Twelve percent want music under the tree

Even with all the free music-streaming options out there, many music lovers are hoping for digital downloads and -- get this -- CDs for the holidays.

Twelve percent of consumers say that music is on their holiday lists and music gift buyers also say they are increasing their spending on music by 18 percent compared to last year, according to new research by The NPD Group.

"Whether their music taste is for One Direction or Rod Stewart, consumers know that they can't go wrong with music as a gift, which is why we continue to see music on holiday gift lists, despite the expanding number of free music-streaming options," Russ Crupnick, senior vice president of industry analysis at the Port Washington-based market research company, said in a statement.

Based on research gleaned from consumers during the holiday season last year, more than 36 percent of all music downloads were purchased with a gift card.

The company's "Holiday Spending Survey" indicated that the percentage of U.S. consumers who listed music on their gift lists was higher than the percentage of consumers who planned to purchase wallets and other fashion accessories (11 percent) or jewelry (10 percent). Imagine that . . .