Designing for Music Consumption in an Internet Age

Abstract

The music industry is a useful case study for a broad range of emerging digital products. Digital music can be stored and shared easily facilitating free distribution among listeners. Recording, selling, and marketing are more accessible, allowing artists to produce music independently. While these trends seem to suggest a decentralized model for music distribution, a few record labels continue to dominate the industry. In this study, we survey music consumers to better understand their needs and gauge their attitude about various aspects of the music industry. We use this information to outline the implications for the design of future music consumer products.