Yes, artists should be paid for their work, and I'm not endorsing piracy. Even Sony, one of the largest record companies, builds stereo systems with built-in cassette players that can dub CDs. Unsigned bands should look at the emergence of companies like MP3.Com and Napster as a dream come true. They make finding the music that fans like easier, even if it's not a top seller. Believe me, if I really like your song, I'll buy your album.
More people go than ever.
And I'll bet this new technology will do the same for music. In fact, we could be in for a musical renaissance, as artists of all kinds realize that finding an audience and being heard are getting easier. Rather than fighting the technology, musicians and the record industry should be embracing it and inventing new ways to make money off of it. The big problem in changing Internet service providers isn't finding a new one. It's getting your e-mail successfully moved from the old to the new.