Statistics: 2013 Global Digital Music Report Released

New from the IFPI (industry trade group).
From News Release:

• Subscription services’ revenues up 51 per cent in 2013, helping global digital revenues grow by 4.3 per cent
• Europe sees growth for the first time in 12 years. Revenues stable in the US and up in Latin America
• Sharp drop in Japan sees overall global industry revenues decline by 3.9 per cent
• Global revenue excluding Japan fell by 0.1 per cent

The US recorded music market continues to stabilise, growing by 0.8 per cent in trade revenue terms with strong demand for streaming services. Europe has returned to growth after 12 years, with all top five markets – France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the UK – seeing an increase in revenues. Latin America saw a 1.4 per cent growth, with strong digital revenues helping offset declining physical sales.
Despite positive trends in most markets, overall global music trade revenues fell by 3.9 per cent to US$15.0 billion in 2013. The result was heavily influenced by a 16.7 per cent fall in Japan, which accounts for more than a fifth of global revenues. Japan remains a market in transition, with legacy mobile products and physical format sales only now starting to decline, while streaming and subscription services are still establishing themselves.
The digital market has continued to diversify with revenues from subscription services, such as Deezer and Spotify, growing by 51.3 per cent, passing the US$1 billion mark for the first time. Global revenues from subscription and advertising-supported streams now account for 27 per cent of digital revenues, up from 14 per cent in 2011.
It is estimated that more than 28 million people worldwide now pay for a music subscription, up from 20 million in 2012 and just eight million in 2010.
Physical format sales still account for a major proportion of industry revenues in many major markets. They account for more than half (51.4%) of all global revenues, compared to 56 per cent in 2012. Although global physical sales value declined by 11.7 per cent in 2013, major markets including Germany, Italy, the UK and the US saw a slow-down in the rate of physical decline. France’s physical sales grew by an estimated 0.8 per cent, helped by a local repertoire boom.
While vinyl sales account for only a small fraction of the overall industry revenues, they have seen an increase in recent years in some key markets. In the US, vinyl sales increased by 32 per cent in 2013 (Nielsen Soundscan), and in the UK, they increased by 101 per cent in 2013 (BPI).

Read the Complete Summary
Direct to Full Text (48 pages; PDF)

Filed under: News