The Recording Industry v. Pretty Much Everybody

It is no secret that digital technology has been embraced by nearly every industry in the world. Adopting these digital advances has its advantages, but it also comes with disadvantages. One of the biggest and most vocal arguments against digital technology comes from the music recording industry. In the late 1990s the courts shut down peer-to-peer file sharing Web site Napster, and have continued their legal battle against those who illegally share copyrighted material. According to "It's Happening at State," a newsletter distributed by the University of North Dakota, the RIAA brought legal action in April of 2007 against three NDSU students for illegally sharing music. The recording industry's response to digital file sharing has been to bring legal action against anybody violating copyright law.

The industry has always been vocal when new technology allows music lovers to make copies of their music collections. The recording industry was vocal about cassette players being able to copy music from either from another cassette tape or directly from the radio. The industry was also up-in-arms about the first CD burners, which would allow users to make copies of compact discs. The recording industry was against both of these technological advances, but neither proved to be the downfall of the recording industry.

One of the reasons that the recording industry has been so adamant in its battle against illegal file sharing is that it is so wide-spread. Anybody with a computer and Internet access can download p2p programs. It's also easier for the industry to track those who engage in file sharing.

While the recording industry's stance has been one of zero-tolerance, in order for recording companies to survive in the digital age they must change to embrace the new technology.

If record companies wish to keep CDs as a viable form of music, they need to add more value to the product. They should add DVDs that show the band in the studio or performing live. They could package their CDs with special codes that allow buyers to download legal copies of the album or bonus tracks from the Internet.

The fact of the matter is that the recording industry, just like every every other industry, must evolve if it wants to continue to make a profit during the digital music revolution.