Legal music downloads overtake internet cheaters

Legal downloads have overtaken illegal file sharing in the UK for the first time, music industry bosses said today.

New research showed 5% of internet users regularly download music from legal sites, compared to 4% who swap files illegally.

The UK is the fastest-growing online music market in Europe.

Last year there were 26 million single track downloads – a four-fold increase on 2004, according to figures published by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

Legal sites such as iTunes and HMV Digital have helped fuel extraordinary growth of digital downloads.

There are now 335 legitimate online sites across the world, compared to just 50 in 2003.

Globally, music fans downloaded 420 million tracks – more than double the number downloaded in 2004 and 20 times more than in 2003.

James Blunt hit You’re Beautiful was the most downloaded song in Europe, followed by Madonna’s Hung Up.

There are now two million songs online, according to IFPI research.

Digital music accounts for 6% of record companies’ revenue – generating sales of 1.1 billion dollars.

Around 40% of downloads are to mobile phones, with a sharp increase in ringtone sales over the past 12 months.

IFPI chairman John Kennedy said: “Two years ago, few could have predicted the extraordinary developments we are seeing in the digital music business today.

“And there will be further significant growth in 2006 as the digital music market continues to take shape.”

But the battle against illegal file-sharers continues, Mr Kennedy said.

In 2005 there were nearly 20,000 court cases in 17 countries.

Industry bosses have promised to step up prosecutions in 2006.