Looks like the RIAA has got some more problems for their marketing machine and it’s blind digital-music-eye. According to an article over the Pond in the Technology section of the BBC News, those who download music via Peer-to-Peer actually end up purchasing more legal music than those who don’t.

Oooops, guess that revenue decrease the RIAA told us all about was actually due to all the goody-goodies not wanting to pay $20 on a crappy CD, huh? Maybe “try before you buy” does work!

The study found that regular downloaders of unlicensed music spent an average of £5.52 a month on legal digital music.

This compares to just £1.27 spent by other music fans.

“The research clearly shows that music fans who break piracy laws are highly valuable customers,” said Paul Brindley, director of The Leading Question.

“It also points out that they are eager to adopt legitimate music services in the future.”

“There’s a myth that all illegal downloaders are mercenaries hell-bent on breaking the law in pursuit of free music.”

In reality hardcore fans “are extremely enthusiastic” about paid-for services, as long as they are suitably compelling, he said. [Source]