Mp3 argument
Mp3 argumentMp3 argument
The Next Revolution in Music Technology: Make or Break?
Throughout life I have encountered several different mediums of music including
eight-track recordings, vinyl records, cassette tapes, mini-discs, digital audio tapes (DAT),
and compact discs. I have always considered the CD to be the greatest technological
advancement (as a medium of music) of my generation because it was the first digital
audio format made readily available to the general public. Because of the CD, people
were hearing music like they had never heard it before - exactly as it would sound in the
artist�s recording studio. Among other things, we have digital audio technology to thank
for that. But we have recently been presented with something new that some may give
thanks for - Moving Picture Experts Group Technology, Layer-III, better known as MP3.
To those �outside� the complicated world of the Internet and technology, MP3
probably will not ring any bells. But anyone who has accessed the Internet or skimmed
through any popular magazines lately will likely recognize MP3 and the propaganda
surrounding it.
I do not want to bombard you with numerous technological terms, but a brief
explanation is necessary in order to understand arguments surrounding the issue. MP3 is a
new way to save, copy, and play audio files on a computer. The audio files are near
CD-quality and take up very little space on a computer�s hard drive. Previously,
high-quality audio files were saved on a computer in WAV format, which takes up much
more hard drive space than MP3. For example, a three-minute WAV file would use about
30 megabytes of disk space. But in MP3 format, the same song would use only two
megabytes, leaving much more hard drive space available on the computer (which benefits
the computer user).
Because MP3 files are typically less than five megabytes in size, they can be
transferred very quickly and easily to and from anyone�s computer via the Internet. MP3
allows computer users to copy their favorite songs from CDs or other sources, onto their
computer�s hard drive - ideal for playback when working at the computer. MP3 also
makes it possible to convert your own personal recordings into digital audio files that are
very easy to distribute.
The interest and popularity surrounding MP3 has grown so much in the past few
months that consumer electronic companies are even beginning to manufacture portable
MP3 players. The players connect to a computer, and MP3 files are transferred to them,
allowing users to utilize the portable unit the same way they use a portable cassette or CD
player.
As you may see by this brief overview, the new audio format has generated a lot of
activity. As far as obtaining MP3 audio files goes, there are thousands of web sites
dedicated to supplying the files (mp3.com, mp3.box.sk, mp3.lycos.com). An Internet
surfer can search for music in MP3 format, and by the simple click of a button, have the
music transferred to his or her computer in as little as five minutes or even less.
What types of music are available in MP3 format? Any type one could imagine.
While a portion of MP3 files in existence are created by individual, unsigned music artists,
there is also a large amount of commercial, copyright-protected music freely available for
download from the Internet. This is the beginning of a complicated argument.
Now that it is possible for consumers to download copyrighted material free of
charge, major record labels have a great fear.
�Tons of people use it [MP3] online, but most big record labels have not embraced
it for fear of privacy, since the format also allows for widespread copying of illegal files.�
(Sullivan 1999).
On the other hand, MP3 technology has given the unsigned artist an opportunity
to expose their music to millions of Internet surfers every day, increasing the artist�s
popularity and ability to profit from his or her music without the need or assistance of a
contract record deal with a major recording label. Another way to think of it is that MP3
has paved the road to potential stardom for any artist who distributes music in MP3
format. After all, this new technology allows anybody to create and distribute their music
via MP3 without any restrictions or regulation, worldwide. This quite possibly could lead
to an era in music where record labels become obsolete, and every musician controls his or
her own destiny by their own promotion and distribution of music in MP3 format.
In an interview for Wired Magazine, rap artist Chuck D said MP3 �won�t destroy
the record companies. [It] just will split the market� into a world with something like �a
million artists and 500,000 labels.� (Orr 1999).
The new MP3 format needs to be regulated to prevent copyrighted material from
being freely distributed. This would protect the profits and integrity of record labels.
Regulation of only copyrighted material would still allow for the aspiring/unsigned
musican to generate a presence in the world of music.
Currently, actions are being taken to outlaw MP3 distrtibution, mainly by record
companies. As record companies try to protect their market, they are also taking away
from the aspiring musician. If any legislation passed, it should only ban the distribution of
copyrighted material.
The emergence of MP3 has tremendously excited unsigned musical artists. Many
believe this is the beginning of a musical revolution where the �little guys� are going to
conquer the �big guys.�
ZDNet, an online magazine, recently interviewed Michael Robertson, CEO of
MP3.com which is an web site devoted to the distribution of MP3 files created by
independent/unsigned musicians.
�People keep asking me, �When are you going to sign Madonna, When are you
going to sign Michael Jackson?� said Robertson. �But this is a bottoms-up revolution.
When you�re leading a revolution, you don�t grab the king and say, �I�ve got a good idea,
let�s overthrow the kingdom.�� (Orr 1999).
In doing research for this essay, I was driving home from the library when I heard
a song on the campus radio station. The topic of MP3 was on my mind as I was listening
to the particular song that was playing (which I happened to take a liking to). I paid close
attention when the DJ mentioned the artist�s name and the title of the song. To learn more
about the accessibility to specific MP3 titles, I performed a quick search on the Internet
when I returned home. It took about two minutes to find the song I had just heard on the
radio. I proceeded to download the MP3 file to my computer�s hard drive. After the
download was complete (which took about three minutes) I played the song to examine its
audio quality. I was shocked to find that the same song actually sounded better than what
I had just heard on the radio.
So what does this all mean? I had heard a song by a commercially-recorded and
licensed musician (copyright protected), and had acquired the recording in its entirety
within minutes, without spending a dime. As a musician myself, the concept frightens me.
It has always been a dream that my musical talents and abilities would one day become my
source of income, supporting me and my family. If unregulated distribution of copyright
protected music continues to prevail, it is possible that musicians will no longer profit
(monetarily) from their God-given talents. Not only would musicians go broke, but they
would also lose recognition of their skills and talents. It would become quite simple for
someone to obtain a song in MP3 format and distribute it as his or her own, leaving the
entity of music as nothing more than a vast pool of rhythms and melodies with no link or
correlation as to who created it.