MP3.

The Moving Picture Experts Group Level 3 (MP3) was a computer format that compressed tens of megabytes of a compact disc (CD)-quality audio file into just a few megabytes, making high-quality digital audio easily downloadable. Music industry executives were concerned about MP3, arguing that it was being used to steal intellectual property. Many websites offered songs without copyright permission, posing a major threat to record labels and performers. Record companies launched efforts in 1998 and 1999 to bring what they saw as bootlegging under control. Still, some recording artists felt that MP3 might be a good thing, introducing a new way to bring their music to the public. Many musicians saw MP3 as a way to sidestep the powerful music publishing business and use the Internet to distribute their songs. With the introduction of portable devices in 1998, MP3 became the most popular trend in...