iPods filled mostly with Ripped music

A research press release by ICM/Napster finds that:

1) UK owners of MP3 players only fill them to 58% capacity.

2) 16% of UK adults own such a device and 60% of those bought their players in the last year.

3) 66% of music on players is ripped from CDs, 10% is copied from friends and 17% is downloaded legally while 6% is downloaded illegally.

4) The benefits of devices are listed by consumers as follows: convenience (43%), portability (42%) and ease of use (18%)

What's most interesting to me is #3, showing that CD purchases are being used as the main source of mp3-player music. My guess is that as long as DRM and low quality, and the if-you-lose-your-download-that's-too-bad policy of online stores continue, CDs will continue being the preferred way of getting music for your iPod.

I've found at Magnatune that the majority of people who buy a CD also take us up on our offer to "download the music now while you wait for your CD"

Comments

[z]

"My guess is that as long as DRM and low quality, and the if-you-lose-your-download-that's-too-bad policy of online stores continue, CDs will continue being the preferred way of getting music for your iPod."

Meanwhile, I'll be listening to DRM-free FLAC files of Claire Fitch, Hans Christian, and Jay Kishor. :)

[Nathan Jones]

I think your guess is right. I tend to buy CDs because:

- Often they're discounted, and therefore cost less than an album on ITMS.

- The CD for Rammstein's Reise, Reise only cost me $2 more than ITMS and meant I could have a higher bitrate and no DRM (which means greater portability and a reduced feeling of uncertainty).

- Music I want is not always available online. Very few labels/artists sell over the web, and ITMS in Australia has a limited range, especially because Sony Music Australia is too stubborn to sign up.

But... I don't WANT CDs! They take up space, first in the CD rack, then on the floor as my toddler pulls them out, letting them get scratched.

Magnatune doesn't even have a lot of music I'm interested in, but I've bought ten or so albums from Magnatune because it's easy, online and affordable.

I have a single-income family of five. Much of the music industry infuriates me because it is so bloody hard to buy music, even though I'm willing to spend money I can't really afford.

[zborgerd]

Well, I've found that Magnatune has opened me up to a world of music that I've never really known before. Certainly, there is a lot of more common music at stores like Best Buy that I cannot find at Magnatune, but there is also a lot of very wonderful music from around the world that I would have never listened to without Magnatune. I find that I listen to more Magnatune music than anything else right now; I've purchased nearly 20 albums from Magnatune, and it's all amazing. I have no problems paying at least $12 per CD, because it's all available in lossless FLAC format and half of the money goes to the artist. After all, I'd have paid just as much for most CDs from a retail store; and probably wouldn't have enjoyed them nearly as much as Magnatune's music.

There is a lot of value in what Magnatune provides. I think that "big music" has made people forget about what's so wonderful, traditional, and special about music - in favor of what will be "popular" and allow them to make a quick buck. I hope that Magnatune is here to stay, because it provides me hours and hours of listening each day. Also, it's nice that there is a smaller "layer" between the artists and listeners. It makes it a more personal thing. A few Magnatune artists have even been nice enough to respond to questions by email.

There is some amazing stuff out there, and you aren't always going to find it in your Best Buy and Tower Records.

[Deek Deekster]

I have been listening to your Magnatune net radio stream for months, and I like it a lot. Finally just spent some time reading your website and found your blog. I am just about to link here from Blog of Funk.

What I most like about this phase of the revolution is that the gap between the artist and the audience is shrinking... at long last!

[Lora]

Certainly, I buy all my music on CD and then rip it to my player. I don't see the point in spending a bunch of money on 192kbps mp3s, where I own nothing but less than CD quality bits. I'd rather buy a CD from a discount store, second-hand used, or from an indie source that's cheaper any way. The only digital music I buy is from you, on occassion. I might buy from mp3tunes.com if they ever decided to sell lossless.