Study Finds P2P Has No Effect on Legal Music Sales

rkn "Root Knot Nematode"
Posts: 7628 Joined: 17-07-06 Location: London
Submitted by rkn on 13 February, 2007 - 19:02.
Slashdot wrote:
"The Journal of Political Economy is running the results of a study into P2P file-sharing, reports Ars Technica. The study has found that, contrary to the claims of the recording industry, there is almost no effect on sales from file-sharing. Using data from several months in 2002, the researchers came to the conclusion that P2P 'affected no more than 0.7% of sales in that timeframe.' 803 million CDs were sold in 2002, according to the study, which was a decrease of about 80 million from the previous year. While the RIAA has been blaming that drop (and the drop in subsequent years) on piracy, given the volume of file-sharing that year the impact from file sharing could not have been more than 6 million albums total. Thus, 74 million unsold CDs from that year are 'without an excuse for sitting on shelves.'"

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070212-8813.html

Ho-hum.

jimmer
Posts: 1317 Joined: 30-04-06 Location: London
13 February, 2007 - 22:41
rkn wrote:
given the volume of file-sharing that year the impact from file sharing could not have been more than 6 million albums total

I don't know if I believe that figure.

Steven. ""Best hair at Unison conference""
Posts: 1622 Joined: 27-06-06 Location: London
14 February, 2007 - 00:52

Yeah, I mean I'd never buy a record ever cos I download everything. Surely that must be the case for a lot of people?

DFG_JOK
Posts: 1 Joined: 12-02-07 Location: Denmark, Copenhagen
14 February, 2007 - 04:33

Another "study"
http://piratgruppen.org/rapporter/English_version.pdf

made by a guy from a danish group that support filesharing..

JDMF "G.F.H - Vegan Style"
Posts: 3220 Joined: 21-05-04 Location: Manchester
14 February, 2007 - 09:33

i for one buy way less CDs because of p2p. As in i buy maybe 2 CDs a year from small bands as a support.

I also rent movies way less (as in none these days) and go to movies way less than before.

revol68 "MILF Hunter"
Posts: 17521 Joined: 23-02-04 Location: Belfast
14 February, 2007 - 09:49

yeah, i haven' bought an album in 5 years, whilst before hand i've have bought about 40-50 a year.

pingtiao
Posts: 1569 Joined: 09-10-03
14 February, 2007 - 09:52

I don't think we should argue on this territory (not that I am accusing anyone here of doing so). I for one hope that this particular circuit of capital is undermined by this technology, we shouldn't promote arguments that support forced scarcity of music: we should demand equal access to the fruits of culture for everyone regardless of income.

revol68 "MILF Hunter"
Posts: 17521 Joined: 23-02-04 Location: Belfast
14 February, 2007 - 09:58
Quote:
we shouldn't promote arguments that support forced scarcity of music: we should demand equal access to the fruits of culture for everyone regardless of income.

what?

Everyone here has been saying they think p2p effects sales because they no longer buy so much.

pingtiao
Posts: 1569 Joined: 09-10-03
14 February, 2007 - 10:10

I know, but I'm pointing out that we shouldn't get sucked in to promoting studies like this (as i said at the beginning of the post, I'm not suggesting anyone is, it is just a temptation when studies like this come out to parrot them in arguments).

rkn "Root Knot Nematode"
Posts: 7628 Joined: 17-07-06 Location: London
14 February, 2007 - 12:25
JDMF wrote:
go to movies way less than before.

Thats interesting - i find i go to the cinema more. Because I am able to see a lot more films and it widens my film knowledge or whatever I actively seek out cinema stuff.

As for music - yeah i have bought hardly any music. But i will go to live stuff and may by CDs at gigs or whatever. But i think its more complex than that - i mean you have to look at what sectors of the market use p2p vs people who buy CDs or who have CDs bought for them. Or people who buy CDs and use p2p (i remember seeing a survey on Oink which suggested a larger number than i expected did - and that was from a large sample).

Tacks "in it to win it"
Posts: 4705 Joined: 08-11-05
14 February, 2007 - 12:30

i too find i go to the pictures more. I definitely assess whether this film will look so much better on the big screen its worth it.

Other than that, no i never by CDs any nore and listen to way way more music.

Joseph K. "the thinking man's idiot"
Posts: 8013 Joined: 14-03-06 Location: Brighton
14 February, 2007 - 12:35

yeah i never buy cds except at gigs, but i probably go to more gigs on account of stuff i've either downloaded or is there for free on myspace or whatever.

JDMF "G.F.H - Vegan Style"
Posts: 3220 Joined: 21-05-04 Location: Manchester
14 February, 2007 - 12:39

re: movies. I am a tight bastard, so if i can get it for free, i will gladly do so, even if it means watching the movie on 15 inch laptop screen vs the big cinema screen.

Only go to movies maybe once a year nowdays, and thats mostly smaller maybe political movies, again maybe an element of support there.

I think i was in the sector of consumers who was buying maybe 10-20 CDs a year and now down to 2 thanks to p2p.

The benefist of p2p are obvious though, widening of the selection of music i listen to, movies i watch etc.

revol68 "MILF Hunter"
Posts: 17521 Joined: 23-02-04 Location: Belfast
14 February, 2007 - 12:43
Quote:
re: movies. I am a tight bastard, so if i can get it for free, i will gladly do so, even if it means watching the movie on 15 inch laptop screen vs the big cinema screen.

