CD ripping 'widespread'

By Jim Reed
Newsbeat technology reporter

A massive 95% of all 18-24 year olds regularly copy music from their mates, according to a new report.

British Music Rights (BMR), which speaks for musicians and composers, teamed up with researchers from the University of Hertfordshire for the study.

It shows that ripping CDs from friends is at least as common as downloading music files over the internet.

1,158 people with an average age of 22 were questioned for the survey. Two thirds said they copied five CDs a month or more.

Age gap

Younger fans are much more likely to copy music - 60% of a typical 14-17 year old's record collection has not been paid for.

That figure falls to 50% for 18-24 year olds and less than 20% for the 25+ age group.

The average portable media player now contains £750 worth of music, half of which has been copied from unpaid sources.

60% of a typical 14-17 year old's collection has not been paid for.

BMR's chief executive Fergal Sharkey founded the 1970s punk band, The Undertones.

He said: "My concern is for the next generation of sexually frustrated, hormone-ridden 17-year-olds that are sitting in a bedroom about to write something like [The Undertones'] Teenage Kicks."

Copying music without permission from the copyright holder is illegal in the UK.

Technically it is also illegal to transfer music to a different format for personal use even if you own the original CD. But the practice is so widespread, most record companies now accept it.

British Music Rights is calling for the Government to change the law.

It wants to allow users to transfer paid-for music between formats.

In return, the makers of blank CDs and CD recorders would fund a scheme to compensate musicians and other copyright holders.