US Mobile Music Interest High But Usage Remains Low
The cell + portable player combo may become the next killer device. But for now even though early US adopters are very aware of all their cell has to offer in the way of music and entertainment, they are slow to actually utilize these new services. Ringones and ringbacks remain the bright spots. A new IPSOS study shows:
- Only 4% of American mobile phone owners aged 12 and
older have downloaded full digital
music songs over-the-air in the past
30 days. Teens are the most likely (11%), with younger
adults 18 to 34being the next most likely (8% among 18 to 24 year olds
and 7% among those 25 to 34). - Reflecting untapped
opportunity 71% of American mobile phone owners are aware of mobile/wireless
phones that would allow them to download and play entire songs rather
than just ringtones. (More after the jump.)
- 14% of American Mobile Phone Owners report they have a mobile phone with full-song download and playback capability.
- Average mobile music downloaders have
approximately 6 tracks stored on theirmobile phones, which is
similar to the number of ringtones stored. - BRIGHT SPOT: Among those with
mobile phones, 27% have downloaded ringtones and 9% have done so in the
past 30 days, returning to levels experienced in early 2005 after
declines in recent quarters. - When
considering overall spending including ringtones, full
songs and ringbacks, the average mobile music downloader spent roughly
$7.00 in the past month. - Mobile video offerings are just starting to gain interest as well.