Music Deals may be worth Nothing

By Sr. Editor Lonny Paul on December 27th, 2007

CDT Logo If you have decided to take the leap of actually purchasing your music online like most people do these days, then you probably decided you should look around a little before comitting to 99¢ per song - am I right so far? Well, some of these online sites which provide you with access to millions of songs and a dirt-cheap price - may be illegal. Completely.

For some time the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) has been making noise about those who dare to download music for free. Thanks to the Fifth Amendment, I have no comment on that type of activity - but I will say this - it’s been years since I downloaded music online. The sad thing is, my music collection doesn’t seem out of date to me - I was actually downloading even older music - and I think I actually have all I need. Well, now there is a group, called the Center for Democracy and Technology, who have published a list of websites which do NOT have licensing agreements with the music companies - yet offer music for a fee.

If the RIAA was to ever get the logs of their subscribers - they could rightly punish each and every one of them - for unknowingly breaking the law. Have you been had for your money?

A highly controversial site in Russia, AllofMP3.com, has been under pressure since they offer tunes the record companies say aren’t licensed - they say it is within their rights. Who knows. If you are looking for an online music service, the ones below are reported to be not using licensed music - and that could get you caught up in some trouble.