Overview

This joint release from PIP and comScore Media Metrix reports that the percentage of online Americans downloading music files on the Internet dropped by half and the numbers who were downloading files on any given day plunged after the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) began filing suits in September 2003 against those suspected of copyright infringement. A nationwide phone survey of 1,358 adult Internet users from November 18-December 14 by the Pew Internet & American Life Project showed that the percentage of music file downloaders had fallen to 14% (about 18 million users) from 29% (about 35 million) when the Project last reported on downloading from a survey conducted during March 12-19 and April 29-May 20. Furthermore, a fifth of those who say they continue to download or share files online say they are doing so less often because of the suits. The data from comScore Media Metrix, based on the company's continuously measured consumer panel, show significant declines in the number of people with peer-to-peer file sharing applications running on their computers. Conversely, comScore has observed that in recent months a growing number of consumers have turned to a new generation of paid online music services.