Originally posted by Sfarog
Speaking of this situation as the matter of law and music in general:
1. Downloading currently is believed to be illegal.
2. An idea exist that since mp3s can be so easily transportable, bands loose money. (bullshit)
First of all, in an american law (i dunno about others) there is this thing that when you purchase something you are supposed be able to inspect it and approve of it before you take possession through purchase. Now, this doesnt apply to Opeth but music in general - how many of you have bought cd's because one or two songs on that cd were really cool, and when you bought it the whole CD turned out to suck? And how many were able to return it?
My point exactly. Thats why I welcome the ability to listen to at least 40% of the CD before I buy it. This general situation does not apply to Opeth, because we know that they are quite incapable of putting out a CD with only 2 good songs. Unless the songs are 30 minutes long on average.... 
At least here in Denmark you can go listen to a cd at the record store before buying it. If it's a underground band they might not have it or if you live in the middle of nowhere you may not be able to go the shop. I think mp3's have ups and downsides. It's a good thing that you can listen to stuff before buying it. I download stuff to see if I like it. If I don't like it, I'll delete the file! If I like it, I'll go look for the record!
The downside is that a lot of people don't think the same way I do. My brother for instance hasn't bought ONE single cd since he discovered mp3's (at least not to my knowledge), except for blank cd's. Don't come here and say people don't lose money cause people download! Before my brother discovered mp3's he bought cd's. James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Blackstreet and so on! My mother had a cd on her wishlist for christmas and I said to my brother "I think I'll buy that cd" and he said "Why not just download it and burn it?".
Another example is a guy I know who is more or less vinyl freak as myself (although I am more than he). He said "yeah, it's a cool track" when we heard "Sowing the seeds of love" by Tears for Fears on the radio. I found it on 7" at a second hand shop for 5 Kroner (approx. $0.65) and I told him about it and he said "Nah, I'll just download it". Then we started discussing if he was a vinyl freak or not and it turned out that he only bought vinyl if it was drum n' bass (which is the only goddamn crap he listens to!) or if he found some cheap hip hop or other shit at a second hand store - The rest he'll just download! He couldn't even spare 5 Kroner on that goddamn song he liked, he'd rather just download it! Okay, Tears for Fears don't loose money as it's a second hand record, but you know what I'm talking about! I think he's been "Goddamn, this rocks" when he's heard the last 3 singles Britney Spears has released, but he haven't bought a single one of them! He just downloaded the shit! Come on, how much does a new single cost? 45 Kroner ($5.9) I think!
If you like the shit buy it! As simple as that!
If every download thing was shut down a thing bands could was to put mp3's on their websites. Empyrium did that for "Where at...". They put 3-4 songs that laste 1-2 minuttes and I was like "Hey, this is cool" and when out and bought the record! Even though Satyr is a anti-mp3 dude (as far as I've been told) they have it at their website! It doesn't neccasarrily have to be 128kps and shit. Maybe 64kps or something and just a minutte or two. People can hear their shit before listening and they will go buy their record as it's not good enough quality and the songs aren't long enough!
By the way, I don't mind buying a record for one good song. I paid 180 Kroner ($23.5) for Lee Hazlewood's "Friday's child" which has one good song and I haven't regretted it!
