MCPS-PRS explains why In Rainbows was pirated so much
The MCPS-PRS Alliance has been doing some number-crunching on how Radiohead’s `In Rainbows’ was shared on BitTorrent, in partnership with analysis firm BigChampagne. The topline finding is that despite being heavily pirated – 2.3 million BitTorrent downloads in its first 24 days on sale – the band still cashed in, with the album topping the charts in the UK and US, and a sellout global tour. However, the report’s most interesting conclusion is that even when albums are effectively offered for free legitimately, users are still unlikely to break the habit of using BitTorrent. “Frequently, music industry professionals suggest that an increase in legitimate sales must necessarily coincide with a commensurate reduction in piracy, as if this were a fact,” says the report. Apparently not.
Tags: BitTorrent, In Rainbows, MCPS-PRS, Radiohead
