British Music Rights has announced the results of its survey investigating the music consumption behaviour and experience of young people aged 14-24...

British Music Rights has announced the results of its survey investigating the music consumption behaviour and experience of young people aged 14-24, with the average age of respondents at 22. Carried out in February and March 2008 by the University Of Hertfodshire, the result is the largest UK academic survey of its kind.

Here are the highlights:

- 14-24 years old love music - arguably more than any previous generation
- But their consumption of music is changing significantly - the perceived value of sharing, recommendation and copying have all increased
- The upshot? Emotion importance does not correlate with spending - especially compared to other entertainment sectors
- Around 90% of respondents now own an MP3 player. They contain an average of 1770 tracts - half of which have not been paid for.
- 58% have copied music from a friend’s hard drive to their own, and 95% copy music in some way
- 63% download music using P2P file-sharing networks. 42% have allowed P2P users to upload music from their computer. Much if this behavior is viewed as altruistic
- 80% of current P2p users would be interested in a legal file-sharing service and they would pay for it too.
- The CD is not dead. Even if a legal file-sharing service existed, over 60% say they would continue to by CDs.
- Money spent on live music exceeds that spent on recorded music

Feargal Sharkey, Chief Executive of British Music Rights: “The music industry should draw great optimism from this groundbreaking survey. First and foremost, it is quite clear that this young 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. That message comes through loud and clear.”

“These responses also pull no punched in highlighting how dramatically music consumption has changed, and continues to change; certainly in the case of copying, sharing and recommendation.

“Technology has greatly increased the value of these activities - but it is clear that the financial gains are not necessarily feeding back to the creators: artists, composers and songwriters. How the music industry repositions itself here, and builds new mutually-beneficial commercial partnership with technology providers remains the key challenge ahead.”

The full report, Music Experience and Behaviour in Young People from British Music Rights and the University Of Hertfodshire, can be read at www.bmr.org/cms/uploads/files/UoH%20Research%202008.pdf

 

Source: Music Forum