LJWorld.com weblogs Lawrence in the News
Posted
by Terry Rombeck
February 15, 2007 at 9:59 a.m.
Prof says file-sharing doesn't hurt CD sales
¢ There's no evidence to prove that music file-sharing programs have hurt CD sales, according to a [study co-authored by Kansas University professor Koleman Strumpf][1]."While concerns about P2P are widespread, the theoretical effect of file sharing on record sales and industry profits is ambiguous," they found. "Participants could substitute downloads for legal purchases, thus reducing sales. The inferior sound quality of downloads and the lack of features such as liner notes or cover art perhaps limit such substitution."¢ Scott Johnson, one of the panelists at Tuesday's Blog to the Chief event at the Dole Institute of Politics, blogs about his experience there at his site, [Powerlineblog.com][2].I was awed by the display and the archive. Institute director Bill Lacy and the Institute staff could not have been more hospitable.¢ KU political science professor Burdett Loomis outlines Kansas' creep toward the political center in a column at [Politico.com][3]. He argues the Democratic victories in the last election had their roots when Kathleen Sebelius won her insurance commissioner position in 1996, and that Sam Brownback's presidential bid might not be overwhelmingly popular in his home state.Sen. Sam Brownback, the Christian Right's great hope in 2008, in many ways reflects the Kansas Republican stereotype, including fierce opposition to abortion and more than a bit of skepticism toward evolution. Today, however, Brownback's agenda may well be more popular outside his home state than in it.¢ A Journal-World story that reported Brownback changed positions on abortion rights is the subject of a story on [MediaMatters.org][4]. The report chastizes CNN for not mentioning previous articles about the alleged flip-flop in a TV report on Brownback.CNN chief national correspondent John King reported on the February 13 edition of The Situation Room that Sen. Sam Brownback's (R-KS) message to Christian conservatives was "I've been with you all along," without noting Brownback's reported inconsistency during his political career on the issue of abortion rights. [1]: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/104713/file-sharing-has-no-impact-on-cd-sales-research.html [2]: http://powerlineblog.com/archives/016782.php [3]: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2752.html [4]: http://mediamatters.org/items/200702140002
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Comments
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Centrist (anonymous) says…
First of all ... let me say that file-sharing does not hurt sales. I agree with the Prof.
What hurts sales is inferior "music" ... how often do you spend $15 and actually get more than 10 minutes of quality?
Besides, if I can sample something in its entirety, and I like it enough, I'll go buy it anyway! I'd never trade my 'real' collection for all-digital (limited) downloads at 128k.
What also hurts sales is ridiculous situations like "licensing" of downloads to limit users to their own PC's and things like copy protection. Funny - you can record and share TV shows as much as you like and no-one gets hurt. What's the big deal? Once you've bought a CD, it's yours!
The music industry is way too sensitive and should be focussing instead on signing acts with REAL talent.
Centrist (anonymous) says…
And before we break out the "Kansas is a purple state now" champagne ... ask yourself this? Wasn't the 2006 election more about "anti-Bush" than "pro-Democrat" ??
Huh?
Kam_Fong_as_Chin_Ho (anonymous) says…
I find the results of the study hard to believe. Why on earth would anyone pay for a CD when they can get it online for free? I agree that file sharing is a great source for music that isn't necessarily mainstream, but I also know that many people would prefer to download their five favorite Steely Dan songs for free rather than paying $15 for a CD that contains those five songs and five other songs that they don't necessarily care for.
Jamesaust (anonymous) says…
Too many boy bands and babygirl acts on top of a general lack of talent.
Strange how the entertainment industry wants to use every technological development that makes business more profitable but finds other technological changes that limit their monopoly to be unfair.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
What the KU Professor believes is irrelevant as he is not in a position to change the RIAA position nor federal law. His study found no evidence to support that P2P did hurt CD sales, he also found no evidence that P2P did not hurt CD sales. It was inconclusive, a wash, a non-event. In any case a complete waste of his time and Kansas taxpayer money that should have gone for Education.
Now I wonder how he feels about paper or plastic, cloth or disposable?
jonas (anonymous) says…
What, you mean the commentator? He didn't say anything of value, you notice. Just alot of unfounded if's.
Jamesaust (anonymous) says…
"What the KU Professor believes is irrelevant as he is not in a position to change the RIAA position nor federal law."
Hogwash.
Congress regularly revisits federal policy on this and all manner of issues - particularly ones where one party has captured control.
I'm certain that the Professors findings will indeed help frame the debate in Congress about how much monopolization is necessary versus an infrigement upon the public's rights.
Agnostick (anonymous) says…
I've now loaded @ 40 music CDs onto my iPod.
Didn't cost me anything.
Well, as long as I returned them to the public library by their due date.
Gee, I wonder how *that's* hurting CD sales...
Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com