Study Reveals: Young File Sharers Willing to Purchase Their Music

A recent study conducted at the University of Hertfordshire UK (based on respondents aged 14 to 24), proves teenagers who indulge in illegal file sharing are, nevertheless, willing to use legal file-sharing services and pay for the desired content.

With the support of British Music Rights (a music-writing and publishing-industry group) the survey (PDF) not only was possible but became the "largest UK academic survey of its kind." Although the outcome delivered some known or expected facts there was a piece of information that created quite a surprise. It seems that 80 percent of the fervent illegal file sharers say they would welcome a legal file-sharing service and would favor a sort an unlimited download service involving a monthly fee. Such an unlimited download service without any DRM that would require a monthly fee is not currently available. Qtrax or Last.fm despite their efforts don’t meet entirely the needs and expectations of music fans who seem eager to have total control over their downloads.

This segment of age is so important for the music industry because young people do spend lots of money on music. From this percentage – 60 goes to viewing live music and only 40 for recordings. Noticing this aspect music industry is trying to focus on touring and merchandising in respect to “their” bands as it’s getting pretty obvious that artists who fail to put emphasis on the two might have a bit o a problem earning a proper revenue (increasing thus the need for an efficient P2P payment system).

Instead of re-enforcing music industry’s worst fears concerning young people’s position toward pirating music, this survey brought an bright and positive look to the whole thing: “[I]t is quite clear that this young and tech-savvy demographic is as crazy about and engaged with music as any previous generation. Contrary to popular belief, they are also prepared to pay for it, too. But only if offered the services they want.”—Catherine Rampell

(image credit – BMR)