Malmo, Sweden - A recent survey found that nearly eight in ten consumers don't put much stock in the opinions of professional music reviews, preferring instead to seek recommendations from online music stores or social networking applications (40%) or friends, family and other shoppers (41%).

Despite the fact that a larger number of consumers are going online to find new music, the Trust Index survey from market research firm Avail Intelligence found that 51% still prefer to buy music on CD, compared with 25% who favor digital downloads.

"What this research shows is that today's consumer is more informed than ever and that personalization will be critical for e-tailers looking to stand out," said Avail Intelligence CEO Dr. Rolf Elmer.

"Retailers need a robust e-commerce strategy that incorporates social merchandising techniques if they are to take advantage of the interplay among shoppers and increase average basket spend."

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http://www.avail.net