File sharing had little to no measurable effect on music purchases

Evidence

It is difficult to determine the true economic impact of what has erroneously come to be called piracy (the word piracy implies unauthorized reproduction for commercial gain, whereas most file sharing is just that—the transfer of digital files with no money changing hands). A number of studies have shown that piracy has little to no effect on purchases, while some have found a positive correlation, presumably because file sharers are also some of the most passionate music fans, and thus the expanded exposure brought about by piracy can increase sales among the devoted. — Andrew deWaard, Derivative Media, 200

Categorization

• XREF: Contradicts the piracy-panic framing pervasive in media-industry commentary; pairs with the reader’s interest in how industry narratives get manufactured and borrowed by finance.
• SHARE: Good corrective tidbit for a friend in the music industry who still believes piracy tanked sales.