Music Sales Fall 12% due to Illegal Downloads
According to the latest figures, music industry sales were down 12% overall on a worldwide scale during the first half of last year. Music bosses are now urging governments everywhere to take charge in battling online piracy.
Since 2004, the music market has fallen by 30%, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry’s (IFPI) figures on Thursday. The organization represents music firms and says that countries need to make laws to require internet providers to battle digital piracy. The UK is stepping up with their Digital Economy Bill, with some measures include disconnecting offenders that persistently download illegal content.
In one survey released by the IFPI, they found that 1 in 5 people in Europe illegally shared music last year. Downloading has hugely increased in popularity over the last few years, with the UK accounting for 95% in single sales. Digital album download sales worldwide increased 20% in 2009 as well. However, in France album sales have plummeted by 60% over the last 6 years, as this is where 25% of internet users illegally download content.
John Kennedy, the chairman of IFPI, said that music fans are able to download single songs and albums in ways that were never thought of a few years ago - streaming sites, free-to-user sites, mobile phones, download stores. Sadly, they cannot report that these innovations have rewarded the market in growth, he continued, adding that digital piracy remains a big issue against this and is causing the erosion of local music investment.
Although piracy is a big problem, the economic downturn should still be taken into account. Many people simply weren’t buying any CDs last year, no were they buying downloads. However, the economic crisis may have been the vice to give an extra boost to online piracy, as many people looked for a free way to get the music they want.
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Speaking as a local musician, you’ll find that labels have no interest in us. What we are, what we stand for.
So I don’t buy the industry whining one iota. The internet is democritising music. It allows people to genuinely sort the wheat from the chaff. People buy a CD when they know they like something for sure.
Again, I and none of my cohorts have benefitted from any kind of industry input. In fact, the O2 venues (i.e. industry led live venues) have started to make it incredibly difficult to get local gigs. So no. I don’t care…