After a few articles on downloading, I thought an alternate take on the subject would be worth a read:

At some point in the future - maybe in 15 or 10 years, maybe fewer - some of those young people will become musicians and start producing music of their own. Although there has been plenty of debate about the legalities of downloading, one important question has so far gone unasked: will downloading affect how pop music sounds in the future?

In other words, will the way that people access music have an effect on the content of that music?

The example of blogging provides a useful parallel. Before the internet became commonplace, blogging as a form of literature did not exist. Gradually, however, it has emerged as a distinct way of writing with its own conventions separate from other literary genres. Blogging is a very clear example of technology shaping the manner in which people communicate ideas and emotions to others.

Will the same thing happen with music? The short answer is that no one can say for sure how the evolution of music will be changed by any given technology.

All in all, something interesting to think about.