The British Phonographic Industry (BPI), a trade body that claims to represent the UK music industry, has once again warned of falling investment and lost jobs because the Government is allegedly "taking too long to act" against "chronic piracy" from broadband ISP customers. Curiously the doom and gloom comments accompanied news of strong growth in digital music sales during 2011.

According to the BPI, a "fourth successive record year for singles and growing consumer confidence in digital albums" has not been able to offset a "decline in overall UK music sales". The decline could equally be caused by the fact that rising digital sales allow consumers to pick and choose what tracks they like from an album and ignore the rubbish, although piracy still takes the blame. Not to mention the current economic problems.


Total singles sales increased 10.0% overall in 2011, with the vast majority (98%) sold as digital tracks and bundles. Consumer appetite for digital album downloads has also continued to grow (23.5% market share), although CD album sales remain dominant with 76.1% of total sales.


Taylor's comments are largely directed towards the controversial Digital Economy Act (DEA), which seeks to warn and ultimately punish (e.g. disconnect) ISP customers who become "suspected" of involvement with internet copyright infringement activity (piracy).

Unfortunately the act is reliant upon unreliable IP address based evidence, which at best can only identify the connection owner whom may or may not be the guilty individual. Many homes and businesses share their access (e.g. Wi-Fi hotspots, libraries and schools etc.), which could all now risk disconnection.

The act has faced significant opposition, not least from a Judicial Review by TalkTalk and BT that pointed to several serious conflicts with European law (here). The appeal hearing is set to go ahead in February 2012. Alternative plans for website blocking, which Ofcom rejected (here) and even the EU court appears to regard as illegal (here), have faced similar problems and remain incredibly easy to circumvent but continue to be developed as part of a voluntary code (here).