Proof that File Sharing promotes Music sales

[bkbroil]

Here's an eye opener article from Wired News. It's what I've been thinking but could never back it up. The reason that I thought file sharing promotes purchases is from my own experiences. I didn't purchase a music CD in almost 5 years...until.....I purchased a couple of songs off of Musicmatch in response to some questions posted here on PocketPC Addict . After just a couple of song purchases....I was HOOKED back on music...and I've purchased 10 music CDs in the past 2 months..

Some independent music stores are thriving despite the competition from illegal downloads on the Internet.
The stores are finding that file sharing can help create a buzz online that can lead to more sales, according to a panel of independent music store owners who spoke at the South by Southwest Music Conference & Festival here Friday.
Take Hoodlums Music, located on the Arizona State University campus, which opened during the heyday of Napster. One might think Net-savvy students would ignore the shop in favor of free downloads.
"It's a myth," said Steve Wiley, co-owner of the store. "We see them wanting to buy music."
High prices, rather than file sharing, are what usually stop a kid from buying a CD, Wiley said.
Typically, the music industry wants stores to sell CDs for $18 when they should be going for $15, he said. That $3 can make the difference in terms of whether or not a CD is going to sell.
I agree, $3.00 DOES make a difference. What do you think?

[Brad Isaac]

Sure, $3.00 does make a difference. That could be a meal for your child. IMHO it's difficult for teens and adults to justify some of the CD prices these days. I've seen some that retail for $23 or more for just one special edition CD Like you, I use the Musicmatch service - but I use the MM Gold Radio service to listen to radio and mark the songs I like for later purchase and download.
I still buy CDs but usually they are discounted or used before I feel I can justify a purchase.

[Hantra]

I totally agree. I will buy a CD that I have never heard one song off if it's like $10-$11. But a CD I really want, and know, if it's $17.99, I just say "screw you guys. . i'm going home!". . . I'll buy it when it goes on sale. I buy more CD's than anyone I know.

[Brad Isaac]

Originally Posted by Hantra

I just say "screw you guys. . i'm going home!". . . .

Does the music store staff get offended when you direct such language towards them?

[ctitanic]

Wallmart is selling music online too!!!
http://musicdownloads.walmart.com

[Pip]

kids have always listened to each other's music. I did when I was <19(ish). You could listen to a huge range of music and bought as a consequence. After this age you get less opportunity to hear others music - too busy with other things - and don't 'risk' buying blind. You simply stick with the tried and tested bands or maybe buy because you heard it on the chart show (rare). Now that you can access a huge range you can listen and subsequently buy without the risk. Have you noticed the affect this is having on sales in the album charts. I have also bought bought more CD's in the last 2 years than in the previous 10. Suddenly they are not being driven by teenagers! I bought 3 CD's recently from artists I had never heard of. A few weeks later they are all in the top (UK) 5. Would they have sold that many if they couldn't have been heard on the internet?

[Brad Isaac]

Did you know the RIAA site has been down for 5+ days?
Here's a graph of the outage - reportedly due to a DDos attack implemented by the mydom virus.

[Hantra]

Did you know the RIAA site has been down for 5+ days?

Man I really hate that. I wish there was something we could do. Maybe if we all put our money together, they can afford better security guys. Then again, they'd just use that money to pay some guys who get rich of DRM, and figuring out ways to screw US out of our content.
Anyhow Pip, I totally agree with you. I do the exact same thing. I have heard lots of stuff on college radio, and I wouldn't have bought it had I not been able to sample more of it on the Net to see what it's all about.

[Brad Isaac]

Recording Industry in Australia works to conceal record-breaking sales
The Recording Industry has spent a prodigious amount of effort on manipulating statistics in order to shroud the industry in the shadow of doom and gloom. In recent years, the push has been to villainize P2P users, often to such an extent that the serious career criminals are ignored when the discussion of piracy is brought up. To make matters worse, the industry has been caught playing fast and loose with consumption data, all the while ignoring the opportunity that's been in front of their face. Sadly, the trend continues. The Australian market has had its best year ever, but they're trying to cover it up to rhetorical ends.

[jkendrick]

Federal judge in Canada rules file sharing legal
Posted by: jkendrick
Posted on: Wednesday, March 31 @ 17:56:21 MST
A judge presiding over a Federal Court in Canada today ruled file sharing legal in that country. In a move sure to strike a blow to the Canadian music industry, the judge ruled that both downloading music and putting it in a shared folder available to other people online appeared to be legal in Canada.
The judge also made an interesting analogy likening providing a file sharing network to putting copy machines in libraries. Since libraries don't actively promote making personal copies of copyrighted material they are not violating Canadian law. The same logic applied to file sharing led to the ruling that it is legal in Canada.
It will be interesting to see how this impacts the legal battle in the US, as well as in Europe.

Source: C/NET news.com
I hope this is the first of many countries following suit.