Mobile phone music-sharing rises amongst children

Sharing music via Bluetooth using a mobile phone is becoming increasingly popular, but it will not hold the same punishments as p2p filesharing over a PC.

A survey on how children using their phones, commissioned by Intuitive Media, found that children are using the Bluetooth feature in their mobiles to share music with their friends.

It found that almost a third of the 1,500 eight to 13 year olds questioned are using the Bluetooth function to share music with their friends. This is illegal without the permission of copyright holders.

However, according to Matt Philips, spokesman for the British record industry's trade association the BPI: “Swapping songs via Bluetooth is a concern for the industry, it hasn't caused the same problems as illegal p2p filesharing. This is because it's copying on a one-to-one, rather than one-to-millions basis.”

Robert Hart, co-founder of Intuitive Media, agrees, claiming that mobile phone file sharing is a great opportunity for the music industry. "Children are the best source for word of mouth and this would be a good opportunity for record companies to use this as a means of viral marketing,” he said.

Yet both have different ideas on how to tackle this problem.

Hart believes a viral element deal amongst the record companies and phone users will be the best way to go. “The research has shown us that nearly a fifth of children spend up to £5 a month on ringtones,” commented Hart.

“It is a dream that one day children will be able to download a song for 10p instead of the high price they pay now, and be able to share it amongst their friends to create viral marketing.”

Philips, however is still keen on finding a way to give artists and music companies their money, claiming that “ultimately the way to grow revenues with mobile will be to offer music fans what they want and encourage them to get their music legally".

Intuitive Media, runs safe social networks for primary and secondary aged children in association with educational authorities, said the survey was carried out to get a better sense of how children used their phones.