Online music expands the market, says a trade group’s survey

Online music has been good for the music business—at least according to a survey from the Digital Media Association. A survey of 1,008 online music consumers shows that nearly 60% report that they listen to more music since they started using an online service.

Most online music service users report that listening to music over the Internet has expanded their musical tastes, allowing them to discover new artists and explore new genres. 25% report having discovered a lot of new artists, while more than 60% say they have discovered some new artists.

The survey also reports that about half of digital music fans spend more than $200 per year on music, and nearly 30% spend more than $300. "Prior to the digital age, someone who purchased six CDs per year—valued at just over $100—was considered a significant music consumer," says executive director Jonathan Potter.