Until LSA junior Aaron Penn got kicked off Napster for downloading a Metallica song last year, he loved the service and used it often.
“I thought it was pretty lame because I”ve actually purchased a lot of Metallica CDs in my life,” Penn said about getting ousted from his membership. “I don”t really know what the problem is with sharing information.”
While many students like Penn are disappointed that their source for free music seems to have dried up, there is also an understanding for the artists” plight.
“Though I love Napster, I think its operations are kind of shady,” said LSA freshman Sina Joorabchi, who said he is an “avid Napster user.”
“They”re taking away from the music industry,” he said.
LSA junior Tim Kable said he has stopped buying CDs since he began using Napster.
“That”s usually how I get all my music,” he said. “I like it, but I don”t know if it”s necessarily legal.”
RC sophomore Kristin Oberheide lives in East Quad Residence Hall, where she said downloading music is easy and fast because of the Ethernet connection provided.
“I wouldn”t be surprised if they shut it down,” Oberheide said. “The whole thing is a little bit sketchy.”
Some students said they understand the case made against Napster in terms of copyright laws but feel the artists should have an appreciation for the free mp3 sharing that Napster provides.
“I think it”s legitimate,” said LSA sophomore Ntina Kalogeropoulos. “At the same time, artists need to be aware. A lot of them claim that they”re only in it for the music, not in it for the money, and then they complain.”
Penn said music revenue should depend less on album sales and more on concerts.
Napster should be “a wake-up call for musicians that they can”t depend on album sales,” he said.
Whatever the future of music swapping websites, Penn feels some major decisions need to be made when it comes to copyright laws.
“They ought to decide one way or the other which side the law”s going to protect, because it”s kind of a gray area right now,” he said.
LSA sophomore Dana Davis said she does not use Napster but many of her friends will be disappointed if the music swapping service shuts down.
“But I”m sure the music stores are going to be happy,” she said.
Some students have no sympathy for Napster. “I”ve used it a couple of times, but Napster is bad for the free market,” said Music senior Boyd White. “It means nothing is your own.”