Changes in How Consumers Access Media - A new study by Arbitron and Edison Media Research shows that an estimated 27 million Americans have taken control of their media and entertainment. This is the portion of the population who own one or more on-demand media devices, such as TiVo, iPod and similar units. Among the interesting results:
10% watched video-on-demand via cable or satellite in the past month. 11% accessed their news on the Internet. 37 million listen to Internet radio. 27% of 12-to-17 year olds own an iPod or other portable MP3 player. 43 million Americans timeshift TV programming. 76% own at least one DVD disc and 39% own 20 or more. Public awareness of the two satellite radio services has increased to over 50%. Only slightly less time was spent by this group listening to traditional radio compared to the national average. Broadband connections are now in as many households as are dial-up connections. The number of Americans who made a purchase from the Web in the past week has more than tripled. The monthly Internet video audience is estimated to be 35 million and the weekly online video audience is nearly 20 million.
Kenwood and TDK Cutbacks - Japanese audio brand Kenwood is closing their U.S. home electronics business. Their value-added AV gear has been struggling against the $49 Costco DVD players. Another top Japanese company, TDK Corporation, closed its two U.S. plants last year and is concentrating production in Germany and Thailand. Demand for analog tape has fallen off and prices for blank CD-Rs fell 60% last year, with some now available for under 25 cents. Demand for video cassettes has also dropped.
Oregon Ruling Silences Music Festivals - The state of Oregon ruled earlier this year that classical musicians aren’t independent contractors but employees. That’s OK for the Oregon Symphony, but a blow for the many nonprofit groups putting on annual music festivals. At least three have had audits which resulted in their being subject to unemployment insurance payments retroactive to 2000, Social Security taxes and worker compensation taxes. The historic Ernest Bloch Music Festival in Newport, scheduled for June, was just barely making it by each year and has been forced to cancel for this year as a result.
April 6, 2005 
