Illegal Music Downloading At An All Time High

The number of people who download music illegally via the internet is at an all time high, according to a new report.

The report - by Entertainment Media Research - suggests that despite the growth of social network websites, people are still unfazed by facing prosecution for downloading songs illegally.  

According to the findings, which polled the opinions of 1,700 people, 43% of those asked admitted to downloading songs illegally – an increase of 36% from 2006, and 40% from 2005.

The digital music survey blames the slowdown in legal digital downloads for the sudden rise.

With the cost of CDs falling in the shops to meet the cut-prices of legal digital downloads, consumers are consequently now more willing to download illegally, reports The Guardian.

The report also asked those polled what could be done to change the situation. 84% said that older digital downloads should be made cheaper, while 48% said they’d willingly pay more for newer releases.

A representative of the BPI – who protect the British music industry – has contested the reports findings, saying that the music industry can not do it themselves.

He said: “Industry cannot do it alone. ISPs as gatekeepers, and government as legislators, must also play an active role in tackling copyright theft if the UK is to thrive as a knowledge economy."