Changes In Music Listening: Survey Finds Streaming Improves; Stream Ripping The New Infringement

Industry research on music consumer behaviour has found changes in practices of accessing and listening to music. It has been found that, whilst paid audio streaming services grew, copyright infringement remains a significant problem. Next up? Stream ripping.

IFPI, an organisation that promotes the interests and rights of the international recording industry and campaigns for the expansion of the commercial uses of recorded music, commissioned Ipsos Connect to examine the behaviour of music consumers across the world’s leading music markets.

The resulting report, entitled, The Music Consumer Insight Report 2016, is based on a survey that was conducted with internet users, predominantly aged between 16-64, in 13 countries which account for 84 per cent of the global recorded music market in 2015.

The report found that paid audio streaming services are on the rise, with 71 per cent of internet users aged 16-64 accessing licensed music. In a comment on the report, Frances Moore, CEO, IFPI said “streaming services have revolutionised the experience of the music consumer.”

Copyright infringement on the other hand continues to be a significant problem as more than one-third (35%) of internet users access unlicensed music content.

Furthermore, infringement methods are changing, with half of 16-24 year olds using stream ripping services to download music. David Price, director of insight at IFPI, signalled in a blog on the IFPI website that stream ripping is a “huge concern.”

“Stream ripping sites, services and apps enable users to make a permanent, free download of music that was licensed only for streaming use on a video website … without paying for a premium subscription or to download the file,” he said.

The report also highlighted that search engines are still directing large numbers of users to unlicensed music sites. A quarter (23%) of internet users use Google to get “free” music, of which two-thirds (66%) explicitly search for unauthorised content.

In addition, YouTube was found to be the most-used service for online music consumption worldwide, with 82 per cent of YouTube users using it for music. CEO Moore however said that YouTube “can get away without remunerating fairly artists and producers by hiding behind ‘safe harbour’ laws that were never designed for services that actively engage with and make available music enjoyed by the vast majority of its users.”

Alexandra Nightingale is a researcher at Intellectual Property Watch. She completed her Bachelors in Law at the University of Sussex and holds an LLM degree in International Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. During her Masters, she developed a strong interest in Intellectual Property, particularly patents and the aspects relating to global health. Her research interests now also include geographical indications and trademarks.