64 Percent of British Using Online Music Illegally
By Anna Johnson on June 24th, 2009According to British online jukebox We7, just under two-thirds – 64 percent – of people in Britain are illegally listening to and sharing music online because they do not know how to do so legally.
In anticipation of the British Government’s Digital Britain report, We7 said last week that the best ways to fight online music piracy were to educate consumers about what is and is not legal, as well as give them free music options.
We7, which is supported by all four major record labels – Sony Music Group, Warner Music, EMI and Universal – as well as an increasing number of independent labels including PIAS and Beggars – reckons consumers are happy to ‘pay’ for music in the form of being exposed to advertising.
In its study of over 2,000 music lovers, We7 found that 85 percent were happy to listen to a short ad in exchange for unlimited access to free music they can share with others. Also, 94 percent would choose a legal music site over a pirate one if it was easy to use and had the same range of music.
