The State of Music Online: Ten Years After Napster
In the decade since Napster’s launch, selling recorded music has become as much of an art as making the music itself.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
In the decade since Napster’s launch, selling recorded music has become as much of an art as making the music itself.
Internet penetration has now reached 73% for all American adults. Internet users note big improvements in their ability to shop and the way they pursue hobbies and personal interests online.
Today’s American teens live in a world enveloped by communications technologies; the internet and cell phones have become a central force that fuels the rhythm of daily life.
14% of the 128 million American adults now online report that they downloaded music at one time, but no longer do so. About a third of these former music downloaders – 6 million adults – say that the RIAA’s tactics are the reason they stopped.
This report analyzes the responses of more than 64,000 Americans to phone surveys in the past three years. It finds that 63% of U.S. adults now are online and many of them have built Internet use into their lives in practical ways.
The percentage of American adult Internet users who say they download music drops by half and the usage of some file-sharing applications declines.
The number of American adults downloading music continues to grow and two-thirds of those who download or share files say they don’t care whether the files are copyrighted or not.
1615 L St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
USA
(+1) 202-419-4300 | Main
(+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax
(+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries
ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
© 2024 Pew Research Center