Friday 6 January 2012

The times they are a-changin' - on digital music sales

No wonder digital agenda plays such a huge role in the current EU consumer policy, taking into account that e.g. in 2011 for the first time ever the digital music purchases (50,3% of all music sales in 2011) were higher than physical sales. As CNN reports (Digital music sales top physical sales) most consumers prefer nowadays to shop online, taking into account the internet offers (e.g. 99-cents-a-song iTunes deal) as well as being able to purchase one particular song, not necessarily the whole album. Add to it the raising sale of smartphones, which enable consumers to purchase music on-the-go, and it should not come as a surprise that digital music sells better than CDs. However, it does not seem to be the final step in the music sales, the future is seen as belonging to streamed (e.g. via Spotify) and not downloaded music. That means that consumers are seen as more willing to pay for access to music streaming services rather than purchasing songs in the future. It's not about possession but access. This news means that indeed more protection measures should be created for consumers concluding contracts online, paying online, etc.