Paying for your music

The problem of how to get listeners to pay for their music as opposed to downloading it (albeit illegally) for free is a conundrum that has faced the music industry since the internet spawned sites like Limewire and Napster in the late ‘90s. For many people, the lure of free music is too strong, but this free-wheeling by music listeners has the ability to do irreparable damage to the music industry and the musicians, groups and artists who make the music.

It is simple maths that if a musician is unable to make money off their product, they will be unable to afford the recording and production of their music. If you have a real appreciation of the music industry, then here are a few reasons of why it pays to pay for your music.

– Continued creation of music. You might love an artist whose music you’ve accessed or downloaded illegally. But because you have not paid for it, it can be difficult for an artist to shoulder the costs of producing more music. Alternatively, if a listener pays for the music, the artist/artists will more likely be able to afford the cost of creating, recording and producing their new album. By purchasing an artist’s work, you are helping them sustain their career.

– Quality of sound. Often when a song is downloaded or shared over the internet, the quality of the sound deteriorates. As a listener, you get a muffled, distorted version of the music. If the music is bought, it sounds the way it is meant to sound and is of a quality that reflects the work that has gone into producing it.

– Heightened listening experience. If you pay for the music that you buy, it is likely that you will give yourself more time to enjoy and savour the music that you have purchased. When a person downloads a song or an album for free, there is a sense of distance between the listener and the musician. When songs or new release albums are purchased – either online or in CD form – the listener gets greater enjoyment out of listening to music that their money has bought and is more likely to appreciate and savour the music.

Whether you’re buying bestselling albums or the CD of a unique indie band you’ve been following, paying for the music you buy has an impact on the both the lives of the musicians, and the music they are able to produce.

If you’re a music-lover, then show your appreciation by paying for what you listen to.

Whether you’re buying bestselling albums or the CD of a unique indie band you’ve been following, paying for the music you buy has an impact on the both the lives of the musicians, and the music they are able to produce. Look for the music from all your favourite artists at www.sanity.com.au.

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