Americans Think Downloading Music is OK
While the big news on the music front last week was the Gabriel/Eno announcement, their celebrity may have overshadowed two other important news items. Coincidentally, these diametrically opposed viewpoints came public within a day of each other. One of them is a bit of a surprise, while the other has the smell of an old spin piece.
When looked at side by side, its apparent that only one of them can be right; You guess which one it is:
Beyond the Anti-Piracy Suits: Year-end news stories reported not only overall decreases in the unauthorized downloading of copyrighted music, attributed to lawsuits filed against individuals by the Recording Industry Association of America, but an uptick in music sales. And more lawsuits were filed by RIAA last week. However, this seemingly straightforward story is about more than merely suing people to encourage music buying. There's a carrot here, too -- not just a stick.
Compare that statement with this one:
Americans Think Downloading Music for Personal Use Is an Innocent Act: While the news media have been filled with stories about what some are calling "Internet music piracy," a large majority of the American public views downloading music for personal use as an innocent act, and thinks the high price of CDs leads to a lot of downloading.Fully three in four adult Americans (75%) agree that "downloading and then selling the music is piracy and should be prohibited, downloading for personal use is an innocent act and should not be prohibited."
An almost equal 70% say, "If the price of CDs was a lot lower, there would be a lot less downloading of music off the Internet."
I'll end your suspense: The first excerpt was from Hilary Rosen, former chairman and CEO of the RIAA. The second clip was a 1/28/04 Harris Poll.
Break this down: It's apparent that despite the best efforts of the RIAA, most of the country continues to perceive file sharing as OK. In light of the massive publicity that the RIAA has generated via their very high profile lawsuits, this is really quite astounding. Downloading may very well be the single biggest current act of civil disobedience in the United States -- bigger than driving faster than 55mph, and certainly bigger than pot smoking.
Here's another surprise: Despite several years of "education" by the RIAA, most Americans do not completely grasp the nuances involved:
The potential financial impact of downloading on musicians and recording companies may not be fully understood by the American public. Nearly two of three adult Americans (64%) agree that musicians and recording companies should get the full financial benefit of their work. While the music industry views downloading as an issue of property rights, agreement with the three statements reported on to this point is at virtually identical levels among Republicans and Democrats, and liberals and conservatives.While only a small majority of adults (54%) agree, "downloading music off the Internet is no different from buying a used CD or recording music borrowed from a friend," the differences by age are large. Younger people are much more likely to agree with this statement – 70% of 18 to 24 year olds and 66% of 25 to 29 year olds agree; and there is a decline with age – only 36% of people 65 and older agree with the statement.
ReThink Research noted that "this suggests the music industry is fighting an uphill battle in winning the hearts and minds of Americans to support prohibitions against downloading." Somehow, the RIAA have failed to convince the public that there is a link between downloading and its financial impact on the recording industry."
Who'd a thunk it: Suing your clients and calling them thieves is not a great business strategy . . .
Sources:
US public still believe downloading is harmless and should be legal
ReThink Faultline
Feb 2, 2004
http://www.rethinkresearch.biz
Beyond the Anti-Piracy Suits
HILARY ROSEN
WSJ, January 27, 2004
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB107517375356212562,00.html
Harris Interactive Survey
The Harris Poll® #5: Americans Think Downloading Music for Personal Use Is an Innocent Act
by Robert Leitman, January 28, 2004
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=434
Americans Think Downloading Music for Personal Use Is an Innocent Act
Press Release, January 28, 2004
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=752
Wednesday, February 04, 2004 | 05:22 AM | Permalink
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I really enjoy visiting your website and I think downloading is stealing. I think the music company should start suing people cue if not they will continue downloading and the music company will go down. I will come back to visit someday.
Bye
Posted by: sarlomey | Sep 26, 2004 10:38:36 PM
Most americans think that downloading music should not be prohibited but you should realize that when people download music to burn to CD's you take money from the industry. Im into the band thing and ive been trying to join a band so I can relate to this. when you burn music to a CD or download from the internet people not only steal from the industry they also steal from the bands which could put them out of the music industry which means no more music.thats how I feel about it.
Posted by: Jason | Dec 3, 2004 5:51:11 PM
SINCE THEY PUT THE SUPPLIES OUT THERE FOR US, SUCH AS KAZAA. AND NO ONE SHUT THEM DOWN YET AND STOP THEM I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE BURNING MUSIC.
HEY IT'S ONLY FAIR.
Posted by: KALL | Dec 15, 2004 1:11:01 PM
Personally,I believe that downloading is stealing, but that,s just my outlook on it. to each his own.
Posted by: Donnie | Dec 23, 2004 7:44:49 PM
Downloading music may be said to be stealing but if we werent going to buy the music in the first place then how colld that me so..now that it's free, if we like it enough, were more likely to purchase the CD.
Posted by: Angie | Dec 24, 2004 8:12:35 PM
Downloading music may be said to be stealing but if we werent going to buy the music in the first place then how could that be so..now that it's free, if we like it enough, were more likely to purchase the CD.
