LISTENING AT COMPUTERS INCREASING, RADIO LISTENERSHIP DROPS FMQB A new study by The NDP Group finds that computers are quickly rising as a dominant music listening device. The market research firm surveyed music listeners' habits in March of this year, and although radio is still the most popular listening medium, it took a slight dip when compared to the previous year. Radio listening declined by four percent, with 194 million listeners in March of 2005, but 203 million last year. The survey found that roughly 77.2 million people listened to music stored on a computer, a 22 percent increase when compared to the same time frame in 2004. Looking at streaming online stations, listenership jumped by 18 percent, from 45.3 million listeners in 2004 to 53.5 million in 2005.
The survey also found that the amount of music fans who rip music into their computers from CDs has more than doubled in the past year, with a 102 percent increase. Also there was an incredible increase in the amount of users who transfer music onto portable MP3 players (up 127 percent). The purchasing of music online rose 93 percent in the past year.
The NDP survey asked 5000 consumers ages 13 and up about their listening habits. "The rise of digital listening and storage for music continues unabated this year," said NPD Music and Movies President Russ Crupnick 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." |