While traditional radio remains the most popular means of accessing music, radio listening has declined 4 percent in the last year while listening to music on a computer has increased by 22 percent, according to a survey of 5,000 consumers conducted by NPD Group. The study noted that 194 million people reported listening to the radio in March, while 77.2 million listened on a computer. Online radio listening increased 18 percent to 53.5 million, as did free streaming of online music, which was up 37 percent to 46.1 million consumers. NPD also found that the number of consumers ripping music onto their computers increased 102 percent from a year ago, while transferring music to MP3 players jumped 127 percent and paying to download songs grew 93 percent. "The rise of digital listening and storage for music continues unabated this year," said NPD Group's Russ Crupnick. "Technology companies are providing new tools to consumers in the form of powerful music-enabled PCs and portable music players, music companies are answering the call for more content and consumers are responding positively."
Technology is a compelling catalyst for economic growth across the globe. Artificial intelligence (AI) rides a seismic wave of transformation in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region — a market bolstered by bold government initiatives, swelling pools of capital, and vibrant tech ambition. The latest IDC analysis sheds light on this dynamic market. Despite a contraction in deal volumes through 2024, total AI venture funding surged to an impressive $15.4 billion — a signal of the region’s resilience and the maturation of its digital-native businesses (DNBs). Asia-Pacific AI Market Development The APAC AI sector’s funding story is not just about headline numbers but also about how and where investments are shifting. Even as the number of deals slowed, the aggregate value of investments climbed, reflecting a preference among investors for fewer but larger, high-potential bets on mature or highly scalable AI enterprises. The information technology sector led the AI investment charge. Top area...