Research In The News
With Mixtapes & Social Media, Is The Album So Far Gone?
At first glance, Drake’s success as an artist appears similar to his hip-hop peers. The actor turned Grammy-nominated rapper performed at the 2010 Grammy Awards and starred in a recent Sprite commercial during the NBA All-Star game. Here is what’s new: Drake has yet to release a full-length retail album. So Far Gone was the 6th best selling rap release of 2009, despite being just a seven song mixtape.
40% Can't Name A Single Online Music Service
From 7 Digital to Spotify, there are 20 major music services in the UK. But a new survey says that 40% of consumers have never heard of any of them. Of the 60% who are familiar with digital music, 85% have only heard of two – iTunes and Amazon.
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2010/03/40-cant-name-a-single-online-music-service.html
Increasing Game Time Online
The popularity of social network games notwithstanding, the proportion of video game users playing online has remained fairly constant, according to research from The NPD Group. Slightly more than one-half of all gamers play on the Web, but the time they spend doing so has gone up in the past year by 10%.
Shopping Behavior To Change As A Result Of New Marketplace Realities
With new shopping behavior data and demographic trends indicating that an enduring shift has taken place as a result of the recent economic downturn, retailers and suppliers will need to adapt to consumers’ new shopping behaviors to succeed in today’s evolved marketplace and during the post-recession recovery, according to The New Consumer Behavior Paradigm: Permanent or Fleeting?, a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers and Retail Forward.
http://www.pwc.com/US/en/press-releases/2010/Shopping-behavior-to-change.jhtml
Gen Y Will Spend Us Into Recovery
Don’t look to Baby Boomers to lead the way in consumer spending in the months ahead. A new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Retail Forward says that this recovery — unlike those in last few decades — will be shaped by the values of tech-loving Gen Y, and to a lesser degree, affluent members of Gen X.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=123851
Nobody Stole The Pie
RIAA blog: “Industry analysts, executives, critics, and academics have been debating the impact of digital piracy for a decade. During that period, the U.S. music industry fell from nearly $15 billion annually to $8.5 billion. While a quickly growing digital market helped offset the decline in physical sales, and great strides were made constraining the growth in illegal P2P traffic, still roughly 4 out of 5 digital music downloads in the U.S. are via P2P and other unauthorized services. Some pundits have ascribed the problems solely to the industry, but you would think by now there should be no doubt that the online theft of music has caused significant harm …”
Online Retail Sales Will Grow To $250 Billion By 2014
Online retail sales aren’t growing at the torrid pace they once were, but they continue to grow steadily. Forrester Research put out a new five-year forecast today predicting that e-commerce sales in the U.S. will keep growing at a 10% compound annual growth rate through 2014. It forecasts online retail sales in the U.S. will be nearly $250 billion, up from $155 billion in 2009. Last year, online retail sales were up 11%, compared to 2.5% for all retail sales.
Award Show Viewing Is Up
viewership is rising for several notable award shows. If this trend continues, this could mean good news for the Academy Awards, especially given overall movie ticket sales in 2009 and the Academy’s expansion of the best movie category from five to 10 films.
Global Smartphone App Download Market Could Reach $15 Billion By 2013
research2guidance estimates that the worldwide smartphone application market will grow from $1.94 billion in 2009 to $15.65 billion by 2013. The big surge in applications will be driven by a fast-growing number of smartphone users, which the research company estimates will increase from about 100 million last year to nearly 1 billion by 2013.
Parents Teaching Kids Money Values
According to a recent survey by American Express, 71% of parents with children between the ages six and 16 say their children understand that we are in a recession. This number suggests that talks about the current economic environment are happening at kitchen tables across the country. 13% give an allowance for kids to spend on weekly non-essentials; i.e. movie tickets, toys, games, etc. 10% give an allowance for kids to spend on weekly essentials; i.e. gas, lunch money, etc.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=123652
Meet The Millennials
Millennials, the American teens and twenty-somethings who are making the passage into adulthood at the start of a new millennium, are confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and open to change.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=123552
Mining The U.S. Generation Gaps
Understanding shopping and media habits at different ages can help marketers optimize critical assortment, pricing, promotion and advertising decisions by crafting targeted strategies and niche offers that reflect deal propensity, trip frequency, channel predilection, average spend and media usage.
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/consumer/mining-the-u-s-generation-gaps/
New Stats Show Music Tops YouTube Viewing
Watching music videos is the most popular activity on YouTube according to research company Sysomos accounting for 30.7% of all views. The study was based on measuring the tags on uploaded videos.
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2010/03/new-stats-show-music-tops-youtube-viewing.html
Boomers Slowly Warm To Mobile Web
Boomers made up 30.6% of all mobile phone users in August 2009, according to comScore’s age breakout. However, they made up only 19.6% of all touch-screen users and 21.1% of smartphone users. Younger boomers (ages 45 to 54) were more likely than older boomers to use touch-screens, smartphones and any mobile phone.
Social Media Adoption Yields New Customers For Small Businesses
The third wave of the Small Business Success Index, by Network Solutions and the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, reports social media adoption by small businesses has doubled from 12% to 24% in the last year. Small businesses are increasingly investing in applications including blogs, Facebook and LinkedIn profiles. 61% of the respondents use social media to identify new customers.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=123455
Average Number Of Hours Per Week Spent On Online Gaming Has Grown By 10% Since 2009
According to Online Gaming 2010, the most recent report The NPD Group, the average number of hours spent each week on online gaming has increased 10% since 2009, while an average of 20% of all games purchased by online gamers were digitally downloaded – up from 19% in the 2009 study and 18% in the 2008 study.
Profiling Social Gamers
PopCap Games, maker of several popular titles, explored the demographics of the group in its “2010 Social Gaming Research” report.
Cost, Content, and Convenience Important Factors For Consumers Considering 3D TV
While consumers express some interest in 3D TV they may not be running out to purchase a new TV set just yet, according to The NPD Group. NPD’s “Snapshot Report: 3D Television” found that about a third of consumers were at least “somewhat interested” in having 3D capability on their TV, but cost, content availability, and convenience of watching in 3D ranked high among concerns about adopting the technology.
NPD Group: U.S. Record Industry Lost 24 Million Customers Over Two Years
The NPD Group says 24 million fewer people bought music in 2009 compared to 2007. At the Digital Music Forum in New York on Wednesday, The NPD Group’s Russ Crupnick presented some insightful data on U.S. music purchases from 2007 to 2009. The presentation was reported at Digital Music News and CNET’s Media Maverick blog.
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3id9638d8420146d3c01bf6bdb523c3311
Online TV Viewing For Catch-Up
Americans are consuming more and more video on TV, Web and Mobile according to the recent Nielsen A2/M2 Three Screen Report, but the broader usage patterns suggest that online video is a replacement of DVR use, or used by those who do not have immediate access to TV.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=122888
1/3 Of Americans Don’t Use Fast Internet
According to the FCC, about 93 million Americans don’t use fast, broadband Internet, citing cost and complexity as a factor in their refusal to enter the 20th century.
http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/02/24/13-of-americans-dont-use-fast-internet/
Gaming Grabs Gals
A study from Q Interactive and Social Media World Forum of more than 2,000 women in November of 2009 found them actively engaging with brands as they dabble in social media gaming. The study of U.S. women, of whom 50% play online games according to Pew Internet, offers a picture of this growing group and where brands fit in. According to market research firm Think Equity, the $720 million online social-gaming market is expected to at least double to over $1 billion by 2010.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=122887
Mobile Phones Organize Lives
A total of 234 million people age 13 and older in the U.S. used mobile devices by the end of Q4 2009. According to a new survey recently announced by Ruder Finn, Americans are spending an average of 2.7 hours on the mobile Internet, connecting socially, managing their personal finances, and even as a means for advocacy. 91% of mobile phone users go online to socialize compared to only 79% of traditional desktop users.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=122886
Video Games Score 5% Of U.S. Household Entertainment Budget
U.S. consumers face a dizzying array of choices in how to spend their media and entertainment dollar. At the same time, the current economic climate has put even more pressure on how households make decisions. With these forces in mind, Nielsen Games surveyed more than 3,000 U.S. consumers to examine their overall entertainment spend with a focus on the video game category.
