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# Music Sales Drop 2% Q3 Despite Digital Growth
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/music-sales-dro/
- Published: 2008-12-19T06:49:09.000Z
- Updated: 2008-12-19T06:49:09.000Z
- Description: Overall demand for music among U.S. internet users fell 2% in Q3 of 2008 according to a new NPD survey which included purchased CDs and downloads, P2P sites, and borrowing. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2008/12/music-sales-dro.html]
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Vinyl, Cassettes & Retail, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 11:03

[![Down_arrow_red_2](https://spcdn.shortpixel.ai/spio/ret_img,q_cdnize/www.hypebot.com/hypebot/images/2008/12/19/down_arrow_red_2.jpg "Down_arrow_red_2")](https://www.hypebot.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/12/19/down%5Farrow%5Fred%5F2.jpg)

  
Overall **demand for music among U.S. internet users fell 2%** in Q3 of 2008 according to a new [NPD survey](http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press%5F081218.html?ref=hypebot.com) which included purchased CDs and downloads, P2P sites, and borrowing music to rip. It’s not clear if the numbers are just a blip or within some margin or error, but they certainly can’t be spun as good news for a beleagured music industry. Growth in track sales and the **number of new downloaders did**, however, offer a ray of hope along with **music discovery via video games.**

The proportion of U.S. Internet users, age 13 and older,purchasing a CD in the prior month fell from 25% in Q3 ’07 to 22% this year and the overall volume of **CDs purchased declined by 19%** compared to last year. Teen CD purchases dropped 34% (so much for the Hannah Montana effect) and among adults age 26 to 35 sales were down 36%. CD purchases by adults 36 and older declined ony 10%.

Paid digital **downloads experienced growth…**

in the number of buyers and the volume of tracks sold in Q3\. **15% of internet users purchased music online** which is an increase of 2% over last year or **2.8 million additional music-download customers**. Legal music download volumes increased by 29% in Q3 with positive numbers seen for all age groups except the 50-and-older segment, which represents a small portion of buyers.

The number of Internet users sharing music on **peer-to-peer** sites held steady at 14% in Q3 2008; but the **volume of music shared rose by 23%**, as P2P users reported downloading more files. Teens purchased 34% more paid digital downloads compared with year-ago, however g**rowth in P2P file downloading among 13- to 17-year-olds was up 46%**. NPD noted that the practice of sharing files for the purpose of burning to a CD fell 25% among teens, which suggests an increased preference for having the files in a digital-only format.

**Video gaming also appears to have positive effects for the music industry.** 22% of music buyers (CDs, digital or mobile) overall – and 35% of consumers under the age of 35 – reported playing a music-based video game, such as Rock Band or Guitar Hero, in the prior three months. Many of these music gamers reported that the gaming experience had a positive outcome, such as creating music discovery or **triggering a digital-music or CD purchase.**