A recent Playboy pulse poll backs up what Napster officials and fans have been saying all along: The online music-swapping service does not encourage the piracy and illegal reproduction of CDs, but actually bolsters sales.
Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they purchase the same amount of music, and 20 percent said they purchase more CDs now that they are downloading MP3 files from services such as Napster.com and MP3.com.
Overall, 69 percent typically purchase CDs at least once a month and have purchased an average of 16 CDs in the past six months. Sixty-eight percent of respondents younger than age 35 and 37 percent of respondents older than age 35 have downloaded Internet music in the past six months.
In addition, the Playboy poll found a positive response regarding music on the Internet. Seventy-nine percent believe that services such as Napster and MP3.com create valid forums for promoting new bands, and 57 percent believe the Internet has the ability to broaden the appeal of diverse music styles and artists.
