Legal music downloads triple, no change in rhetoric

Found on ArsTechnica on Thursday, 21 July 2005
Browse Filesharing

The International Federation of Phonographic Industries said that 180 million single tracks were downloaded legally in the first six months of the year, compared to 57 million tracks in the first half of 2004 and 157 million for the whole of last year.

So you might want to credit some of this growth to the massive success of things like the iPod, or to fact that the general user out there is warming up to online sales as more and more people give it a shot, but according to the IFPI, you'd be wrong. Nay, the upswing is the result of more broadband lines being installed across the globe, and of course, the recording industry's fight against file sharing.

"We are now seeing real evidence that people are increasingly put off by illegal file-sharing and turning to legal ways of enjoying music online," said John Kennedy, the IFPI's chairman. "Whether it's the fear of getting caught breaking the law, or the realization that many networks could damage your home PC, attitudes are changing, and that is good news for the whole music industry."

But yeah, it's the lawsuits. It's not access, or convenience, or a market starting up. It's the lawsuits. And hey, since it's the lawsuits creating all of this business, why don't we pass more laws to make business even better. See, I could work for the RIAA, no?

I'm so sick of hearing their whining. They make more money and still complain. Well, they won't see a single cent from me ever again. You know, there's always webradio. It's free, and once you've found your station, you'll be happy. No advertising, nothing but constant good music. Practically what MTV should be (better call it RTV: ringtone television). If that's what they wanted to achieve with their campaigns and lawsuits, call it success.