Will downloads eventually ruin the entertainment industry?

Question

People seem to have taken to downloading a lot of books, movies, games and music from torrent sites of late. I'm not berrating anyone for doing it, but do you think that the number of people downloading will increase to the point where movies, books, music and games can no longer be produced due to a lack of people actually purchasing them?

Answer 1

I think that it will have an effect given time. It also gives people the opportunity to get recognition if they are unknown though. Look at some of the people making music and putting it on the web for free just because they are unknown and unsigned. Because a band like U2 loses a little in profits bands that are not even remotely famous get a chance.

Answer 2

This sort of thing is happening already - newspaper sales fall because people can read the news for free online, and artists can now reach number 1 without actually selling a single CD. I am sure that, at some point or another, everything will be digital, from music to books to diaries. Although this, would, of course, mean everything would be more open to piracy, it certainly wouldn't ruin the entertainment industry, more, it will revolutionise it. Take channel 4's new teen program, skins. putting episodes on the Internet meant the producers had instant feedback, making it easier to make the program better and more relevant for the viewer. Sites like Youtube and myspace has already lead the way in a change in entertainment, making content that can be directly affected by the person the the receiving end.
If all of these things do eventually end up only as bits of data, it won't be a bad thing - just something totally new.

Answer 3

I would think they would help increase the industry. Despite the fact that most are done illegally, that small percentage has already been accounted for by most entertainment industries today. I mean for those who can't always afford to go and watch movies, buy video games and music, they download them and so they're still getting to hear or watch whatever it is and in the end the response is positive because the more people who have watched or listened to something and have enjoyed it means that it was popular and gets the popularity vote. I mean look at award categories these days...you get ones that are regarded to best downloaded. I dont think that movies, books, music and games will ever stopped being produced bcos the majority of people still enjoy the original...and i dont feel downloads would ruin the entertainment history bcos alot of people download now and its not been significally affected in anyway.
Good question

Answer 4

A very good and interesting question.

The simple fact is downloads will not ruin the entertainment industry, but they will force it into a massive change before they probably wanted it to happen.

We download because we can only visualise watching video or listening to music by the mediums that are currently available but the changes will come about where the PC and our tv/h-fi are one.
As the speed of broadband increases, we will not need to 'own' something solid as a CD, or even possess it on a hard drive, it will be instantly available at any time just like 'on demand' tv` is now. (sort of)

Imagine you want to watch the latest movie or hear that new album, you will select it on your pc and it will play instantly, no download, no delay and at any time 24hrs a day.

Artists put music direct onto a server, soon it will be film companies, books, educational tools, everything will be there in a second.

The fact thousands of downloads happen everyday is pushing the big companies to bring us this type of 'instant entertainment' sooner rather than later.

Why bother to download when you can have it instantly?
This way, the huge multinational companies such as Sony will gain control once more of this massive market.

The technology is available now, we just have to gear up for it in the home and be prepared to change the way we think about how we are entertained.

Answer 5

I think in the long run, the music/movie/etc. artists are getting screwed out of their hard-earned cash. It's not easy doing what they do, and it pretty much sucks that they aren't getting the full reward for their hard work. I'm not saying that I've never downloaded music before, but I'm just taking the perspective of these artists.

There's only one possible way I foresee preventing movie and music pirating via discs - make a new disc type (like the new Blu Ray or whatever it's called) and make it illegal to manufacture computer hardware and software that can rip the material onto others' computers. Then movies and music CDs can be released exclusively on those unrippable discs, and presto.

Mind you, there are always people out there who'll find ways of getting around that sort of thing, but at least the actual ripping and distribution of music and movies will be a little less common. It's a start. It sort of depends on whether Blu Ray-ripping software will be legal.

Answer 6

Never.

The industry just has to adapt. The market is now consumer driven rather than 'them' telling us where, how, and pretty much what to buy.

We now have freedom to a range of music, and can express ourselves thru blog sites using our own media etc.
The popular blog sites are bought by large media companies Myspace etc and they still have their fingers in the pies.

This freedom creates competitiveness between the larger companies and new start companies/artists. And more choice for us, and more of a say. Competitiveness will force the big companies to change their wicked ways.

Hopefully all this means the big companies would just stop churning out mass crap and real expression and talent is picked cos we say so!

And as long as the film studios produce quality it can be worth paying to have the shiny case and definitely going to see it at the cinema.

As for books I wouldnt download one and read it on my computer cos i'd get 'mac back' and I wouldnt print one off cos that would just be s+@^, and I dont read books.

I could go on and on but its to late and I dont think i'm making sense anymore.....if i did in the first place

Anyway the main entertainment industry is made up of just a few companies that will have to tone down their budgets and focus on quality and value for money, what we want, rather than packaging and branding and high prices, power to the internet eh?

Answer 7

It depends. 20% of the worlds population is downloading illegally. Alot of the world population cannot download due to bandwidth etc. Those countries cannot afford to get the latest movies. For example when Pirates Of The Caribbean 2 came out in London, Pirates Of The Caribbean 1 was fresh in the cinemas in Bangladesh. However, pirate copies are imported from other countries to places like Bangladesh, where people buy them from regular high street shops. Statistically, it's not going to happen soon. But looking at how it's going there is going to be a major change in how things work. Maybe prices will go lower, maybe there will be internet patrol, i don't know - but somethings gonna happen

Answer 8

I'm not sure though I can appreciate what you are asking. Downloads are a good thing for those looking for reference material for research etc, what worries me is the download of books in email form as it will impact on the pleasure and enjoyment of reading either in hardback or paper back form and ultimately may be the demise of the home Library especailly reading material for the young. That would be a travesty indeed.

As far as the entertaintment industry is concerned they will survive even if it means cheapening the end product in the way of quality and performance. The big moguels such as EMI will always find a way to survive and make money.

Each to their own.

Answer 9

When someone now a days will make an entire album that is actually worth buying people will do so. And as long as people are paying for their stuff through sites such as i-tunes, napster, etc. its a non issue because the entertainment companies save money producing, packaging, and shipping their products.

And don't shed any tears for the entertainment industry, I dont see Sony's president in the breadlines with the president of Fox, Warner Bros. and the rest of them. Its us who can barely afford their $600 gaming systems with $60 games, while they post record profits. It is the same boat the auto industry is in, they have priced themselves out of the market.

Answer 10

I doubt it. The industry is ever evolving.

With HD, the file sizes are just too big to download so this will keep the industry alive.

Dont forget that music companies have more revenue streams that just CD sales: (Legal) online downloads; music channels like The Box, Mobile Phone Ringtones, Concerts, TV appearances, Calendar Sales, Radio royalties.....