Digital Consumer Behavior Recap, 2009
According to a recent comScore study recaping key trends in the U.S. digital media landscape, including e-commerce, search, online video, online advertising and mobile, total U.S. e-commerce spending reached $209.6 billion in 2009, down 2% versus the previous year and the first year on record with negative growth rates. A handful of retail e-commerce categories experienced growth. Books & Magazines topped the list of gaining categories bolstered by category-wide price-cutting and the release of numerous high-profile best-sellers. Computer software ranked second, followed by Sport & Fitness and Jewelry & Watches, which rebounded from an especially weak 2008.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=122503
Poor Customer Service Costs Companies $83 Billion Annually
When measuring the cost of poor customer service in the U.S., Genesys, with the assistance from analysts at Greenfield Online and Datamonitor/Ovum, found that enterprises in the U.S. lose an estimated $83 billion each year due to defections and abandoned purchases as a direct result of a poor experience. Nearly two-thirds of consumers said they had ended a relationship due to customer service alone. When they end a relationship, 61% of the time they take their business to a competitor.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=122502
Changing Models: A Global Perspective On Paying For Content Online
Will consumers pay for online news and entertainment they now get for free? Nielsen asked more than 27,000 consumers across 52 countries, and the answer is a definite “maybe.” As expected, the vast majority (85%) prefer that free content remain free. Yet there are opportunities to be found in the details. Indeed, when asked to focus on specific types of content, survey participants are more willing to at least consider paying for particular categories, especially if they have done so before.
Music How, When, Where You Want It (video)
A short film from IFPI describing the variety of legal online music services available worldwide.
http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_resources/music_services_film.html
Sales At Retail Expected Down In February, But Ecommerce Expected Stronger
According to the February Consumer Reports Index, though consumers spent more than they planned to this past holiday season, they aren’t planning to open up their wallets again anytime soon. The Past 30-Day Retail Index for February, which reflects the purchases consumers made in January, is 10.9, a decline of 23% from the previous month says the report.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=122500
Americans Spending $1,000 Annually On Entertainment Subscriptions...
Americans love their entertainment, and the content is flowing through broadband accounts, cable TV channels, Netflix subscriptions, gaming consoles, and mobile phones. In fact, according to a recent projection by the U.S. Census Bureau, the average U.S. household will spend $997.07 on entertainment-related subscriptions for cable or satellite TV, gaming-related services like Xbox Live, and Internet connectivity in 2010. That figure doesn’t even include mobile phones, and the surrounding cloud of texts, 3G surfing, and smartphone-related purchases.
Total Viewers Of Online Video Increased 5% Year-Over-Year
The number of unique viewers of online video increased 5.2% year-over-year according to The Nielsen Company, from 137.4 million unique viewers in January 2009 to 142.7 million in January 2010. Among the top Web brands ranked by unique viewers in January, Disney Online was the fastest growing month-over-month, increasing 23.3%. Facebook and MSN/WindowsLive/Bing were the second and third fastest growing, increasing 18.6% and 15.6% month-over-month, respectively.
Diary To PPM Radio Market Measurement Creates Share Anomalies
According to a recent study by Research Director Inc. and Inside Radio, Urban Adult Contemporary radio formats have the highest share of listening per market, with an average 7.8 share among persons 6+, based on PPM (Portable People Meter) ratings. Despite that fact, Urban stations have lost share with the PPM. According to an earlier study by Research Director Inc., Urban Adult Contemporary stations saw ratings decline 17.2%.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=122019
Making The Most Of Earned Media
Thanks to the social Web, anyone can publish their opinions for the world to see. As a result, word-of-mouth reaches further than ever, and brands have a tremendous opportunity to tap into their loyal customers and advocates to help spread their marketing messages through earned media. But harnessing earned media can be difficult because, ultimately, it is consumers who are in control.
U.S. Consumer Technology Revenue Declines Nearly 5% In 2009 As Average Prices Drop
U.S. consumer technology revenue fell almost 5% in 2009 to $106 billion dollars, according The NPD Group’s “Consumer Tracking Service,” which tracks consumer electronics trends. While overall revenue may have been down, that should not be taken as a sign that consumers were not buying. Total units sold increased marginally, with the industry selling over one billion devices, gadgets, and accessory products. The slight increase in units wasn’t enough to offset the decline in average prices, however, leading to the decrease in overall revenue. Average prices dropped about 6% from 2008 to 2009 to an average of $92 for each piece of electronics purchased.
comScore Releases “The 2009 U.S. Digital Year In Review”
Despite economic headwinds, consumers’ use of digital media climbed to new heights in 2009 as the Internet continued to evolve as an integral component of Americans’ personal and professional lives. The report provides a comprehensive view across the fixed and mobile digital sectors to uncover this past year’s important consumer trends.
Canadians Spent More Than $4.66 Billion On Technology Products In 2009
According The NPD Group, Canadians spent more than $4.66 billion on computer and information technology products in 2009, up one percent from the $4.61 billion spent in 2008. Total sales figures for gaming-related products generated $2 billion, more than half of which went to software products for gaming systems.
Music Ownership Beats Music Subscription In Reader Poll
In last week’s Faceoff Series Mashable asked about music consumption models, “Do readers prefer to own their entire music collections or do some of you gravitate toward subscription services?” One week later and the results are in, and ownership wins at a full 50% of the vote.
Confidence Lacking In Use Of Online Personalization Tools
According to a new Coremetrics study, “The Face of the New Marketer,” while most marketers report a desire to use online data to personalize their marketing efforts and deliver tailored offers to their customers, their current technology use does not support this goal. 75% report that using various online tools for personalization is a priority, 81% claim that it’s very important for them to increase visitor value through compelling product and content offerings, but 51% report they currently use online personalization tools.
What Works In Online Video
Shorter spots see higher completion rates … According to analysis of video ad network YuMe, online video viewers became less likely to click on preroll ads, or watch them to completion, over the course of 2009. Between Q1 and Q4, click-through rates trended steadily downward, from 1.88% to 0.74%. Completion rates dropped as well, to 66.3% in Q4.
M-Commerce Shoppers Specific About Recommendations
According to the recently released ChoiceStream 2009 Personalization Survey, 65% of m-commerce shoppers indicate that they would buy more products from their mobile devices if it were easier to find products on them from trusted retailers. The survey also finds the placement, or location, of product recommendations within an e-commerce site to be a key determinant of whether or not consumers make a purchase, with product detail pages emerging as the clear winner in terms of sales conversion.
On Average, Halftime Show Performers Score 555% Post Game Sales Bump
The Super Bowl offers tremendous exposure not just for the sport and its advertisers, but also for the A-list musicians who perform at halftime. A Nielsen SoundScan analysis shows that songs played during the last five Super Bowl halftime shows enjoyed an average 555% surge in sales the following week. Meanwhile, the performers’ top albums saw a 478% average spike in next-week sales.
Big Retailers Report Strong Sales Gains In January
In a surprise showing for a notoriously slow month, shoppers turned out at the nation’s malls in January, spending carefully but sufficiently to help retailers post solid sales and providing momentum heading into the spring selling season. Retail sales increased 3.3% compared with January 2009, according to Thomson Reuters’ tally of 29 major chain stores, including department stores, discounters and apparel sellers. Analysts had predicted a 2.5% gain.
U.S. Web-Based Radio Listening Is On The Rise, Attracting 60m Listeners
US web-based radio listening is on the rise, attracting 60m listeners a week according to Bridge Ratings. The company has also forecast that the online listening audience will grow to 77m by 2015. These figures include internet-only radio services such as Pandora as well as AM/FM simulcast streams.
Social Media And Young Adults
Two Pew Internet Project surveys of teens and adults reveal a decline in blogging among teens and young adults and a modest rise among adults 30 and older. Even as blogging declines among those under 30, wireless connectivity continues to rise in this age group, as does social network use. Teens ages 12-17 do not use Twitter in large numbers, though high school-aged girls show the greatest enthusiasm for the application.
2009 Video Game Software Sales Across Top Global Markets Experience Declines For Console And Portable Platforms
Combined video game software unit sales across the world’s three largest games markets experienced a decline of 8% in calendar year 2009, totaling 379.3 million units. The declines were more modest in Japan, which experienced a 2% decline in software units. The United States and United Kingdom saw respective declines of 7% and 14%. In the United States, console and portable software experienced respective declines of 7% and 8%, while U.K. units saw respective declines of 6% and 25%.
Mobile Audience Mirrors Total Internet As Search, Email, Social Networking Driving Traffic
According to The Nielsen Company, mobile Internet traffic in December 2009 was similar to total Internet use, with the largest audiences being seen for search, e-mail and social networking.
Loyalty Programs Need To Engage
A new report from the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council indicates that marketers are under-valuing perks, discounts, deals and additional service opportunities, as customers give them high marks. Some 61% of marketers believe that loyalty program participants are the best and most profitable customers. And, 65% view customer loyalty program investments as a very essential, or a quite valuable part of the marketing mix.
Census Of Files Available Via BitTorrent
BitTorrent is popular because it lets anyone distribute large files at low cost. Which kinds of files are available on BitTorrent? Sauhard Sahi, a Princeton senior, decided to find out. Sauhard’s independent work last semester, under the supervision of Ed Felten (Princeton University’s Director of the Center for Information Technology Policy and Professor of Computer Science and Public Affairs), set out to measure what was available on BitTorrent. This post, summarizing his results, was co-written by Sauhard and Felten.
