Ibrahim+Y.+Blog+Post+Analysis

Ibrahim Y.

We were asked to analyze a blog post or news item to help us prepare Proximity's spring survey. Below is my summary of a //CBS// article on "who's paying for music online?", which describes how it is easier to obtain music from websites that provide free digital downloading, opposed to paying for it on legitimate websites. Since, college students are the demographic group targeted for digital downloading, I suggest we include questions on the spring survey designed to determine whether TU students are using such websites.


 * Why it's easier to download free**

Music piracy has been a growing concern over the last decade and the government has issued a strict punishment, yet it still exists today. The reason for this is simply that music listeners, specifically between the age group of 18-25 years old, tend to find it easier to use digital downloading because they grew up with services that provide free downloads such as Kazaa and Limewire. However, the younger generation has been exposed with more options now with the rise of Owl City and iTunes, so it is just as easy to purchase music online as digital downloading. So really it's an ethical matter, the ease factor has been eliminated and now it comes down to whether or not you are willing to pay for it.


 * Impact on music industry

The music industry reported as of right now, 60% make up music sales and the remaining 40% consists of digital downloading and sales through cellular phones. With these statistics, you would think the music industry has been significantly hindered by digital downloading. In actuality, the music industry isn't losing money as the download of one song generates 7% more revenue for companies than a whole album would. This is evident through the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) report, as "we bought 1.5 billion songs online in 2009 and digital downloads brought the music industry (CBS). **
 * Questions to ask TU music listeners**

In addition to determining whether TU students pay for music or use free digital downloads, we need to find out what is the source of their music. The music segment of the spring proximity survey should include questions such as the following:
 * Do you have a iTunes or Owl City account?
 * Do you download free music? If so, do you feel like you are doing something illegal?
 * Do the strict laws of music piracy discourage you from downloading free?


 * __Reference__**

DeRusha, Jason. "Who's Paying For Music Online." //Consumer//. CBS, 1 Feb. 2010. Web. 2 Feb. 2010. <[] >.