving them, I now have Crack the Skye, Leviathan, and a shirt. (both albums are actual CDs. I’m a big believer in the CD experience, a la Tool.)

  • Malacoda

    Independent record stores own.

  • Louis

    I hate downloading. I only download stuff that is completely out of print or like someone said before bands three song demos that aren’t available anymore. I just actually bought about 25 cds last week and I’m going to Princeton Record Exchange this weekend to probably buy 25 more.

  • miguel_g(Peru)

    I hate downloading with a passion, but at the moment I’m jobless so it’s the only way I can get to hear the new albums by my favorite artists. I love that feeling of opening a new Cd, the smel of it, the booklet, the artwork an all that.

  • sierraviridian

    I adore buying CDs. I love opening them up for the first time, and browsing the pictures. My biggest dream was always to go to the Virgin Megastore. It’s a shame I’ll never get to now…

  • bob

    i understand the point of this poll but there’s no option for people like me who download everything and then buy it when it’s released/they have the cash.

  • i think

    id buy but i dont have money.. if i like a cd, such as alive or just breathing ill buy it. if its just for an odd song or two im not buying it…

  • Luis Eez

    Anyhoo, thank God for Generation Records and Kims Video.

    Right?

  • nick

    I use the .rar blogs. They’ve turned me onto a ton of great music that I’d never know about just by reading magazines or cruising myspace. But like a lot of working stiffs I make just enough to get by month to month. So I have to make smart choices with my money; buy all the cd’s I like and go hungry, save the money I’d spend on a couple cd’s and use it for a concert where I’d see three or four bands, or stop listening to music altogether and obey the law…..

    And speaking of “Illegal” downloads, that term bugs the shit out of me. Downloading music through unlicensed channels is copyright infringement (which is a civil rather than criminal matter) on the part of the provider but the downloader isn’t committing any specific crime I’m aware of. All those people that were being sued were sharing their collection so others could download it. People weren’t getting sued for simply downloading music as far as I’m aware. And besides, is downloading music any different than going to the library and listening to the same cd over and over again? I did that as a broke ass teenager. Or how about buying used? The bands don’t see that dough but it’s perfectly acceptable.

  • DemonicLemming

    Torrents for full discographies, usually. If a band is good enough and they’re near me on tour, I’ll go to their show and buy some of their shit directly from them. I despise the RIAA enough to never touch a cd again, especially with the ungodly stupid prices of cds, and the ever-dwindling track numbers on most. I don’t bother with singles, either, unless it’s a really weird one-off (sorta like a couple BEP songs, I know I’ll get flamed for that >.< ). If I like one song from a band, I’ll probably like most of them, and if not, fuck, it’s experimentation with new stuff. Also, as eclectic as my collection is, if I actually bought every single album, I’d be living in a cardboard box eating rat right now.

    A book takes a hell of a lot longer to make than a cd, from initial draft to final edited copy on the press, and most trade paperbacks go for $8. I just can’t justify $20 for a cd based on that. I’ve legally bought 90% of the books I own (roughly 2500 right now), and never had a problem doing that. I bought NIN’s Ghosts and The Slip online, because they were worth the price. The problem, as much as anything else, was the constantly increasing price of cds vs the financial power of the buying market (teenagers, mostly). A lot of kids like a lot of music, and with cds at $20 a piece, they just can’t afford it (hell, I can’t afford it). If record companies had knocked cd prices back down to $10 each, I guaran-fucking-tee increased sales would have offset the lower price.

    Another big reason was the iPod thing – ripping every single cd to a hard drive (which is now, I believe in some cases, illegal, which is utter bullshit) is a pain in the ass. Why buy a physical cd when I could just get the digital version, toss it on my Creative Zen or iPod, and burn a cd if I wanted a copy for my car? Digital downloads are just a lot more flexible and efficient i=with today’s technology.

  • Leviathan696

    this is fucking sad as hell… i use to go there all the time…. the only good thing is that i was able to get like 10 cds for like 2 or 3 dollars each…new gojira, trivium, oceano, unearth, the faceless, six feet under, obscura….

  • hayisforhorses

    Hey no love for vinyl in this poll! Generally i tend to pick and choose the things i want most when it comes to stuff that is in print. If i download it tends to be rare or obscure stuff, i aint paying over a grand for a sorricide cd or legend lp but i will download it if a reissue isnt easily available.