Music album sales tumble further in 2008
US album sales slid for a seventh time in eight years in 2008 as growth in the digital arena, one of the few bright spots in the ailing music industry, slowed, according to data. Total album sales fell 14 per cent to 428.4 million units during the...
US album sales slid for a seventh time in eight years in 2008 as growth in the digital arena, one of the few bright spots in the ailing music industry, slowed, according to data.
Total album sales fell 14 per cent to 428.4 million units during the 52-week period ended December 28, according to retail data collected by tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan.
This follows a 15 per cent drop in 2007, and sets a new low since the firm began monitoring sales in 1991. Sales have plummeted 45 per cent from the industry's high-water mark of 785.1 million units in 2000, due largely to internet piracy and competition from other forms of entertainment such as video games.
This year, the industry also faced an economic recession. Digital downloads, through online retailers such as Apple Inc's iTunes store, have taken on greater importance to the industry, but the impressive growth of recent years is waning. Digital track sales rose 27 per cent to a record 1.07 billion units, but the growth was slower than the 45 per cent jump in 2007. Digital album sales rose 32 per cent to 65.8 million units, after a 53 per cent jump in 2007.
Ringtones are also a major new focus. But purchases of the top 100 mastertone ringers slid 33 per cent to 43.8 million units. Only one mastertone broke the two million mark - rapper Lil Wayne's Lollipop. Last year, three did.
Lil Wayne also took honours for this year's top-selling album, moving 2.9 million copies of Tha Carter III. Last year's No. 1 album was pop vocalist Josh Groban's Noel with 3.7 million copies.
Only three other albums sold more than two million copies this year: English rock band Coldplay's Viva La Vida and country singer Taylor Swift's Fearless, each with about 2.1 million, and rocker Kid Rock's 2007 release Rock 'N' Roll Jesus with two million. Last year, eight albums sold more than two million copies.
Ms Swift, 19, was the biggest artiste of 2008, selling four million copies, mostly of Fearless and her 2006 self-titled debut. Anglo-Australian rock band AC/DC followed with 3.4 million copies, selling almost as many of their old albums as they did of their first release in more than eight years, Black Ice, which was number five with 1.9 million copies.
Overall music sales, including albums, singles, music video and digital tracks, rose 10.5 per cent to 1.5 billion units, after a 14 per cent growth in 2007 and a 19 per cent jump in 2006.
Total album sales fell 14 per cent to 428.4 million units during the 52-week period ended December 28, according to retail data collected by tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan.
This follows a 15 per cent drop in 2007, and sets a new low since the firm began monitoring sales in 1991. Sales have plummeted 45 per cent from the industry's high-water mark of 785.1 million units in 2000, due largely to internet piracy and competition from other forms of entertainment such as video games.
This year, the industry also faced an economic recession. Digital downloads, through online retailers such as Apple Inc's iTunes store, have taken on greater importance to the industry, but the impressive growth of recent years is waning. Digital track sales rose 27 per cent to a record 1.07 billion units, but the growth was slower than the 45 per cent jump in 2007. Digital album sales rose 32 per cent to 65.8 million units, after a 53 per cent jump in 2007.
Ringtones are also a major new focus. But purchases of the top 100 mastertone ringers slid 33 per cent to 43.8 million units. Only one mastertone broke the two million mark - rapper Lil Wayne's Lollipop. Last year, three did.
Lil Wayne also took honours for this year's top-selling album, moving 2.9 million copies of Tha Carter III. Last year's No. 1 album was pop vocalist Josh Groban's Noel with 3.7 million copies.
Only three other albums sold more than two million copies this year: English rock band Coldplay's Viva La Vida and country singer Taylor Swift's Fearless, each with about 2.1 million, and rocker Kid Rock's 2007 release Rock 'N' Roll Jesus with two million. Last year, eight albums sold more than two million copies.
Ms Swift, 19, was the biggest artiste of 2008, selling four million copies, mostly of Fearless and her 2006 self-titled debut. Anglo-Australian rock band AC/DC followed with 3.4 million copies, selling almost as many of their old albums as they did of their first release in more than eight years, Black Ice, which was number five with 1.9 million copies.
Overall music sales, including albums, singles, music video and digital tracks, rose 10.5 per cent to 1.5 billion units, after a 14 per cent growth in 2007 and a 19 per cent jump in 2006.