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The survey, which was published at the weekend, revealed that those who admitted to illegally downloading music spent an average of £77 per year on music. This is a massive £33 more than those who claimed they have never unlawfully downloaded music.

This goes against EMI's assertion that illegal file sharers were the reason why its profits had massively dropped over the past couple of years, only to recover now that major governments across the world have started to crackdown on illicit file sharing.

It also goes against UK Business Secretary Peter Mandelson's plans to crack down on illegal file sharing which include introducing laws similar

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to France's 'three strikes and you're out' legislation. His plans could end up harming the music industry by punishing its core customers if the survey's findings are true.

The study, conducted by Ipsos Mori, polled 1,000 16 to 50 year olds with internet access and found that one in ten people admit to downloading music illegally.

"The latest approach from the Government will not help prop up an ailing music industry. Politicians and music companies need to recognise that the nature of music consumption has changed, and consumers are demanding lower prices and easier access," said Peter Bradwell, from the think-tank Demos, which commissioned the survey.

Music industry figures say that the survey offers a skewed picture though, as the poll also suggested that Mandelson's plans to disconnect illegal downloaders would stop 61 per cent of illegal file sharers from continuing their activities.

Mark Mulligan of Forrester Research said that "people who file share are the ones who are interested in music. They use file sharing as a discovery mechanism. We have a generation of young people who don't have any concept of music as a paid-for commodity. You need to have it at a price point you won't notice."