Consumers’ attitude and behavior towards online music piracy and subscription-based services

Purpose – This paper analyzes consumers’ attitudes and behaviors towards online piracy and their willingness to try subscription-based music services. The objective is to develop and test an attitude-intention model which includes ethical considerations in consumers’ decision making process regarding music consumption. Design/methodology/approach – The study analyzes 505 consumer questionnaires using a structural equations model. Findings – Attitude toward online piracy is positively determined by economic and hedonic benefits and negatively by moral judgment. A favorable attitude toward online piracy, in turn, negatively influences consumers’ willingness to try subscription-based music services, which is also directly determined by their interest and involvement with the services themselves. Research limitations/implications – The limitations of the paper are linked mainly to the adapted scales, to the analysis of just two subscription-based music services (Napster and Spotify) and to the fact that all respondents came from one country. Practical implications – The results call for a greater commitment by music industry actors to educate consumers about the consequences and implications of online music piracy, while also stressing the value added and hedonic benefits offered by subscription-based music services. Originality/value – This paper is the first to focus on consumers’ propensity toward online piracy and their willingness to try subscription-based music services as a possible alternative to the phenomenon, through the development and test of an attitude-intention model that includes ethical considerations.