Global music sales fell by just 1.3% in the first half of this year, which is good news because it means overall decline is slowing down. That said, the figures are slightly blurred because of the growth of the music DVD sector (audio sales alone fell by 2.7%) - and regions like the US (where sales are up 3.9%) prop up others performing less well (Europe overall saw a decline of 7.7%).
Hence the cautious response from Jay Berman, the boss of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. He told reporters: "There are some signs that the world's markets are beginning to recover. However, markets continue to be hampered by the dual effects of commercial and internet piracy."