Music piracy in the European Union is showing signs of stabilization, according to a new 2023 report from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

Key Findings:

• Overall piracy in the EU stabilized at 10.2 accesses per internet user per month in 2023
• Music piracy accounts for only 0.6 accesses per internet user monthly
• Music piracy has dropped to approximately 25% of its 2017 levels
• Stream-ripping remains the dominant music piracy method, accounting for nearly 50% of illegal consumption

Country-Specific Data:

• Stream-ripping prevalence:
  • Denmark: 63%
  • Hungary: 67%
  • Greece and Slovenia: 68%
• Ireland shows different patterns:
  • Streaming: 25%
  • Downloads: 42%
  • Combined total: 67% of music piracy

Current Trends:

• Mobile devices dominate music piracy access compared to desktops
• Traditional downloading is the second most common piracy method
• Streaming follows in third place
• Torrenting shows minimal usage

Contributing Factors:

• Growing accessibility of legal streaming services
• Continued actions against illegal platforms
• Competitive pricing in many EU nations (under €10.99 monthly for major services)
• Convenience of legal streaming compared to piracy methods

While artist compensation remains a concern, the combination of affordable legal streaming options and anti-piracy measures appears to be effectively reducing illegal music consumption across the European Union.

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