The music industry has rules governing the way that music can now be shared with consumers. With the ease of accessing the internet it has become easier and easier for consumers to just download music from the comfort of their own homes, rather than going to a store and buying a compact disc. Because of this, there are now rules in place preventing the free downloads of songs off the internet. Now, the only legal way to download music from the internet is to pay for it on secure sites.

The music industry has strict rules in place when it comes to piracy and downloading music illegally. If someone is caught downloading or with illegally downloaded music, they can receive a hefty fine and a possible jail term. If you still want to download music from your computer and the internet, the best way to avoid getting yourself into trouble, you need to find a reputable website that sells music packages in a legal manner.

Another way that the music industry has implemented rules is on the use of music for commercial purposes. Instead of just being able to put a popular song or a piece of music into a commercial or on a film score, you must first purchase the royalty rights to it. By doing this you avoid any fines and penalties that can occur from "stealing" music. Because music is so popular in commercial and media outlets, many websites have met that growing need by supplying royalty-free music.

With the mass production of music and the ease of which it can now be purchased, many more rules and stricter laws governing it have come about. With the ease of downloading music off the internet now, consumers need to make sure that they are downloading legal copies of songs and not pirated music from people just wanting to make a quick buck. By purchasing music from legal sites, consumers will avoid any fines that can occur from having pirated music in their possession. The increasing use of popular music in commercial and media outlets has also made the need for rules in that area a top priority as well.