GITNUX MARKETDATA REPORT 2024

Music Piracy Statistics And Trends in 2024

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Music piracy is a significant issue in the music industry, causing annual losses of around $12.5 billion. In 2018, 38% of global music consumers used illegal methods to acquire music, with 80% of them favoring stream-ripping. Roughly 70% of online users condone online piracy, and YouTube received 917 million unlicensed views in 2019.

Music piracy leads to job losses (71,060 annually in the US) and costs other countries billions. A 2020 survey revealed 23% of UK fans admitted to digital theft, and 31% of young people engaged in stream-ripping according to Google’s PRS for Music report.

Moreover, only 50% pay for legal streaming/downloads, and 65% ignore SoundCloud’s 75,000 takedown requests. 35% of global internet users still download illegally, especially among those aged 16 to 24, where 61% illegally downloaded content in 2010. Immediate action is necessary to combat this growing issue.

Now, let’s examine key statistics on music piracy.

The Most Important Statistics
Music piracy causes an estimated $12.5 billion in economic losses annually.

This statistic serves as a stark reminder of the immense economic damage caused by music piracy. With an estimated $12.5 billion in losses each year, it is clear that the issue of music piracy is far from trivial. This figure highlights the need for effective measures to be taken to combat the problem and protect the music industry from further losses.

In 2020, it was found that 90% of Spanish concertgoers between the ages of 16 and 24 access music through unauthorized sources.

This statistic is a telling indication of the prevalence of music piracy among Spanish concertgoers between the ages of 16 and 24. It highlights the need for more effective measures to combat the illegal downloading of music, as well as the need for more education about the consequences of music piracy.

Music Piracy Statistics Overview

In 2018, 38% of music consumers worldwide acquire their music through illegal means.

This statistic is a stark reminder of the prevalence of music piracy in the modern age. It highlights the fact that despite the efforts of the music industry to combat piracy, a significant portion of music consumers are still obtaining their music through illegal means. This statistic is an important factor to consider when discussing the impact of music piracy on the industry.

Stream-ripping remains the most popular form of music piracy globally, representing 80% of all music copyright infringement in the United States.

This statistic is a stark reminder of the prevalence of music piracy in the United States. It highlights the fact that stream-ripping is the most popular form of music piracy, accounting for a whopping 80% of all music copyright infringement. This statistic is a call to action for those in the music industry to take steps to combat this illegal activity.

In 2019, there were around 917 million views of music content on YouTube without proper licensing agreements.

This statistic is a stark reminder of the prevalence of music piracy on YouTube. It highlights the sheer volume of music content that is being consumed without proper licensing agreements, demonstrating the magnitude of the issue. It serves as a call to action for the music industry to take steps to protect their content and ensure that artists are being fairly compensated for their work.

Music piracy costs the United States economy 71,060 jobs annually.

This statistic is a stark reminder of the economic impact of music piracy. It highlights the fact that the illegal downloading of music is not only a violation of copyright law, but also has a tangible effect on the US economy, with 71,060 jobs lost each year. This is a significant number of jobs that could be created or maintained if music piracy was not an issue.

A study by Google and PRS for Music found that 129.76 billion visits were made to global piracy sites in 2016.

This statistic is a stark reminder of the prevalence of music piracy in the world today. It shows that despite the efforts of the music industry to combat piracy, it is still a major issue that needs to be addressed. This statistic is a powerful indicator of the scale of the problem and should be taken seriously by anyone interested in the future of the music industry.

In 2017, around 31% of young people engaged in stream-ripping.

This statistic is a stark reminder of the prevalence of music piracy among young people. It shows that a significant portion of the population is engaging in stream-ripping, which is a form of music piracy. This statistic is important to consider when discussing the impact of music piracy on the industry, as it highlights the need for more effective measures to combat the issue.

As of 2017, only 50% of internet users pay for a legal streaming service.

This statistic is a telling indication of the prevalence of music piracy. It suggests that half of internet users are not paying for a legal streaming service, which implies that they are likely engaging in some form of music piracy. This is a concerning statistic, as it highlights the need for more effective measures to combat music piracy.

In 2020, it was estimated that 65% of all music downloads in China are illegitimate.

This statistic is a stark reminder of the prevalence of music piracy in China. It highlights the need for more effective measures to be taken to protect the rights of musicians and other music industry professionals in the country. It also serves as a warning to other countries that music piracy is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.

