Article: First the buzz, then the sting? Blogs have proven a useful tool for record companies to introduce new acts to a highly desirable demographic, but the possibility of piracy on these same primitive Web sites is a growing concern

NEW YORK -- The blog has begun to emerge as both a music industry friend and a potential bootlegging nightmare.

Blogs are do-it-yourself Web sites -- often a single, crudely produced Web page -- that mix journal-style commentary with links to news, music and video content.

In the business of buzz building, blogs are seen as a valuable viral marketing tool for labels looking to hype new acts. But many of the same Web sites are developing into the next possible headache for copyright owners.

That's because the individuals behind many blogs are using their sites to plug new music from under-the-radar acts, while at the same time hosting and distributing unlicensed MP3 files.

So far, labels have ...

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