http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/feb/...g-plays-spotify

 

In 2013 7.4bn songs were streamed in the UK in 2013, double the figure for the previous year, generating revenues of £103m.

 

It is growing VERY fast.

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26238575

 

Last year was also a fifth successive record year for British singles sales, up 6% to 188.6m with the vast majority - 99.6% - accounted for by digital downloads.

Singles download is growing VERY slowly. It might take a downward turn like in the USA in a year or two.

 

 

 

In the USA, streaming revenue has surpassed singles download revenue. RIAA will release the 2013 number in a few weeks. Here's 2012 number

 

Streaming Revenue 2012: $1,032.8 million USD (up 59%)

Singles Download Revenue 2012: $1,623.6 million USD (up 6.7%)

 

 

2014 so far:

 

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/591...k-since-titanic

 

Year-to-date track sales are at 201.1 million, down 12% compared with the same total at this point last year (227.3 million).

 

 

To be honest, it is the future. I mean 0.99 for one song is so expensive when we have youtube, which is free, and Spotify which also has a free version, right?

 

I see downloading individual singles as going the way of the past.

 

Streaming is the logical conclusion, so much more price effective for basically as many songs as you want to listen to. Owning music is pretty much irrelevant now, especially seeing as ownership now refers to having a file on your computer. Why not cut out the downloading and just listen to it from streaming instead?

 

Howeverrr people still use ipods a lot so I can't see downloading going away completely due to this.

 

I remember as a kid buying like £4 or £3 quid singles and thinking a single for £2, like Geri Halliwell's Ride It, was a bargain :o And then I'd buy sometimes 2 of the same expensive single to help out people like Natalie Imbruglia or Viccy B, she doesn't come for free as she's a real lazy, in the charts. And I'd collect singles by Viccy, Britney and Natalie even though I already had the album. The last straw was when Britney released Not A Girl Not Yet a Woman and I bought it for like £3 or maybe more, then realised as I was holding it in my hand ... why did I do that? I have the album already and I'll never listen to it, and that ended my Britney collection and my singles buying. From then on I'd only get albums and only if they were really something. In the Zone, my fave album, but you wouldn't think it as unlike the others, I didn't buy a single uh single for it.

 

In short, singles have always been way too expensive so I understand the rise of streaming. However, downloads will continue, even if much smaller, due to ipods, etc.

To be honest, it is the future. I mean 0.99 for one song is so expensive when we have youtube, which is free, and Spotify which also has a free version, right?

 

I see downloading individual singles as going the way of the past.

 

Streaming is the logical conclusion, so much more price effective for basically as many songs as you want to listen to. Owning music is pretty much irrelevant now, especially seeing as ownership now refers to having a file on your computer. Why not cut out the downloading and just listen to it from streaming instead?

 

Howeverrr people still use ipods a lot so I can't see downloading going away completely due to this.

 

I don't regard owning music as irrelevant, even if it *is* only a file on your disc/iPod. It's something I don't need an internat connection for.

 

I remember as a kid buying like £4 or £3 quid singles and thinking a single for £2, like Geri Halliwell's Ride It, was a bargain :o

 

Well I thought so, especially as you got her cover of 'It's Raining Men' as the b-side too. ;)

I don't regard owning music as irrelevant, even if it *is* only a file on your disc/iPod. It's something I don't need an internat connection for.

Neither is Spotify's mobile/offline mode which is very useful for listening to your iPod on the go :)

Neither is Spotify's mobile/offline mode which is very useful for listening to your iPod on the go :)

 

Oh. I didn't know that existed. That really could impact on downloads then.

All the on-demand subscription streaming like Spotify, Deezer, Beats Music, Rhapsody allow offline mode. You download the songs or playlist. Play them offline. No data charge.

 

 

 

Streaming is gaining major traction in the market:

 

2012 streaming revenue for Universal Music: $353 million

2013 streaming revenue for Universal Music: $618 million (up 75%)

 

http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news...venue-last-year

 

Spotify drove a large part of the 75% jump Universal Music Group achieved in 2013 in subscription and streaming revenue, according to a source familiar with the music group’s financial statements.

 

During the conference call, Vivendi reported that the company's digital streaming and subscription revenue grew to 450 million euros ($618 million) in 2013, up 75% from the 257 million euros ($353 million) that channel had generated in the previous year.

When will streaming revenue surpass singles download revenue in the UK?

 

Stream Revenue 2013: £103m (number of streams doubled from 2012)

 

Singles Download Revenue 2013 scenario A (79p is the average price): 188.6 million downloads x 0.79p = £149m

Singles Download Revenue 2013 scenario B (89p is the average price): 188.6 million downloads x 0.89p = £168m