Music CDs are expensive because you not only pay for the material but also for the intellectual property. The music you buy is owned by the composer, singer, and recording company in varying degrees. People who cannot afford to buy every song they like turn to P2P file sharing.
Benefits of sharing free music through P2P
The benefit is obvious. When you share free music through P2P, you also get free music. You do not have to buy a whole CD; you can just pick the songs you like.
Legality of free P2P sharing
Decentralized networks are the ones that are conducting illegal activity. There is no middleman to collect fees. If you are afraid of committing a criminal act, you can subscribe to a centralized P2P network where for a small fee, you can download unlimited files.
Safety tips When downloading from sites such as Kazaa
To practice safe P2P sharing, understand the legalities of sharing through your network of choice. Install a good antivirus to defend yourself against viruses and malware disguised as music files. Turn off your sharing mode if you do not want to get sued. Keep only a few files.