Music downloads drive sales says new research report by MRP

July 15, 2003

GristyMcFisty and onlinetracker both let us know that according to a new research report by Music Research and Programming (MRP), music fans who download album tracks from the Internet often go out and buy the original album. As a conclusion the report says that the Internet can be a useful and should be considered as a significant marketing tool for record companies:

MRP's survey found that of the 87 per cent of respondents to the survey buy albums on the back of downloading individual tracks. A majority said that their reasons for downloading music included 'to check out music I've heard about but not listened to yet' (75 per cent) and 'to help me decide whether to buy the CD' (66 per cent). Around two-thirds added that they preferred to own their favourite music on CD. 'Downloading,' says MRP, 'has not impacted on their emotional need for ownership.'

The record industry, however, begs to differ. The IFPI claimed in its most recent report on declining CD sales that, 'Mass downloading from unauthorised file sharing on the internet and the massive proliferation of CD burning continues to be a major cause of the fall in CD sales globally.'

MRP's research was based on 500 13-45 year olds living in the United Kingdom. Forty-nine per cent agreed that unauthorised downloading of music is 'morally wrong'.

Source: PC Pro