onverting them into MP3’s, then sharing their collection with other users like themselves all over the world, using the internet.However, this doesn’t explain the speed with which this revolution occurred. Just because some new technology is available on the market doesn’t mean it will be put to use right away. Video phones are a good example of this. We have had the technology for video phones for many years, yet even today they are hard to find. This is because the current telephone system infrastructure has been an adequate, efficient solution. So what made MP3 technology so hot, so fast?The answer lies in the way record companies market music. This is the way the system works: the average consumer hears a song on the radio or at a dance club, likes it, and goes to the store to buy the CD. The CD is pretty expensive, about fifteen bucks on average. Why? Because there are a bunch of other songs on the CD. Singles are available, but they are usually more expensive than the album. The consumer ends up with a CD of twelve or fifteen songs, only one or two of which they like. Then, whenever they want to listen to music, they pop in the CD, listen to one or two songs, switch CDs, etc., etc.Therein lies the appeal of digital music. The same consumer can get on the Internet, search for the song that they wanted, download it, transfer it between their computer or personal MP3 player, and listen to it, all for free. In the case of copyrighted music, this is illegal. But in comparison, people have been recording copyrighted programs and movies off of television and sharing them ever since the creation of the VCR. Digital music is twice as easy to record, and infinitely easier to share. As you can see, the temptation to bend the law here is very enticing.The RIAA has committed itself to put an end to copyright infringement through digital music. “Since MP3 opened the floodgates and showed people how easy and flexible digi...
