/*  I Pay For Free Media  */ By: Cold Sunn
 

I used to argue that people use file sharing clients to discover new bands
and then buy their CDs, all sorts of bullshit. But the truth is, most people
just download music, movies, software, and porn without ever planning on
paying for it. I, however, actually do pay for music, movies, and software
that I've sampled or gotten for free online. A few years ago, I didn't have
a job, but I had Kazaa. Because of file sharing, I was able to find new
bands and make better decisions about what I buy.

 Why pay for it when I can get it for free?

1) You can't find all music on file sharing networks. If you just want Missy
Elliot's new single, no problem. If you want "Future In Computer Hell (Part
2)" by Junkie XL, then it looks like you're buying a CD.
2) Quality. I bought Boiler Room because I don't want to watch a 320x280 mpg
with low quality sound, a darkened image filled with artifacts, and the
occaisionall discoloration, while I'm sitting in my computer chair the whole
time.
3) Enhanced CDs. I'm not going to search Kazaa for all the videos on the new
Deftones CD.
4) Art and extras that come with the CDs like lyric or image books.
5) Support. They put alot of time and effort into their product, and it's
what they do for a living.
6) Morals. Yeah, I have fucking morals. I don't think it's right to make
money using an illegal version of Photoshop while professional web designers
spend the full $600. But, I have no problem with using it for fun.

Because of Kazaa, I've bought six or seven CDs in the past year. I actually
just bought "Big Sound of the Drag" by Junkie XL (The CD where the song I
mentioned earlier is found) through Amazon while writing this article. $35
dollars for a CD that I probably could have gotten through IRC with a little
digging. I wouldn't have found this band if not for Kazaa, but I know that I
don't represent any majority.

Not all music is worth paying for, I know. You can't find everything on
Kazaa, I know. Sometimes, you just want one song off of the cd, I know. I
don't pay for that shit either.

What I'm saying is, if I have enough reason to pay for the things I've
downloaded, then I will. For everyone that wonders if anyone really pays for
anything anymore, the answer is "yes, I do."