Posted by: Angie | Dec 24, 2004 8:13:00 PM
I don't see nothing wrong with downloading music for their personal enjoyment. What I do see people selling loads of cds they have burned and making alot of money doing so.These are the ones that should be sued.
Posted by: Tanika | Jan 2, 2005 12:35:50 PM
With the consolidation of the radio industry, there is NO GOOD PLACE TO HEAR & SHARE NEW MUSIC.
With p2p, you can taste & sample whole songs, not just 10 sec's worth, and will eventually lead to purchasing a cd IF (a big if) the cd is priced reasonably.
I remember being able to go out and buy a cassette in the 80's for $6-7.00. I don't think that $10-11.00 is bad, adjusting for inflation. I could definitely see parting with that much at least once every month. However, when they start costing $13.00 and over, my interest in the CD, no matter how good the band, drops precipitously.
Posted by: Dave | Jan 4, 2005 4:00:54 PM
VIVA LA RESISTANCE!!!!
Posted by: VIRGINIA | Jan 13, 2005 4:06:05 PM
ok if Cd prices was cheaper people would buy them.. here where i live they start out at 17.00 and go up some i have seen was as little as 14.95 but it also depends on the band how old the band is but if they are a big band with great music you are not going to pay less then 17.00 for the cd.. and then if you buy the cd you are mostly buying it for 1 or 2 songs... i have over 200 cds that i have bought for just 1 or 2 songs and that is crap. If they would make a machine that will let you burn a cd and put the music that you want on it at the stores then you pay for it there that would be so cool.. and you dont have to pay 17.00 for 1 song.
Posted by: Me | Jan 21, 2005 9:08:36 AM
They have that machine: An internet connected PC
You can do that with Apple's iTunes Music Store, or any of the other pay per song sites. Download 10-15 songs at 99 cents per, burn it to a CD -- you are set!
Posted by: Barry Ritholtz | Jan 21, 2005 9:22:07 AM
Does the iPod just encourage illegal music downloading? Yes, I think it does. I have never even contemplated illegally downloading music either choosing to play it through a programme like Windows Media Player where you are unable to save the music to your iPod or copying my CD's which I have bought. I have copied another persons CD however... Buying an iPod with so much free space for music encourages people to go on to illegal sites and download their music. I have downloaded music that i wanted but would not be prepared to buy. As a person I enjoy having an album with the album art and cover. I know that this is a problem and always feel guilty after downloading an album. The price of CD's is phenomemal BUT i would be prepared to buy more CD'S if the price went down. iTunes is a good programmes but is comparable to the price i would pay in the shops. How much of the money that I pay them goes to the artists themselves? I'm reckonning not all that much.
Posted by: Abi | Jan 23, 2005 11:55:06 AM
i think downloading music is ok as long as you don't sell what you burn, i think that if people like the music enough to burn it that theya re more likely to buy the cd because most people burn the songs before the cd is even out.
Posted by: Melissa | Jan 31, 2005 7:56:43 PM
You're a bunch of losers! Downloading is fun but I don't think we should be able to get it for free.
Or like pay 9 cents for it.
Posted by: Stephanie S. | Feb 2, 2005 11:31:31 AM
Hey i dont think downloading music off the internet is a crime i think that it good because if they did not have downloading people would not listen to music very much so its good hey call me
Posted by: lydia | Feb 2, 2005 11:48:34 AM
I think that downloading music is a great way to gain free access to a number of things that you couldn't get in a store. The only problem is, people only thing that they're cheating the artists and its okay because they have more money than they even know what to do with in the first place. However, the problem is, we're not only cheating the artist, we're cheating the producers, song writers, and everyone else who depends on that song to either thrive or fail in order to determine their income. Its unfair to all of the people behind the scenes who aren't rich and successful.
Posted by: Keturah Reed | Feb 2, 2005 1:20:58 PM
i'm doing a persuasive essay on this topic so can yall put some factual information on here to help me out?? thanks a bunch
Posted by: unknownperson | Feb 7, 2005 1:37:34 PM
rat!
Posted by: sabby | Feb 8, 2005 4:38:54 PM
you are all little rats!!!
downloading in music is not bad but personally i'd rather goout and buy the music... thats what a true fan would do
Posted by: sabby | Feb 8, 2005 4:41:20 PM
you wee rats downloading is bad dont ya see i used to download but i stopped and travelled away from the bad and lead myself to the good so do the same travel with me
Posted by: taylor | Feb 17, 2005 2:30:12 PM
A friend of mine told me about this place. I love it. I will recommend you to all my friends.
See you again next time I surf around.
Posted by: Hansi | Feb 23, 2005 3:10:39 AM
Screw the RIAA, down with the Man.
Posted by: Freedom. | Mar 4, 2005 11:33:10 AM
i think you are all fuckin bitches for buyin the cd
it costs too much
i just download
Posted by: Hommie A | Mar 8, 2005 7:22:31 PM
I think that downloading muic for free is OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Moe D. Lawn | Mar 17, 2005 9:19:14 AM
I think music dwnloading is kind of fucked in way because it's screwing up the music biss a bit
Posted by: cody | Mar 23, 2005 5:10:31 PM