U.S. Toy Industry Sales Generate $21.47 Billion In 2009
According to The NPD Group, Q4 2009 toys sales reveal that, while revenues were flat due to heavy promotional activity at retail, unit sales were up 4% compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. Building Sets and Arts & Crafts experienced the most significant increases, at 23% and 7%, respectively. Action Figures and Games/Puzzles saw respective revenue increases of 4% and 1%. Youth Electronics and Plush experienced the largest declines when compared to 2008, at 17% and 13%, respectively.
Nielsen 2010 Global Consumer Outlook
Consumers are more diverse, demanding and connected than ever before. To help give you a clearer look into what’s ahead, Nielsen has assembled videos from our global team to deliver insights into what consumers watch and what they buy. With evidence of a recovery emerging, understanding the global trends and local conditions is essential to success.
Bargain Hunters Start With Newspaper And Magazine Ads
According to a recent Adweek Media/ Harris Poll, 23% of adult Americans believe that newspaper and magazine advertisements are where they can find the best bargains. 18% believe online advertisements are most likely to help them find the best bargains. 10% say direct mail and 12% catalogs, 11% television commercials, and just 2% say radio. And, 34% of Americans believe the type of ad makes no difference when they are looking for the best bargain.
As Super Bowl Nears, Flat-Screen TV Sales Are Expected To Increase
Of the estimated 168 million people who will watch the big game this year, an estimated 3.6 million will take advantage of retail promotions to buy a television, according to the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association’s annual Super Bowl survey, which was conducted by BIGresearch. Nearly three-fourths of viewers plan to purchase food and beverages before the game, and total spending is estimated to reach $8.9 billion.
Mom Marketing
According to a Retail Advertising and Marketing Association survey conducted by BIGresearch, women with children at home are more likely to use Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter than average adults. Additionally, 15.3% maintain their own blog. Mike Gatti, Executive Director for RAMA, suggests that “… retailers who aren’t engaging customers through social media could be missing the boat …”
What Consumers Look For In New Tech
A majority of consumers think technology has made life better in every area except personal relationships, according to the Philips Center for Health and Well-being. Communication, information and medical treatments topped the areas of their lives that consumers felt were improved by technology. Consumers’ biggest concern was that technology be built to last, followed by good quality and the best price.
Boomers Log Some Serious TV Time
Boomers’ media usage patterns are similar to most Americans in one respect: TV dominates. In each month of Q3 2009, Americans watched an average of 129 hours of TV compared with 27 hours spent on the Internet, according to Nielsen’s latest “A2/M2 Three-Screen Report.”
Kids Pack 10 3/4 Hours Of Media Content Into 7 1/2 Hours Every Day
Over the past five years, young people have increased the amount of time they spend consuming media by an hour and seventeen minutes daily, from 6:21 to 7:38, almost the amount of time most adults spend at work each day, except that young people use media seven days a week instead of five.
Boom Time In Second Life
Consumers tightened their real-world purse strings in 2009 amid concerns about the economy, but that did not seem to hurt sales of virtual goods.
Hypebot Reports Global Music Consumption Survey From Midem
8500 interviews in 13 countries … 63% are passionate about music … 14% would listen to music every minute of every day if they could …
NRF Forecasts 2.5% Increase In Retail Sales For 2010
The NRF released its 2010 economic forecast, projecting retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 2.5% from last year. According to its quarterly Retail Sales Outlook report, influential economic indicators such as the housing market and employment are beginning to show positive signs, which will bolster consumer confidence throughout the year.
Boomers New Social Media Mavens
According to a new study conducted by CPH Research on behalf of Continuum Crew, there has been a large shift in the media consumption of Baby Boomer-aged respondents; especially a dramatic rise in was time spent on the Internet. In the course of the study, a significant segment emerged within the Boomer group, dubbed the new “Social Media Maven.” The profile of this group is one that is heavily connected, exploring and expanding their networks.
Big Boost Is Forecast For App Stores
Most smartphone owners use mobile apps, and they constitute a thriving market that will lead to explosive growth in application store revenues, according to Gartner.
Led by Facebook, Twitter, Global Time Spent ODn Social Media Sites Up 82% Year-Over Year
According to The Nielsen Company, global consumers spent more than five and half hours on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter in December 2009, an 82% increase from the same time last year when users were spending just over three hours on social networking sites. In addition, the overall traffic to social networking sites has grown over the last three years.
What Social Followers Want
A December 2009 MarketingSherpa survey indicated that learning about specials and sales was the top motivation of those who friended or followed a brand online, supporting the results of earlier surveys. But looking for savings was followed closely by learning about new products, features or services.
Identify New Consumer Norms
The recession has had a long-term effect on how consumers think about spending, according to a report from market research firm Decitica, which identifies four market segments such as “Steadfast Frugalists” and “Apathetic Materialists.” Consumers older than 40, no matter what their income level, have experienced the deepest change in thinking, the study finds.
IFPI Publishes Digital Music Report 2010
Global digital music trade revenues reach US$4.2 billion, up 12% in 2009 … 400 services licensed worldwide by music companies with ISPs, mobile and other partners … New figures show local music collapsing in major markets as piracy bites into releases, sales and investment in France, Spain and Brazil … IFPI Digital Music Report highlights urgent need for legislation to curb digital piracy on ISP networks.
App Usage To Soar In 2010
Fever for applications is set to get only hotter this year, with more marketers investing more dollars—making it harder than ever to rise above the crowd.
Retailers Look To Upgrade Cross-Channel Capabilities
Cross-channel integration is well underway among retailers and set to grow in the coming years, according to the “Store Systems Study” from RIS and IHL Group. Checking other store inventory is currently the most widely available cross-channel system, followed by the next logical step—ordering items from another store. By the end of 2010, about one-half of retailers expected to accommodate both in-store returns than in-store pickup of online orders. Several mobile shopping technologies will increase in availability over the next three years as well. Mobile couponing, product information and ordering will be the top initiatives in 2010.
If Your Kids Are Awake, They’re Probably Online
The average young American now spends practically every waking minute — except for the time in school — using a smartphone, computer, television or other electronic device, according to a new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Digital Tools Help Moms Take Charge
Technology usage is not immune to the lifestyle changes motherhood brings. Moms put the focus on simplicity, convenience and multiuse technologies as they look to keep their families closely linked. Smartphones and PDAs are a boon for mothers on the go, 69% of whom use them to coordinate and schedule family activities. Some 26% of moms with smartphones say that they use the phone on a daily basis to download or play games or music for their children.
Gartner Says Consumers Will Spend $6.2 Billion In Mobile Application Stores In 2010
Consumers will spend $6.2 billion in 2010 in mobile application stores while advertising revenue is expected to generate $0.6 billion worldwide, according to Gartner, Inc. Analysts said mobile application stores will exceed 4.5 billion downloads in 2010, eight out of ten of which will be free to end users. Gartner forecasts worldwide downloads in mobile application stores to surpass 21.6 billion by 2013. Free downloads will account for 82% of all downloads in 2010, and will account for 87% of downloads in 2013.
Emerging Markets Embrace New Tech
While many Internet users in the United States and other mature markets enjoy the latest gadgets and online media activities, they may not be on the cutting edge — users in emerging countries are quickly taking to advanced Web and consumer electronics activities. According to the Accenture report “Mobile Takes Center Stage,” U.S. Internet users increased spending on consumer electronics in 2009.
2009 U.S. Video Game Industry And PC Game Software Retail Sales Reach $20.2 Billion
According to The NPD Group, U.S. retail sales of video games, which includes portable and console hardware, software and accessories, generated revenues of close to $19.66 billion, an 8% decline over the $21.4 billion generated in 2008. Retail sales in the PC game software industry also experienced declines, with revenues down 23%.
Mobile To Outpace Desktop Web By 2013
Mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common Web access devices worldwide by 2013, according to a new forecast by research firm Gartner. That’s an even more aggressive outlook than Morgan Stanley’s projection that the mobile Web will outstrip the desktop Web in five years.
Everywhere-Access Key to Paid Music Models
A new eMarketer report analyzes the future of the digital music industry.
Time Spent Viewing Online Video Up 13% In December
The Nielsen Company reported overall online video usage and top online brands ranked by video streams for December 2009. Year-over-year, unique viewers, total streams, streams per viewer and time per viewer were up, led by 13% growths in time per viewer.
Ninety Percent Of Paid Console Video Game Acquisitions In The Third Quarter Of 2009 Were Physical Format Purchases Or Rentals
According to “Games Acquisition Monitor,” a quarterly report from The NPD Group, 90% of all paid console video game acquisitions in the third quarter (Q3) of 2009 (July-September) were in the physical format, while 79% of games acquired for all other platforms which include portable, PC/MAC, mobile and smartphones, were in the physical format.
Child Mobile Ownership Up
Kids are getting mobile phones at a younger and younger age. What are they doing with them—besides talking to mom and dad?
A Big Music Year For Jackson, Boyle, Swift, Digital Downloads ... and Vinyl?
