Well, I'm sure we all remember the RIAA claiming that music sales were down 7% because of music piracy. It was news around the world. And it apparently justified the RIAA taking punitive actions against under-aged teenagers and old-age pensioners, for using PCs involved with file-sharing.
Excepting there was no loss of sales. In fact, sales were UP.
As with all things to do with statistics, it's all about how you present them.
Effectively, the RIAA was only counting how many units they'd shipped out to record stores - and classed this as "sales", rather than actual purchases. Because actual purchases was up, even if the RIAA companies were apparently sending out less.
So if the RIAA send out 7% less stock, but sell 10% more stock - the RIAA allegedly class this as a loss.
Read the article here:
Nielsen Rating System At Odds With RIAA's Claim Of "Lost Sales"
Excepting there was no loss of sales. In fact, sales were UP.
As with all things to do with statistics, it's all about how you present them.
Effectively, the RIAA was only counting how many units they'd shipped out to record stores - and classed this as "sales", rather than actual purchases. Because actual purchases was up, even if the RIAA companies were apparently sending out less.
So if the RIAA send out 7% less stock, but sell 10% more stock - the RIAA allegedly class this as a loss.
Read the article here:
Nielsen Rating System At Odds With RIAA's Claim Of "Lost Sales"