I use iTunes but often I can't find what I'm looking for so I hold my nose and deal with Real. But I detest them both. Their selection is terrible and their DMR schemes are designed to keep one trapped dealing with them. So as soon as I buy a song I burn it to CD and make an mp3 out of it.

If the RIAA wanted to reduce P2P then why don't they put pressure on the plethora of companies to create with one common library with the best selection instead of numerous services that all suck. That alone should reduce the overall costs to this entire industry by reducing duplication. They could find some other ways to compete by offering better file management software, and players, and plans.

Then let then find some cost structure 1: a cheaper one for DRM songs with reduced rights, and 2: another for those who believe their purchase should give then the same fair use rights as if they bought a CD. I'd pay $1.50 a song just not to have to put up with this DRM insanity.

I should also add that much of the recording industry is built upon a false economy that's more political than economic.

Much of that revenue they seem to believe is owed them may have already been paid.

Say I own 1000 old LPs. Have I not already paid for the fair use "rights" for those songs? What if I replace them with CDs? There's no law I know of that protects whatever rights I should have from my original purchase.

If RIAA believes they are due rights from P2P traded songs... then why are we not entitled to a rebate when we replace a LP with a CD? Why are not songs cheaper from iTunes if we own the original LP or 45?

The reason our rights are not protected is because no one I know is fighting this legal fight. So RIAA wins all those extra profits they are not entitled to by default.