I had already bought several albums I downloaded. I had a lot of stuff to replace after having cd's stolen from me or having cd's scratched to shit at parties and so on. Other stuff I bought after I had downloaded. No, I didn't buy Kanye West's new album but Immaculate Machine, Wayne Petti and independent artists I supported after hearing their albums off of the site.
Does anyone really think Mick Jagger gives a shit about me downloading Stones bootlegs? Should Wilco give a crap if I hear their album three weeks before it hits stores? It's so stupid. I downloaded Drive-By Trucker's "Blessing and a Curse" before it came out but I also bought three fucking copies the day it CAME out. I owe the music industry nothing. Overpriced concert tickets, overpriced merchandise it's all money money money!!! Oh the POOR record companies! Old men who can't figure out a way to make the industry change for the first time in 50 years!
and that's what really grinds my gears!