According to an industry study released by The NPD Group, 58% of the music acquired by consumers in the USA during 2007 wasn't paid for, with equal shares of the freeloader pie divided between peer to peer network sharing, ripping tracks from others, and burning physical CD copies from friends. The study also showed that amongst the music we actually paid for, physical CD sales still outstripped online downloads by over three to one. Another interesting revelation is that iTunes customers tend to be younger, and more likely to buy individual tracks, while Amazon's DRM free music store tends to sell more complete albums to a somewhat older buyer.

While the music companies struggle with ways to keep their revenue streams flowing, musicians are finding that touring is now the only sure fire way to generate sufficient income to maintain their rock 'n' roll lifestyles. Perhaps that's why we're seeing so many geriatric rockers on the road these days.

NPD.com, via The Guardian