Is Napster taking a toll on CD sales?
Study shows sales of CDs within a five-mile radius of colleges declined 4 percent over the last two years. A new study out may back up one of the arguments against Napster — namely, once fans can download songs online for free, they wont be willing to shell out money for CDs anymore. The study, commissioned by digital rights management firm Reciprocal Inc., found that sales of CDs within a five-mile radius of colleges declined 4 percent over the last two years. The study was conducted by VNU Entertainment Marketing Solutions, a sister company of SoundScan, a music sales measurement firm. It surveyed SoundScan reporting retail stores. VNU said in contrast to the college stores, overall retail sales increased between January 1997 and March 2000. A poll published by research firm Webnoize Inc. this month showed 73 percent of college students use Napster software at least once a month. “It is now clear that the controversial practices of companies that provide directories and an easy inte
