Cover Story--October, 2004

Cover Story

by Karissa Clark

"I don't want to buy a whole CD for one or two songs."

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Students Disagree Over Ethics of Music Downloading

Students surveyed at Multnomah believe stealing music by illegal downloading is a sin, but music downloading can be good advertising for artists. Pitting social tradition against evolving legal technicalities, students struggle with what exactly is required of them.

Some do not believe downloading music is an issue that conflicts with Christian faith at all.

A male sophomore said, "I don't think it is an ethical issue necessarily. There hasn't been a definite decision on file sharing yet by the Supreme Court. Copyright is a fluid issue, and laws regarding the issue have been changed many times since their inception in British common law."

A male senior said, "Sometimes I download. Then delete it, then do it all over again. Conscience attack! I don't think it's OK."

Free advertising is a reason many students accept music downloading, even when illegal. Tessa Forsythe, a junior, said, "Downloading music gets musicians' tunes out there, gets them well known by a bunch of people. However, I think it hurts record labels' profits and in turn might jack up the price of CDs for the public."

Devin Chapman, a sophomore, said, "I would say [music downloading] had a good effect seeing as though 65 percent to 70 percent of bands wouldn't be where they are without piracy. Most small-time bands 'hurt' by piracy love it because it brings kids to their shows."

Presenting the other side of the dilemma students face, Daniel Fender, a junior, said, "It is the type of sin that can secretly show Christians' true integrity. Just as in every secret sin, this sin is a shame in the holy light of God's presence."

A male senior said, "It is easier to begin compromising in other areas of integrity with regard to stealing music for so long."

At Multnomah Bible College and Biblical Seminary, 97 percent of students surveyed own a computer, and through MBC, every computer on campus has access to the Internet.

Those computers also provide the opportunity to burn CDs and distribute them. Only 22 percent of the student body has never burned a CD of music, whether for personal use or distribution.

Rebekah Williamson, junior, said, "[I burn] only those that I have legally purchased, usually to have an edited copy with only the songs I like on it or to create a theme CD i.e. my favorite jazz songs."

Fewer than 15 percent of Multnomah students have ever used Kazaa, an illegal music-sharing Web site, with more than 100 million registered users in 2003. The percentage using Napster is the same. Many students also mentioned that they have changed their habits in the last few years. A male masters student said, "It would be nice if CDs were cheaper, yet, over years of listening to them, I think it pays off in the end. I don't download anymore, but when I did it was because I liked the music, didn't want to pay for it, and wanted some songs on my computer."

Time and money were cited as major reasons for music downloading and sharing among students. "Convenience, curiosity, cost. I typically only download free online offerings these days, but occasionally I do purchase higher quality downloads," Nathan Bubna, a seminarian, said.

Melissa Mckinney, a senior, said, "I'm poor and can't afford it. I don't want to buy a whole CD for one or two songs. I want a variety of songs on a CD, not just one artist."

Ricky Roberson, a junior, said, "If I like the music then I will buy it when I can afford it."

Contrary to popular opinion, males are no more likely to own illegal music than females at MBC. Forty percent of the men on campus said all of their music is legally purchased. Another forty percent say that over 75 percent of their music is legally purchased. Total, 80 percent of the men have a majority of legally purchased music.

Similarly, 46 percent of women surveyed on campus say that they have legally bought 100 percent of their music.

Musicians at Multnomah also differ in their position towards fans downloading their music. "It's great," said Marissa Chaney, "It gets my name and music out there."

"Personally," sophomore Sam Albertson said, "I think it is wrong to burn/download music when the artist has difficulty gaining support, such as on an independent label, and does not make music just for money. But when I'm making music to share with people, to share a message, I would not mind as much if it was given away."

The Voice staff mailed a survey to every student mail box, 756 in all. Students returned 101 surveys. Sixty men and 41 women responded; 84 students were from the college and 17 from the seminary.

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