The very purpose of the Internet is for people all over the world to freely exchange information, but that was before freedom started impeding on profit margins.

Technology now allows millions of Americans to download high quality digital music recordings and burn their own CDs, and record companies are fuming. The practice of downloading music, done by nearly everyone with a computer, has been labeled piracy, a criminal act, and is being pursued as such by recording executives.

The popular Napster file-sharing program made the public highly aware of this issue when it met its government-mandated demise, largely in part brought about by Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. If record labels get their way, all other such software, such as the Kazaa Media Desktop, which has largely filled the void in supply left by Napster, will meet the same fate.

The record companies argue that receiving music without paying should not be allowed, no surprise there. They push the point of view that digital technology is just another new format for their product in the progression, following CDs, cassettes, 8-tracks, records, and so on.

The problem is that never before has a medium for music enabled listeners to go on a computer, type in the name of a song they want to hear, and have it playing in their car CD player in 10 minutes. In other words, record companies are becoming obsolete.

Before you start feeling sorry for the record labels, remember what life was like before Internet music. One album goes for 15 to 18 bucks, on average, and compiling any kind of collection is an endeavor sure to quickly branch into the hundreds and thousands.

Fifteen dollars for the exact same plastic disc you can now purchase blank for 25 cents, and record on it whatever you wish, no less. Keeping in mind that the cost of plastic has not dropped exponentially in that past years, it appears that the record companies have been grossly overcharging for their wares.

Where does this money go? Major artists, though filthy stinking rich, only see a small percentage of the price of each record sold, so who keeps all that extra cash? The record label, of course.

I know of no other industry in America that could get away with inflating its profits 2000 percent above overhead. Let alone, one that would charge such outrages prices for its products, all the while, hypocritically accusing those who choose not to buy from them of piracy.

Record companies argue that things like Napster will bankrupt them. I say so be it. They’ve been taking advantage of me long enough, and I don’t need them any more. The artists will make plenty of cash touring and what-not. In my opinion, the whole industry could use a shake-up.

There is an alternative to withering up and dying for the record companies, however. Instead of fighting to protect their media-monopoly with lawyers like a bunch of wussies, they could actually consider working for their dollar.

The public can get their audio somewhere else. If the companies wish to survive, they need to provide listeners with more bang for their buck. Some companies have already begun producing CDs which contain added extras to be accessed via computer or DVD player.

This is a step in the right direction. The technology is here and its not going away. File-sharing applications can be launched faster than they can be shut down, so it’s almost a mute point anyhow.

If the music industry is feeling the pinch, that’s capitalism, baby. For better or for worse, you wanted it, you got it. Evolve or die, survival of the fittest. That’s the American way, not locking people up for listening to musical contraband.