Downloading increases music sales among a certain audience, new survey says

The burning question regarding the free downloading of music has been what impact free downloads have on consumers’ music purchases. A new survey from InsightExpress reports that it increases purchases among some music fans.

37% of 500 consumers surveyed who download music without paying for it claim that the practice has increased their purchases of music by anywhere from 5% to more than 50%. 52% say it has had no impact on their music purchases. The remainder report a decrease in their purchases.

70% are aware of the Recoding Industry Association of America’s suits against fans who illegally download music. A third report being concerned about possible legal ramifications of downloading and 25% report that they have curtailed their downloading activity.

"Americans are telling us that downloading is a convenient way of sampling different types of music and reviewing various artists, helping them decide which music they`ll purchase," said Doug Adams, director of marketing for InsightExpress. "The recording industry should consider that by prosecuting illegal file swappers, the net effect may actually be cutting their profits instead of recouping perceived losses."

InsightExpress also reports that the new fee-for-download music sites are slow to catch on with survey participants as not one cracked the top five as one of their most frequented download sites. However, almost two in five downloaders say they are willing to pay a fee for downloading music, with 44% favoring a subscription service and 38% preferring the pay-per-song method.