However individuals choose to download their music, they've got to head to the Internet to find the tracks they want first. When it comes to paid downloads, through the Apple iTunes store for instance, this process is made a little easier since the tracks available are contained within one searchable database. Otherwise, the individual will have to potentially check several music downloading programs and websites before she finds the track she'd like, since not all downloading tools will the track she's wants. The time spent searching represents an opportunity cost for the individual, as noted by Luis Vives from the Expansion newspaper.
Illegal downloading affects not only the record companies and manufacturers involved in music production, but more importantly the very people who have created the music in the first place---the recording artists themselves. Like any artists, these musicians rely on the profit from their creations to making a living. While they can make money from merchandise and live performances, too, album and single sales are a significant earner for these artists. Downloading tracks illegally can be viewed as a betrayal of the music fan's relationship with the artist, and in the long run, may affect the artist's ability to continue to create art.
Downloading a song, whether legally or otherwise, might land the individual with the same quality of track as purchasing the song on a CD format. However, downloads don't have a physical form, which some people may view as a disadvantage of the format. On the other hand, CDs sometimes come complete with album artwork, lyrics booklets and other features that enhance the experience of the art on the actual disc.
If an individual downloads a track illegally, it's viewed by the law as a form of stealing, since artist's tracks have copyright protection placed upon them. As the Connect With Kids website points out, this protection is ensured by the Constitution in the United States, for instance, while other countries will have their own anti-copyright theft legislation. If an individual is caught taking copyrighted music without permission, the penalties can include prison sentences and potentially large fines.