UK report: Streaming cutting down illegal downloads by “filling the vacuum”

The growing take-up of streaming services has dealt a blow in the UK for illegal downloading.

63% who stopped have moved on to streaming services.

The YouGov’s Music Report found that one in ten music consumers still illegally download.

That figure was 18% in 2013, and 22% of those don’t expect to be doing so in five years.

However, 63% intended to keep breaking the law.

According to the report, one of the 4,000 survey participants said “It is now easier to stream music than to pirate it.”

Another suggested: “Spotify has everything from new releases to old songs, it filled the vacuum, there was no longer a need for using unverified sources.”

36% said it was harder to find unauthorised sites, after clamp-down measures taken by the music industry.

However, another music industry tradition might be sparking more illegal activity – giving exclusives to streaming services at the beginning of a sales run for a prized new major release.

For instance, Beyonce and JAY-Z’s Everything Is Love, initially released as an exclusive on Tidal, was one of this year’s most-pirated albums,

51% in the survey admitted to going the illegal path when new prized releases are locked away as exclusives on some streaming services.

Justin Marshall, associate director of YouGov, said: “While illegal downloads still present a significant challenge to the music industry, there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

“Our research reveals a change in behaviour, with those that previously attained music by unlawful means now being enticed by the low costs and ease of use associated with streaming.

“Simply put, many don’t feel they need to go to the same lengths to acquire the music they want, now they have it at their fingertips.

“Whether or not streaming is what finally banishes illegal downloads remains to be seen, but there are encouraging signs.”

However, the industry is concerned about the rise of new “stream ripping” apps.

They allow users to “grab” music from streaming services like YouTube and Spotify and store the file on their phone or computer.

This means that artists and record labels miss out on revenue from such streams.

A separate report from March by piracy-tracking company MUSO found that UK fans made 300 billion visits to piracy sites in 2017, up 1.6%.

It ranked the UK as the 10th worst country for accessing illegal sites.