Europe's Bumpy Filesharing Landscape

NetImperative: Here are some interesting statistics from a recent report, European Music Consumer Survey 2005, published by JupiterResearch in March, which surveyed European internet users in the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, Italy and Spain. “Despite recent high profile legal cases and efforts from the music industry to make digital music more accessible, illegal music file sharing is still pervasive and firmly established in the European online landscape.” Below are some of the highlights...

--In 2004, Spain had the highest file sharing rate (26% of users) yet one of the lowest averages of annual music spending (EU12.25 per capita).

--Nearly two-thirds (61%) of file sharers are male and 72% between the ages of 15 to 34. 12% of Internet users listen to streaming audio content.

-More than two-thirds (67%) of Internet users listen to music on a home hi-fi and 54% on their radio or car stereo. Only 6% use MP3 players though this share continues to grow. 

--19% of European consumers said that they would pay for digital music.

--Nearly a fifth of European Internet users said that they would pay for online music stores or services, showing that there is significant growth potential beyond the current adoption rates.