Does Internet Harms Music Sales? a Constructive Perspective

The main issue brought by this study is whether internet as medium and their users as actors behind the fall of music industry\u27s revenue during these years – many people stand on this point of view - or could be the facilitator of music purchasing. This study used data panel from 16 countries ranging from 1999 to 2004 to prove whether internet and their users harm the revenue of music industry, and employs four dummy variables, including piracy rates, economic development, market size, and individualism/collectivism. The results indicated that internet through their users in the USA does not harm as much as industry claimed before, only 2.1 percent. Furthermore, the panel data results indicate that level of piracy rates released by IFPI in 2001 partially supported, and surprisingly, the internet positively significant influences on the music sales for country\u27s with piracy level in the range of 25 to 50 percent. Moreover, the internet users interact with economic development and individualism/collectivism, and it has shown that internet users have positively significant impacts on the music sales. However, market size does not support the model developed in this study. The managerial implications, limitations of the study and directions for further research are also presented. Keywords: internet, piracy, music sales, piracy rates, economic development, market size, individualism/collectivism

PRICING STRATEGIES FOR ONLINE MULTIPLAYER GAMES

This dissertation examines the different pricing strategies available to online multiplayer game publishers. We develop mathematical models of the pricing decision that the publisher engages in and conduct a numerical experiment to identify critical parameters for the pricing decision. We also develop an agent based simulation to further examine the influence of these parameters on the dynamics between the publisher and consumers and make recommendations about the conditions under which certain pricing strategies are superior to others

Kundenbindung durch Gratis-Musikdownloads: Eine empirische Untersuchung am Beispiel des Klassikmarktes in der Schweiz

Das Internet hat einen Wandel in der Musikindustrie bewirkt. Insbesondere CD-Verkäufe werden durch die zunehmende Verbreitung von Gratis-Musikdownloads (GMD) konkurrenziert. Im Zuge der Anpassung an diese neue Situation sind Musikanbieter gezwungen, neue Marketingmaßnahmen zur Bewerbung ihrer Musik zu ergreifen. Dabei bergen GMD nicht nur Gefahren sondern auch ein gewisses Potenzial als Marketinginstrument. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht am Beispiel des Klassikmarktes, wie GMD als Kundenbindungs-instrument eingesetzt werden können. Mit Hilfe der Kundenbindungstheorie wurde ein konzeptuelles Modell zu Voraussetzungen und Wirkungen von GMD in der Klassik entwickelt, das anhand einer experimentellen Umfrage mit 2x2-faktoriellem Design getestet wurde. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Tonqualität sowie die Länge des Stückausschnitts von GMD das wahrgenommene Wissen wie auch die Einstellung zur Musik eines Orchesters positiv beeinflussen. Darüber hinaus können GMD auch Verhaltensabsichten bezüglich des Kaufs von Tonträgern, des Besuchs eines Konzerts oder der Weiter-empfehlung von Musik bewirken. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich GMD in Form eines Samplings als Instrument zur Kundenbindung verwenden lassen

Digital transformation in music industry: A multiple case study of Finnish record labels

This research studied the digital transformation in music industry of Finnish record label companies, and their utilization of ICT technology and digital platforms. Six record label representatives of top level executives were interviewed as a part of this study. All three dominant players, major record labels, were involved in this study with addition of three smaller independent record labels. The study aimed to understand what ICT technology is used in the core operations of a record label, and possibly, how they are utilizing different digital platforms and technology in their i.e. communications, when choosing the primary channels of communication to increase operational efficiency. A literature review on the previous research was conducted on platform theories and digital platforms, followed by an industry overview and the digital transformation of music market, then leading to theoretical background of the framework used to analyze findings, description of the methodology, overview of the current market situation, explanations of the case companies and analysis of them through the findings. The results of the study supported the previous literature related to the industry transformation and the market structure. However, the importance of sociological behavior emerged through the significance of the social media in music industry and by the way of communications of the record labels. The use of technology is on quite basic level, thus some lack of digital platform being utilized can be recognized. As a managerial implication, the more accurate strategic mapping of the relevant stakeholder groups for the record label is recommended in order to improve communications to increase efficiency to gain competitive advantage. This study is limited by the small sample size and relatively wide scope of a complex industry, which required substantial delimitation, and abundance of various affecting factors related to the operations of the record labels

Empirical studies of Quality of Experience (QoE) : A Systematic Literature Survey

Quality of Experience (QoE) is a relatively new phenomenon. The main focus of this thesis has been to conduct a systematic literature survey of research done in the field of QoE over a ten year period. The method, developed by A. Fink, has been used to survey empirical studies. A framework of QoE has been developed, which created the possibility of grouping together and analysing all the studies in a common framework. In total, 44 studies were analysed. 66 per cent of them were studies with human participants and 34 per cent of them were studies without human participants. The majority of the selected empirical studies have analysed the sub-aspect ‘satisfaction’. Among other vital sub-aspects, which were of interest to researches, were ‘usefulness’, ‘ease of use’, ‘communication’, ‘loss/packet loss’, ‘delay’, ‘bandwidth’, and ‘jitter’. The results of this survey show that different sub-aspects depend on different services. It is not enough that one sub-aspect functions very well, because most of sub-aspects are closely related to each other. Therefore, it is very important that sub-aspects, which are dependent on each other, are functioning as one group to achieve higher QoE on user experience. This thesis may contribute to deeper understanding of the phenomenon QoE. Knowledge of QoE can bring in new ideas and new possibilities for developing a new system or products for achieving satisfaction of user experience

Economic of Online Music Author names in alphabetical order 2 Corresponding Author

ABSTRACT Novel online file sharing technologies have created new market dynamics for the online distribution of digital goods. But the new potential benefits for consumers are juxtaposed against challenges and opportunities for sellers of such goods. Here we investigate one type of digital experience good, music, whose markets include the presence of piracy options. We present five different pricing models running from a base case of a traditional brick and mortar retailer not facing a piracy option to an online retailer offering per unit and subscription pricing but facing piracy alternatives. In addition, simulation results are presented as a vehicle to develop insights related to the model implications on revenue-maximization and piracy conditions