'Cats find ways to get music

While walking to class, it is easy to spot the students around campus who love music. They seem to have at least one headphone in their ear and the way their lips move to the lyrics shows they know every single song on their 160-gig iPod.

College students listen to lots of music. With the increase of technology and data transfer, the opportunity for college students to listen to more music has skyrocketed.

The most common ways people get music are buying CDs, downloading from sites like iTunes or Amazon, or acquiring from other means - inherited from other people or illegally downloaded music.

The downloading of illegal music is a heated issue among college students. The most common argument against downloading is it doesn't support the artists in their work.

Brian Stolle, Weber State University freshman in manufacturing and engineering Technology, spends about 60$ a month on music.

"I buy CDs and some iTunes," he said. "I think a lot of people buy iTunes because it's easier to do at home. I just like to have a CD also, just in case something happens."

Stolle says he listens to music for at least a couple of hours every day. He doesn't download illegal music because it isn't supporting the band.

"You're taking money out of their pocket," he said.

Jaquoy Prows, a health promotions senior, said, "I think it's exactly the same as shop-lifting,"

Stacie Corbridge, a junior in accounting, also thinks downloading illegal music is wrong.

"If it's illegal then it's not good," She said.

But both Prows and Corbridge said they don't listen to as much music as some people. That isn't the case with Trevor Hess.

"It's sad, but I think I listen to it during all my six hours of work a day," WSU sophomore Hess said. "So at least six hours at work then just walking from class."

But Hess still doesn't download illegal music, at least not anymore.

"I used to do it, I think everybody does," he said. "It's obviously not right. These people are making money singing but they are making a ridiculous amount of money. I don't do it anymore."

Hess gets some music from friends, but he also buys from iTunes.

"It's convenient, a dollar a song isn't that expensive," he said.

Not all students see the issue so clearly.

Artur Javador says he has over 600 CDs and listens to more music than he should.

"I am just addicted to music, "Javador said. But, buying all the music he listens to would be expensive. "I wish I had the money to buy the CD. Ideally, I am sure it's better if you buy the CD so it supports the artist," said Javador

Javador also said sometimes it is hard to find good music at stores or on iTunes.

"I wish there was more of a variety of music. When I go to music stores it's only the popular stuff," he said. "I like mostly underground music myself, so it's hard to find it in the stores in the first place. Sometimes I have to download it because it definitely is not at Wal-Mart. You have to go out of your way to find it."