Mp3 technology may change the music industry for keeps

The Logos 'Logo'

Here's how to get started shopping

Jake Peterson
Assistant Editor

Ever face the problem of a "one song" cd? You know, a cd with only one good song on it. You pay about $15 for about one good song. How do you prevent this?

One route, especially if you own a computer, is an mp3. A mp3 is a song that can be recorded onto a computer from a cd, and saved on a hardrive. Several sites on the internet offer free downloads of mp3s.

There are two views of this subject. Some say mp3's are wrong because it could result in a decrease of album sales.

If a person has the mp3 on his or her computer, he or she might not need to buy the cd.

Another way of looking at it is music gets listened to by more people who wouldn't shell out the money before listening to a few songs. It also gives lesser known bands exposure and a bigger audience and fan base.

Mp3's are good for both the listener and the record companies.

The listener gets high quality recordings of songs that he or she might not have ever heard, or listen to many different kinds of music. If the listener likes it, he or she will go out and buy a cd, which record companies would benefit from.

I don't think that not buying the cd is a serious problem because most people listen to music in several different places. Mp3's can only be listened to when you're on a computer.

Sometime down the road we call time, households will have as many computers as televisions. Until then mp3's hurting album sales isn't a reality.

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