This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Business News Labels & Publishers Top Stories
More stats as IFPI releases annual numbers book
By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 2 April 2014
The stat dudes at the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry released their biggest annual dose of stats yesterday in the form of the global record industry trade group’s ‘Recording Industry In Numbers’ book, which you can all now go and buy for a mere £750.
Of course we already know the big top line figures, they having also appeared in the IFPI’s recent ‘Digital Music Report’. After the worldwide record industry saw some growth in 2012, it returned to decline in 2013 mainly thanks to a significant fall in revenues in the Japanese market, caused by the continued decline of CD sales and the fact the country’s distinct pre-smartphone mobile music services are now in free fall. In Japan, digital services more akin to those that now dominate in the US and Europe are yet to gain momentum.
All of which means a 3.9% global fall overall, though if you take Japan out of the equation the decline is a mere 0.1%, compared to 0.2% growth in 2012, so basically flat. But there are reasons to still be upbeat. The top six markets in Europe – Germany, UK, France, Sweden, Netherlands and Italy – all saw growth in 2013, and there was significant digital growth in some key merging markets, including Argentina (68.5%), Peru (148.5%), South Africa (106.8%) and Venezuela (84.9%).
Overall digital revenues were up 4.3% in 2013, meaning digital income now accounts for 39% of monies overall. Within the digital domain, downloads still account for 67% of income, though subscription and ad-based revenues from the streaming platforms combined are becoming more significant, together accounting for 27% of the digital money. Label income from subscription services passed $1 billion in 2013, as did public performance income, a significant if less talked about growth area for the record industry, which was up 19% last year and now accounts for 7% of all recorded music revenues.
Commenting on the publication of this year’s stats frenzy, IFPI boss Frances Moore told CMU: “The broad picture that emerges is of an extremely diverse industry. Most of our major markets have stabilised, digital continues to grow, revenue streams have diversified and we are starting to deliver on the huge potential in emerging markets. Against this, there were sharply declining revenues in Japan, a market which accounts for one fifth of global revenues and is right at the start of its digital transition. Yet the difficulties in one market, however large, should not divert us from a broader story of digital opportunity”.
