82% believe they should be able to copy CDs
Music companies thinking of distributing copy-protected CDs to protect their content from piracy will likely raise the ire of consumers while lowering their revenue, a new study warns.
According to a survey recently released by GartnerG2, the research service of Gartner, 77 per cent of respondents thought they should be able to copy CDs for personal use in another device, while 60 per cent said they should be able to give copies of CDs to members of their families.
Meanwhile, 82 per cent of respondents said that they should be able to copy CDs for personal backup purposes.
The results fly in the face of efforts by the music industry to gain tighter control over their content as they face the perilous, infinite possibilities for copying in the digital age. But while the ghosts of such free file-sharing services as Napster still haunt the halls of Hollywood, Gartner discovered that consumers do not think that copy-protected CDs are the answer.
When I buy a CD, the first thing I usually do is import it into my iTunes library. I then put the CD away and listen to the MP3 tracks on my computer. I’m also planning to buy an iPod with a car stereo adapter, so I can travel with my entire music collection. Right now, I usually burn music mix CDs to listen to before a trip, but if I’m driving for more than an hour or so, I have to change CDs a few times. With the iPod, I can have hours or even days of non-stop music without changing CDs.
Here are the CDs I bought in the last 2 weeks, all of which are now in my iTunes library:
- Blondie Live
- Johnny Clegg – New World Survivor
- Youssou N’dour – Nothing’s In Vain
- Orchestra Baobab – Specialist in all styles
- Red, Hot + Riot – Tribute to Fela