While Mardam-Bey’s Internet Relay Chat, or mIRC, may have launched from a dorm room at the University of Westminster in London a year after the MP3 was formally introduced, its reputation for housing file-sharers and the world’s most notorious hackers wouldn’t come until the late ’90s. Note: All photos were illegally downloaded off the internet. With SoundCloud seemingly back on track - thanks to a Hail Mary from Chance The Rapper - the DX Staff compiled their fond memories of times spent mistakenly ripping Soulja Boy tracks* as they searched for the latest songs on any number of highly suspect sites. On the verge of bankruptcy - reportedly having just a few weeks worth of cash reserves - many are holding their breath as others frantically Google alternatives. Ultimately, it experimented with a premium service to counteract its quarterly losses with revenue. SoundCloud - often called “the YouTube of music” - has had its fair share of legal trouble, fighting off labels and lawsuits. In short, your stash of illegally downloaded discographies changed the game.Īs things start to level out, with streaming giants striking deals with labels, yet another fan favorite site appears primed to bite the dust: SoundCloud - home to millions of bedroom DJs and struggle rappers and off-key singers, as well as a hoard of overlooked talented musicians from every genre imaginable. From Kazaa and LimeWire to Soulseek, RapidShare and countless others, fans were granted the ability to own their favorite tracks free of charge, upsetting artists and labels alike, and ultimately leading to plummeting album sales. Since its inception, the music industry has undergone a series of tumultuous changes as its business model got turned upside-down thanks to the rise of the internet and the subsequent flood of sites that allowed easy access to music. The mix of suits, ties and trendsetters that has helped define cool since your parents were listening to vinyl LPs. The same people that brought you the soundtrack to your childhood.

Music download programs