2009 Think Tank: Digital Distribution Papers

For information about the upcoming Think Tank, Identifying ways to Increase Australia’s Performance in the Digital Music Sector: Click here.

Lets Sell Recorded Music is a summary report emerging from a ThinkTank series recently held in the UK by the University of Westminster. The viewpoints of consumers, ISPs,the music business, Government, and the way they interact, are outlined. Some future direction is given including undertaking collaborative analyses of consumer behaviour and ISP services, to allow more experimentation with different models and provide alternatives to illegal file-sharing. Click here to download paper. Alternatively, the paper can be downloaded from ThinkTank, with the option of receiving a free newsletter.

IFPI (2009) IFPI Digital Music Report 2009. An overview with data from the international recording industry peak body.

Knowles, J (2008) Australian Musical Futures: 'The New Music Industry. Australian Musical Futures: Towards 2020, Sydney Conservatorium of Music,Sydney, Australia.

An overview of the current (2008) state of play from an Australian perspective, prepared for the MCA's Australian Musical Futures Summit

HandshakeMedia. (2007). The Digital Delivery of Music: Business Plans and Methodologies for the digital delivery of Australian Music. Sydney: Australia Council for the Arts.

Overview of the issues surrounding digital distribution of music in general andsome issues that affect Australia specifically

British Music Rights and University of Hertfordshire (2008) Music Experience and Behaviour in Young People Spring 2008.

Surveys music consumption amongst young British people (14-24) covering issues like; legal/illegal downloading, monthly expenditure on entertainment products, formats, interest in subscription based downloading etc.

Mortimer, Julie and Alan Sorensen (2006) Supply Responses to Digital Distribution: Recorded Music and Live Performances. American EconomicAssociation annual papers

Examination of the link(s) between file-sharing of digital recordings, CD sales and live performance revenues for 2,135 artists over 10 years (from 1993 to2002) in North America. Finds that the impact of concerts on CD sales diminished after the introduction of file-sharing but that concert revenues and the number of bands on tour increased after the advent of file-sharing.

Dertouzos, James N. (2008)Radio Airplay and the Record Industry: An Economic Analysis. National Association of Broadcasters.

Useful, if questionably authoritative given its source, paper that comes to the unsurprising conclusion that radio airplay tends to increase recorded music sales. Valuable in its examination of the issues that complicate the maths and also because it separates the effect on CD sales from the effect on digitally distributed tracks. Finds that radio airplay is more effective at increasing digital sales than CD sales.

Oberholzer-Gee, F., Strumpf. K (2009) File-Sharing and Copyright.

The essay considers the affect of file sharing on authors and publishers in light of copyright law. In particular, it discusses the new technology that is available, how consumers are using it, the effect that files sharing has on the production and sale of new works, artist and corporate perspectives on file-sharing, and considers policy implications.

Other links recommended by Think Tank Participants

New Report Reveals UK Music Industry Revenues In 2008

Full stream ahead for music at $10 a month

]Kazaa to rise from the dead

Artists earn from free culture