May 13, 2005 10:32 AM PDT
Digital listening growing, radio slipping
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In March 2005, approximately 77.2 million customers listened to music stored on a computer, up 22 percent from 63.2 million during the same month last year, according to a report from market researcher The NPD Group. The study also found that online radio stations had 53.5 million listeners this March, up from 45.3 million a year ago. Free streaming of music also saw gains, with a rise of 37 percent, to 46 million listeners.
Though radio continued to be the preferred medium, the number of consumers listening to radio fell by 4 percent in March 2005 to 194 million, down from 203 million a year earlier. The survey was carried out among 5,000 consumers aged 13 and above.
"The rise of digital listening and storage for music continues unabated this year," Russ Crupnick, president of the Music and Movies division at NPD, said in a statement. "Technology companies are providing new tools to consumers in the form of powerful music-enabled PCs and portable music players; music companies are answering the call for more content; and consumers are responding positively."
More and more tech companies are boosting their music business, encouraged by the dramatic popularity of Apple's iTunes store and iPod music players. Earlier this week, Yahoo launched a new subscription music service.
According to the NPD survey, the number of consumers who rip music onto their computers has more than doubled since March 2004. Also, there was a substantial (127 percent) increase in transfer of music to MP3 players since last year. A 93 percent increase in paid music downloads during the same period indicates an increasing acceptance of the online medium, NPD said.
See more CNET content tagged:
NPD Group Inc.,
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survey

When that isn't true, the APR affil. that ownes the entire quarter of this state, down to Cincy gets the speakers.
When all four CC stations are all at commercial at the same time, and last for more than five minutes at a run, you can't get any darned music anyway. You can jog, walk, or drive to that.
NWLB
****
http://www.nwlb.net
When that isn't true, the APR affil. that ownes the entire quarter of this state, down to Cincy gets the speakers.
When all four CC stations are all at commercial at the same time, and last for more than five minutes at a run, you can't get any darned music anyway. You can jog, walk, or drive to that.
NWLB
****
http://www.nwlb.net
rarely meets my interests. Satellite radio could be better, but the
monthly fee is a very strong negaive. What does work is an MP3
player and a collection of MP3 files. The player w=is either a CD
player which can play the MP3 format or my 'Super iPod' - a
laptop with iTunes and 30 GB of music and audio book files
which I like, and which can play through the car stereo system.
So I lose the news, which rarely is reported. I also lose the
commercials, which hardly leave room for music. And I also lose
the overly verbose announcers who are overly impressed with
the sound of their own voices. All in all, a most excellent
exchange.
rarely meets my interests. Satellite radio could be better, but the
monthly fee is a very strong negaive. What does work is an MP3
player and a collection of MP3 files. The player w=is either a CD
player which can play the MP3 format or my 'Super iPod' - a
laptop with iTunes and 30 GB of music and audio book files
which I like, and which can play through the car stereo system.
So I lose the news, which rarely is reported. I also lose the
commercials, which hardly leave room for music. And I also lose
the overly verbose announcers who are overly impressed with
the sound of their own voices. All in all, a most excellent
exchange.
By offering a huge database of stations, including advertisement free stations all around the world, online radio can be seen to be a much wiser choice for those looking to tune in to their favorite music. It costs nothing to listen to, and its location over the internet also gives audio through a clean stream. There are various different genres, from contemporary and classical to hip-hop and dance, with stations ranging from mainstream artists to undiscovered hits. In conjunction with online radio, online music are seeing positive improvements as they continue to play their roles in stealing away loyal listeners of traditional radio.
According to recent projections and data, the amount of paid online music has increased nearly 100 percent within the past year. With increases such as these, it is no surprise that corresponding data shows a four percent drop in radio listeners. With digital audio players becoming cheaper and a new customary standard for listening music, many are ditching the broadcast radio to listen to their own ?narrowcast? audio programs. Whether or not traditional radio will completely diminish or become a secondary media source, it can be seen that digital radio is quickly overtaking it as the primary means of media, with no means of slowing.
By offering a huge database of stations, including advertisement free stations all around the world, online radio can be seen to be a much wiser choice for those looking to tune in to their favorite music. It costs nothing to listen to, and its location over the internet also gives audio through a clean stream. There are various different genres, from contemporary and classical to hip-hop and dance, with stations ranging from mainstream artists to undiscovered hits. In conjunction with online radio, online music are seeing positive improvements as they continue to play their roles in stealing away loyal listeners of traditional radio.
According to recent projections and data, the amount of paid online music has increased nearly 100 percent within the past year. With increases such as these, it is no surprise that corresponding data shows a four percent drop in radio listeners. With digital audio players becoming cheaper and a new customary standard for listening music, many are ditching the broadcast radio to listen to their own ?narrowcast? audio programs. Whether or not traditional radio will completely diminish or become a secondary media source, it can be seen that digital radio is quickly overtaking it as the primary means of media, with no means of slowing.
Also, since online music is progressively becoming cheaper, more and more people are buying the music they are downloading, decreasing the amount of claims the RIAA may put out in the future.
So now, not only are people being scared away from downloading illegally, but they are being given legal means of getting and listening to music online. With more and more services and programs being offered, people will begin accepting the services, boosting the online music business.
Also, since online music is progressively becoming cheaper, more and more people are buying the music they are downloading, decreasing the amount of claims the RIAA may put out in the future.
So now, not only are people being scared away from downloading illegally, but they are being given legal means of getting and listening to music online. With more and more services and programs being offered, people will begin accepting the services, boosting the online music business.