2009 music purchases in the U.S. were up 2.1% over 2008 figures, marking the second year in a row that sales exceeded 1.5B units sold according to Nielsen SoundScan. The data covers a 52-week period from January 5, 2009 through January 3, 2010. Driving the growth was a record-breaking year for digital downloads as music fans picked up 1.16 billion digital tracks (an 8.3% jump from the prior year) and 76.4 million digital albums (up 16.1%).
Technology Changing Consumer, Retailer Habits
Between the state of the economy and the rise of technology, consumers are embracing the internet, mobile phones and other technologies more than ever to find deals and change their shopping experience. These are the key findings of a new report being released by IBM at this week’s NRF Annual Convention & Expo 2010 in New York. Based on interviews with 32,000 consumers in six countries, the study found that tech-savvy shopping is no longer a niche phenomenon.
Videogaming Weathers The Storm
An industry needn’t be new in order to enjoy a surge in popularity. The market for videogames is a case in point. A recent report from Deloitte documents a robust increase last year in the number of people engaged in gaming, led by a deepening of the sector’s earlier inroads among consumers who are well into adulthood. This is by no means a mature market consisting solely of immature consumers.
Consumers Take To Shopping By Smartphone
Q3 2009 data from Compete lends support to the hope that 2010 is — finally — the year m-commerce will take off. Nearly two-fifths of smartphone owners reported having bought something non-mobile over their mobile phone in the past six months.
Retail Sales Data Shows Consumer Technology Sales Down Less Than 1% For The Holiday Season
U.S. consumer technology retail sales declined less than 1% for the 2009 holiday season, according to The NPD Group. NPD’s Weekly Tracking Service shows sales for the five week holiday period rang in at $10.8 billion dollars, a much improved showing from the 6% decline during the 2008 holiday season.
Internet, Broadband, And Cell Phone Statistics
In a national survey between Nov. 30 and Dec. 27, 2009, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project found that 74% of American adults (ages 18 and older) use the Internet; 60% of American adults use broadband connections at home; and 55% of American adults connect to the internet wirelessly, either through a WiFi or WiMax connection via their laptops or through their handheld device like a smart phone.
Consumers Down on Big-Ticket Spending
In a Zogby International poll, 40% of respondents said they expect to have less disposable income at the end of 2010 than they do now — nearly double the 21% expecting their disposable income to rise this year. Little wonder, then, that comparatively few respondents see themselves making a big-ticket purchase during 2010. Six percent expect to buy a house or condo; 12% expect to buy a major appliance, and the same proportion think they’ll buy a high-definition TV set.
How Mobile Search And Display Ads Could Become Goldmine For Local Businesses
Google has been testing the inclusion of click-to-call phone numbers in search ads on high-end mobile phones, a spokesperson confirmed. The intersection of local and mobile creates two distinct and huge ad opportunities, especially for small businesses, according to Kevin Lee, CEO at Didit, New York. “National advertisers with regional footprints will certainly need to spend on mobile,” he says. “Plus, there are millions of small businesses who would love to grow but need something other than search engine advertising.”
Smartphone Purchasing Behaviors Differ By Device
According to the Compete quarterly “Smartphone Intelligence” survey, smartphone owners are more comfortable buying from their handsets, but still have some site functionality problems. Nonetheless, says the report, mobile commerce (m-commerce) is ready to explode in 2010. But Compete cautions that marketers recognize the differences that vary by individual and device.
The Future Of Content Without Walls
The portability of content from device to device represents the future of media consumption. But the device market is constantly shifting, due to changing consumer preferences and an evolving electronics landscape. Device manufacturers, marketers and publishers alike are challenged to make content available where, when and how their end users want to consume it — and that is anywhere, anytime and on any device.
2009 Sales Wrap: Transactions Up As Digital Growth Slows
Billboard.biz gives us a 2009 sales overview, stating that total U.S. music transactions grew, but album sales continued to slide, and digital growth is down.
Just The Facts...
Apropos to the Consumer Electronics Show, but equally valuable as a benchmark of the Electronic Media Industry starting out in 2010, Nielsen releases a fact sheet appended with the prediction that ” … In 2010 we see a continuation, if not an acceleration, of current trends with consumers watching and connecting more.”
What’s Your Online Content Worth? Global Consumers Say: It Depends
Not all content is created equal in the eyes of the consumer. Across countries, demographics and content types, consumers have diverse attitudes about paying for content online.
More Than Three Quarters Of U.S. Kids Ages 2-14 Acquired Entertainment Content In The Past Year
According to “Kids and Entertainment Content,” the most recent report from The NPD Group, 79% of kids age 2-14 have acquired some form of physical or digital content in the past year, with 31% acquiring both physical and digital content. In terms of money spent on this content by kids, $0.85 of every content dollar spent went to physical items, while $0.15 went to digital.
Analyst Forecasts Better Days In 2010 For Online
According to J.P. Morgan’s “2010 Internet Industry Outlook,” ecommerce is excepted to rise about 12%. Aiding to the uptick, will be brick-and-mortar bankruptcies, consumers finding selections at offline retailers limiting, and both fulfillment by Web sites and alternative electronic payments becoming easier to use.
More Cellular-Only Homes As Americans Expand Mobile Media Usage
The latest Nielsen Convergence Audit – an annual survey on voice, video and data products – shows a rise in households who have “cut the cord” by trading their traditional landlines for wireless cellular services and an increase in mobile media device usage among a diverse set of households. The survey collects more than 32,000 U.S. online and mail respondents.
Examining In-Store Pickup Options
While only a small number of multichannel retailers allow customers to buy online and pick up in-store, a majority of online consumers rate this service as important. Consumers avoid shipping fees, see and touch products before taking them home, and satisfy a need for immediate gratification when the product is in stock.
Netbook 2009 Revenues Soar
Global revenue from netbooks soared this year, as sales of every other mobile PC category fell. Revenue from the mini-laptops rose to $11.4 billion, a 72% increase from $6.7 billion in 2008, DisplaySearch said. Sales of all portable PCs fell 12% to $109.4 billion from $117.1 billion last year.
Online Holiday Spending Pushing Records
A new comScore survey reported that, for holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 41 days of the November – December 2009 holiday season. $19.9 billion has been spent online, marking a 3% increase versus the corresponding days last year. The most recent week saw above average online spending growth of 4% versus year ago, as two individual days surpassed $800 million in spending, led by Thursday, Dec. 10, with $852 million.
Mobile Device Sales Still Booming
he boom in mobile device shipments is expected to continue and sales will double by 2014, according to a report released Monday by ABI Research. The market research firm said in 2009 a total of 1.2 billion mobile devices will ship, including cellular handsets, mobile Internet devices, netbooks, mobile consumer electronics products, and cellular modems. In 2014 the total number of devices shipped will reach 2.25 billion.
Internet Users Embrace TV
The fourth edition of Deloitte’s “State of the Media Democracy” report reveals Internet users are more in love with their televisions than ever—and ready for the coming convergence of TV and online.
Video Games In Play
The video game marketplace continues to be an important in-home entertainment option. Nielsen reports that over half of all U.S. households (54%) claim to own a video game console or handheld system of some kind. The seventh generation of consoles (Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3) dominates this tally with a combined penetration rate of 41%.
There’s No Business Like Show Business – Entertainment Trends
While many consumers cut back their spending on entertaining outside of the home in 2009, that didn’t necessarily translate to increases inside the home. See what top entertainment trends are coming in 2010.
Poll: 13% Plan To Finish Shopping On Dec. 24
Many Americans have put off shopping for gifts and are taking a pragmatic approach to the holidays, according to a Consumer Reports holiday shopping poll. As of Dec. 6, 40% of adults said that they have yet to hit the stores for gifts. Only 12% said they have finished their holiday shopping and nearly one-third (30%) do not anticipate finishing until Dec. 23 or later. About 13% shoppers indicate they will not finish until Dec. 24.
Facebook is College Students' GoTo
According to research by Anderson Analytics, Facebook is not only the overwhelming favorite social networking site (SNS) among college students, it may rapidly become the only SNS that matters. Facebook is found to be the “coolest network” by far among students with over 300,000,000 Facebook active users, half of whom return to the site every day.
Green Tuesday? Tuesday, December 15 Reaches Record $913 Million in Online Spending
comScore reported holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 48 days of the November – December 2009 holiday season. The most recent week began on a slightly disappointing note, with sales of $854 million on Green Monday (Dec. 14, 2009) down 1% versus year ago, but was followed by three strong spending days that each surpassed $800 million. Most notably, Tuesday, December 15 set an individual day spending record with $913 million, the first such day to surpass the $900 million threshold.
November Consumer Technology U.S. Retail Sales Revenue Positive For First Time In 2009
U.S. consumer technology sales revenue was up slightly year-over-year in November topping $7.1 billion dollars, making November the first month in 2009 where there hasn’t been a revenue decline, according to The NPD Group’s Retail Tracking Service. This is an improvement over the 1.3% decline posted for Black Friday which NPD reported last week and a great improvement over the 14% revenue decline we saw in November 2008.
