Hypothesis:

Suppose those weekly news stories where record companies are cracking down on downloading are complete sham.

Suppose the record companies via their own on-line systems are downloadnng their own stuff (quickly erased) for the phony publicity.

What would be the advantage?

Creat the illusion that the "music" is worth the effort and memory (both in cheap supply).

Maintain an illusion that keeps radio stations from changing formats to news/country, etc.

Each airplay, even of the most abhorrent material, generates revenue.

I know this scenario has seen ink, but the more we suppose, the more
we (taxpayers) can save. In USA, taxpayers underwrite the grammys.

Just a thought.