Radio Use Shrinks; Concert Industry Faltering
This slide shows that radio usage in a 24 hr. period has dropped from 2:43 in 2000 to 1 hr. 24 minutes in 2010. Conversely, Internet usage has expanded from 59 minutes, to 2:52 in 2010. Time spent reading magazines and newspapers has fallen. TV use has grown slightly.
Radio’s Future II: The 2010 American Youth Study conducted by Edison Research and sponsored by Radio-info.com contains a multitude of slides showing changes in attitude toward radio and other media since the study was conducted a decade ago in 2000. Results are based upon 1,533 interviews nationwide, split almost evenly between age 12-24 demo and age 22-34 demo. While this sequel to the 2000 study measures large changes in media and radio use there are also some interesting slides that do not concern radio.
For example, it is not surprising that cell phone ownership increased from 29% in 2000 to 81% in 2010. Of the 81%, 43% say theirs is a smart phone. When the age 12-24 group was asked how often they read a printed newspaper, 58% said, “Never” and 28% answered “sometimes.”
When asked “How many concerts you attended in the last year?” it became clear that the current economy has not bolstered attendance. In 2000 24% of 12-24s went to three or more concerts and 43% said, “none.” In 2010 only 12% said “three or more,” and 64% replied “none.” In 2000 the mean was 2.1 concerts attended, but ten years later the 2010 mean is .9.
The study also addresses the growth of Internet radio streams and apps such as Pandora. In its recommendations it suggests, “Send more stations after these demos or watch them fade away–the consumer and the advertisers still see radio as a youth medium–why don’t the owners? Claim Internet audio or lose it. It can’t be just your over-the-air product. It must be a font of innovation. Learn from what is driving Pandora.”
This graph shows the steady decline in album sales over the 10 year period, falling from 785 million to 2000 to 380 million in 2009.
- Crested Butte Songwriters Festival Debuts - November 28, 2011
- Scott Borchetta On CNBC Power Lunch - November 22, 2011
- Twitter Used To Rank Republican Candidates - November 21, 2011
Surveys like this should not be taken seriously. I am a person that could say I have been to more than 3 concerts in the past yr, but I used to go to probably more that 250 concerts a yr, while I no longer do that I am just more particular about which concerts I attend now. There are very few artists I would pay over $50 to see!! It’s not we don’t want to go to concerts just like we used to, it is THAT WITH THE PRICE OF CONCERT TICKETS TODAY I JUST CANNOT AFFORD TO ATTEND ALL THE CONCERTS I USED TO WHEN THE HIGHEST PRICE WAS UNDER $50! If artists want attendance to increase at their concerts they need to keep the price of tickets @ $50 or below. I used to be a promoter and know there are many ways this can be achieved!! I once spent $150 to see Reba, but that is simply not possible anymore!! In recent yrs I spent $87 to see Tim and Faith’s Soul 2 Soul concert, but did not do it for the 2nd concert. The only reason I paid that much that one time is because I have been a fan of Tim’s since he first started. It was money well spent. Reba’s concerts would be considered my 2nd best concerts I have ever attended. As far as CD’s I still buy them! Prefer to have the CD rather than download, that way I have it to do with whatever I want, when I want, plus it is cheaper than downloading!! And a whole lot less time consuming.
Karen, I could Not have said it better! Amen
There was a time when it was important to consider the audience when one created a commercial song. These days, one may just as well write for himself, as that is-pretty much-the audience, and the commerce has left the building.