As a senior at Bingham High School, it's hard for me to remember a time when obtaining music legally was the norm. With advances in technology in the past 15 years or so, it's become exponentially easier to illegally download and exchange music. I've been told by a friend that "everybody does it" and that attitude deeply disturbs me. If this belief is held by as many as I fear it is, the music industry is in deep trouble.
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, in 2008 an estimated 95 percent of all music downloads were illegal. As a hardworking musician with published music, this is appalling to me; as an honest American, this disgusts me. Just because it's easy doesn't make it right, but most people feign aloofness and do it anyway.
If you truly support an artist, why not spend your extra five bucks on their music instead of your extra-large double-mega combo at your local restaurant? You'll be combating two American epidemics at once: obesity and piracy.
Jeff Newbold
South Jordan