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According to a recent survey, there has been a slight decrease in illegal music downloads. The number of young people acquiring music illegally has dropped by 2 per cent, according to a study for UK Music carried out by the University of Hertfordshire.

The Press Association reports the study’s results as showing that 61 per cent of 14-24-year-olds use illegal sharing networks and of that population 83 per cent utilize the illegal sharing networks either weekly or daily.

85 percent of the survey’s 1,808 partakers showed that they would at least be interested in a legal unlimited downloading service. Of the interested number, 15 per cent said that they would still continue to use illegal downloading service in addition to the legal service.

Chief executive of UK Music, Feargal Sharkey, told the Press Association: “This is the second year we have run this survey. As with last year’s results, this makes for fascinating reading. Clearly, the shape of our entire business will continue to evolve. However, we will achieve nothing if we do not work with music fans, and young music fans in particular. They are hugely demanding in their needs, but collectively we must rise to that challenge. We ignore engagement at our peril. That message is loud and clear.”

It turns out that many of these young people acquire their illegal downloads from friends, with 78 per cent getting music via MSM Messenger, Skype and Bluetooth. Online music file sharing sites only see traffic from 38 per cent of those involved in the study.