The Top Ten Viral Videos Of 2009 (Are Mostly Music Videos)
In an age of user-generated content, the most viral videos are not made by the users, just passed around by them. Here you’ll find a list of the top ten viral videos of 2009, as tracked by Visible Measures, which counts not only plays on YouTube but also video shared across social networks like MySpace as well as MTV networks and Viacom. The list of the most watched internet videos 2009 below are nearly all music videos, with the exception of the No. 1 viral video, which is the trailer for the movie Twilight Saga: New Moon.
Procrastination Abounds As NRF Survey Finds Most Have Completed Less Than Half Of Shopping
Though the Christmas countdown is in its final stages, it seems shoppers still have plenty of shopping left to do. According to NRF’s “2009 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey,” conducted by BIGresearch, the average person had completed 46.7% of their holiday shopping by the second week of December, less than the 47.1% completed by this time last year. This is the lowest percentage since 2004, when the average person had completed 46.3% of their shopping by the same period.
Digital Music Growth Levels Off
Americans love buying digital music, but growth rates related to other digital music activities are leveling off, according to new research from Forrester.
Video Viewing, In Context
PointRoll and Accustream found that online video ads did best across several metrics when they appeared on game, music and streaming media, and child- and family-oriented sites. Ads on automotive, business and finance, and employment destinations did worst.
Movie-based Video Games And The Households That Buy Them
By examining households from Nielsen’s Homescan consumer panel that purchased at least one movie-based game over the past two years, we gain some insight into the types of consumers these products resonate with the most, and how these celluloid gamers compare to the average consumer of home entertainment and video games.
Even As New Entertainment Options Enter The Fray, We're Still Mostly A Nation Of Couch Potatoes
According to the latest update to the “Entertainment Trends in America” consumer tracking surveys conducted by The NPD Group, even with activities like Twitter and social networking added to the mix of communication and entertainment options, America is still a nation of couch potatoes. When consumers were asked how many leisure-time hours in the past week they spent on particular entertainment activities, watching television was the most popular: 81% of respondents watched an average of 10 hours of television programming (not including feature films) per week.
Local Appeal for Mobile TV
Nearly one-half of US mobile users are interested in watching live digital television on a mobile device, according to an Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC) survey conducted by Frank N. Magid Associates. Interest was highest, unsurprisingly, among millennials and early technology adopters.
Holiday Shopping Goes Later This Year
With Christmas fast approaching, 66% of consumers have yet to finish their holiday shopping, according to a new survey from American Express. In fact, the latest American Express Spending and Saving Tracker shows that one in five consumers (21%) will still be shopping for gifts the week leading into Christmas, and 4% expect to shop on Christmas Eve.
TV's Popularity on the Rise
According to Deloitte’s fourth annual “State of the Media Democracy” report, 34% of Americans cite TV as their favorite medium, up from 27% last year. Second through fourth, respectively, were Internet, music and books, all of which are perceived by the average consumer as being less expensive than a night out at the movies.
Percent Of Blogging Seniors Only 1/10 Of A Point Behind Teens
Not only are more people 65 and older heading online, but they are also spending more time on the Web. Time spent on the Internet by seniors increased 11% in the last five years, from approximately 52 hours per month in November 2004 to just over 58 hours in 2009.
November Sales See Month-To-Month Growth, Offering Retailers Encouragement For Holiday Season
As shoppers – and retailers – set their sights on the holiday season, low prices and pent-up demand helped entice Americans back into the stores. According to the National Retail Federation, retail industry sales rose 0.6% seasonally adjusted from October and dipped 0.8% year-over-year. The numbers are in line with NRF’s forecast of a 1% decline in holiday sales.
Six Million More Seniors Using The Web Than Five Years Ago
While people 65 and older still make up less than 10 percent of the active Internet universe, their numbers are on the rise. In the last five years, the number of seniors actively using the Internet has increased by more than 55 percent, from 11.3 million active users in November 2004 to 17.5 million in November 2009. Among people 65+, the growth of women in the last five years has outpaced the growth of men by 6 percentage points.
Television and Beyond: A Kid’s Eye View
Meet the mini media moguls who are dictating electronic sales and media utilization patterns in American homes: kids. TV still engages children of all ages, but older children gravitate toward the Internet, while younger kids embrace DVDs, VCRs and DVRs. Whether a solo use or co-viewing with friends and families, connected kids represent a fertile opportunity for advertisers.
Gift Cards With Incentive Peak Purchase
Survey data from CashStar, Inc. found that that 68% of online shoppers agree that buying a gift card online that can be sent via e-mail is more convenient than having plastic cards shipped to the gift card recipient. And 80% of online shoppers said that if their favorite store or restaurant offered a personalized online gift card on their web site, they would be more likely to purchase it from that retailer.
Retail Sales Data From NPD Shows Consumer Technology Revenue Declined The Week Of Black Friday
Black Friday results showed that consumers continued their 2009 focus on price and value while shopping for consumer technology items, according to The NPD Group’s Weekly Tracking Service. Total revenue for the week of Black Friday was slightly more than $2.7 billion, down 1.2% from 2008, but an improvement over the 3.4% decline noted last year.
Mobile Couponing Catching On?
Deloitte found that 19% of Internet users plan to use their mobile device for shopping, and only one-quarter of that group will actually make a mobile purchase. On a similar note, Yankee Group found that in 2009 more than 90% of U.S. consumers were at least somewhat interested in scanning images or bar codes with their mobile phone to get more information or coupons for a product.
U.S. Online Holiday Spending Reaches $16 Billion For First 36 Days of the Nov.-Dec. Shopping Season
comScore reported holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 36 days of the November – December 2009 holiday season. For the holiday season-to-date, nearly $16 billion has been spent online, marking a 3% increase versus the corresponding days last year.
Three Screen Report: TV Remains Strong as DVR and Online Video Show Most Growth
Nielsen’s latest A2/M2 Three Screen Report shows considerable year over year growth in terms of time spent for DVR (up 21.1%) and online video (up 34.9%) in Q3 2009. Given the consistent spike in usage among the three screens of television, Internet and mobile, consumers are clearly adding video platforms to their schedule, rather than replacing them.
eMarketer Weighs In on 2010 Trends: E-Commerce & Mobile
It is eye-catching when a consultancy revises a market forecast upward in the midst of an economic downturn. That is exactly what ABI Research did with its forecast of mobile sales of physical goods in North America. It is an easy bet that sales in 2010 will pass the $1 billion mark.
Vinyl Records and Turntables Are Gaining Sales
Sales of vinyl albums have been climbing steadily for several years, tromping on the notion that the rebound was just a fad. Through late November, more than 2.1 million vinyl records had been sold in 2009, an increase of more than 35% in a year, according to Nielsen Soundscan. That total, though it represents less than 1% of all album sales, including CDs and digital downloads, is the highest for vinyl records in any year since Nielsen began tracking them in 1991.
Click here for more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/nyregion/07vinyl.html?em
The Habits Of Heavy Mobile Web Users
The U.S. mobile Internet population is increasing rapidly. eMarketer estimates that 29.2% of mobile phone users log on to the mobile Web at least once per month in 2009, up from 22.3% last year. And according to BIA/Kelsey and ConStat, many of those qualify as “heavy” users—those who go online via mobile more than 10 times per week.
Among American Kids Ages 2-17, 82% Report They Are Gamers
According to “Kids and Gaming 2009,” the most recent report from The NPD Group, among all kids in the U.S. ages 2-17, 82%, or 55.7 million, are current gamers. Of these gamers, 9.7 million are ages 2-5, representing the smallest segment, while 12.4 million are ages 9-11, and represent the largest segment.
Tracks Of My Tears: Reconstructing Digital Music
Harvard Business School professor Anita Elberse, who does much of her business research on the entertainment industry, looked at the clash between bundles and digital distribution, and the effect on media and entertainment firms. “Working Knowledge” asked Elberse about her recent working paper, ‘Bye Bye Bundles: The Unbundling of Music in Digital Channels.’
Past 25 Years Of Consumer Spending
How has consumer spending changed over the past 25 years? Do we spend more on some things and spend less on other than we did in the early 80s? In this interactive, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you can explore just that.
Mobile Marketing Turns Some People On, Some People Off
Mobile ad spending is poised to grow 27% to $2.1 billion in 2010, according to the Mobile Marketing Association. Marketers who employ mobile marketing to the wrong consumer group risk turning them off, not on, according to an analysis of BIGresearch’s Simultaneous Media Usage Survey of over 22,000 consumers.
Cyber Monday Online Sales Up 5 Percent vs. Year Ago to $887 Million to Match Heaviest Online Spending Day in History
comScore reported that for the holiday season-to-date, $12.26 billion has been spent online, marking a 3% increase versus the corresponding days last year. Cyber Monday reached $887 million in online spending, up 5% versus a year ago, and matching the heaviest online spending day on record, December 9, 2008.
