The most compelling argument for downloading is that, at least for the major labels, the studios get 99% of the money.
Want to support the artist? Download your music and spend what you saved on concerts of your favorite artists.
With the cost of production electronics as cheap as they are and the internet, I think the Big studio model is dead.
Maybe we are going back to the roots of music where minstrels rely on public good will for their living. Back in the 70s there were very few festivals. Now, there are multiple festivals in any City over 100K in population. I sometimes wonder if the pool of money for artists is just as large as it ever was, but now its much more distributed.
