English Dictionary

why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free

ことわざ

Do not expect somebody to make a costly commitment if it will give them nothing they do not already have; used especially as a warning against having sexual intercourse before marriage.

日本語の意味

結婚などの高い負担や約束を求める必要はなく、すでに得られる利益（例：性的関係など）が無料で手に入るなら、それ以上のリスクや責任を負う必要はないという警告。特に婚前交渉に対する戒めとして用いられる。

意味（1）

Do not expect somebody to make a costly commitment if it will give them nothing they do not already have; used especially as a warning against having sexual intercourse before marriage.

The whole idea of why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free relates to offering only a very brief sample of your music online. I have intellectual property, and I treat that intellectual property very seriously as an artist.