When I hear the word MP3, I think convenience.

Let's face it - CDs can be a pain.

The simple reason that downloadable music has become so popular with tech-savvy music fans is that it provides a much more convenient, flexible way to manage and listen to music collections than compact discs.

Don't you hate it when you forget to refresh the discs in your car player or the CD wallet that you carry with you on plane trips? Don't you wish your stereo could shuffle through all the songs in your Elvis Costello catalog instead of only five albums at a time? Wouldn't you like to have access to your entire music collection with you at all times - at work, school, home, and in the car?

Digital music will let you do that.

Even better, as a distribution medium, the Internet can let you listen to a new song by your favorite band the day after it's recorded - instead of having to wait months, sometimes even years. If you like what you hear, you could even buy it with a click of a mouse and have it added to your portable player automatically. Pretty cool stuff.

So, what about the debate over Napster and MP3s role in online piracy?

First off, MP3 is just a compression technology. It can be used for illegal song trading or the legitimate selling of music. As I've said, the reason that it is so popular is because of its convenience. Instead of condemning the messenger and risk setting back this musical evolution, I think it's more important to address how we - fans, artists, and music companies - can benefit.

Here's a quick history lesson. Back in the 1970s, when PCs were just starting out, enthusiasts built the hardware and software in their garages - and shared the designs freely with one another. After a while, they came together to collectively decide that they would need to start charging for their work, or PCs would never evolve to a level of mainstream acceptance. Hence, an industry was born - and we all came to benefit from it.

When it comes to downloadable music, the lesson is the same, but a compromise is needed to move things forward. Music fans must recognize that artists and record labels must be compensated for their work. It is perfectly OK to rip your own CDs and play them in MP3 format. It is not OK to make those tracks available to others without the copyright owner's permission - even if you think CDs cost too much. Music and all intellectual property must have value to keep artists and their partners in business producing more, better work.

On the other side, the music industry must make its own concessions and stop viewing the Internet as a threat, but as a great opportunity for more effectively promoting and distributing music. It may mean less control and more flexibility, but, the fact is, millions of fans have spoken: They want the convenience of downloadable music. How can you not give them what they want?

After all, it's more fun to debate the merits of the actual songs than the lawsuits.

Gene Hoffman is the 24-year-old president and CEO of EMusic.com (www.emusic.com), a leading seller of MP3s.

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