A music download is a song or album available for downloading on the Internet. Downloading music first became popular with file sharing technologies such as peer-to-peer networks, with people breaking copyright laws by not paying for any of it. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) claimed that this practice was hurting the music industry, and a series of law suits led to many of these networks being closed down. However, those who support such technologies argue that the music industry said the same thing about recordable tapes and CDs, and even when recorded music came out as before then artists got their money through live performance, and that the industry should adapt to the advancements in technology rather than panicking and suing select individuals. Very little publishable academic research has been done to clarify this form of massive consumer behavior.

File sharing is the practice of making files available for other users to download over the Internet and smaller networks. Usually file sharing follows the peer-to-peer (P2P) model, where the files are stored on and served by personal computers of the users. Most people who engage in file sharing are also downloading files that other users share. Sometimes these two activities are linked together. P2P File sharing is distinct from file trading in that downloading files from a P2P network does not require uploading, although some networks either provide incentives for uploading such as credits or force the sharing of files being currently downloaded. Music downloads are just another great example of file sharing on the Internet.

Music Downloads Artists Gaining Popularity Among Fans:

The list of mainstream music artists who allow their music to be downloaded on the web is growing. The public is eager to take advantage of the convenience that Internet music downloads offer.