I am making my own CDs of my own music at home. Those cost breakdowns were just for the physical CD. Eventually, one hopes that the expense of the studio time becomes a smaller portion overall, whereas the physical cost of the CD probably won't go to less than that $1500 for 1000.

And if you can do a half-decent home recording, you're just looking at the cost of your home system, and your time.

Maybe the cost of the art, cardboard, etc, was less back in the record days? I don't know. I do know that a lot more is spent on promotion now, especially for the big acts.

And again, if you honestly don't have the money to buy it, how is it taking any money from the artist? Are you spposed to not pay rent so that you can pay for music? Are you supposed to let your clothing go unwashed so that you can pay for music? Are you supposed to not get a cab so that you can go to your job, so that you can pay for music? Certain priorities are in order...

On the other hand, I create music partly because I wouldn't otherwise have access to enough of it. Because I don't have the money, and do have the time. But I really do not think it can be termed stealing when it would be impossible to pay for it.

Sometimes "legal" is not the same as "right", or even "moral", though it was originally designed to be all three.

But if you have never been poor, you are very unlikely to understand that.