But things are a lot more complicated now. With downloads available on the Internet, it's almost impossible to keep track of who's listening to what. Hundreds of copies of songs can be made and distributed in the blink of an eye in someone's basement and emailed around the world. The record company and artist have no way of knowing about it. Some bands and musicians are using this technology to their advantage.
Unknown bands play to worldwide audiences simply by posting music on the Internet.
Some bands sell their material, others give it away in hopes of getting noticed or making a traditional record deal. The marketing potential of the web is clear. Likewise, music-oriented media like Rolling Stone and Spin magazines and MTV offer a constant flow of music info. That's what record companies are worried about now. Consumers heard this song before, when home taping became popular in the 1970s and '80s.