MP3, cont. Last January, Public Enemy's frontman Chuck D. wrote "Swindlers Lust," publicly striking out at their label Def Jam Records for stunting the band's Internet growth. Def Jam would not allow the band to release free singles on their web pages. After being released from the label, Chuck D. has become one of the Internet's most outspoken enthusiasts for MP3 and Internet-driven music by speaking out at MP3 conventions and press conferences. "The Net is what's happenin', MP3 is happenin'." Rapper Ice-T "[MP3] shows how artists can control the art, as opposed to have someone else control it for them," Chuck D. said. "The thing that turns me on is just new and innovative ways to get my art from myself to the public. The Internet was an exciting way. After my relationship (ended) with Def Jam as of 1994, when they went from Sony to Polygram, I thought that it was best that I took on a whole new terrain and start to do things more my way opposed to their way." During the turmoil of major label buy-outs, many bands were left without a home and decided to take on new multi-media methods of dispersing their music. Local band Gas Giants (featuring former members of the Gin Blossoms) were among many artists with major-label record deals who were dropped after A&M records was bought out by the Polygram powerhouse label. "I was very naive to think that they were going to want us and that we were a band that they would be happy to have on their label," said Robin Wilson, vocalist for the Gas Giants. "It was both a big release and a huge insult to be told 'we're not interested in you.' "By that time I had started investigating the whole MP3 phenomenon, finding out a little about it and began to realize that it was going to be a part of the future of the music industry. MP3 could be gone in a couple of years. Who knows what the format is going to be? But for now it appears that on-line distribution is going to take up a good 20 percent of all the records on Planet Earth. Not just logging on Amazon.com and getting (the CD) in the mail -- but about 20 percent of all the records sold are going to be sold as digital downloads." Although the presence of music sales on the Net has risen substantially in the past six months people may still have problems finding sources to buy music from their favorite artists. "Now your problem is that you got 32 million Web addresses," Ice-T said. "But I don't buy your record because you're on Warner Brothers. I don't go to Warner Brothers' page lookin' for your record-- I go to your site to buy your music." continued >>