Has the boom in music sharing (odd choice of word I know) since the advent of the internet expanded your musical horizon? Have you listened to artists or styles you wouldn't have considered before? And more importantly have you then spent money on said music or acts?

I think being able to sample new music before you buy HAS to be a good thing for broadening one's horizons.

Unfortunately, it is also open to abuse, but that's life.

For me, I tend to download pre-release stuff that I just can't wait for - but I DO buy the physical format when it comes out.

Not sure if piracy is a big influence on my music library, though it definitely does have an effect..I think the internet in general, however, has been a huge part in expanding my musical tastes - be it from recommendations, stumbling upon an artist on Amazon, checking out a band on YouTube etc etc.

For all the negativity the music world throws towards the internet (often with good reason) there is also a big positive in the way it gets music to the people.
[Edited 3/18/09 6:45am]

Without a doubt, the downloading of music on the Internet has expanded my musical horizons to insane dimensions. I have fallen in love with tons of new artists and musical genre's that I would have never dared take a chance on having purchased before having heard it. With that said, I won't say that everything that I downloaded and liked that I ran out and purchased it, but there have been several occasions where I have actually gone out to physically purchase the CD. "Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones" is one that come's to mind - I had to have that CD once I heard it on the Internet. Because actually, I prefer to have something that I can hold in my hand, lol. I also like the liner notes and other artwork that come with the physical CD's. And while I know you can get all that stuff from the Internet as well, that is just to say: downloading music from the Internet HAS led me to actually buy stuff that I wouldn't have bought without having heard it.

But you know, nobody was making a big fuss back in the day when you could take a cassette tape and record music from your radio, lol. Or even when you could pop a VHS tape in your VCR player and record TV programs, lol. But they're sure making a fuss about downloading songs on the Internet, lol.

PDogz said:

I know. As a teenager nearly my whole record collection was made up from friends tapes.

I don't use pirate services like Kazaa or Limewire anymore but I do subscribe to emusic where I can download songs for about a quarter. And yes, I've bought lots of stuff where I probably wouldn't have risked $15 for a full CD. Just the other day, downloaded two Animal Collective records after reading some good reviews & hearing a little snip on the radio. I'm not sure if I like them yet but as the whole thing cost me about $6, I'm not that bummed. Might even come back and listen again in a different mood. If I'd spent $30 on two CDs though I'd be regretting it and trying to sell them right now. Or for another example, the Deerhoof album I downloaded, I liked so much I've since gone to see them live and bought four of their CDs.

I bought a physical CD of a Mission of Burma album I'd downloaded to have it in better quality & also get the live DVD that came in the package.

But back when I did use those free services, that also had an effect. I heard a snip of Morningwood on the radio, downloaded a few songs, liked them, and bought their CD. Would see them live too if they ever play again!

Instead of Limewire if I hear something interesting I'm now most likely to search it out on Youtube or something, and yes if I like it I'll buy it.

PDogz said:


Yeah but your friend making you a copy didn't result in a million people having a copy. Whereas file sharing services, you can make that stuff available to people all over the world with one click. It is way worse from that standpoint.

iloveannie said:

I buy every thing that I really enjoy.
The net has also allowed me 2 track down material that simply can't be purchased in a lot of cases.

iloveannie said:

Oh, the advent of the Internet has defiantly expanded my musical palette. I think more importantly it's introduced me to accomplished artist/musicians who've received little if any radio or TV exposure. Since I've picked up the acoustic guitar ten years ago acoustic music, finger-style/flat-picking music (in all it's different genres) has become apart of my musical library in a BIG way. People like Mr. Tony Rice, Mr.Peppino D’Agostino, Mr. Adrian Legg or the late bluegrass picker Bill Monroe.... I would've never listened nor known of them. Music website have also helped expand and exspose me to different types of music.

When Internet radio started out, I was a big fan of Soul 24/7 (circa 2000) out of the U.K.. I bought more music in one year than I had in the previous decade. In most instances those guys played music that I had forgotten about, never heard or just slip under my radar.

Hey, I love music, I support artist by buying their music or supporting them live. For all the crying/whining about filing share (and no, I don't support stealing others people work, artist/musicians should be paid for their creativity/labor) I still believe file sharing evolved because a market/a demand wasn't being met.....in many instances still isn't. The great, great, great thing about the old illegal Napster they had everything including the kitchen sink in their libraries. I download music that was out of print, music, stuff not considered mainstream, that record labels were never gonna release in a thousands years, and you wouldn't possible find or have enough time in the day to look for in second hand stores. Look what happened after illegal Napster was shutdown, record companies came in and pulled the same shit again,limiting what they think people want to listen to and want buy, dumb-asses. How much money do you think they've lost with people using DVD software to upload music via YouTube?
[Edited 3/20/09 5:41am]

its not piracy: its try before you buy. to contrary belief, illegal downloading actually boosts album sales, it just that now there is a digital component or option. without it, i would have never been able to listen to said artists or even heard of them without searching and constantly listening to new and old material, bil-lingual or different genres. word of mouth is a big factor in all of this and hugely underestimated by the corporate music labels. in their attempts to try to destroy and fight the introduction of new technology, the music industry is directly building obstacles to the development of more innovative ideas which propel the music medium to the majority not just a select minority, such as the popularity of iPods and similar technological devices which make music based content enjoyable for the everyday consumer, both at home, at work and at play .
[Edited 3/19/09 21:01pm]