With news breaking daily about the future of MP3s, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of what is happening in the world of digital music. As college kids take advantage of fast Internet connections and download as many files as they can, record executives complain about lost profits, and artists are forced to pick sides. Legal terms get tossed around, leaving music consumers in the dark about how it will affect them. What do the recent developments really mean for the future of digital music? Here’s an attempt to break down the jargon and explain what has happened in recent months. First and foremost, as many probably know, Napster was shut down in July after a judge issued an injunction. Luckily, though, Napster appealed and is now still up and running. You’re free to download as much as you want, at least until the issue is reexamined in an October hearing. The MP3 controversy took center stage at Thursday’s MTV Video Music Awards. Metallica drummer and anti-Napster activist Lars Ulrich took the stage to announce the final award of the show, only to be greeted by booing from the crowd. It couldn’t have been more deserved. The latest shocking development in the battle over online music occurred Wednesday, when Universal Music Group slapped MP3.com with a $118 million fine for copyright infringement. The Web site provides a service called My.MP3.com, which allows users to download song files from CDs they already own. When a user logs onto My.MP3.com, they have to prove ownership of a CD by putting it in the CD-ROM drive. Song files are released only when the site recognizes the presence of the CD. The purpose of this service is to give responsible music consumers the opportunity to store files on their computer for music they have already purchased. MP3.com CEO Michael Roberson says allowing people to download song files from CDs they already own is a fair use, and I couldn’t agree more. While the music industry and the Recording Industry Association of America may have a somewhat valid point in their arguments against free MP3 distribution, they shouldn’t mess with MP3.com. MP3.com is not the enemy. If there is any company that should be seen as an enemy of the music industry, it is definitely not MP3.com. Log on to MP3.com and click on the charts for any genre of music. As you scroll down the charts, notice how the majority of the artists who have music available for download are not ones that are on major labels. Chances are, you haven’t heard of many of the artists at all. That’s because they’re local musicians who are trying their hardest to get their music out so they can move up on the musical totem pole. MP3.com’s main function is to serve as a springboard for new artists. The My.MP3.com service does not cause the music industry to lose profits, because its users are not the ones stealing music from the Internet. They’re buying it. Record companies should use MP3.com as a tool for scouting new talent. Instead, Universal wants to penalize MP3.com, and alienate its own customers. When My.MP3.com service resumes in the next few weeks, Universal artists such as Blink-182, Eminem and Beck won’t be available on the site, but artists on the other four major labels will. Sony, EMI, Warner Music Group and BMG Entertainment have all inked distribution deals with MP3.com, but Universal will be left in the dust as the music industry turns digital. It’s time for record companies to wise up and realize that there is no stopping the growth of the MP3. The future lies in digital music, and unless they realize it, there will be no more music industry.