In simpler times, nobody minded if we dubbed tapes, the concept of struggling indie bands meant nothing and a bonfire was something we gathered around to listen to our ever-creative mix tapes. Now, the word “bonfire” is about to take on a new connotation, but for music fans, it might be just as fun.
Bonfire is the latest addition to the online music army of download sites and will be available through the Future Shop website on June 12. Alhough many people will continue to scoff at the mere thought of actually paying for the work of their favourite musicians, Bonfire might help to make pay-per-downloading seem a bit more reasonable.
Even those of us with morals are still finding it hard (and according to this survey, most of us do indeed have a sense of morality). It’s just too easy to steal music. It hardly feels like a crime at all and the “but everyone’s doing it” attitude is really prevailing here.
Not only that, as record companies will readily inform you, the majority of illegal downloaders are young teens who, unless they’re spoiled little brats who get their own car for their 16th birthday, have no access to a credit card to access most legal download sites. Is it really a surprise that these young people, who are either not working at all or have some low paying retail job, are not rushing out to pay what they do make on music they can take for free?
Bonfire might help change that attitude.
Future Shop will be offering prepaid cards in various denominations to be used in conjunction with the download site. Not only does this open up the pay-per-download market to those without credit cards and those who simply don’t like using them online, but it also makes for a no-brainer present for those music fanatics in our lives.
It remains to be seen just how diverse Bonfire will get as it will only be offering music off of the five major record labels with only some independents. Part of the joy of Kazaa is that there are no limits to what you can find, no matter how obscure the artist. However, with a free subscription to the service and a 30-second previews of songs, it won’t hurt to check out the newest of the legal download sites upon its launch.
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