We have blogged that that we do not consider the majority of
the music industries claims against file sharers to be quite on the level. In
that, it is our belief that the Music Industry seed the P2P networks with
genuine content to encourage file down-loaders to distribute the content as a
form of artist awa
Similar in nature to drug dealers who offer the “first taste for free”
I blogged recently about the Music Industry claims as regards Deep Catalogue having some empirical evidence showing up.
We thought the easiest way to prove the speculation was to randomly select a number of deep and not so deep catalogue Music Video clips to see what the damage was.
Our calculation was based on using a non-proprietary format digital (single song/video clip – not album) download as our baseline requirement to match the consumer requirements.
Amazon appears to be the largest non-proprietary, (reasonably) independent with the most comprehensive music and video content catalogue and therefore we used the Amazon search engine for each of the availability queries.
The results were that even though users are downloading Video Tracks for their phones, the music Companies are not making the majority of Music Video Tracks available and therefore actual losses incurred as at the date of our study, the 4th of August, 2009 for 3080 completed downloads equals only $24.42.
The total is based on the theorem, if something is not offered for sale, it can’t be stolen, therefore no loss can occur as the illegal file sharing is not directly competing with the “for sale” product.
Therefore, downloading of Music Videos as identified here-under (where Avail = N/A) can not be claimed to be damaging the industry.
(Clicking on the Blue highlighted link in the table will take you to the search sequence used to assess the availbility of a file for purchase. The links were last checked 4th August, 2009.)
|
Title
|
Analysis Start Date |
Completed Downloads |
Avail |
Amazon Price |
Total Value |
Days |
Loss per Day |
|
Video Clip - Michael Jackson
- [Thriller].mpg |
|
738 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
30.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Guns and Roses
- November Rain (Music Video).mpg |
|
132 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Destiny's Child
feat. T.I. & Lil' |
|
97 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - CINDY LAUPER -
Girls just want to have fun.mpg |
|
91 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Shakira -
Whenever Wherever.mpeg |
|
87 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Celine Dion Ft
The Bee Gees - Immortality [1998] Xvid.avi |
|
73 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
47.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - XXX Music
Videos - R. Kelly Jay-Z - Fiesta (Uncut).mpg
|
|
71 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Funny Videos - Weird Al
Yankovic - Fat.mpg |
|
70 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
17.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Akon - Mr
Lonely.mpg |
|
69 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Madonna - Hung
Up.mpg |
|
68 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - |
|
66 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Marilyn Manson
- tainted love (uncensored).mpg |
|
66 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - 50 Cent - Many
Men.mpg |
|
65 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - 2 Pac - Changes
(Uncensored).mpg |
|
64 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Dr. Dre f.
Snoop Dogg - Still D.R.E. (uncensored).mpg |
|
63 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - 50 Cent &
Snoop Dogg & G-Unit - P.I.M.P.(XXX version).mpg |
|
61 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Shakira - La
Tortura.mpeg |
|
57 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Christina
Aguilera - Dirrty (Uncensored).mpg |
|
56 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Jessica Simpson
- These Boots are Made for Walking.mpeg
|
|
54 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - 50Cent |
|
53 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - 50 Cent - 21
Questions.mpg |
|
51 |
$0.16 |
$8.16 |
16.19 |
$0.50 |
|
|
Video Clip - System Of A
Down - Chop Suey.mpeg |
|
46 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Rammstein - Du
Hast.mpg |
|
45 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - B2K -
GirlFriend.mpg |
|
43 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Gwen Stefani -
Hollaback Girl.mpg |
|
42 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Aerosmith - I
Don't Want To Miss A Thing.mpg |
|
42 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - |
|
41 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Ciara ft. Missy
Elliot - One Two Step.mpg |
|
40 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Ciara feat.
Petey Pablo - Goodies.mpg |
|
36 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Lap Dance
(Uncensored Version) - Nerd.mpg |
|
36 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Seether
Feat.Amy Lee - Broken.mpeg.mpg |
|
36 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip -Just A Lil Bit
(uncut)-50 Cent.mpeg |
|
36 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Anastacia -
Left Outside Alone.mpg |
|
35 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Black Eyed
Peas-My Humps.mpg |
|
34 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Good |
|
34 |
$0.01 |
$0.34 |
16.19 |
$0.02 |
|
|
VideoClip - Music - Bocelli
Andrea & Pausini Laura - Vivere.avi
|
|
32 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Motley Crue -
Girls Girls Girls (Uncensored Music Video).mpg |
|
31 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - 50 Cent - Get
Rich or Die Trying - If I can`t.mpg |
|
30 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - chingy feat
ludacris & snoop doggy dog - holiday inn.mpg |
|
28 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Crime Mob Feat.
Lil Scrappy - Rock Her Hips (Video).mpg
|
|
24 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Hip-hop
honeys-Obsession (Booty Talk).mpg |
|
23 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Pitbull ft. Lil
Jon - Culo.mpg |
|
23 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Shakira - No
Creo.mpg |
|
23 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Snoop Dogg
Xzibit - Bitch Please (Uncut).mpg |
|
23 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip Stephanie De |
|
22 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Lil Wayne Feat.
Big Tymers Mack 10 & Mannie Fresh
- Shine (Remix).mpg |
|
21 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Aqua - Barbie
Girl.mpg |
|
20 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - |
|
15 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Marilyn Manson
- Antichrist Superstar (Live at Tynley Park 2001).mpg |
|
13 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Banda Kaoma -
LAMBADA - Video clip.mpg |
|
12 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Led Zepelin -
Back Dog.mpg |
|
11 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
21.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Kid Rock -
Video - Cowboy (X Rated Playboy Version).mpg
|
|
11 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip- Isaac Hayes -
Theme From Shaft.mpg |
|
8 |
$1.99 |
$15.92 |
16.19 |
$0.98 |
|
|
Video Clip - Sparks - The
Calm Before The Storm(live ZDF 1).mpg
|
|
5 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Haircut 100 -
Love Plus One.mpg |
|
4 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Gwen Stefani
feat. Akon - The Sweet Escape (Music Video Premiere).avi |
|
2 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
Video Clip - Nirvana -
Dumb.mpg |
|
1 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
16.19 |
$0.00 |
|
|
|
|
3080 |
|
|
$24.42 |
|
|
We also examined a popular DVD Music Video by Led Zeppelin, “The Song Remains the Same.”
Here, there is a very different story.
|
Title |
Analysis Start Date |
Completed Downloads |
Avail |
Amazon Price |
Total Value |
Days |
Loss per Day |
|
Led Zeppelin - The Song
Remains the Same.avi |
|
329 |
$10.35 |
$3,405.15 |
20.19 |
$168.64 |
It would seem that some deep catalogue is available. Therefore damage to a portion of the catalogue is proved in a manner that would support some of the industry's claims.
Observation:
The majority of downloads are in a format (and size) most
suited for cellphone viewing.
Conclusion:
Unfortunately, our findings are that Music Video, Deep Catalogue (over a year old) is not well represented on Amazon and subsequently most would consider no alternative but to obtain the track from P2P.
