HAMBURG — A University of Hamburg study commissioned by a collection of music industry organizations, including trade group BVMI and collecting society GEMA, has found an increasing willingness among German consumers to spend more money on the music they love. According to the "Music Use in Germany" study, released this week, respondents said they were more prone to lay down some euros for a physical album (up 4%) or a digital download (up 12%) than they were just a year ago.
The study also found that the use of paid music streaming services has increased to 26%, while appreciation of live music spending has jumped 9% since last examined. Unsurprisingly, ownership of smart speakers has seen a bump (up 4%), with 14% of respondents now saying they own one of the AI-enhanced devices. The vast majority of respondents who own a speaker (83%) said they primarily use it for music. With that rise in new tech, the use of old school stereo system are down 5%, according to the study.
People with a musical background have an above-average willingness to pay in all areas — though at the same time they consume less mainstream music and actively search for new music more often than more passive listeners.