Music downloads attract older audience

Almost a quarter of online music fans are over 45 years old, a new European survey has found. According to digital music site MP3.com, 24 per cent of people downloading music are aged over 45, just one per cent less than the biggest download group of 25 to 34 year olds. The survey also found that 16 per cent of those downloading music from the internet are aged between 18 to 24, while the 35 to 44 age group represents 23 per cent of the total digital music download audience. Over 45s in France download the most (32 per cent),  followed by Germany (22 per cent) and the UK (20 per cent). MP3.com's survey quizzed 3,500 users in UK, France and Germany. Leanne Sharman, vice president of sales and marketing at MP3.com, said: "These are staggering statistics and contradict the traditional thinking that teenagers are the largest consumers of music on the internet."