Because "many artists" is not the same as "all artists" when it comes to copyright law. There are legal sites where those who want to give away their music can do so.

"Immoral" is not a particularly good word in this context. The fight with downloading is with the Recording Industry legal group. Most musicians do NOT feel they have been treated right by this group either. Fighting this battle is worthwhile; Musicians will have better careers and better compensation with a new model of distribution that bypasses the old-world recording industry entirly. This would include free downloads, as many artists (such as RadioHead) have done, as well as items you'd pay for (CDs, licensed merchandise, concert tickets).

For one the artist might own the copyright to the lyrics but chances are the record label owns the right to the sound recordings so they have just as much say. The only artist that might want the music available freely are the pre-established ones who make most of their money from huge tours ala Radiohead or NIN. The new artists who plays a show infront of 1200 people and only make $1 dollar off of each record sell that usually sells under 300,000 copies and then has to split the sells with the 5 other band members probably not.

Let me ask you something about your job. Let's say that you are an artist, as in a painter. Now would you like to work for hours and hours on a painting and then give it away? Of coarse not, unless you are a very charitable person who paints just for enjoyment. Now we all know you can't make a living that way can you? A musical work is just that: work. If it were easy and not work, anyone and everyone could and would do it. You get paid for doing your job so why shouldn't musicians and singers? You wouldn't dare work for your boss for free would you? Even if you love your job the answer is NO WAY JOSE! Everyone who has something of value should expect an honest wage for it. In the case of music the fan takes the roll of the boss and should pay for the work accordingly. It's just like going to the movies. If you don't like the particular movie or dis-agree about how much the actor or actress made for filming the picture then you don't buy a ticket so you don't see the show! It is illegal to reproduce and give away movies just the same as it is music because it is copyrighted too. If you write a musical work, be it a song, score or jingle, that is work you have done. You are entitled to a fair wage for it. If you don't want to give it away then you don't have to. That's what copyrighting is all about. You are paid a specific amount due to the number of albums sold and the number of times a song or album is played. Some people in the music industry are just songwriters who submit their work to performers so that they can make a living off of the royalties. They have to make a living too! Not "all of the music industry" wants you to be able to download songs for free. Don't think otherwise! The ones who are against it far outweigh the ones who are for it!

Simply put, it is the artist best wish that everyone will enjoy his music, preferably for free (not because of the money but because that way it will reach more people). But (and this is a BIG BUT), we live in a materialistic world and until that changes the artist must eat, drink and get paid just as the next guy. When we finally move to communism as Carl Marx predicted maybe than we will all get our MP3's and iPhones for free. just wait a thousand years or so :)

Because it is clearly against copyright laws.

Many "real" artists also want to get paid for their work. They get paid by selling their music, not by giving it away.

generally it is not the artist that holds the copyright, its the music group that being the reason why its them that start the lawsuits. artists make a small profit from record sales but the majority of their cash comes from concerts, but at the same time if it werent for the record companies putting up the cash to make the record the artist wouldnt sell many concert tickets. well established groups and artists can afford to give away their music because they allready have the cash and the massive fan base that will attend their concerts. new artists on the other hand would have a hard time getting started in the industry without signing to a record company.