In 2020, over 75,000 take-down requests were made regarding illegal music content on SoundCloud.

This statistic is a stark reminder of the prevalence of music piracy in 2020. It highlights the sheer volume of illegal music content that was hosted on SoundCloud, and the need for take-down requests to be made in order to protect the rights of artists and creators. It serves as a powerful illustration of the importance of tackling music piracy and protecting the rights of those who create music.

A 2016 study found that 35% of global internet users still download music illegally.

This statistic is a stark reminder of the prevalence of music piracy in the digital age. It shows that despite the availability of legal streaming services, a significant portion of global internet users still resort to illegal downloading. This highlights the need for further measures to be taken to combat music piracy.

In 2019, the top three countries responsible for global music piracy were the United States, Russia, and India.

This statistic is a telling indication of the global reach of music piracy. It shows that the issue is not limited to any one region or country, but is instead a global problem that affects many countries. This highlights the need for a unified approach to tackling music piracy, as it is clear that no single country can solve the issue on its own.

In early 2019, 15% of Americans were reportedly obtaining music through unlicensed, pirate sites.

This statistic is a stark reminder of the prevalence of music piracy in the United States. It shows that despite the efforts of the music industry to combat piracy, a significant portion of the population is still accessing music through unlicensed, pirate sites. This statistic is a call to action for the music industry to continue to develop strategies to reduce music piracy and protect the rights of artists.

Music piracy has historically been highest in the 16-24 age group, with 61% having downloaded music illegally in 2010.

This statistic is a telling indication of the prevalence of music piracy among young people. It highlights the fact that the 16-24 age group is particularly vulnerable to the temptation of illegally downloading music, and that this is an issue that needs to be addressed.

Conclusion

The statistics presented in this blog post demonstrate the widespread and pervasive nature of music piracy. From economic losses estimated at $12.5 billion annually to over 75,000 take-down requests made regarding illegal music content on SoundCloud in 2020, it is clear that music piracy continues to be a major issue for both artists and industry professionals alike. Additionally, with an estimated 65% of all downloads being illegitimate in China and 28% of Europeans participating in some form of music piracy as recently as 2010, it appears that these issues are not limited by geography or age group either. It is therefore essential that governments around the world continue to work together towards finding effective solutions for curbing online copyright infringement so that musicians can receive fair compensation for their hard work and creativity.

References

0. – https://www.reuters.com

1. – https://www.completemusicupdate.com

2. – https://www.digitalmusicnews.com

3. – https://www.torrentfreak.com

4. – https://www.apnews.com

5. – https://www.ifpi.org

6. – https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com

7. – https://www.ukmusic.org

8. – https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com

9. – https://www.billboard.com

10. – https://www.researchgate.net

11. – https://www.siia.net

FAQs

What is music piracy?

Music piracy is the unauthorized copying, distribution, or sharing of copyrighted music, without permission or paying the royalties owed to the artists, composers, or copyright holders.

What are the common methods of music piracy?

Some common methods of music piracy include copying CDs, downloading music from unauthorized websites, sharing music files through peer-to-peer networks, and using streaming services that do not compensate artists or copyright holders.

How does music piracy impact the music industry?

Music piracy can cause significant financial losses for artists, record labels, and publishers, as well as reduced incentives for new creativity due to missing revenues. This also leads to fewer resources available for marketing and promotion, reducing the chances for lesser-known artists to gain exposure.

What are some anti-piracy measures taken by the music industry?

The music industry employs a range of anti-piracy measures, such as legal actions against individuals and websites engaging in piracy, the use of digital rights management (DRM) systems to protect digital music files, collaborating with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block or warn users sharing copyrighted content, and public awareness campaigns to educate people on the importance of respecting copyright.

What legal alternatives are available for accessing music online?

Many legal alternatives are available for accessing music online, such as purchasing digital downloads from authorized retailers, subscribing to paid streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, or utilizing ad-supported streaming services like Pandora or the free tier of Spotify. These platforms ensure that artists and copyright holders receive fair compensation for the use of their music.

How we write our statistic reports:

We have not conducted any studies ourselves. Our article provides a summary of all the statistics and studies available at the time of writing. We are solely presenting a summary, not expressing our own opinion. We have collected all statistics within our internal database. In some cases, we use Artificial Intelligence for formulating the statistics. The articles are updated regularly.

See our Editorial Process.

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