Jun 20 2005
Legal Downloaders Unite!
From this article:
The record industry’s hardline stance on illegal downloads appears to be paying off, with the number of people paying for them expected to overtake the pirates within a year.
An increasing number of people are opting to buy downloads rather than risk prosecution, according to the 2005 Digital Music Survey to be released today. Some 35% of music consumers now legally download, compared to 40% of those who do so illegally. Nearly a quarter of people said they would start legally downloading soon, compared with 16% in 2004.
Fear of prosecution was the number one reason music consumers were put off downloading illegally. About 44% of survey respondents cited fear of prosecution, 39% said illegal downloading was unfair on the artists, and 29% were concerned about viruses.
It’s interesting – this seems to be the trend lately. People are realizing, for one reason or another, that using a subscription or pay-per-download service can be both affordable and fulfilling. Excellent.
2 Responses to “Legal Downloaders Unite!”
I would attribute these stats. to the iPOD which I think has been the major factor in the growth of legal downloads.
The marketing campaign behind the iPOD has been huge and extremely successful, the billboards, tv commercials etc. iPOD is seen as fashionable and ‘cool’, it is new and has suceeded in making it to the top of the new media market, it makes downloading songs highly attractive to the fashion conscious youth of today who now feel they have something productive and tangible at the end of their download.
Jason, any further thoughts re: the recent ruling?