EU: P2P Not to Blame for Industry Failures

[Flamesguy_SJ]

A new study commissioned by the European Union has finally proven what many have suspected all along: internet users don't want to pay for content. Period. And nothing is going to change their minds. The report finds, in a surprising contradiction to what industry executives have been spouting for ages, consumers' behavior has nothing to do with the peer-to-peer technology (P2P) that has given rise to all-you-can-eat systems for free downloads of copyrighted content. In fact, many people claim that they wouldn't pay for online content even if all other free options were taken away.

Article here.

A very interesting result, mostly because it actually goes against what industry "experts" have been saying all along. Is it only a matter of time now before this comes across the pond? Also should be interesting to see what kind of new business models for content providers gain popularity (if any do at all).

[alltherage]

I think more and more they will turn to advertisment based revenues. If a studio like dreamworks was to put all their movies up for free download with ads (like what they have on TV with a little product running across the bottom of the screen) and have ads on the pages where people download from, I think it would be a new way to look at things.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by alltherage

I think more and more they will turn to advertisment based revenues. If a studio like dreamworks was to put all their movies up for free download with ads (like what they have on TV with a little product running across the bottom of the screen) and have ads on the pages where people download from, I think it would be a new way to look at things.

Exactly

The industry needs to realize they are no longer selling a physical product so they will have to learn to make money in other ways.

One thing about the internet is that it allows you to access way more potential viewers. It seems as though the recording/movie industries are all about the benefits of the internet but want protection from all of the drawbacks.

An example, with concerts. Way more people are getting exposed to music and going to concerts so concert revenues are through the roof. Meanwhile CD sales are non-existant. Quite frankly I have no problem with this as the artists gets a much bigger chunk of concert sales than they ever did of album sales.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by blankall

An example, with concerts. Way more people are getting exposed to music and going to concerts so concert revenues are through the roof. Meanwhile CD sales are non-existant. Quite frankly I have no problem with this as the artists gets a much bigger chunk of concert sales than they ever did of album sales.

Not only that, but it's forcing some of the bigger names to tour more and go places they would've normally skipped before (e.g. the Stones in Regina). We've also seen the rebirth of music festivals over the last decade. Downloading has brought music back to the fans.

[Ozy_Flame]

I've always thought that file sharing was the boon for up and coming musicians. The funny thing is, I've bought more CD's and songs from iTunes because of all the free music you can listen to from YouTube, iTunes, and other radio sites (not to mention torrents).

Another latent benefit is that people now have a wider variety taste in music. Back in the 90's for us youngsters, it was one of two things - rock or hip hop. Now it's so much more.

[Flamesguy_SJ]

I think P2P has a bit of a different impact on different industries. For example, some say it has increased concert attendance for musicians, but it's difficult to find an analog for movie/tv downloads. Though I suppose there's the argument that people who download movies do so more because of the price of DVDs that might be up to 10 years old being too expensive than it has to do with the desire to "steal" movies.

[Sluggo]

To be honest I think it has more to do with laziness/convenience than anything else. Renting a movie involves driving there and back twice, finding out the movie you wanted to see is gone then browsing other titles and not being able to easyly tell if they are good or not, dealing with the lineup to and then the ###### at its end. Netflix Canada cant come soon enough.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Not only that, but it's forcing some of the bigger names to tour more and go places they would've normally skipped before (e.g. the Stones in Regina). We've also seen the rebirth of music festivals over the last decade. Downloading has brought music back to the fans.

I can affirm this. I have been to way more concerts over the last few years.

The question shouldn't be are people spending less on CDs, the questions should be are peopel spending less on music in general. I easily make up for what I don't pay for in CDs on concerts. Not to mention the booze and food I buy at those concerts.

If some big acts are forced to put more shows on their tours... well tough for them. Maybe the day of the bloated music tour is over. Personally, I'd rather have 10 guys making a million bucks each than one guy making it all.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Flamesguy_SJ

I think P2P has a bit of a different impact on different industries. For example, some say it has increased concert attendance for musicians, but it's difficult to find an analog for movie/tv downloads. Though I suppose there's the argument that people who download movies do so more because of the price of DVDs that might be up to 10 years old being too expensive than it has to do with the desire to "steal" movies.

A lot of people who download movies do so with movies they probably wouldn't buy anyway.

The box office seems to be doing fine despite the P2P phenomenom. I am only speaking annecdotally but I know a lot of people with a looooooooooot of DVDs and BluRays. So I doubt those sales have been down over the last few years. Regardless of how convenient it is to get a download, it will never be as good of quality or as convenient as the Blu Ray or even the DVD is. If the movie is good I will always purchase it.

I think my previous poitn about music applies here too. If you were lookign at the total amount of money people spend on movies, it's probably increased over the last few years too. Sales of specific things (ex. Movie Rentals) may be down, but overall I see a lot of people spending money on this stuff.

The market has always been competitive and now it's changed. The suppliers will have to adapt to that. Whether it's offering free streams with advertising or a higher quality product in BluRay, if they want to compete they must change.

[Joborule]

If it wasn't for free downloading, I wouldn't know as many artist as I do now and actually buy a few CDs for some. Especially those who weren't mainstream at first. I think it has help them greatly since a large group of people get access to their music. I want to pay bang for my buck, and if I believe the artist is quality and I can preview whats on the album and such, I will go and buy it actually.

[flamesfan6]

anyone else's torrent sites just randomly die on you?