95% music downloads unauthorised

[gburgess]

Interesting stat on music downloads.IFPI Digital Music Report 2009 says"95 per cent of music downloads are unauthorised, with no payment to artists and producers." http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_res ... r2009.html

[mojobone]

But there's good news, too:http://socialmediamusicguide.com/2009/0 ... e-in-2008/

[gburgess]

Thanks for the additional info. Very impressive numbers.It's easy to see how they are able to obtain actual paid downloads. I'm not sure I understand how they know for certain that "95 per cent of music downloads are unauthorised."I make my living working on the Internet, so I understand the technical aspects. I question how they are able to decern that 95% of those music downloads are indeed "unauthorised."If anyone thinks they know how they get that number please let us know. GB

[bobsongsmusic]

I think they just plucked a VERY BIG number out of the air to try and make their case.If 95% of downloads are unauthorised, then it follows that only 5% were authorised.If you look at the key points of the report and take the U.K. as an example, the paid downloads for the year were 110 million.If 110 million represents only 5% of actual downloads, then what they are saying is that without the unauthorised downloads they estimate that the actual download number should have been around 2.2 billion. Even in the best of times I don't think that the U.K., or indeed any other country for that matter could expect that number of sales in a year.That's how I read it

[southpaw]

Maybe the'll take a poll Or better yet give an option when downloading music 1. ---> Authorised Purchase (click here)2. ---> Unauthorized Theft (click here) I dont know if you can account for unaurized dl'in, its not like theirs an inventory where you can check to see what is missing.My logic says it would have to be a generic number, but my logics been wrong before. 95% is definitely a shocking figure. Its a percentage that has an powerful impact ya know.

[gburgess]

Southpaw,Nice comeback! I got a laugh out of the poll "Unauthorized Theft" option.Given some of brilliant minds out there that video tape themselves breaking the law and then post in on the internet, I can't help but think that those same people would actually click the "Unauthorized Theft" option.I'm thinking that you and Bob hit the nail. It has to be either generic or flat out plucked. 95% is a crazy number. It sort of reminds me of those stats that tell you how many billions of dollars employers are loosing because of employees using the internet at work. How does one sort between authorized use of the internet at work from unauthorized? Clearly there are people ripping off their employers by surfing the net excessively, and there are people ripping off artists through unauthorized downloads. But is the number be it in dollars or time as big as the "experts" claim?GB

[mojobone]

Begs the question, what happens if you put two buttons on your e-commerce site, label one "buy my song" and the other, "steal my song", which one do you think most folks would click?

[bobsongsmusic]

Believe it or not, the guys that provide my website are offering an options not a million miles away from that!Pay the asking price of $0.99 (or whatever you've set your price at) or pay as much (or as little) as you want to pay. I'm waiting for my local supermarket and the utility companies to roll out similar deals - but I wont be holding my breath!