cordings, and by all means they have that right, but one argument that is brought up by these same artists is that this technology hurts up and coming artists. The rationale behind this may a lack of record sales for the younger artists on the surface. However that argument only makes the established artist look bad as they are using unsuccessful artists lack of success to protect their own interest (money). If a poll was given to unsigned or obscure artists on the subject of MP3 technology hurting an artists career. I am willing to bet that those polled would have no problems with people downloading their music. With a computer, an artist could record, produce and upload their music to an audience without the help of a management team or record label handlers. The struggling artist knows how hard it is to get a foot in the door with the record industry and may only want a platform to showcase their music. The MP3 allows an unknown artist the opportunity to be heard and the record industry may fear MP3 not because it bootlegs established artists work, but maybe the MP3s of lesser-known artists may take away from the major record labels sale. If a consumer is listening to more MP3s of unknown artists, then that same consumer may be more likely to invest his or her money in the records of those same unknown artists. Which 90 percent of those artists are on independent or self-maintained record labels. The major record labels may believe this cuts into their own profits as people would buy less from the major labels and buy from the smaller companies. While this is just a personal theory, it would explain why the record industry is so weary of a format that exposes such a magnitude of music to the public. A MP3 is a promotional tool that the record industry has feared, not properly utilized and basically misunderstood. Instead of seeing the technology as a greater way to reach the audience and exploit the new technology, the record ind...
