Streaming or stealing? The complementary features between music streaming and music piracy

Among young consumers, music streaming can be perceived as a substitute for music piracy. However, streaming can provide a venue for discovering and listening to new releases, and then, gaining access to these new tracks illegally. The objective of this study is to determine if music streaming acts as a buffer (substitute) or enabler (complement) of piracy. Using a logit model, we found that streaming complements piracy, providing evidence that these two modes of music consumption will coexist in the market. In addition, we found that social and peer behavior, risk perceptions, and consumption time online are elements contributing to music piracy.