Posted August 31, 200620 yr Global market dominated by digital music Source: Music Week The huge dominance of digital on the singles sector is underlined by new IFPI figures revealing nearly three-quarters of the market globally last year was made up of downloads. A report in the newly-published 2006 Global Recording Industry In Numbers shows 74% of singles units sold last year worldwide were in the digital market with the US leading the way with 99% of its singles market made up of downloads. Led by tracks including Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl and Gold Digger by Kanye West, it contributed 372m units to a total of 631m singles sold in the year across digital and physical. Japan remains ahead of the UK as the world’s second biggest singles market with 76m units sold in 2005, although only 16% of these were digital sales. In contrast, 49% of the 53m singles sold in the UK last year came via the digital market, a similar share to fifth-placed Germany with 46% of its 33m unit singles business achieved digitally. France finished just ahead of Germany with 34m singles sold last year, although only 25% of these were downloads. Among the world’s Top 10 singles markets South Korea matches the US in terms of the impact of digital with 99% of its singles sales being downloads, with Canada only just behind with 97% digital penetration. The smallest digital penetration was in Australia where only 21% of its 10m-unit singles business came via downloads. Despite the huge impact of digital on the singles market, the IFPI notes this impact has been in terms of volume rather than value. While total singles sales beat the previous annual peak of 624m units achieved in 1979, it notes the market last year was worth just over $US 1bn, down 25% compared to five years ago. The IFPI report says one of the key factors driving the singles market is portability and the popularity of MP3 players such as the iPod. It adds, “There is, however, a great deal of room for further growth in legitimate sales of digital singles.†Top 10 singles markets in 2005 USA 372m units (99% digital) Japan 76m (16%) UK 53m (49%) France 34m (25%) Germany 33m (46%) South Korea 12m (99%) Canada 11m (97%) Australia 10m (21%) Italy 4m (76%) Belgium 4m (32%)
August 31, 200620 yr Digital sales in Japan only 16%, good to see that CDs haven't taken a back seat there then!
August 31, 200620 yr I'm surprised about the Japs, they're really hi-tech so thought they'd have loads of downloads
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