Cyber Monday Online Spending Exceeds 2008 Levels
The U.S. online retail sector reported strong sales results on Cyber Monday 2009 compared to the same period last year. This analysis was delivered as part of Coremetrics’ second annual “Cyber Monday Benchmark Report.”
2009 Online Holiday Sales Outlook: What Consumers Have in Store for Retailers
Expect to see flat holiday sales this season. Retailers have an opportunity to boost revenues by taking advantage of online activities and social media outlets, which have changed the way consumers seek and share online and offline holiday deals.
NPD Reports on "The Anatomy of Black Friday 2009"
The NPD Group has released the results of its first ever Black Friday study. “The Anatomy of Black Friday 2009″ takes an in-depth look at U.S. consumers’ Black Friday shopping. NPD asked consumers what brought them out to shop this Black Friday. The number one answer was ‘…an item I wanted was advertised on sale, with 35%.
iPhone Apps Put Brands in Hands
Here is a list of the successful brands and apps that best fulfill the promise of utility — as well as some prominent missed opportunities
Black Friday Boasts $595 Million in U.S. Online Holiday Spending, Up 11% Versus Year Ago
comScore reported holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 27 days of the November-December 2009 holiday season. For the holiday season-to-date, $10.57 billion has been spent online, marking a 3% increase versus the corresponding days last year. Black Friday saw $595 million in online sales, making it the second heaviest online spending day to date in 2009 and representing an 11% increase versus Black Friday 2008.
As Expected, Number Of Shoppers Up, Average Spending Down
A National Retail Federation survey conducted over the weekend confirms the expected: more people spent less. According to NRF’s Black Friday shopping survey, conducted by BIGresearch, 195 million shoppers visited stores and websites over Black Friday weekend, up from 172 million last year. However, the average spending over the weekend dropped to $343.31 per person from $372.57 a year ago. Total spending reached an estimated $41.2 billion.
comScore Forecasts 3% Growth For 2009 Holiday E-Commerce Spending
Comscore reported holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 22 days of the November-December 2009 holiday season, as well as its official spending forecast for the season. For the holiday season-to-date, $8.21 billion has been spent online, marking a 2% increase versus the corresponding days last year.
How Engaging Is Online Video?
In October 2009, Eyeblaster reported that creative was the key to more engaging rich media ads. Based on the research firm’s “Online Video Advertising: Doubles Engagement, Boosts ROI” bulletin, video grabs attention and has a lasting impact.
With Social Media, Who Needs Santa?
‘Tis the season for social media. Seventeen percent of U.S. consumers plan to leverage social media sites to assist in their holiday shopping this year. The majority (60%) will do so to seek discounts and sales, according to Deloitte’s 24th Annual Holiday Survey.
Retailers Increase Cyber Monday Promotions To Entice Holiday Shoppers Looking For Bargains
Holiday shoppers looking for bargains aren’t likely to be disappointed when they learn what retailers have planned for Cyber Monday. According to Shop.org’s eHoliday Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, nearly nine in 10 (87.1%) retailers will have a special promotion for Cyber Monday, up from 83.7% last year and 72.2% in 2007.
Tracking the Hits Along the Musical 'The Long Tail'
For most people, Chris Anderson’s 2006 book The Long Tail marked a new way of thinking about selling goods on the Internet. Being free of the physical limits of shelf space, he predicted, would alter what people bought. For music, this would mean the most popular music titles would become less popular as consumers were able to tap into vast online catalogs. In most corners of the business world, and especially in the music industry, The Long Tail was controversial. Would consumers actually start to ignore the hits?
Worldwide PC Shipments To Grow 2.8% In 2009, But PC Revenue To Decline 11%
Accelerating mobile PC shipments will drive the worldwide PC market to grow again this year, according to Gartner’s preliminary fourth-quarter forecast. The new forecast predicts worldwide PC shipments will total 298.9 million units in 2009, a 2.8% increase from 2008. In 2010, PC shipments are projected to reach 336.6 million units, a 12.6% increase over 2009.
Mobile Phone Prices Continue To Fall, Even As High-End Features Rise
According to The NPD Group, buy-one-get-one (BOGO) offers and other price reductions on smartphones led to a 3% decline in average prices in the Q3 2009. The overall average purchase price for mobile phones in the U.S. fell to $85, which is down from $88 in Q3 2008. Smartphone unit share held steady against feature phones; 28% of handset sales were smartphones last quarter.
Interesting Facts From The Razorfish Digital Brand Experience Report 2009
Today, consumers are shaping the future of the web, and thereby also the way businesses need to do business. We also bring our attitudes and behaviors as well as the technologies we use as consumers to work. Click to find some interesting facts from the report, as well as the link to the report on Slideshare.
Coupons Boost E-Mail Open Rate
The recession has had its effect on consumer behavior online, and the watchword is frugality. Whether or not shoppers go back to their spendthrift ways, for now coupons are cool and deal-seeking is the norm.
Is Facebook Getting Uncool for 18-24s?
According to comScore, as it has gained a broader audience, the older teens and twentysomethings that drove Facebook’s initial popularity are using it less. And research by WPP Group’s Mindshare suggests that group is reevaluating the site’s worth as a tool for developing friendships.
Study On Online Music Piracy And Purchasing Habits
There has been high-profile debate in the media about whether file-sharing has a positive or negative impact on music sales. The study below, which is original text from Jupiter Research, analyses in more detail the different spend of file-sharers, digital and physical music purchasers.
Despite Economic Woes, Consumers Not Scrimping On Entertainment Subscriptions
According to the latest update to the “Entertainment Trends in America” consumer tracking studies conducted by The NPD Group, even as newspapers and other traditional forms of subscriptions have declined, most forms of entertainment-content subscriptions have been maintained by U.S. consumers this year, and mobile data plans and other newer kinds of subscription services have expanded their customer bases. Overall monthly per-capita entertainment-content subscription spending rose to $115, which is an increase of nearly 7% since last year.
E-Readers Will Take Off For Holiday Shoppers In 2010
2009 is likely to be remembered as a watershed year in the evolution of e-books and e-readers with several milestones and product launches standing out as catalysts for change in the market, according to Gartner, Inc. However, Gartner said that while the number of electronic readers sold is likely to increase in 2009, it expects 2010 to be the year when e-book readers really become popular consumer electronic devices, culminating in e-reader “mania” for the 2010 holiday season.
Like, Totally Wired
According to findings from Alloy Media + Marketing’s 9th annual College Explorer Survey, projected annual technology spending among college students (ages 18-30) has reached an all time high at $6.5 billion, ranking 3rd in overall discretionary spending for college students, just below food and auto.
Monetizing Mobile Content
The long debate over how to monetize digital content has gained new life in the economic downturn due to the slumping ad market. The question of paid models versus ad support is particularly urgent in the fast-emerging mobile space. eMarketer predicts that by 2013, nearly 50% of mobile phone users will access the mobile Internet at least monthly.
In Tough Times, 10 Ways Retailers Can Bring Holiday Cheer
While beleaguered shoppers will be looking for ways to make the season bright, retailers can do their part by bringing some much needed holiday cheer to the shopping experience.
"Friending" Brands Egocentric, Finds Razorfish
Have social marketers been kidding themselves that consumers “friend” brands on social media because they are passionate and want deep and meaningful relationships? Recent data suggests that perhaps all consumers really want from brands on social media is a good deal and great customer service.
Coupon Use Continues Resurgence
Consumers have re-embraced coupons as a way to get more for their money. In the third quarter, year-to-date coupon redemption was up 26% to 2.4 billion redemptions, making it the fourth consecutive quarter of growth, according to new research from Inmar in collaboration with The Nielsen Company.
Illegal File-Sharing Has An Overwhelmingly Negative Impact On Music Sales
Demos, the UK political think-tank, has released a widely-reported survey on music downloading which may be misinterpreted as suggesting that illegal file-sharing stimulates rather than reduces legitimate music sales.
Playing Games With Media Usage
It’s no secret that time spent online is a major rival to traditional media usage. But among some segments of the population, at least, time spent gaming is in the same ballpark as time watching TV or surfing the Web.
Touchscreen Mobile Phone Adoption Grows At Blistering Pace In U.S. During Past Year
comScore, Inc. recently released a study of touchscreen mobile phone adoption in the U.S., which showed a significant 159% growth rate during the past year to 23.8 million users in August 2009. The growth in touchscreen device adoption substantially outpaced the already strong 63% growth in U.S. adoption of smartphones.
When It Comes to Entertainment Options, U.S. Consumers Turning To Social Networking, Texting, And Twitter
According to the latest update to the “Entertainment Trends in America” tracking study conducted by The NPD Group, many consumers expect to be spending the same amount on traditional entertainment categories during the coming holiday season, even as their participation in newer forms of entertainment continues to rise.
