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Study Shows Major Increase In Ringtone Sales
(from fmqb.com)
A pair of new studies from Ipsos Reid look at ringtone downloading and the impact of Internet usage on other media. Their study finds that ringtone downloading has jumped fourfold in the past year, with a just under a quarter of mobile phone users downloading ringtones. A year ago, only five percent of mobile phone users said that they downloaded their ringtones. Unsurprisingly, half of 12-24 year-old respondents downloaded ringtones, with 30 percent of 25-34 year-olds, 17 percent of 35-54 year-olds and five percent of those 55 and older.
The study also shows that even though ringtones are pricier than purchasing songs online, they are sold legally far more often than songs, which are of course illegally traded regularly. In the Ipsos TEMPO study, 78 percent of mobile phone users paid for their ringtone downloads. "This is an intriguing phenomenon,” said Ipsos VP Matt Kleinschmit, “as ringtones often cost twice as much or more than a high quality, PC-based full digital music track. Given the lack of non-paid alternatives, as well as consumers’ apparent willingness to pay more for the immediate gratification involved in a mobile-delivered download, there appears to be significant opportunity for continued expansion in the paid ringtone arena.”
The study also looks at downloading full songs onto mobile phones, even though the technology is far from commonplace at this time. Still, six percent of mobile phone users reported having done so, with others also having tried such newly downloadable content as ringbacks (six percent), short video clips (three percent) and music videos (two percent).
Another new study from Ipsos Reid looks at the impact of the Internet on other media in Canada. While Internet usage is on the rise, radio listening has seen a downturn. Canadians surveyed now spend an average of 12.7 hours online a week, up dramatically from 8.7 hours in 2002. However, radio listening has declined from an average of 16 hours a week in 2002 to just 11 hours per week now. However, TV watching is still the number one media activity.
posted by Unknown @ Tuesday, August 09, 2005,
