If the artist specifically says you can download it for free, then yes (like Radiohead a while back, and some artists on amazon.com). But otherwise, you shouldn’t dowload music that should have been legally purchised. That’s like stealing from the musician.
If the musician’s motivation is taken away the person will stop writing music for sale. The person might enjoy music and still write songs for their personal pleasure, but if they cannot make a living by writing music they will stop.
So, the question to ask is, “Do I value a few dollars more than my intergrity?”
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