Only go to movies maybe once a year nowdays, and thats mostly smaller maybe political movies, again maybe an element of support there.

you tight bastard!

I go to the cinema quite alot, afterall it's more a social event than just watching the film on your pc or even tv, plus you can't exactly ask girls round to watch a film on your pc.

Tacks "in it to win it"
Posts: 4705 Joined: 08-11-05
14 February, 2007 - 12:47
revol68 wrote:
Quote:
re: movies. I am a tight bastard, so if i can get it for free, i will gladly do so, even if it means watching the movie on 15 inch laptop screen vs the big cinema screen.

Only go to movies maybe once a year nowdays, and thats mostly smaller maybe political movies, again maybe an element of support there.

you tight bastard!

I go to the cinema quite alot, afterall it's more a social event than just watching the film on your pc or even tv, plus you can't exactly ask girls round to watch a film on your pc.

no i don't suppose you can mate grin

revol68 "MILF Hunter"
Posts: 17521 Joined: 23-02-04 Location: Belfast
14 February, 2007 - 12:58
Tacks wrote:
revol68 wrote:
Quote:
re: movies. I am a tight bastard, so if i can get it for free, i will gladly do so, even if it means watching the movie on 15 inch laptop screen vs the big cinema screen.

Only go to movies maybe once a year nowdays, and thats mostly smaller maybe political movies, again maybe an element of support there.

you tight bastard!

I go to the cinema quite alot, afterall it's more a social event than just watching the film on your pc or even tv, plus you can't exactly ask girls round to watch a film on your pc.

no i don't suppose you can mate grin

most of the films on my hardrive would be atleat 5th date and beyond. wink

Refused "LibCom's official social secretary"
Posts: 6193 Joined: 28-09-04 Location: Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
14 February, 2007 - 18:42
revol68 wrote:
most of the films on my hardrive would be atleat 5th date and beyond. wink

Never seen the light of day?

jimmer
Posts: 1317 Joined: 30-04-06 Location: London
14 February, 2007 - 19:48
Refused wrote:
Never seen the light of day?

grin

I think I probably buy more music because I download music, but that's vinyls. I can't remember the last CD I bought for myself.

Refused "LibCom's official social secretary"
Posts: 6193 Joined: 28-09-04 Location: Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
14 February, 2007 - 19:56

I buy the stuff I can't find online. So that means a CD every other month.

JDMF "G.F.H - Vegan Style"
Posts: 3220 Joined: 21-05-04 Location: Manchester
14 February, 2007 - 20:26
Refused wrote:
I buy the stuff I can't find online. So that means a CD every other month.

learn to use the online resources better grin

I have tried to find finnish 70s communist music and so far only managed few songs sad Might have to fork our couple quid this year for the CDs...

aye, date in front of the laptop screen doesnt have the same effect i guess, but you are talking to a man in 8+ year marriage!

Bob Savage "brrrapatista."
Posts: 1246 Joined: 15-01-07 Location: Bristol
14 February, 2007 - 22:05

I buy a LOT more albums since being able to download than I did before. And it got me into lots of obscure artists too which wouldn't have been possible without the internet.

The real question is, does it really affect sales? Because haven't indie labels shot up loads in sales, thanks to people being able to download? And haven't actual records, as in vinyl, been selling a lot more too?

The most ridiculous thing though is the whole PAY FOR MP3S thing. cracka please, that's just fucking mental.

E-P
Posts: 14 Joined: 24-01-07
21 February, 2007 - 20:53
JDMF wrote:
I have tried to find finnish 70s communist music and so far only managed few songs sad Might have to fork our couple quid this year for the CDs...

What it comes to Finnish 70s communist music, Agit-Prop is brilliant!

JDMF "G.F.H - Vegan Style"
Posts: 3220 Joined: 21-05-04 Location: Manchester
21 February, 2007 - 22:22
E-P wrote:
What it comes to Finnish 70s communist music, Agit-Prop is brilliant!

fucking too right mate - This is KOM Teatteri, another awesome commie band, and their classic Kenen Joukoissa Seisot on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENLLTd_KSOo

grin

xConorx "facts tend to cloud my judgement"
Posts: 10149 Joined: 09-12-04 Location: Belfast
23 February, 2007 - 11:34
revol68 wrote:
I go to the cinema quite alot, afterall it's more a social event than just watching the film on your pc or even tv, plus you can't exactly ask girls round to watch a film on your pc.

well, me and Angela frequently huddle round my laptop to watch Jack Bauer save America, quality.

Hey even if you did get a girl round to watch stuff on your PC, what side of the PC would you make them sit on? The "freaky side"? wink

madashell "KSW, LOL"
Posts: 3042 Joined: 19-06-06 Location: Merseyside
23 February, 2007 - 12:12
E-P wrote:
What it comes to Finnish 70s communist music...

Best beginning to a sentence of all time grin

revol68 "MILF Hunter"
Posts: 17521 Joined: 23-02-04 Location: Belfast
24 February, 2007 - 01:20
xConorx wrote:
revol68 wrote:
I go to the cinema quite alot, afterall it's more a social event than just watching the film on your pc or even tv, plus you can't exactly ask girls round to watch a film on your pc.

well, me and Angela frequently huddle round my laptop to watch Jack Bauer save America, quality.

Hey even if you did get a girl round to watch stuff on your PC, what side of the PC would you make them sit on? The "freaky side"? wink

the side that allows me to score six times with no reply. tongue