Music, Computers and Copyright

Just don't plan on storing music long-term on home burned CDs. While *modern* commercial "stamped" CDs, which are made not with a laser but using a mould, are tested to last for over 100 years if they don't get scratched, and a few companies that make CD-Rs have claimed that CD-Rs will last as long, the reality isn't that simple. Depending on the conditions where you store them, they may well last decades, or they may only last months. In my experience, almost all of my music backup CDs that I had burned in the mid 90s have errors in places now (the first errors showed up after about 5 years). If you want archival storage, get a tape drive.* - Old stamped CDs also had problems with corrosion and dye wear; these have largely been corrected.BTW, if the main issue that you're struggling over is your conscience about copying... send the artist some money. I'm sure they wouldn't send it back Besides, artists make a tiny portion of the money that you spend on a conventional music purchase (I'm not sure about ITunes). Contracts usually state 12-15%, but there are a lot of fees that they have to pay on that, and often they don't even start making even a reduced rate until they sell a certain volume. If sending them money is too much trouble, go see them in concert or buy some merchendise; they'll often make a higher percentage off that sort of stuff than off music sales.

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