Oh man...i can't believe this subject is here...I did a research paper into the RIAA and there are some SERIOUSLY DISTURBING FACTS about the RIAA and what they have done...

*RIAA boosts that their CD sales are 90% of the industry...the Big five (sony, BMG, United..) make up 85%...think about it....The RIAA is no differnet then the big steel and railroad conglomerates of the early 1900s.

*RIAA was sued and prosecuted for PRICE FIXING just a couple of years ago. The big 5 had a on-going agreement to raise prices of CDs...the government found out and told them to stop...

Ever think about why CD sales are falling??? Think about it....BAD ECONOMY!!!! The average American now has less spending capabilities than they used to compared to, say 5-6 years ago. They are not going to shell out $20 for a CD if they are on a tight budget.
If you think you are supporting the artists when you buy a CD...think again. Artists see very little, if any, of the money made from CDs. Artists make MOST of their money through concerts, endorsements...etc. You wanna support the artist? Go to a concert.

This battle right now between RIAA and, pretty much, the growing public is just like when VCRs came out. The MPAA (and don't get me started) said that if VCRs came out, people would stop going to the movies and that would mean financial ruin for the movie industry. What happened??? The complete OPPOSITE....Did theatres vanish? Did they all but disappear??? Heck no......there are more around than EVER!!!!

The RIAA is just too damn old and needs to catch up with the times. Internet, file-sharing, mp3s...everything is here...You can't make it go away. Sue, supeona, cry, whine.......It won't go away. Technology will advance with or WITHOUT the RIAA.

The RIAA says that because of mp3s, people are buying less. I don't know about you, but i've actually bought MORE CDs now than ever. I've bought music that i would have NEVER thought about. I would have NEVER learned of some of hte great DJs and bands out there were it not for the mp3s....