FMC | Musician Survey

FMC Research Project

In Spring 2004, the Future of Music Coalition started to work in partnership with the Pew Internet & American Life Project and an array of other musician-based organizations to design a balanced survey that gave musicians, performers and songwriters a chance to speak up about the Internet, file-sharing, and copyright issues.

We've all heard speculations about what musicians are "really thinking" in the changing digital landscape. Yet, from our vantage point inside the music community these projections have always seemed too narrow to represent the complex concerns we regularly experience in our discussions with musicians.

The FMC felt is was time to stop projecting our thoughts and preferences onto musicians and, instead, ask musicians to share their own experiences and opinions.

To that end, CD Baby, Just Plain Folks, Nashville Songwriters Association, Garageband.com, AFTRA, and AFM, the Future of Music Coalition and the Pew Internet & American Life Project designed an online survey that asked musicians a variety of questions about music, technology, copyright, peer-to-peer filesharing, emerging best practices, and the public domain.

Survey Participation
The survey was available online from March 15 to April 15, 2004. During that time, 2755 musicians and songwriters completed the survey. To learn about the demographics of the survey participants, go here.

Data Memo Released
On April 30, 2004, Pew Internet released a preliminary data memo that outlined some of the initial findings based on the data collected from the survey. These preliminary findings were presented at the FMC Policy Summit.

Full Report Released
Pew Internet released the full report –"Artists, Musicians and the Internet" – on December 5, 2004. The report assesses findings from three separate surveys: a telephone survey with self-identified artists, an online survey completed by over 2700 musicians and songwriters, and telephone surveys with the general public. The questions in the musicians’ survey cover a broad range of topics related to the internet: from basic usage, to sales, promotion, communication, fair use, copyright, sampling, and file-sharing.

The report finds that musicians and artists have embraced the internet as a tool that helps them create, promote, and sell their work. However, they are divided about the impact and importance of free file-sharing and other copyright issues.

Download the full report

Read FMC's press release following release of study

Read the report's analysis of the survey questions on musicians and file-sharing here. This includes selected answers to an open-ended survey question about how to deal with unauthorized file-sharing that illustrate the range of opinions felt by musicians and songwriters, and the complexity of this issue.

About the Future of Music Coalition
The Future of Music Coalition is a not-for-profit collaboration between members of the music, technology, public policy and intellectual property law communities. The FMC seeks to educate the media, policymakers, and the public about music / technology issues, while also bringing together diverse voices in an effort to come up with creative solutions to some of the challenges in this space. The FMC also aims to identify and promote innovative business models that will help musicians and citizens to benefit from new technologies.

About the Pew Internet & American Life Project
The Pew Internet Project is a nonprofit, non-partisan think tank that explores the impact of the Internet on children, families, communities, the work place, schools, health care, and civic/political life. The project aims to be an authoritative source for timely information on the Internet's growth and societal impact. Support for the project is provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The project's Web site: www.pewinternet.org

Want to stay on top of music/tech issues? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter! Read the latest edition online here.

D.C. Policy Day 2009
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Press release | Event site

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Analysis | (PDF)

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Statement

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See Complete Job Descriptions

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October 29, 2008
Press release | Event page | Main site

A2IM and FMC Report on Independent Music and Commerical Airplay
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Press release | Report

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Press release | Event Page

FMC Announces Upcoming Events
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August 5, 2008
Press release | Event Page

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July 8, 2008
Press release | Event Page

FMC Files Brief to Protect Creative Expression
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July 2, 2008
Press release | Indecency amicus brief (PDF)

FMC Files Reply Comments in FCC Localism Proceeding
June 11, 2008
PDF of Reply Comments | Press release

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Press release | Rock the Net

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Press release
FMC's HINT program

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March 25, 2008
Event details | RSVP

Pop Rockers OK Go "Tour" Congress in Support of Net Neutrality
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March 13, 2008
Press release
Spoken testimony
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Rock the Net

New York State Music Education Events Examine Crucial Issues Facing Artists
Kick-off forum in Buffalo on April 2 to focus on music, media, technology and policy issues for songwriters, composers and performers from all genres.
March 7, 2008 | Event details

Philly Bands Rocking for Net Neutrality
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OK Go and Bonerama Rocked DC for New Orleans Musicians
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Upcoming Washington, DC show and benefit EP from OK Go & Bonerama
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January 21, 2008

Successful New Orleans Concerts Aid Big Easy Musicians
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January 15, 2008
Press release | Event details

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Ann Chaitovitz Appointed
FMC's New Executive Director
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Concerts for New Orleans Musicians Bring Artists Together
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FMC's Jenny Toomey Appointed Program Officer for Ford Foundation
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