Downloading audio files, whether through a paid music service or not, continues to grow as a means to accumulate music in the US. According to a recent Ipsos-Insight study, as of April 2003, nearly one-third of the general US population aged 12 or older has downloaded a music or MP3 file from the Internet. This translates into roughly 65 million downloaders.The survey also notes that enthusiasm for downloading audio files has increased significantly in the past several months, with the proportion of Americans who have downloaded a music or MP3 file growing from 26% in December 2002 to 30% in April 2003.Not surprisingly, younger listeners between the ages of 12 and 24 comprise the majority of these downloaders, with 59% having procured a file via the Internet. However, the study reveals that an increasing proportion of those aged 25 and up are downloading: 43% among 25–34 year olds; 24% among 35–54 year olds.
In addition to downloading, 16% of all those surveyed say they now store their downloaded music collection on CD-Rs or hard drives. The numbers are skewed towards the younger listener: Roughly one-third of music fans under the age of 25 store their music collections this way.In a recent poll on the Stereophile website, readers were asked if they use an Apple iPod or a similar hard disk portable device to listen to compressed audio files. The results surprised us: More than a third of the respondents are using one of these hard-disk–based portables to listen to music gathered either from the Internet or their own CD collections. While most Stereophile readers are quick to point out that they use these devices primarily in a recreational setting or while working, the numbers reveal the allure of moving small audio files around for casual use even among audiophiles.Other trends noted in the Ipsos-Insight study: Gender is becoming less of a factor, with 35% of men and 26% of women in the US now reporting they have downloaded music, and all age groups say they spend roughly equal amounts on music and video purchases.
Perhaps the most interesting statistic from the study concerns file sharing and recording artists. Over one-third of those surveyed say that they believe artists are financially compensated when their songs are downloaded from online file-sharing services. This is especially true among teens, 48% of whom say they believe that artists receive compensation for music that is downloaded from an online file-sharing service, legal or not.
