Music in the Digital Era: Buy, Borrow or Steal?

Here’s another interesting poll for everyone — music piracy. Let’s admit it, 99% of us here have had downloaded an mp3 or two (thousand) in their lifetime.

Luis explains the reasons why piracy is not the root cause for the decline of the music industry locally. However, I think the phenomenon is worldwide rather than just domestic though in these parts of the region, it’s more prevalent. I remember downloading mp3s from mIRC as far back in the late 90s thinking it’s okay since I’m buying CDs anyway.

And it’s not just music — movies, tv shows, pc and console games, as well as popular softwares are also being pirated. But, let’s just limit our poll here on music piracy.

So the question is — has your music buying habit been changed because of the digital format and portable media players?

Possible answers would be:

1. I still buy CD albums.
2. I buy CDs, the pirated ones.
3. Never bought CDs or tapes in my entire life. I’m ok with my FM radio station.
4. Used to buy CDs; now I buy and download music online.
5. Used to buy CDs; now I download them all for free.
6. I have always copied my music from someone or download them for free.

Okay, the term free is used here loosely. It means you get your (copyrighted) music from P2P and other sites. The reason for this poll is to determine if premise #5 does exist. It’s what the music recording industry is claiming — that CD sales have gone down because people can just download music almost everywhere and not pay a single cent for it.

And yes, I used to be a music CD buyer too.

Ok, head over to the poll section and cast your vote. Max of two choices per voter.