I don't think it's stealing because the money from CD sells does not go to the artist directly anyway, they still need record companies to get famous or to distribute CD's.
As far as drm goes, what you think of stealing means fuck-all. The record company thinks it is stealing, and they would try to prosecute you if they could. The system might not be fair, but as mere citizens, we are not allowed to attempt to set things right by redefining what is legal and what isn't.
Personally, I think that we need to stand up for our rights and musician's rights and filmmaker's rights. Show the corporate swine that P2P, file-sharing, and etc are good for society in general, and that we will no longer support their destructive and fascistic search for more and more consumer dollars.
Again, I have to return to Chuck D and Public Enemy. Chuck D has started his own record label to release his music, as he does not want to give up creative or marketing freedom to anyone but himself. Thus, you can go buy songs for 99 cents (years before iTunes), download remixes, and even upload your own remixes. Controlling the message is one thing, but controlling how that message is conveyed is something else entirely.
As another example, consider the band NoFX. They have been releasing their own albums for years on their own label, Fat Wreck Chords. They then use profits from sales to produce albums for up-and-coming artists, musicians who would never get the chance with a major label. Fat Wreck Chords was another early pioneer in downloadable music - they would choose a track from an album and give it away for free, which promoted album sales, a common practice now. Of course they maintain total creative control over their music, their artwork, and their business.
So here's 2 examples of how it should be done. Companies whose primary goal is to get their music out there. Yes, it is possible to keep your artistic freedom, have a large fan base, and make plenty of money. Without sueing people for downloading your music. So why do Sony and Electra and Columbia need to sue people, use agressive DRM, and control every little aspect of the music they put out for maximum profitability?
Think when you're at the record store. Then you won't have to be worried about who's watching you when you get home.
