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It is illegal when the big compagnies are loosing money....

Companies in which countries?
Consider the fate of AllOfMP3. The web site was operating in an ostensibly legal way according to Russian laws and paid royalties through ROMS, but were sued for trillions of dollars by the RIAA and IFPI (who had apparently refused royalties). Eventually, AllOfMP3 ceased operations, but its sister sites such as AllTunes are still going strong, and are apparently quite legal in Russia. The RIAA and others would claim that they are illegal in the US and in many other places.

So, what would be the result of payment processing being halted on a site which is operating legally in a large country?

Many "legit" stores do not benefit the artists!

Some sell the artists music without permission and do not reimburse the artists
http://torrentfreak.com/apples-itunes-sued-by-artist-for-pirating-music-110812/
http://forum.tunecore.com/post/Album-on-iTunes-without-permission-5680939

Sometimes the artists get no money because of extraordinary business practices by their music publishers or associations
http://www.salon.com/2000/06/14/love_7/
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100712/23482610186.shtml
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20091203/1853507190.shtml
and for interest
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120323/18055718229/how-ascap-takes-money-successful-indie-artists-gives-it-to-giant-rock-stars.shtml

Sometimes the artists get no money because their music publishers instruct them not to register with the copyright agency of that country SO THAT the publisher can claim that the seller is not legitimate because the artists get no money.
http://www.transmissionentertainment.com/entry/russian_based_all_of_mp3coms_former_owner_may_see_jail_time_fines_and_a_mor/
http://allofmp3.ru/press/centre.shtml?s=994&d=66219728 : "Even without an agreement between ROMS and the rightsholders, it is our understanding that ROMS, in particular, has sent several letters to the major record labels inviting them to collect their royalties. Those notices have been ignored."
http://techcrunch.com/2007/07/25/former-allofmp3com-owner-faces-jail-time/

Sometimes it's a choice between
1. not paying
2. paying and the artist gets no money
3. paying and the artist gets no money and you support an abusive music industry
4. paying and the artist gets money and you support an abusive music industry

For mass music I opt for 2 where I can because I think it does least harm.
For less popular music I use CD-Baby and other self publishing sites or buy direct from the artist.

IIRC, none of Russian laws breached by AllofMP3.com.

There's a nice reading material from those `mafs`, you might want to give it a try:
http://allofmp3.ru/press/centre.shtml?s=993&d=18191974

but of course I'm not going to hold my breath on their words.

I used to buy music online...DRM Free and legally. But the RIAA lobbyed the US President to make him ask the Russian President to close allofmp3 or else... I suppose Putin was kinda of relief. Can you imagine? He's planning to rebuild and strengthen all the nuclear arsenal and Bush instead of questioning on that matter goes on and ask to close a small internet store! FUNNY to the brim of ridicolous!

Since then I stopped buying Mp3s legally online, note that they were on piracy before and after the above mentioned events. And of course later on the charges against allofmp3 were dropped because they were inconsistent http://www.allofmp3.ru/press.shtml

The RIAA has closed a market opportunity with lobbying (at least one lost a consumer) Those in charge there are really IDIOTS. They just are donkey heads that can't do the math.

Here is the math:
I spend 15$ online get 8 albums = 50% profits estimated (And I suppose they go to Russia, anyway RIAA is known not to be fairer to the artists, see the article below)
I spend 0$ anywhere because of high prices = profits?

Here is the math of Courtney Love online since 2000: http://archive.salon.com/tech/feature/2000/06/14/love/index.html

Have a good read

One of the links in my post above failed to show up:

search?q=ROMS+royalty+percent+russian turns up this link which says:
As stipulated in our licensing agreement with the Russian Multimedia and Internet Society (ROMS), the company [AllOfMP3.com] pays 15 percent of its gross revenue. The company also pays 25 percent of gross revenue to the Collective Management of Copyright with Respect to the Use of Musical Works in Interactive Regime (FAIR).

-

Major record labels once again refused to accept royalty payments from Russian on-line music stores.

IFPI refused to receive money from the Russian royalty collecting entity ROMS (Russian Organization on Collective Management of Rights of Authors and Other Rightholders in Multimedia, Digital Networks & Visual Arts). Although ROMS operates within the law, IFPI insists that the only entity which could act on behalf of the labels and other rightholders and collect royalties is the Russian branch of IFPI (RPA - Russian Phonographic Association) and refuses to accept anything from ROMS.

Allofmp3 payed ROMS, but the RIAA's russian branch (IFPI) refused to take payment.

http://blogs.allofmp3.ru/music_news/2007/08/27/ifp i-refused-to-recieve-royalties-in-russia/