Sound archives.......

Talking about music and downloading, there are several things I just cant get my head around when it comes down to downloading music is theft and all that stuff. browse through any argos catalogue and you will find about 40-50 devices that have greater than 2 gig of memory. So if you are to download legally then I think you would be hard pressed to find music to fill it up. Unless you download music by unsighned bands who have waved away their copyright.I think over the last 20 years there has definately been a shift into companies who existed to make money from artists(publishers) and also a business model for records that hadnt changed much since the 50s.

The music industry (espceially in the Usa) is struggling to cope with the sheer amount of downloaders. The Riaa is randomly picking people to sue, but this is just a drop into the ocean, so for example them suing 10 people when there are 10 million downloaders. Some artists like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails are embracing new ways of getting their music across to a wider audience by using downloading of new albums.
The way in which online record shops are taking off and how high street shops are decreasing like HMV shows that even the way we buy records is going to change.

My main things that puzzle me about downloading is.

1) what happens if you download a album by 23 skidoo or some other relitavely unheard of band and say the album was released in the 1980s. The record label that promoted it folded two years after release and it was not picked up by any other record label. So in that case the songwriter would be the main copyright holder. In that instance its unlikely you would be sued as who would pursue you for copyright.
2) When you upload videos you recieve a message saying that the music is owned by Sony music and is taken off youtube. When the music is something on a indiependant label....
3)Some multinational companies advertise on sites like Pirate bay and other downloading sites, when they sell copyrighted music but advertise on downloading sites.
4).There is a demand for products that carry greater storge capabilities(like TB hard drives), wherfe as internet providers monitor downloaders and restrict the speed. So hard drives getting bigger and more storage available but greater risks....hmmnn.