Survey: Most of U.S. Still Buying CDs; Web is Minor Influence

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 22, 2008 - 10:25am.

Washington - Americans are still buying mainly CDs, and looking to radio, TV and movies for what to buy, as just 7% in a recent survey said online information had a major impact on their music purchases. The Pew Internet & American Life Project survey found that 82% of respondents, or 69% of those under 35, still buy all (62%) or most (20%) of their music on CD, while 15%, or 27% of those under 35, said that half of their purchases now are digital singles.

Some 86% of music buyers said they rely on radio, TV or movies to find out about music, while 64% consult family, friends and co-workers, and 51% said online information had no impact whatsoever on their music purchases.

Seventy-four percent of those surveyed said their most recent music purchase was done at a retail location, compared with 22% who had purchased a CD or download online.

With regard to finding out about new music, 68% said the Internet helped them find out more information about an artist they were already aware of, while 57% said they used online resources (e.g. artist/label sites, streaming samples, Web radio, e-mail promotions) to introduce them to new artists.