Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings

2009 Is The Year for Mobile Music

By atesmeh | January 8, 2009

Share

The economy isn’t going to destroy the mobile music industry just yet. In fact, I’m here to tell you that 2009 will be a breakout year for mobile music.

Daren Tsu
By Daren Tsui

Why? Because the carriers, the music labels and the handset makers say so. Oh, and consumers will likely stay on board too.

The carriers. The iPhone provided a major wake-up call to wireless carriers. After all, if Apple is willing to risk cannibalizing its own iPod business, you know there’s truth to the old “wallet, keys and phone” mantra. And judging by the high number of new carrier music services and news announcements cropping up, it’s clear they’re scrambling to compete. Anyone developing mobile music apps right now will tell you the carriers are jumping in with both feet, and a slew of new music apps likely will be introduced to consumers in the new year.

The labels. Woe is the music industry…  Anyone who has paid any attention to the music industry over the last several weeks (months, years) knows that it is an industry in peril. As a result, the labels are facing ever-increasing pressure to find new and innovative outlets for their artists. Mobile provides a crucial opportunity.

The OEMs. It’s a growth story all around…  Not only are more people using cell phones every day, but they’re upgrading and adding capabilities regularly. Today, 65% of handsets are music-enabled, up from 45% in 2007 (NPD Research). And because that number grows, the user base for mobile entertainment continues to expand – so the industry could thrive even if every consumer buys less music.

So that’s the industry. Here’s what we know about consumers:

The lipstick effect. In slow economies, people look for inexpensive ways to boost spirits. Historically, sales of red lipstick consistently go up when the economy goes down because it’s a cheery, inexpensive way to feel better. Mobile music is also a cheery, inexpensive way to feel better. 

So far, so good, right? But there is one more thing that will likely make 2009 a banner year for mobile music. Let’s call it the special sauce.

Mobile music could be “free.” It was Chris Anderson’s “Long Tail” that redefined a variety of markets, including online music. His most recent – “Free! Why $0.00 Is the Future of Business” – will likely redefine mobile music and a slew of other markets as well. Not only is the mobile music market ripe for change, but a host of new payment models are on their way. Some carriers will lower prices for OTA downloads, and others will bundle mobile music services with data packages, representing the majority of profits for mobile music developers. Nokia, for example, has added free unlimited music downloads with the purchase of specific handsets.

Even with such potentially significant and consumer-friendly pricing changes, the latest Screen Digest reports that subscription music and video revenues will double by 2012.

So, video may have killed the radio star, but mobile will breathe new life into the music industry. I’m banking on it.

Tsui is the CEO and co-founder of mSpot, which operates a mobile music and video on-demand network in North America


Filed Under: Infrastructure

 

Related Articles Read More >

Do Sensors Make Infrastructure Safer?
Crawling Robots and Flying Drones May Help Missouri’s Bridges
Viasat and Facebook Collaborate to Expand Internet Connectivity in Rural Mexico
Smartphone-Based System to Monitor America’s Crumbling Infrastructure

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Global supply needs drive increased manufacturing footprint development
  • How to Increase Rotational Capacity for a Retaining Ring
  • Cordis high resolution electronic proportional pressure controls
  • WAGO’s custom designed interface wiring system making industrial applications easier
  • 10 Reasons to Specify Valve Manifolds
  • Case study: How a 3D-printed tool saved thousands of hours and dollars

Design World Podcasts

May 17, 2022
Another view on additive and the aerospace industry
See More >
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP AWARDS

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings