Average iPod has 800 stolen tracks

Students have an average of 1770 tracks on their MP3 players, half of which are unpaid for, a new survey has found.

Research for British Music Rights, carried out by the University of Hertfordshire, has found that 95% of 14 to 24-year-olds copy music in some way. Almost 60% have copied music from a friend’s hard drive to their own, 63% download music using file-sharing networks and 42% have allowed P2P users to upload music from their computer. Furthermore, this behaviour is viewed at altruistic, the research suggests.

The survey has highlighted the extent to which consumption of music is changing, especially the way in which the perceived value of sharing, recommendation and copying have all increased. However, according to British Music Rights, today’s teenagers and students love music, ‘arguably more than any previous generation’.

Eight out of ten current P2P users said they would be interested in a legal file-sharing service – and would pay for it.

Feargal Sharkey, chief executive of British Music Rights, said:

“The music industry should draw great optimism from this groundbreaking survey. First and foremost, it is quite clear that this young and tech-savvy demographic is as crazy about and engaged with music as any previous generation. Contrary to popular belief, they are also prepared to pay for it too. But only if offered the services they want. That message comes through loud and clear.”

The research also found that the CD is not dead. Even if a legal file-sharing service existed, over 60% of young people said they would continue to buy CDs.