Nearly half of music listening happens via radio, more than double streaming
Digital radio is the music delivery method of the future, no doubt about it.
But that future remains pretty far off.
Right now, finds a new report, the largest share of music listening is still happening through that most traditional of means, the AM/FM dial.
In fact, no other form of music listening is even close.
That’s according to Edison Research, which conducted a study of more than 8,500 Americans ages 13 and over to determine where their time spent listening to music is spent.
It found that 44 percent of listening time was via AM/FM radio, by far the largest share.
The No. 2 share of listening time, at just 18 percent, was spent listening to music that had been purchased, such as CDs or digital downloads.
Streaming, including digital radio and music services, was third at 17 percent.
No other format got more than 10 percent, with YouTube in fourth at 8 percent.
Digital music has indisputably grown in popularity. Another study done recently, by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, found that 68 million people worldwide subscribe to music services such as Spotify, Pandora or Apple Music, up 45.2 percent from the previous year and two and a half times the rate in 2012.
So why the lag?
There are many answers, and the first is simply the continued utility of AM/FM.
Thought many cars now have Bluetooth that allows people to listen to Pandora through the dashboard, it’s infinitely easier to just listen to traditional radio and endure a few commercials.
Traditional radio is also free. Most digital alternatives are either paid or require some sort of signup, which makes some people leery. It’s certainly cheaper to listen only to over-the-air radio.
Older people, too, may be stymied by technology. If they can get the same songs or genre on radio, they may prefer that option to having to learn a new way to download music.
And data usage remains a major barrier to the widespread adoption of digital. Depending on your smartphone’s monthly plan, you may find yourself paying overage charges if you stream too much music.
