New Forecast Dashes Hope Of Real Revenue From Mobile Music Downloads
Hopes of significant revenue from mobile music downloads may never be relaized, according to a new eMarketer forecast. Instead, ad revenue, which currently makes up most of U.S. mobile music revenues in will gain an even greater share over the next few years.
By 2016, ad revenue will account for more than 86% of all income from mobile music. But mobile music revenue is dwarfed by video video (some of which is driven by music) and gaming.
How Will Music Make Money From Mobile?
In 2012, ads account for 69% of mobile music revenue, 17.2% is from subscriptions services like Spotify and Pandora and 14.1% comes from downloads. Total U.S. mobile music revenues (excluding multiplatform services or sideloaded music) will total $429.3 million in 2012 and $1.68 billion in 2016, according to eMarketer.
At some point in time artists, bands and labels will have to realize that a digital only is simply not going to cut it and they must adopt a bricks to clicks distribution strategy.
Yeah, but the consumers are never going to realize this since digital is just far too convenient to switch now.
Going back to the old days is a pipe dream.
It does seem making money direct from music production has virtually gone.The only real good source of income now seems to be from events. Even a straight concert, pub gig or art centre gig is not enough. We have to create events and include arranging the food and beverages.
We have found that making sure there is something to eat and drink is the biggest draw … and then we sell a sort of digipack CD and programme combo and we find that works well.
The days of releasing something and hope we earn a pension from royalties have long gone.