Boom for legal music downloads sector
20 January 2005
The market for legal music downloads has taken off, with sales soaring more than tenfold in 2004.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) estimates that 200 million tracks were bought online in the US and Europe last year.
A million songs are now available to buy on legal sites, the IFPI report claims, and legal downloads from the 230 online music stores that now exist generated $330 million (£175 million) for the music industry in 2004.
IFPI boss John Kennedy said: "At last the threat has become the opportunity."
The federation is now predicting that sales of music downloads will double this year. More than 25 million portable players were sold in 2004, 10 million of which were Apple iPod music players.
The global music industry has hailed the increase. However, the IFPI, which represents more than 1,450 record companies across the globe, also warned that rampant piracy continues to damage legitimate profits.
The IFPI and its subsidiaries launched hundreds of lawsuits in 2004 against individuals and groups alleged to have illegally shared music through the internet.
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