Web To Drive Holiday Retail Sales
Retail sales will probably be flat this holiday season, but online sales are expected to reach $44.7 billion, an 8% jump over last year, according to the latest data from Forrester Research.
Seven Ways To Tap Social Shopping
Marketers must understand that customers use social media sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter to communicate with and gather information from their friends and colleagues. As a result, your presence on these sites must be integrated into the multi-directional communication when consumers want to interact with your firm. Here are seven ways to maximize social shopping results …
Will iPhone Lead The Growth In Portable Gaming?
A study by DFC Intelligence, released on Friday, predicts that games for the iPhone and iPod touch (an iPhone without the cellular capabilities) will be the principal drivers for growth in the overall portable and mobile gaming market in five years.
4 Emerging Trends Of The Real-Time Web
There is a lot of hype surrounding the real-time web, and much of the feeding frenzy reminds me of the RSS space four years ago — though there is a lot of potential, there is also a lot of noise.
A Shift In Mobile Computing From Laptops To Smaller Devices Is Forcing PC Makers To Adjust
The smartphone market will surpass laptops in unit sales this year, and will easily surpass the latter market in revenue by 2012.
Google's Eric Schmidt On What the Web Will Look Like In 5 Years
Google CEO Eric Schmidt envisions a radically changed internet five years from now: dominated by Chinese-language and social media content, delivered over super-fast bandwidth in real time. Figuring out how to rank real-time social content is “the great challenge of the age,” Schmidt said in an interview in front of thousands of CIOs and IT Directors at last week’s Gartner Symposium/ITxpo Orlando 2009.
Does Social Media Work For Small Biz?
Small businesses are not hitting it off with social media, according to an August 2009 study from Citibank. More than three-quarters of U.S. small-business executives surveyed did not find social networks helpful for generating leads or expanding their business.
‘Gradual Greening’ Of U.S. Tech Consumers
‘Green’ or environmentally friendly policies and programs are becoming more top of mind for U.S. consumers when making technology related purchase decisions, but few are aware of specific policies, according to the annual Ipsos Green Technology report.
Online Retailers To Emphasize Free Shipping, Social Media This Holiday Season
The economy is not only impacting shoppers, it’s affecting online retailers, too. According to results of Shop.org’s eHoliday Study, conducted by BIGresearch, shoppers will see changes in retail marketing and promotions this holiday season in response to economic uncertainty. With an understanding that many of today’s shoppers use Facebook and Twitter regularly, and because these tools are more cost-effective than traditional advertising, 47.1% of retailers surveyed will be increasing their use of social media this holiday season.
Top Ten Holiday Trends For 2009
BIGresearch shares 10 insights of what to expect this holiday season based largely on findings from NRF’s first holiday survey.
Flat Is The New Up: Web Buzz Also Suggests Soft Holiday Retail Season
Despite increased optimism about the economy, the social media landscape indicates that we are in a similar place to where we were this time last year when it comes to spending; buzz about Christmas and holiday shopping is down 3% year-over-year.
Retailers Get Ready For Social Shopping Experience
Today, social media tools enable consumers to extend their connections and conduct commerce in powerful new ways. As people spend more time on social networks, retailers feel pressure to be there as well.
Consumers Want Televisions Capable Of Displaying Bigger And Better Images
Screen size and a better picture are the two most important things for prospective TV buyers, according The NPD Group’s 2009 TV Inventory Study. One-in-four consumers say they’ll most likely be making a new TV purchase in the next six months.
Nearly 1 In 5 Net Users Is Tweeting
Nearly one in five Internet users is tweeting on Twitter or using another service to share personal and business updates, or to see updates about others, according to a new study from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. That’s an increase to 19% from 11% last spring, according to the group.
Internet Radio Stations Play More Artists Than Broadcast Stations
The number of unique artists played on Internet radio stations is more than 32 times the number of unique artists played on broadcast/terrestrial radio, according to data supplied by streamSerf, a company that monitors and reports on music played on terrestrial, Internet and satellite radio stations.
Fee vs. Free For Online Video
Most people want to watch online video for free, but research indicates there is room for paid models as well.
Relevant Marketing With Mobile Alerts
A survey conducted by Harris Interactive for 1020 Placecast found that 42% of 18-to-34-year-olds and 33% of 35-to-44-year-olds are at least somewhat interested in receiving opt-in mobile alerts from their favorite places.
Web Coupons A Hit For The Affluent
Consumer spending may have gone up in August, but Internet users are still keeping the purse strings tight. RetailMeNot.com found, in a survey conducted by Harris Interactive, that Web users are planning further cuts to holiday gift spending this year, and increasing their use of coupons over 2008.
Understanding Consumer Preferences
Multichannel campaigns will find greater success when marketers are aware of consumer preferences and behaviors. That finding, from a Forrester Consulting study commissioned by ExactTarget, should not come as a surprise. But marketers may be ignoring its implications.
College Kids Are The Digital Demo
College students are the most connected demographic group in the US. They own multiple electronic devices and are a prime audience for online video.
Bargain-Hunting Gamers Turning To Impulse Buying, Used Titles
The video game industry has been overcome by a wave of impulse purchases fueled primarily by creative packaging and online accessibility. According to “The Canadian Video Game Purchase Process,” a study conducted by The NPD Group, 40% of video game buyers stated that they have purchased a game on impulse in the past six months despite the recent recession.
Five Reasons Corporations Are Failing At Social Media
Social media isn’t complicated. When you boil it down it’s about listening to your customers, being helpful by offering your knowledge and giving them interesting content to share and thereby advocate for you.
Better Not To Mention The Lousy Economy
With the recession impinging strongly on consumer behavior, some brands’ ads acknowledge its effects. Others remain silent on the topic. Which approach do consumers prefer? An AdweekMedia/Harris Poll, conducted last month, finds relatively little enthusiasm (and lots of indifference) for ads that refer to the downturn.
Holiday Retail Outlook
The NPD Group released the results of its annual survey of consumers’ holiday spending intentions. Thirty percent of consumers surveyed told NPD they ‘plan to spend less’ this holiday, which is a four point increase over last year’s results.
The Speed Of Share
Facebook has a problem. One of its main goals now is to be the center for sharing everything on the web, but the key to that is to make the process as quick and easy as possible. And in that regard, its rival Twitter destroys it.
Facebook Sees Nearly 200% Visit Boost, While Twitter Traffic Also Soars
Facebook logged 58.6% of all U.S. visits among 155 social networking Web sites in September 2009, a 194% increase over the site’s market share from September 2008. HitWise gauged the online traffic of 10 million U.S. Web users across one million Web sites. Twitter boasted astronomical growth, up 1,170% from its negligible .15% market share from September 2008. As far as social sites go, Twitter is positioned to be Facebook’s biggest challenger.
The Difference Being A Mom Makes
Having kids changes your life. It may also change your feelings about online marketing, according to the “What Women Want Consumer Survey” by Prospectiv.
Tis’ The Season For Online Spending
According to the results of a survey focused on consumer’s 2009 holiday spending outlook by Burst Media, 62.8% of consumers plan to spend the same or cut back on their holiday purchases compared to 2008. Although consumers plan to hold tight with their spending this holiday season, 85.3% of respondents will shop online.
The Music Industry Outlook
Analysts speaking at Digital Music Forum West in Hollywood this afternoon suggested that there’s more pain ahead for the industry — much more. On the other hand, they said it’s not necessarily a bad time for artists, and things couldn’t be better for fans.
AdMob: Apple Dominates Mobile Web
In the latest Mobile Metrics Report, AdMob found that the iPhone OS has increased its share of the market by 7% to reach 40% in the last six months.
NRF Forecasts One Percent Decline In Holiday Sales
The National Retail Federation is projecting holiday retail industry sales to decline 1% this year to $437.6 billion. While this number falls significantly below the 10-year average of 3.39% holiday season growth, the decline is not expected to be as dramatic as last year’s 3.4% drop in holiday retail sales nor as severe as the 3.0% decline in annual retail industry sales expected for all of 2009.
Cyber Census Ethnographic Study of American Cyber Lives
Understanding new consumer music behavior was the reason NARM sponsored the 2009 Cyber Census conducted by On-Site Research. Ethnography is a consumer research methodology that utilizes anthropological techniques and embeds researchers into actual consumer reality. Four key summaries can be found in this report: Cyber Segmentation; E + C Squared = Monetizing Success; Mac Guyvering Habitats; and Apathy & Piracy Leave A Sweet Spot For Music Retail.
Watching Your Own TV, Thousands Of Miles Away
People no longer need to live in a country to see all of their local TV stations. In fact, they don’t even need a TV anymore.
Consumers Smitten With Smartphones
Most new smartphone users are now consumers, a dramatic change from just a few years ago when the gadgets were primarily in the hands of business types, according to a recently released survey by research firm CFI Group.
