With what is claimed to be the most robust, comprehensive and sophisticated study of consumer trends and behaviour around digital music, the BPI has unearthed a staggering array of statistics and data to back its argument that illegal downloading is out of control: more than 1.2bn music tracks illegally downloaded this year; non-P2P downloading on the rise; and nearly a quarter of the online population using P2P.

"2010 was the year when the digital market came of age. The Beatles ...