Alanis' Morissette's Senate testimony, April 3, 2001 "We have now clearly evolved into a new and exciting digital era in which we are discovering new ways to share our music directly and interactively. Though I cannot speak for every artist, my initial resistance to the new services created online was based on the debate having been framed in terms of 'piracy.' Being labeled as such by the record companies, it understandably sent a ripple effect of panic throughout the artistic community. But what I have since come to realize is that for the majority of artists, this so-called 'piracy' may have actually been working in their favor. Most recording artists never receive royalties past their initial advance due to the financial structure of most record company contracts. From these artists' viewpoint, their music is free since they do not, in the end, receive money from any of the sales. That 'free' internet distribution allows the artist to aggregate an audience and create a direct relationship with that audience as well as develop a community among the people who love their music. This in turn allows that artist to generate compensation through other outlets such as touring and merchandise. For the majority of artists, this amounts to making enough money to be in survival mode. In the big picture, it will benefit the exact companies who have resisted it the most. History has proven time and again that a greater variety of formats and distribution opportunities lead to more choices for consumers, increased awareness of the artists and their music and ultimately a continued and greater reward financially, creatively, and personally for everybody involved."