If you're talking about Kid Rocks line of thinking, yeah I see.

Would I be stealing from Exxon if I discovered oil in my backyard and start using it? After all, they 'lose' the money I usually spend on gas.

Would I be stealing from Ford if I went and bought all the necessary parts and built my own car? After all, they 'lose' money by me not going through their channels.

Downloading is not stealing, it's recreating. Sure it's a hell of a lot easier than building your own car or finding oil, but it's still the same principle. You don't deprive anyone of their property. You may indirectly contribute to them making less money, but that's simply not the same thing. People can't be held accountable for the actions of others, that goes without saying in almost everything except when it comes to the entertainment industry.

Companies are out to make money, and to do that they have to calculate all expenses and make that work with the expected return. If the effects of downloading makes you loose money on a project that's your problem. Lower the costs, up the quality, do some creative marketing etc..It's not the customers fault technology suddenly made him able to get all this stuff for practically free. That's simply a biproduct of society, and it's not something that can be fixed by criminalizing 90% of the population.

It's not a god given right to be profitable, and certainly not to maintain profit. The music business used to be a major cash cow, and it still is, but it's like with the shoemaker. Where's he today? Who can he sue, progress?

Fact is the future is looking good for the musicians. Practically anyone can make an album these days and distribute it. If your music is good the word will spread and you can go on tour, license to commercials and tv shows, selling t-shirts etc. It may not be Abba or Stones money, but if you're good enough it's certainly a living above average.

The only ones losing out are the record companies and the shitty artist. Who really gives a fuck about them?