From Radioink.com:
Online Consumers Are Re-Energizing The Music Industry
According to a new survey released by the Digital Media Association, digital music consumers listen to more music, are exposed to more new music, talk more about music and attend more concerts.
Nearly 60 percent of online music consumers report that they are listening to more music since they started using an online service. The consumers surveyed listened to Internet radio, subscription music services, and pay-per-download music services, including AOL Radio, Yahoo! Music, iTunes, Rhapsody, Zune, Urge, Napster, Pandora, Live365 and others.
The majority of online music service users report that hearing music over the Internet has expanded their musical tastes, allowing them to discover new artists and explore new music genres. About 25 percent reported having discovered ?a lot? of new artists, while more than 60 percent of consumers surveyed say they have discovered some new artists.
According to the survey, online music listening has increased music fans' overall music discussion with friends and co-workers, with more than 35 percent now talking about music more. And, more than 75 percent of online music consumers report they have recommended a particular service to a friend or co-worker.
The survey also found that listening to and purchasing music over the Internet increases concert attendance. Fifteen percent of online music fans say they now attend more concerts.
"These findings demonstrate that real music fans ? and today's music tastemakers ? are online," said DiMA Executive Director Jonathan Potter. "This makes the 2006 holiday sales jump in music devices and sound recordings exponentially more important to artists, songwriters, producers and music publishers, as online music's impact extends way beyond immediate revenues. Consumers of innovative online music services are reviving the music economy as they enjoy more music and more new music in every way possible, and most importantly, as they introduce their friends to the music and online services they enjoy."
To view survey details, go to http://www.digmedia.org.