Can mobile music subscriptions really drive $5.5B by 2015?

Mobile music subscriptions are projected to more than triple by 2015, according to a new report from Juniper Research Ltd. At least 178 million mobile customers are expected to pay a monthly subscription for access to music catalogs worldwide, more than triple the number of users paying for such services today. Mobile music is projected to be a $5.5 billion industry by 2015.
China and India are expected to see a lot of activity in this space as mobile subscriber penetration grows rapidly in both countries. Access to 3G networks will help drive more content consumption as well.
“While streaming is the buzz word in developed markets, we should not forget that it is in markets where a combination of a large population, rising mobile subscriber penetration, and developing economies that represent a golden opportunity for mobile music services. Subscription models offer affordable access to large catalogues of music, and a regular income for mobile operators such as China Mobile and Bharti Airtel,” the report’s author Daniel Ashdown writes.
On the flip side, the ringtone segment is going to continue its steep decline, according to Juniper.