Charleston, SC - Apr 9, 2009 - Internet-only radio is rapidly gaining acceptance as another way to listen to music, according to a national survey from American Media Services. The AMS Radio Index shows that 27 percent of Americans say they have listened to Internet-only radio on an Internet site. This includes nearly half (47 percent) of young adults 18-24 and about a third (34 percent) of those under the age of 50.

But even as new media, such as Internet-only radio, continue to gain in popularity, regular radio is maintaining its audience. In the latest AMS survey, 73 percent said they are listening to the radio about the same as or more than they did five years ago. Dating back to the initial AMS Radio Index in January 2006, the number saying they listen to the radio as much or more than five years earlier has remained remarkably steady.

The way of receiving online radio is also rapidly changing. Nearly half the homes in America now have Wi-fi. Home Wi-fi service increased from 37 percent in the September 2008 survey to 48 percent in the current survey.

And in the wireless world, vehicles could be the next frontier - for Internet connections and audience growth for Internet-only radio. There is an increasing desire among Americans to have Internet service in their vehicle. The number expressing interest in having this service in their vehicle has increased from 37 percent in the September 2008 AMS survey to 46 percent in the latest AMS Radio Index.

Among those who have listened to Internet-only radio, nearly half (46 percent) expect to listen to it in the future on an Internet connection in their vehicles, and nearly three-quarters (74 percent) say they would listen to Internet-only radio more if their vehicle had an Internet connection.

Even among those who have never listened to Internet-only radio, nearly half (48 percent) say they would be prompted to listen to it if they had an Internet connection in their vehicle.

Generally, they prefer to have access to Internet-only radio at no charge. However, nearly a quarter (23 percent) said they are willing to pay a monthly subscription charge of $8 or less to listen commercial-free.

Other key findings of the latest AMS Radio Index include the following: