Remix Culture

In Lawrence Lessig's "Remix Culture," it is about the culture of music and how it is downloaded. Music is and always will be a hot commodity around the world. The invention of Napster, although it has been shut down, broke out an epidemic and a realization that it was possible to get music for free. Once people got a little taste of this it was made hard for them to ever go back to buying full cd's at the local Walmart or Best Buy. Downloading sites like Napster and Kazaa have both been shut down due to the easy and free access to millions of soundtracks, but people still find ways to download free music. I know currently torrents are a huge hit and make it possible to download music and movies. Another way people get music is through sites that convert youtube videos to mp3's. The converter website allows you to save the song on your computer and drag it in to your Itunes.
This remix culture has two different sides. On the one side artists are losing money on music sales because people still get music for free in many different ways. On the other side people think there music is more accessible thus making the artist more popular. Currently bands and song artists make most of their money while touring and doing concerts. Even though they are not making as much money through album sales, as the old saying goes, "all publicity is good publicity." Their songs are still being listened to and passed around people's computers. If anything I think the music industry though not making as much money in song sales, is making more money than ever in concert sales. I feel more people are involved with the lives of their favorite singers and are more inclined to go see them live.
Overall I think downloading music is like a drug, it's like an addiction. I know for myself I need all the newest songs all the time. It is so hard for me to pay for it when I know I can so easily get it for free. As long as there is a way to get it, I do not think people will stop downloading music illegally.