There are twice as many radio listeners age 12-24 listening to Top 40/pop stations in 2010 as in 2000, while half as many are tuning into alternative rock stations, according to Arbitron and Edison Research. 
The report examines teen and young adult habits from 2000 and 2010 to find Internet usage has replaced radio listening. Time spent listening to over-the-air radio is down from two hours and 43 minutes in 2000 to one hour and 24 minutes today.
While teens may be listening to the radio less frequently, radio remains the top source for how teens learn about new music (51%), followed by friends (46%), YouTube (31%), and music video channels (23%). Fewer than two in 10 learn about new music featured on TV shows (18%), through appearances on TV shows (17%), and via social networking sites (16%).
Unfortunately for the concert industry, teens are attending fewer events. Only 12% have attended more than two concerts in the last year, compared to 24% who said the same in 2000. Almost two in three (64%) have not attended a single concert during the past year, compared to 43% in 2000.
CD purchase have dropped 62% over the past decade. Teens and young adults purchased an average 3.4 CDs a year in 2010, compared to 11.3 in 2000; 7% admit they download music illegally at least once a week. [Leisure]
Sources: Arbitron, Ron Rodriguez, Marketing Communications, 9705 Patuxent Woods Dr., Columbia, MD 21046; 410-309-8822; ron.rodriguez@arbitron.com; www.arbitron.com.
Edison Research, Tom Webster, VP, 6 W. Cliff St., Somerville, NJ 08876; 908-707-4707; twebster@edisonresearch.com; www.edisonresearch.com
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