Topic Proposal: [Free music downloads help me decide if I'll buy the album]

When I download music "illegally" I do it as more of a preview to decide whether or not I want to support the band. I use them to guage my respect for the band. I will not ever buy an album of a band that I have never heard before because that could turn out to be a horrible investment if the band is terrible. I feel like record companies should look at free music downloads more as marketing than as illegal activity worthy of legal action. I also understand more people than not do not download for the same reasons as I do. But if it wasnt so frowned upon I feel like people may be more willing to do as I do.