The consumers’ choice: Illegal music downloads vs. subscription-based music services.

This paper analyzes Italian consumers’ attitudes and behaviors towards online piracy and subscription-based music services. The study is based on an empirical quantitative analysis through the collection of 505 questionnaires. The results show that Italian consumers perceive music piracy as ethically wrong, yet they still prefer the free, illegal alternative when it comes to actually making the choice. The findings call for a greater commitment by music industry actors to educate Italian consumers about the consequences and implications of online piracy and the possible solutions offered by subscription-based music services.