AfterDawn: News

95 percent of music downloads are unauthorized, says IFPI

According to a new report by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), 95 percent of all online music downloads are in fact unauthorized and can be considered piracy.

The trade group notes that piracy is "its biggest challenge" as it leaves artists and record companies without royalty payments.



The report noted that worldwide music revenue shrank by 7 percent last year but did add that digital downloads continued strong growth.

The IFPI says over 40 billion music files were shared "illegally" over the past year in comparison to the 1.4 billion tracks purchased legally via iTunes, Amazon MP3 and other online shops.

John Kennedy, the CEO of the IFPI, added:

"There is a momentous debate going on about the environment on which our business, and all the people working in it, depends.

"Governments are beginning to accept that, in the debate over 'free content' and engaging ISPs in protecting intellectual property rights, doing nothing is not an option if there is to be a future for commercial digital content."

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 17 Jan 2009 4:42

• Previous article

• App Store hits half billion downloads

• Next article

• Datel sued over PSP-3000 'hacking tool'

• 19 comments

• domie

  40 billion music files shared illegally ? hmm would like to see how they invented those stats seeing as it assumes an average of 7 songs for every single carbon unit / human being on the planet .

  17.1.2009 04:59 #1

• iluvendo

  Where did the IFPI get their numbers ?
  Pirates R Us ?

  17.1.2009 05:00 #2

• Blackjax

  I'll wager it's the same place their head is located...
  dark and smelly!

  17.1.2009 06:14 #3

• pensfan12

  It would be interesting to know the real numbers of how much music is actually pirated in a year. If only it was possible.

  17.1.2009 06:57 #4

• Leningrad

  Originally posted by domie: 40 billion music files shared illegally ? hmm would like to see how they invented those stats seeing as it assumes an average of 7 songs for every single carbon unit / human being on the planet .yeah consider all those poor people in africa, they probably never seen a pc.

  17.1.2009 11:29 #5

• sssharp

  They (all involved company's) can always fire the artists and start from scratch. That will eliminate any future downloads and allow their compaints to say "what no one is downloading any of our music".

  17.1.2009 12:43 #6

• ZippyDSM

  You can not control distribution with antiquated mindsets, "unauthorized" merely means unnerved. You have to change the business model and copyright law to force business to ignore the supposed loses and focusing on creating business models that make profit.

  17.1.2009 14:12 #7

• vballstud

  New poll results released...
  
  99% of the IFPI are idiots.

  17.1.2009 15:17 #8

• Leningrad

  Originally posted by vballstud: New poll results released...
  
  99% of the IFPI are idiots.what about the other 1%?

  17.1.2009 15:20 #9

• mike.m

  I would like to know just how they got these numbers. It goes to show how much your privacy is really secured on the internet.

  17.1.2009 22:58 #10

• sgriesch

  Quote:Originally posted by vballstud: New poll results released...
  
  99% of the IFPI are idiots.what about the other 1%?They're just numb nuts.

  18.1.2009 00:50 #11

• DXR88

  Originally posted by mike.m: I would like to know just how they got these numbers. It goes to show how much your privacy is really secured on the internet.yeah, i feel more secure already.

  18.1.2009 01:39 #12

• jeff_2

  There is no legal or ethical method they could have used to find these figuers. I think its pathetic that they have nothing better to do than estimate figuers they cannot prove

  18.1.2009 07:33 #13

• Matt555

  Quote:Originally posted by vballstud: New poll results released...
  
  99% of the IFPI are idiots.what about the other 1%?The other 1% were on lunch at the time of the survey.

  18.1.2009 11:54 #14

• rotorbabe

  Do I detect the shadow of Universal hovering over these stats?

  18.1.2009 12:57 #15

• DXR88

  Originally posted by rotorbabe: Do I detect the shadow of Universal hovering over these stats?no but i do smell the crap,steaming from the numbers they pulled out of there ass for the governments good job Sh1twad award.

  18.1.2009 17:23 #16

• rotorbabe

  The major record companies are already controlling what we can buy (stifling a lot of the truly inventive music out there)so it makes sense that they would be at the heart of the decission to prosecute as many downloaders as possible.

  19.1.2009 06:25 #17

• bassdog69

  According to a new report by me, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) BLOWS.

  25.1.2009 18:19 #18

• Mez

  I bet they are hacking into computers. I also bet that the numbers are at least close to right if not low. I am sure they have inflated their numbers. Only a very small group is going to pay $1 a tune. Less than 40:1 seems a bit low. I would figure 100:1 is more realistic.

  26.1.2009 09:35 #19