Downloading for the purpose of previewing is fine, provided that which one likes is bought and that which isnt liked is deleted. Keeping a downloaded song, transferring it to a playable device or disc, and using it without paying for it is stealing. Anyone who makes a practice of doing it is a thief. Not being able to afford music, supporting bands in other ways, protesting price gouging or any other excuse is merely a poor attempt to justify simple theft.
Some people talk of using file sharing to increase awareness of bands, which is supposed to theoretically be beneficial to said bands. While that may be somewhat true in a limited way for the bands in the various underground genres, it should be the artists choice as to what material should be freely disseminated, not the listeners. Any band now has the opportunity to offer legitimate downloads from their websites or MySpace pages. One may notice that not all artists chose to do so, even those that play our type of music. Many bands even stream music on their sites while at the same time disallowing downloads. To claim that you are sharing an artists music that he/she/they do not wish to provide free in order to help the artist gain exposure implies that you know whats better for the artists than they do. That is just plain fucking arrogant.
The reasoning that downloading is okay because it helps Wintersun absolutely cannot be extrapolated to Metallica or Byonce. That being the case, in order for the exposure logic to work an exposure threshold would have to be established whereby a download cutoff would go into effect when a band reached a predetermined level of popularity. Ridiculous bullshit. If Wintersun wishes to provide music for download they are free to do so, and they dont need your help.
Furthermore, while downloading underground bands music doesnt help the music industry overall, it isnt these losses that are killing the industry. The main loss comes from the stealing from popular mainstream artists. Subculture communities tend to have marked delusions of grandeur in regards to how popular their particular type of music is. The metal community is no exception. However, the reality is that the thousands of downloads of various Progressive, Power, Black, Death, or Gothic Metal MP3s pale in comparison to multimillions of mainstream pop, rock, rap, and country MP3s.
It may also be true that new interests may be competing with the music industry for the publics disposable cash. PCs, game consoles, Sirius/XM, and even cell phones now divert money that may have once gone to music. However, the public will spend even more on these items and other indulgences, because they dont have to make a choice between them and music. File sharing allows them to have all their toys while they get their music for free. Its nice to have your cake and eat it too. To trivialize the losses the music industry suffers to file sharing, by pointing to other entertainment mediums is just naive. Yes, they have an effect but downloading actually helps them proliferate while diminishing the music industry.
While having this same (somewhat heated) discussion with a 23 year old female coworker, I was told that she hasnt bought a CD in years. She does have a nice iPod and Picture phone though. I was also informed that not only does she do it, but Everybody does it. That is to say all those within her rather large peer group use LimeWire and BearShare. Multiply her attitude by millions of teens and twenty-somethings that share her attitude, and it is clear how much music isnt being sold.
, smooch). If they don't make something you like, then you don't buy it. If they've got something to say they should write a song about it. The last thing the world needs is some self-absorbed egotistical jackass (besides me) blabbering on about their opinions on downloading. Just shut the fuck up and make music already. 
