The Music Industry Forum is held in Beijing, where experts, including Wang Lei (left), Shen Lihui (center) and Yin Liang, discuss the influence of Internet on the industry. [Photo by Zhang Wei/China Daily]

Statistics prove that the influence of the Internet is undeniable, determining the way people listen to music, and how they pay for it, according to the latest report released from the forum, which was jointly organized by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, the Communication University of China and the Music Industry Promotion Committee.

The report says that the total value of China's digital-music industry in 2014 was more than 49.1 billion yuan ($7.79 billion), increasing 11.5 percent compared with 2013. There were more than 470 million digital-music users in China in 2014.

The total value of the physical record industry was 600 million yuan, declining 5.4 percent comparing with 2013.

"Being able to share music globally is a great development in the music industry," says Liu Jin, director of the music channel of Douban.com, one of the most popular Chinese social-networking services.

According to Liu, there are around 34,000 Chinese singer-songwriters who release their music via Douban.com, and around 300 to 400 new music works are offered to listeners every day on the website.

"Many people complain that there are fewer good songs than 10 years ago. Some charge that the Internet destroys creative content and the rampant piracy violation makes the industry decline irreversible. But the good side is obvious: For example, Chinese original singer-songwriters share the opportunity with worldwide musicians. For music lovers, they have a wide range of choices," Liu says.

"What we need to do is to regulate the market."