Teens moving away from music shop purchases

I CAN’T remember the last time I walked into a music shop and bought a CD.

It is clear that Irish teen-agers aren’t buying CDs nowadays as we can see from the recent closure of music retailer HMV Ireland and the subsequent reopening of some of its branches.

So, where do teenagers get their music from if they don’t buy CDs? The answer: they download their music from itunes and file sharing websites.

Emily (16), from Ballyboughal, buys most of her music from itunes.

“If there is a music artist I love, I download their music from itunes because I want to support them but sometimes I download my music from file sharing websites,

? she says.

Downloading music illegally from file sharing websites is becoming increasingly common among teenagers. They don’t feel the need to buy albums and songs from itunes and other music retailers when they can get it for free from other sources. The majority of teenagers don’t earn money and need to be careful with what little they have, but it still isn’t an excuse for this to be happening.

How do teenagers watch movies and where do they watch them? As a teenager, I watch films on websites such as Netflix.

Netflix is a website that allows you to watch unlimited films and television programmes for a small fee every month.

Liam (17), from Malahide, usually downloads his movies and sometimes buys DVDs.

“Most of the time I download my movies from file sharing websites but if they are bad quality I download them from itunes,

? he says.

“I also buy DVDs occasionally when they are on sale but I don’t have the money to buy movies regularly especially when I can get them for free from other sources.

?

In the modern world things are constantly changing with new methods always being developed.

*Caoimhe Higgins is a Transition Year student at Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan.