Study Claims, File Sharing Does Not Give New Acts Exposure

According to a new study, file-sharing doesn’t seem to give new artists exposure; it only makes big acts even bigger.

It is claimed that a study commissioned by industry body PRS shows the most-pirated tracks on the internet tend to be those already at the top of the charts. The organisation claims that this trend only serves to make popular stars even more popular.
The news strikes a blow to those who believed that file-sharing would democratise music and find a bigger audience for emerging new artists.

Study authors PRS chief economist Will Page and head of media tracking firm Big Champagne Eric Garland looked at patterns of music usage among file-sharers, to see if it can affect the way music is marketed and sold or to find out if the so-called 'Long Tail' theory held any water.As they described it, 'Long Tail' claims that "if you offer people more choice, and help them make that choice, they will take that choice."However, their results found this not to be the case. They wrote: "Much of the volume (sales or swaps) is concentrated amongst a small proportion of available tracks."They believe this has happened because the internet actually offers too much choice, and concluded: "After taking into account some geographic differences, the top of the many music charts, from licensed and unlicensed venues, are markedly similar."

The authors concluded that "file-sharing sites are reinforcing divisions in the music world and only making the popular more popular." However, because the music is free, people did occasionally listen to bands they wouldn't normally try out. Not too many people are willing to pay for the right to listen to a band they may or may not like. "If the sellers sell it, it might never be bought; but if the swappers offer it, at least one person will likely take it," the study claims.
Also included in the report is the fact that legal action against file sharing sites such as The Pirate Bay has not stopped piracy in the least.