Music downloads have become increasingly popular over the last few years, while CD sales are falling. However, illegal downloading of music through file sharing sites is still a major problem, depriving artists and the music industry of significant revenue. While legal music downloading has increased and helped grow the UK music industry, illegal downloading remains widespread, with millions downloading music illegally each year. The music industry and government are continuing efforts to curb piracy through warnings and potential legal action, but addressing the issue remains an ongoing challenge.

2. Downloads Vs. CD’s Music downloads have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years.. Some say that it is because of this, CD sales are falling..

3. Legal music download sites File sharing or piracy is illegal as the artist/bands, song writers, producers and many others will not receive full royalties for their work..

5. PR group Edelman found that 27% of young people have already downloaded content illegally or would do so.. Mix tapes were also illegal ways to transfer bought music onto another tape to form a new illegal one The information age AKA The computer age: The ability of individuals to transfer information freely, and to have instant access to knowledge that would have been difficult or impossible to find previously 12 Year old boy sued for downloading illegally Jonathan Lamy: Spokesperson for The Recording Industry Association of America “Students were the worst offenders, we know that piracy is most acute on campuses. Students have high-speed access, and have more time than money."

6. Government-brokered deal Letters sent to persistent illegal file-sharers warning that their actions could land them in court According to a 2009 Digital Entertainment Survey, only a third of internet users consider the letters a deterrent Four out of five internet users said they would stop downloading illegally if the threat was their internet to be cut off The BBC states: More than £1.2 billion tracks pirated and shared with similar profit losses In 2010 alone 7.7 million people have downloaded music illegally. Although profits have ben lost, this could suggest that music culture has become more popular as millions of people have music available to them

7. To tackle this suggestions have been made to put all pirates through court.. But this has been seen as unworkable David Lammy: Minister for Intellectual Property "Illegal downloading robs our economy of millions of pounds every year and seriously damages business and innovation throughout the UK” “It is something that needs tackling, and we are serious about doing so."

9. ‘Pirate Bay’- an internet site for downloadingMusic, games, movies and software titles etc. available to download for free Due to being developed in Sweden ‘Pirate Bay’ is legal under their laws. Geoff Taylor: of The British Recorded Music/ phonographic Industry (BPI) “Illegal downloading of music is killing new music. It is a parasite that threatens to deprive a generation of talented young people of their chance to make a career in music, and is holding back investment in the burgeoning digital entertainment sector"

10. There is still a lot of profit being made on legal music downloads.. Legal downloading sales increased UK music industry has grown in the first time in six years Downloading sales increased by more than 50% Sales this year are expected to reach £160 million

11. Released in 2009 became the first to sell more than one million digital copies. Overall the sales of digital music makes only one third of the music companies revenue This suggests that Piracy is not 'killing' new music but is just denting it as it waits for the numbers to keep going up once again.

12. (Reporter), J. C. (2011). Global music industry launches new bid to stop piracy. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12239002: BBC. Barrett, P. (2004). BPI to prosecute illegal music downloader’s. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2004/mar/25/newmedia.marketingandpr?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487. bbc.co.uk. (2010). Illegal music downloads are 'on the rise'. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12003499. foxnews.com. (2003). 12-Year-Old Sued for Music Downloading. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,96797,00.html. Swash, R. (2009). 95% of music downloads are illegal. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jan/16/online-music-illegal-downloads. TechB0id. (2009). Youtube Pirate Bay founders found guilty - Full Story At TechBoid.Com. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq6UQcVTOS0: TechB0id. Wachman, R. (2007). Radiohead's rainbow could signal danger for record giants. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/oct/07/media.digitalmedia?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487. www.gardian.co.uk/news/datablog Amazon- bought mp3 music download www.bpi.co.uk/press-area/news R E F E R E N C E S