Report Says Spending on Web Content Up 14%

Consumer spending on online content such as music, dating sites and investment information grew 14% last year to $1.8 billion, an organization of online publishers reported.

The Online Publishers Assn., working with ComScore Networks, said the biggest gain came in spending on entertainment, which jumped 90% over a year earlier to $413.5 million, driven mainly by greater purchases of music.

Spending on dating sites remained the top category, however, growing 4.4% in 2004 to $469.5 million last year. Spending on business and investment fell 6.3% to $312.9 million.