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Illegal Downloading Hurting Music Sales

At this years R&R Convention 2003, trade publication Radio & Records and Edison Media Research unveiled the results of a national survey of 12 to 44 year olds showing that the illegal downloading of music is hurting music sales. (Click ‘Read more’ for the complete press release.)

“Among the heaviest downloaders, those who have downloaded more than
100 music files (about 16% of 12-44s), reported purchases of CDs has dropped an incredible 61% from last year’s study (28.9 CDs, on average per person, purchased last year compared with 11.3 CDs purchased this year). [...]

71% of heavy downloaders say that “Instead of buying a CD they have burnt someone else’s copy of a CD,” and 48% of them say ‘They no longer have to buy CDs because they could download music for free over the Internet.’”

Additional details and 15 comments.

AAC at 128kbps public listening test

Roberto Amorim of Rarewares.com is conducting a public test to find out which encoder is best at encoding AAC at 128Kbps CBR. Everyone is welcomed to particpate.

“In the last few months/weeks, AAC has been receiving some media coverage thanks to the efforts of companies like Apple and AOL to push the format forward. Since there are several available AAC encoders, both free and commercial ones, interest for a comparision was raised by concerned users. Then this test was created. The test is scheduled to end on June 15. This date may be extended if proven to be necessary.”

4 comments.

Enhance your MP3s with DFX

I just found a way to energize the MP3s on an iPod. I copied all of my iPod songs onto my hard drive and re-encoded the files with the DFX Audio Enhancement plugin at 192kbps. Now I can hear every detail in the music on my iPod. It makes even my MX400 Sennheiser in-ear headphones sound amazing. Tracks without the DFX plugin sound dull and boring. I also tried the Slic Sound add-on earpieces and they make my MX400s have an almost audiophile quality.

Editor’s Note:  The DFX plugin is not available for iTunes, but supports most popular music management software on Windows like Musicmatch, Media Jukebox, WinAmp and more. DFX 6 is a free download with limited features, and DFX Enhanced is on sale for $19.99.

24 comments.

RealNetworks Launches New Music Service

RealNetworks has launched the RealOne RHAPSODY music service charging subscribers 79¢ to burn individual tracks.

“RealNetworks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK) today announced a new music service, RealOne? RHAPSODY®, a co-branded version of the popular RHAPSODY digital music subscription service.  RealOne RHAPSODY offers consumers unlimited, ?all you can eat? access to the broadest library of major and independent label music with more than 330,000 tracks available for on-demand listening and more than 200,000 songs available for transferring to CD, aka ?burning.?  At only 79¢ per track, RealOne RHAPSODY offers subscribers the lowest per-burn price available to U.S. consumers through any of the new generation of digital music services.”

5 comments.

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