Paid Music Downloads - Are They All Legal?

This page will briefly discuss paid music downloads. There are two types of them: downloads from the purely legal music sites, and peer to peer (P2P) music downloads , (which may or may not be legal). For a more detailed discussion, as well as a list for the most reputable sites you may follow the links above on either or both.

The Paid Downloads era commenced with the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) quest to subdue the old version of Napster. During that time music fans were downloading songs for free that they otherwise were supposed to pay for in the past. This, done without the artist's or record label's permission, angered the RIAA. CD sales starting plummeted in 2000.

In 2003, the RIAA began to bring lawsuits to several users who illegally downloaded and uploaded songs on the internet for free. Hence the beginning of the paid music downloads era took effect.

Today, the online music world is much more controlled than it was back in 2001 when use of the outlawed version of Napster peaked. For instance, Billboard magazine has changed the method it awards gold and platimum status to singles. They have abolished awarding these statuses in terms of hard-copy record sales. So long of 28 years of tradition.

On a good note the software, downloads quality and speeds, and overall elegency of paid digital music services are streets ahead of their free forefathers.

Now - on to legal online paid music downloads or peer to peer (P2P) music downloads .