Mobile phones to propel music industry growth

Mobile phones are the future of online music, according to those in the know. More than one industry expert at MIDEM, a trade fair in France, has predicted it will be the mobile, not the mobile music player, that will provide the biggest springboard for digital music.

Analysts predict that the widespread growth in ownership of mobiles—and the increasing ease of downloading music—will coincide to form a powerful partnership that will eventually outstrip the iPod revolution. (We’re guessing that they will count songs downloaded to Apple iPhones as mobile songs and not iPod songs.)

Digital music currently accounts for 11 percent of overall music sales. Industry experts expect that total to be 25 percent by 2010. Social networking sites like MySpace and YouTube will no doubt help solidify this trend, especially when more mobile phones add Internet capabilities.