My stance on buying cd's is that it DOES NOT support the artist. when you buy a cd, most of it goes to the store, then the rest of it goes to the RIAA. From here, some of it pays for the creation of the cd, studio fees ect... and the majority of it goes into the RIAA hands to sue little kids and pay laywer fees. Then the rest, like $1 of the cd goes to the artist.
If you buy a song on ITUNES, the artist only gets like $0.10. IMO, not supporting the artist there.
Now, if i really like an artist, lets say eminem, and i want to actually support him. I would much rather just send him $10 in the mail then paying the RIAA. I freaking hate the RIAA.