A Dozen Applications For Social Media
Many marketers employ a wide range of effective approaches while, despite the super-sized growth, others have not yet leveraged social media. Consider these 12 ways companies leverage social media to build relationships and drive sales.
Time For Digital Music To Get A Reality Check
It’s been a busy September for the digital music business, so it seems like a good time to assess the chances these key music models — selling music online, free on-demand streaming, paid subscription, Internet radio, legacy businesses, and piracy — have of surviving.
The Great American Gaming Landscape
The Crispy Gamer crunches the numbers to provide a visual and numerical breakdown of American gaming and console ownership.
Best Practices: What’s in a Retail E-Mail?
With social media presence rapidly becoming a must for online retailers, Email Data Source and Goodmail Systems studied how often retailers were including social media marketing links in their e-mail campaigns.
The Web Analytics Headache
To prove the success of their campaigns, marketers need analytics. But many report frustration with understanding and using the Web analytics tools necessary to prove their success to management, according to “The Web Analytics War Reader Survey” by Unica.
Apple’s Shadow Hangs Over Game Console Makers
Among the questions voiced by video game executives: How can Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft keep consumers hooked on game-only consoles, like the Wii or even the PlayStation Portable, when Apple offers games on popular, everyday devices that double as cellphones and music players?
comScore Releases August 2009 U.S. Search Engine Rankings
In August 2009, Americans conducted more than 13.9 billion core searches, with Google Sites accounting for 64.6% search market share. Microsoft Sites grabbed 9.3% market share, a 0.4-percentage point gain versus July.
Going Mobile Tops the Chart of Enterprise Application Goals
The Who, enterprises are “Going Mobile” in a big way, with 50% planning to roll out mobile-enabled or collaborative applications next year. To make the most of their investments, however, enterprises should focus on collaborative, customer-facing apps and tailor them specifically to the mobile environment.
Mobile Ad Spending to Gain Momentum
With the proliferation of affordable smartphones continuing to ramp up, mobile ad spending (including messaging-based formats) will reach $416 million in 2009 and increase to a stellar $1.56 billion by 2013, according to eMarketer.
The ‘Jukebox Era’ Has Arrived … For Videogames
The home videogame industry — after decades of viewing “coin-op” video as either an obstacle or an irrelevance — now increasingly sees arcade videogames as a promising partner. Amusement video is suddenly considered a potentially powerful way to get owners of Xbox, PlayStation, and Wii systems excited about playing (and then purchasing) a hot new videogame title for enjoyment at home.
How Mobile Will Reshape The Customer Experience
Mobile applications for smart phones are poised to be the future for retailer communications with shoppers, becoming a virtual extension of the shelf edge—and a highly complementary component of shopper marketing.
Social Is Going Mobile
When Facebook launched its mobile app in January, less than 10% of its traffic was via mobile phone. Just nine months later, more than 25% of traffic comes from smartphones.
Apps Trump Tunes at Apple
As iPod sales ease, the company is focusing more and more on software.
Content Still King On The Net
The Internet offers everything from searching to shopping to social networking, but Net users still spend most of their time on plain old content sites, according to a survey from the Online Publishers Association.
A Social Media “How To” for Retailers
As social media continues its meteoric ascent, newly empowered consumers wield more control than ever before. Although retail sales are dominated by brick and mortar stores, the influence of the Internet on offline purchases is becoming increasingly important. Retailers must listen to and engage their customers through social media by participating and encouraging conversations. The end result will improve customer service and will help turn loyal customers into passionate advocates.
Households With Kids Up To 12 Years Of Age Account For 45% Of Video Game Industry Revenue
Kids 12 years of age and younger account for 24% of video game industry unit sales, while households with kids in this age group present comprise 45% of total industry dollar sales, according to NPD’s new report, “Kids & Cross-Entertainment Behaviors.”
Free Shipping Email Offers Spike Conversions
According to a new survey from Experian CheetahMail, 70% of respondents from online companies offering business and consumer products and services, catalogers, and multichannel retailers had higher conversion rates on e-mails offering free shipping than on other types of marketing e-mails.
Retail Sales Post First Monthly Increase In Six Months Despite “Clunkers” Stealing Thunder
According to the National Retail Federation, retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) saw their first gain in six months, with sales rising 0.7% from July, though dipping 4.3% year-over-year.
Americans Tune Out Mobile Music
U.S. cell phone users are still not very interested in using their phones as their primary music players, according to a study from Forrester Research. The report, “The Future of Music On Cell Phones,” said 10% of adult Americans listen to music on their phones once a month.
Digital Music Increases Share of Overall Music Sales Volume in the U.S.
According to The NPD Group, while CDs remain the most popular format for paid music purchases, digital music sales are making up an ever-greater share of U.S. music sales. CDs comprised 65% of all music sold in the first half of 2009 compared to paid digital downloads, which comprised 35% of music sales. By comparison, paid digital music downloads comprised just 20% of sales in 2007 – growing to 30% of the music market last year.
Game Sales Drop 16% as Madden, Batman, Wii Sports Resort Dominate
Total industry sales fell 16% to $908.72 million, putting year-to-date sales at $9.07 billion. Software sales were down 15% to $470.32 million while hardware plummeted 25% to $297.60 million.
Top 5 Web Trends of 2009
This week ReadWriteWeb will run a series of posts detailing what we think are the 5 biggest, most cutting edge Web trends to come out of 2009: Structured Data; The Real-Time Web; Personalization; Mobile Web & Augmented Reality; and Internet Of Things.
Report Of Findings From The NARM College-Aged Consumer Panel
As part of the recent NARM conference in San Diego, CA (June 7-10, 2009), Colen Research & Consulting conducted a live panel discussion among college-aged music consumers. This serves as a report of the key findings from the panel.
Objective
The two-part objective of the panel was to: A) Better understand how college-aged consumers are currently discovering, managing and listening to music; B) Obtain feedback on various new business models—both physical and digital.
Methodology
Eleven consumers from the San Diego area participated in the panel. The discussion took place on June 8, 2009 and lasted approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Before coming to the panel discussion, each consumer was sent various new music products and was asked to experience the products in the context of their own lives and music habits. They were given a little over one week to use the products, during which time they were asked to keep a written log of their experiences. The survey that accompanied the products covered their current music behaviors and questions related to their reactions to the new products they were sent. Consumers’ behavior, initial reactions to the products, actual usage and final impressions were recorded and explored during the panel discussion.
The respondent specifications were:
- Ages 18-21 (mix of full-time and part-time college students and full-time workers; college students were from multiple institutions—not all concentrated in one school)
- males; 5 females
- A mix of ethnicities, representative of the local market
- A mix of those who typically listen to digital-only and both digital and physical music formats
- A mix of those who purchase most of their music and those who obtain their music primarily via file-sharing
- All regularly used a mp3 player (mix of iPod and other brands)
- All but two had a mobile phone with a microSD slot
For detailed findings, click here.
TV Viewing Moves Online
Nearly one out of four U.S. households watches TV online, up from 20% last year. And Hulu.com is fast becoming the hot site – just behind YouTube.com – for watching TV programs. More …
Digital Video Website Usage, And Mix Of Revenue Models, Expanding Rapidly
According to findings from Ipsos MediaCT’s MOTION study, awareness and usage of many digital video websites increased in recent months, with strong consumer acceptance of ad-supported video content. More …
Digital Music Increases Share Of Overall U.S. Music Sales Volume
According to The NPD Group, while CDs remain the most popular format for paid music purchases, digital music sales are making up an ever-greater share of U.S. music sales. More …
Facebook 'Enhances Intelligence;' Twitter 'Diminishes It'
Spending time on Facebook could enhance a key element of intelligence that is vital to success in life, a psychologist has claimed, but using Twitter may have the opposite effect. More …
The Future Of Virtual Goods
According to a recent Piper Jaffray report, U.S. virtual good sales will total $621 million in 2009 — up 134% from 2008’s $265 million. This total will rise to nearly $2.5 billion by 2013. More …
Study: Connected TV Revenues Top $1B in Q2 2009
The connected TV market grew 40 percent from $776 million in Q1 2009 to $1.08 billion in Q2 2009, according to Quixwl Research. More …
Report Of Findings From The NARM College-Aged Consumer Panel
As part of the recent NARM conference, Colen Research & Consulting conducted a live panel discussion among college-aged music consumers. Panel findings can be review in this report.
The Album Is Dead, Long Live the App
The iTunes music store sells single songs at approximately the same price, with artist presented in more or less the same way. Apple’s app store, however, is still somewhat like the wild west, where the rules are being made up in real time. Artists and labels can sell music alongside other digital offerings through the app store at any price from zero to $999.99. More …
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Industry Headlines
- Foursquare and SPIN Magazine Turn SXSW Into Musical Scavenger Hunt March 7, 2010
- Omnifone™ March 5, 2010
- Thumbplay Moves From Ringtones to Mobile Music, Hires Apple Exec [MediaMemo] March 2, 2010
