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Legal Music Downloads Close to Surpassing Pirates

by , 8:00 AM EDT, June 21st, 2005

Almost as many consumers are buying music from online music stores like Apple's iTunes Music Store as are illegally downloading music, according to a new survey released Monday.

The report from Entertainment Media Research shows around 35% of online music buyers are paying for legal downloads versus the 40% who have pirated music. The online research company used data collected from 4000 music consumers to compile the 2006 Digital Music Survey in association with media law firm Olswang.

Fear of prosecution, Internet viruses, and inferior quality were cited as the main deterrents against illegal downloading, the report said. Nearly two-thirds of music consumers said immediate availability was the key reason for buying tracks online.

"The findings indicate that the music industry is approaching a strategic milestone with the population of legal downloaders close to exceeding that of pirates," said the company's CEO Russell Hart.

John Enser, senior partner at Olswang, said clear deterrents to illegal downloading are emerging, with "fear of prosecution" and "the sense that unauthorized downloading is 'not fair on the artists,'" being among the reasons illegal downloading is on the decrease.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Halix Posts: 38 Joined: 03 Sep 2004
Subject: RIAA idiots!

> John Enser said clear deterrents to illegal downloading are emerging,
> with "fear of prosecution" and "the sense that unauthorized downloading
> is 'not fair on the artists,'" being among the reasons illegal downloading
> is on the decrease.

They really think that it users stop downloading because of prosecution? The ONLY reason I don't download is the iTMS!
And if a track is not available there I still download it. I have stopped buying CDs after having bought a copy protected CD that wouldn't play in my car… suckers!

Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

I don't download MP3s from P2Ps anymore because its just too much work. I buy WAY more CDs since I got an iPod. I never buy from iTMS. The value for your $ is actually increasing with many CDs. Heck now you can get some with the album in DVD-A too for the same price. I haven't run into copy protection yet since after I get the CD it usually goes into the Mac for ripping and then into a box for storage. Well the dualdisc ones don't go in a box. Those have the honor of being placed in the living room.

View Name:Guest
Subject:
Close Name:fultonkbd Posts: 121 Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Subject: Napster

Since the original Napster closed, I haven't downloaded much from p2p networks. Mostly because the quality was lacking and iTMS really has been a great place for me to purchase music.

Being (a litter) older, newer "popular" music doesn't interest me very much. So right now I have been buying older music that I listened too but never purchased. So the ala carte style really works for me.

Though I do miss finding those tracks on CDs that you never hear but end up being the some of the best songs.

View Name:Guest
Subject: Illegal Downloading
Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

Well either way I guess this will be a shot in the arm for Apple's online movie store efforts. I wonder what they will call it. Maybe iFilm... oh wait. Um.. iMovie... no. Uh...

View Name:Guest
Subject: MAKE GOOD ALBUMS, & THEY WILL BUY THEM.
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