Downloaded music reigns as an indispensable part of freshman Kaitlin Arena’s daily life. Her iPod, full of digitized tunes, accompanies her everywhere from the gym to the laundry room to the library.

The proliferation of portable music players like the iPod has played a significant role in the rising popularity of music that can be downloaded legally. The number of songs downloaded from legal Web sites grew tenfold between 2003 and 2004, encompassing 200 million tracks from 230 online stores, according to the Associated Press.

Yet, the average Stanford student still relies on other methods, such as illegal downloading or CD purchasing.

“Sites like iTunes [online store] and Napster still charge about $1 per song or $10 per album, and when I buy online, I don’t get the artist packaging which is what I really want,” said junior Dave Blackman, who started the ourTunes campus-based music sharing network.

“I have the songs already off of peer-to-peer services, but I’ve started buying CDs to support somewhat independent artists,” Blackman said. “That lets me show my allegiance to an artist, whereas buying from Napster or iTunes [online store] gives me electronic files that I can’t show off or lend. I feel like in buying music online, I’m paying roughly the same price for a lower quality of music.”

Freshman Nick Jackson also prefers music on CDs to music downloaded off the Internet.

“I’ve purchased four or five songs from iTunes [online store], but I usually buy CDs,” Jackson said. “There’s just more of a sense of ownership,”

Other students mainly get their music illegally.

“I’ve never bought digital music legally because I can get a wide range for free,” said a freshman who asked to remain anonymous. “I need certain obscure tracks for dancing and choreography, and I can usually find whatever I want on LimeWire or Kazaa. Also, I spent so much money on my iPod and laptop that I feel I should try to get as much out of my original investments as possible.”

Despite the 7,000 lawsuits the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, or IPFI, has filed, according to the BBC News, most students feel comfortable using ourTunes.

“Though everyone is rightly paranoid about getting caught for file sharing, iTunes sharing is allowed, and so ourTunes on top of it feels fine to people,” Blackman said. The Apple iTunes program allows users to share music files but not download them.

“It’s also easier and faster than anything else; since all hosts are local, searches and downloads are almost instantaneous,” Blackman added.

Liz Vrolyk, a junior, said she uses ourTunes almost exclusively.

“I have never actually paid for music online, but I do know plenty of people who have,” Vrolyk said. “Besides ourTunes, my friends and I get a lot of our music by plugging our iPods into each other’s computers.”

The growth of legal online music purchases, which some analysts say could make up 25 percent of record company revenue by 2010, has surprised many students.

“I find it hard to believe when it’s so easy to find music elsewhere,” Arena said, responding to that statistic.

These Web sites, which usually charge a monthly subscription fee of about $10 and a per-song download rate of between 50 cents to one dollar, range from the infamous and newly legal Napster to a service for AOL subscribers to the iTunes online music store.

“I think their increasing popularity is a sign that people are willing to pay for their music, particularly if it’s harder to find,” Vrolyk said. “Many people also have a certain residual guilt, especially older people, and are willing to invest a small amount in legal online sites to feel better about their purchasing methods.”

And others just find it more convenient.

“I’ve purchased 99 songs from the iTunes online store, mainly because it’s a fast reliable site with fast downloading capabilities,” said junior Nick Miyake. “Sometimes it takes half an hour to download something illegally, so I’m willing to pay what I consider a reasonable amount for faster service.”

Students said they like the ease of use that comes with the iTunes store.

“I really like the compatibility of the iTunes store with my other Mac products,” Miyake said. “There aren’t many restrictions on the iTunes store and quality is guaranteed, while other sites have lots or do not support Macs. Its music is easy to integrate, and there’s a wide selection.”

The continuing growth of the iPod and the impending popularity of cell phones with digital music capabilities will lead to an even greater demand for digital download sites, IFPI officials predict. Miyake believes this demand may create a market for the estimated 50 percent increase in downloaded songs for 2005.

“The iPod is becoming so popular; if legal sites maintain reasonable rates and fast service, I think that sites like iTunes [online store] and Napster will be options that many people will use,” Miyake said.