Business News Digital

Downloads most important development in three decades of music

By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 30 November 2009

Music Choice who, it seems, still exist, are doing a survey. It is sort of the greatest hits of surveys, asking you all the questions that every other music-related survey has ever asked. Filling it out requires choosing between “my download collection”, “playing CDs on my PC” and “using streaming services” as to how you might listen to music on your computer (obviously no one does all three) and picking the best film theme tune of all time from the eight choices provided, which includes ‘Titanic’.

Anyway, one more interesting question asks users to name the most important event in music in the last 30 years. There’s a slightly weird mix to choose from (from Take That reforming to the launch of the iPod) but respondents can also suggest their own important events. Though currently leading the poll is one Music Choice do suggest – the launch of downloadable music – which if you extend to mean the internet in general, probably is the most important event in music in the last three decades. Here, according to MusicNews.com, is the current top ten in relation to that question:

1. Launch of downloadable music (19%) – most important innovation
2. Live Aid (18%) – most important event
3. Launch of the iPod (17%)
4. Death of Michael Jackson (13%) – most important death
5. Death of John Lennon (9%)
6. Launch of music videos and music video TV channels (8%)
7. Nelson Mandela Concert (6%)
8. Death of Kurt Kobain (5%)
9. Launch talent shows such as Pop Idol and X Factor (3%)
10. Spice Girls splitting up (2%)

You can take part in the whole silly survey at this URL: www.musiccensus.com