photo credit: Irish Philadelphia Photo EssaysThe internet, as everyone knows, has revolutionized the music business. The ease of downloading music and file-sharing has caused the industry to adjust in ways few could have imagined not long ago.
At first, the music industry was hit hard by the first file-sharing programs that allowed fans to download music without actually paying for it. The rapid downloading speeds afforded by high-speed internet and satellite broadband have made this process even easier in recent years. Although CD sales fell and some artists initially feared they would no longer be able to support themselves by making music, legal safeguards have since been put into place to prevent illegal music sharing (although of course the practice is still widespread). Despite these initial setbacks, the industry has adapted and has arguably provided the general public with infinitely more opportunities to discover and enjoy music than were available previously.
For example, websites like Pandora allow users to discover new music every day. Listeners can create personalized internet radio stations that play only certain types of songs, according to the user’s specifications. Music fans can create a station based on a song or band that they like, and the station will play songs with similar musical qualities. The website is completely legal and all music artists are paid when a user listens to their music. The service may not work properly on computers with slow internet connections, however, and satellite internet or another type of strong connection is recommended. Continue reading →
