Even the losers get lucky sometimes: New products and the evolution of music quality since Napster

Luis Aguiar, Joel Waldfogel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using comprehensive digital sales data by time and vintage on the US, Canada, and 15 European countries, we infer the evolution of music vintage quality, finding that vintage service flow has increased since 2000. We explain the result with unpredictability of music quality at the time of investment along with growing releases. Evidence shows (a) products with modest prospects at release, - from artists on independent labels and from new artists, - occupy a growing share of the top products; and (b) despite growth in the number of products, sales are growing more concentrated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-15
Number of pages15
JournalInformation Economics and Policy
Volume34
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2016

Keywords

  • Copyright
  • Digital music
  • Digitization

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