But the war is already lost. For every pirate site the industry sinks, a dozen more set sail. Ferreting them from the labyrinth of IRC, ICQ, Web chat rooms, and shifting FTP sites is virtually impossible. So far, MP3 sites haven't made a noticeable dent in audio CD sales. A few entrepreneurs are already cashing in.
Garage bands seeking exposure are delighted to give away free music.
Artist-endorsed songs now promote independent labels. Even record companies hope to weasel in on the action, albeit timidly. Sony Music, Warner Bros. Records, and PolyGram have sites that take CD orders online. It's just a matter of time before these companies capitulate. By opposing MP3, record companies risk a replay of the war between film studios and the VCR in the early 1980s.