As you could imagine, MP3s have been controversial since creation.
There are many good arguments for MP3s and the online sharing of music.

First of all, MP3s have really proven to be helpful to smaller bands and labels.
While some gain a much larger arena of exposure, others make a lot of money.

More popular artists have gained just as much.
Alanis Morrisette made a whole bunch of money from going on an
MP3.com-sponsored tour with Tori Amos.
According to the Rolling Stone webpage reporter Fred Goodman,
Garbage guitarist Steve Marker likes MP3s because they offer the band an opportunity
to release music for certain fans that wouldn't necessarily be good to put out
on an official release.

Just as MP3s can help smaller and larger bands alike gain exposure and money,
MP3s are good for non-traditional bands.
A lot of bands prefer to release tracks and stay off the road,
which has proven to provide them with neither money nor exposure in the past.
Now they can have both.