2004-04-24-皮尤-14_of_Internet_users_say_they_no_longer_download_music_files_13页_183kb

Summary of Pew Internet Project and comScore Media Metrix Data Memo on Music Downloading and File-Sharing (April 2004)

Introduction

This report analyzes data from the Pew Internet & American Life Project and comScore Media Metrix, detailing the state of music downloading and file-sharing among Internet users in the United States as of April 2004. It highlights trends influenced by industry lawsuits and examines demographic differences.

Key Findings

• Declining Music Downloading: About 14% of Internet users (approximately 17 million people) reported no longer downloading music files, largely due to legal actions by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The number of active music downloaders increased slightly to 23 million, still below the 2003 peak of 29%.
• Impact of Lawsuits: RIAA lawsuits led to a 50% drop in self-reported music downloading in some surveys and caused deterrence among downloaders, with 38% of current downloaders reducing their activity. Concern for copyright increased, with 37% of downloaders now caring about file origins.
• File-Sharing Application Usage: comScore data show a continuous decline in peer-to-peer applications; for example, KaZaA user base decreased by over 5 million users between November 2003 and February 2004. Smaller applications saw mixed results.
• Growth in Paid Services: Despite declining file-sharing, paid online music services like iTunes gained traction, with about 7% of Internet users using them at some point, and unique visitors to services increasing significantly.
• Demographic Differences: Men, young adults (ages 18-29), and those with broadband connections were more likely to stop downloading or be affected by lawsuits. Women and older users showed less deterrence.
• Other Activities: Video downloading rose slightly to 15% of users, driven by younger demographics. File-sharing of other types of files remained steady but lower than previous years.
• Legal and Industry Context: RIAA lawsuits and proposed legislation (e.g., Piracy Deterrence Act) aimed to curb file-sharing, though studies suggested minimal impact on sales, with some evidence of industry adaptation.

Comparison with Other Data

Consistent declines were observed across multiple studies, including NPD Group and Nielsen//NetRatings, reinforcing the trend of reduced file-sharing activity.

Methodology

• Pew Survey: A 1,371-user nationwide telephone survey conducted between February and March 2004, with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.
• comScore Data: Based on passive monitoring of a consumer panel tracking over 1.5 million global Internet users, showing trends in file-sharing application usage.

Conclusion

Overall, music downloading and file-sharing saw moderate declines amid industry efforts to combat piracy, influenced by demographic and copyright-related factors, but with a slight uptick in paid music services.