MUMBAI: 2004 was a landmark year for the growth of digital services, according to the record industry.
Over 180 legitimate music download services were launched globally in 2004, says the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in its 12th annual global report
IFPI market research director Keith Jopling said, "IFPI's Recording Industry in Numbers is an unparalleled and comprehensive report on the global market music. It contains definitive market shares of the record companies, commentary on the global market situation - including on the digital music business - and a wealth of information needed by industry players, analysts and commentators."
Universal maintains its position as the world's biggest recording company, with a 25.5 per cent share of the world market. Sony BMG is next with a 21.5 per cent share followed by EMI at 13.4 per cent and Warner at 11.3 per cent. The independent sector holds steady with a 28.4 per cent global share. National and regional market share information is also available.
Performance rights revenues : For the first time, IFPI is publishing revenues to the industry from the public performance of music and music videos. This is an increasing revenue source for record companies as the channels for getting music to the consumer expand.
Performance rights collections totalled $493 million in 2004 - up 4.5 per cent on 2003 and up 19 per cent over the past five years. IFPI estimates that potential revenues from the sector could more than double its current value over the next five years.
The figures include licensing income from webcasting and simulcasting as well as traditional radio and TV broadcasting, and public performance revenues from bars, hotels, nightclubs and restaurants.
Accelerated growth in digital sales: 2004 was a landmark year for the growth of digital services. Over 180 legitimate music download services were launched globally in 2004. There are now well over 300 sites in total, with at least 200 in Europe.
Music catalogue available on the major services doubled in 2004 to over one million tracks, while subscriber figures now top 2.2 million. Sales of digital music players continue to increase, spurring growth in online music. The launch of 3G services by major operators has given a boost to the download music to mobile market.
In addition, sales of physical product over the internet are growing rapidly reaching 15 per cent in Germany, 10 per cent in the UK and six per cent in the US. The internet was the fastest-growing retail channel for CD sales in 2004.
The report provides an overview of 65 countries across the world detailing for example: retail patterns, piracy levels, repertoire breakdown, top ten albums and music DVD charts. Music player penetration, per capita sales, sales by age and genre and many more interesting facts and statistics highlight differences between the markets as well as national and regional trends.
