Bloombergreports that a new study by NPD Group found teens bought 19% less music in 208. Teenagers bought 26% less CDs and spent 13% less on music downloads. NPD Group says teens are streaming music on sites like Pandora, iMeem and MySpace Music instead.
Consumers ages 13 to 17 spent 13 percent less on music downloads last year, while compact disc purchases tumbled 26 percent, according to a survey by the Port Washington, New York- based researcher. The decline coincided with a 24 percent drop in overall entertainment spending by teens, NPD said.
Vivendi SA's Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Corp. and EMI Group Ltd. are counting on increases in digital download sales to make up for shrinking CD sales. Total U.S. album sales declined 14 percent last year, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"The music industry still hasn't recovered from declining CD sales, and now they are being challenged anew by slowing digital sales among teens," NPD analyst Russ Crupnick said in a statement.
Teens can also watch music videos on plenty of websites including YouTube, CMT, Yahoo and MTV Music.
Sales could fall even more in 2009 if the recession results in teens getting smaller allowances or because less jobs are available for teens.
Bloomberg 
