Consumer music trends research

Thanks for the responses

[NTECUK]

Done

Much obliged!

[Littlepeahead]

I'd be interested to see people's responses to this so I will email but here's my answers:

1. Do you prefer to buy music on physical products (like CDs) or digitally (such as MP3s or from the iTunes store)? - I generally buy heavyweight vinyl and this often includes a download code and sometimes a CD as well.

2. Given the choice, would you prefer to purchase your music, or to pay a flat-fee for a subscription based service? I like to own the music as artists make more from a physical purchase and it's then mine to keep/lend/play on any device

3. If you had a streaming based music service, would you also consider purchasing music (either digital or physical)? Yes

4. Do you think there is a difference in what you purchase if you purchase digital or physical music, and if so what do you believe these differences are? I think many MP3s are not as rich in sound as the vinyl, CDs are a bit better. However, I have a top notch set of separates, subwoofer, floor standing speakers etc. and I know most people will play music through a phone through cr@ppy Apple headphones so most of the quality is lost on them anyway. If I do play music on my phone I use decent headphones.

[timwilky]

I am surprised that you start from the premise that people buy music!

So any freeloader cannot answer your questions, but you could presume they prefer digital music.

Hi Tim,

It's actually not my premise and I don't want to bore you with the details, but essentially pirated music forms a different part of the equation because I'm considering the impact on the wholesale side (i.e., consumers behaviour alters the amount retailers need to buy, and so it will also impact on wholesale quantities and potentially prices). All I am trying to establish is that they are substitutable to a lot of people (and by no means everyone).

Those who pirate music are not changing the amounts because they were not buying music in the first place.

[L3nny]

What about Sound cloud and YouTube? That's how I get all my music. Free and legal(ish)

[Littlepeahead]

Before YouTube did you go to HMV and buy a record?

I often put YouTube on at work to play something, really no different to putting the radio on which I also do via TuneIn as you can get some great overseas stations, but I'm a firm believer that if you like a song, buy it, own it, make it part of your heritage. Appreciate the artwork on the sleeve, read the liner notes, enjoy the smell of the new packaging, the creak as you open the gatefold for the first time. Maybe I'm just weird, I did spend ten years DJing, working in a record shop then record companies so that's probably why I feel that way. I.put a lot of effort in on some albums.

Imagine if Abbey Road had been an MP3 only, I would not have to give tourists directions from, Baker Street every day!

[Red ones]

I have a different view.

Yes I'm a freeloader. But. I use Spotify, YouTube, tunein etc.
surely this is similar to radio in monetisation, ie advertising pays.
I don't care for owning physical music due to space constraint and degradation of the medium.

[NTECUK]

My floorboards are creaking under the weight of the vinyl I own!
It's nice it fits on the ipods and ssdd's.