Driven largely by the growth in legal music services, U.S. spending on online content grew 16 percent to nearly $1 billion in the first half of the year.

Spending was at $853 million in the first six months of 2004, according to the Online Publishers Assn.

Its study also finds that spending in entertainment and lifestyles services has surpassed the previous leader, personals and dating. People spent 45 percent more on music and other entertainment, compared with a 7.6 percent growth in finding love.

“We see an increasing appetite for consumers to turn to the Web not just for functionality but for fun,” said Michael Zimbalist, the association’s president.

Much of that results from increased availability of high-speed Internet connections, he said.

The study was based on tracking by comScore Networks and excludes some types of content including pornography, gambling and software.