[plain talk]

Yes, you are right on. The business model has changed for the record companies and they can't adapt so they hire lawyers to go after teenagers. It's ridiculous. I intend to download as much of the stuff I can and stop buying CDs alltogether except in rare cases. The big shot record companies are way behind the times and need to be taught a hard lesson. As demonstrated on mp3.com, over time the musicians will self-record, produce and distribute over the internet and these "record companies" will become dinosaurs.

[bvw]

My suggestion is that instead you support small independents by buying their hardgoods and sampling via the swappers for new good ones.

[Robert_Paulson2]

Consumers are shifting to independent musicians at an alarming rate...
The record companies are unsure how many independent bands are distributing netwide, at greatly reduced costs... 5-8 dollars a cd...

But it is cutting into their sales... and their ability to attact new artists...
These suits will be moot in another five years as there will be almost NO RIAA members left... and we will all have switched over to buying directly from the artists...

One more buggy whip union, bites the dust.