New data out from eMarketer suggests mobile content revenues in the U.S. will increase from less than $1.15 billion in 2009 to over $3.53 billion in 2014.
Citing ongoing penetration of smart devices and the increasing ubiquity of mobile broadband networks as catalysts behind the anticipated revenue growth, the research indicates a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 20 percent. In addition, enhanced user experiences and access to cloud-based content will also attribute to substantial growth in the years ahead.
The research suggests the fastest growth will come from mobile music, which is estimated to move from a market focused on ringtones to one where mobile-broadband-enabled users pay to access full-length songs from the cloud. In 2009, mobile music content generated revenues of roughly $82M, with this figure reaching $676.5 million in 2014. Likewise, mobile video content is expected to see major movement as well, representing a CAGR of more than 25 percent from 2009 to 2014.
\”Platform integration is vital for the growth of mobile content,\” said Noah Elkin, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the report. \”The decade ahead heralds a wholesale shift in the content consumption experience. Consumers will expect games, music and video to be available on demand or via subscription on TVs, mobile and PC. The content owners that will thrive in this digital ecosystem are the ones that understand the need to deliver seamlessly across every possible platform.\”