Again, it just shows how this is not a black or white issue. I certainly don't agree that music "wouldn't exist" if it was free. That is only true for people who have money as an incentive. Not that I have any problem with that. But, I simply know way too many people, myself, included, who have made music or other forms of art without any incentive of getting paid for it. The "stealing" arguments don't really affect me much either. I certainly havern't authorised anyone to download my music but I certainly don't consider it theft. I just don't care enough. Especially when it comes to techno, people get a bit to righteous on the theft side. How many of you here who don't appreciate anyone "stealing" your music have ever used uncleared samples and, possibnly later, released it on vinyl or CD without ever even contacting the owner of the sample? Which theft is worse? Does everyone here only buy music with cleared samples or no samples at all? Where is the line drawn? Honestly, the concept that downloading music in the techno scene was really never something I heard much about until recently when people started blaming it for lack of sales, stores and labels going under, etc. I still have a really hard time believing that given all the other factors involved. One of the thing that always appealed to me about techno and the distribution around it, at least in my environment, was that it didn't act like, or rely on, the greedy business models and ethics of the mainstream entertainment industry. I'm not implying that anyone has to look at things the way I do but, when people make comments on behalf of the artists that almost exactly mimics the statements of the RIAA without leaving room for it to be different, then they are speaking for people like me. I don't agree with guilt trips, ridiculous fines, threats of lawsuits against teenagers and their parents, and other bullying tactics to get people to buy music which is largely disposable. I don't like it when people say every artist depends on the money from the art and that, if they don't see it because people are stealing, they'll stop making music. It just doesn't work that way for all of us which is why I don't like it when people try and make it so black or white. I'm completely grey. I don't authorise people to rip tracks I've worked on that are put out for sale by anyone but, at the same time, I don't really have any problem with someone who does so either. Worst case, some sales are lost and I might not get another release on the same label. But, life goes on and that won't prevent me from doing what I enjoy.