The global recorded music market grew by over eight percent in 2019, to $20.2 billion, and there are now more than 340 million worldwide music streaming service subscribers.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Institute (IFPI) published these and other telling stats in its Global Music Report, which was shared with Digital Music News this morning. The eye-popping 341 million figure counts total subscribers at the end of 2019, which means this figure is probably a lot higher.
Per the IFPI’s report, 2019’s considerable music streaming service hike brought with it a nearly 25 percent revenue uptick, pushing streaming’s earnings to $11.2 billion. Subscription-based audio streams, along with downloads and digital revenue, comprised almost 50 percent of global music industry revenue. Moreover, ad-supported music streams (including videos) and premium subscriptions accounted for over 56 percent of 2019’s total music industry income.
Sync revenue increased by 5.8 percent from 2018’s level, whereas physical revenue dropped by some 5.3 percent. Significantly, though, vinyl sales rose by over five percent and contributed to overall physical sales growth in the United States (3.2 percent) and Spain (7.2 percent).
Each of the world’s regions experienced music industry growth in 2019, per the IFPI, though Latin America led the field with 18.9 percent. The U.S. and Canada followed with 10.4 percent growth, and Europe secured the third-place spot with 7.2 percent.
The IFPI Global Music Report 2019 presented a few other interesting pieces of information as well.
First, the report ranked Taylor Swift first on its “Global Recording Artist” index, which is “the only ranking to accurately measure consumption across all formats” and in each nation. Ed Sheeran nabbed the chart’s second spot, Post Malone finished third, and Billie Eilish laid claim to the fourth slot. Queen rounded out the top five, and notably, the IFPI ranked BTS seventh, between Ariana Grande and Drake.
Next, Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” was said to be 2019’s top digital single, followed by Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” and, in third, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello’s “Señorita.”
Finally, Japanese boy band Arashi and its 5×20 All the Best!! greatest hits album upset Taylor Swift’s Lover on the global top-ten album chart. BTS’s Map of the Soul: Persona finished third.
Last week, Digital Music News was first to report on the strong financial performances turned in by Apple Music, YouTube, Spotify, and SiriusXM during 2020’s first quarter.
Are those 341 million subscriptions paid or do they include freemium users?
Same 9 top 40 stars year after year after year. Why isn’t there new musicians with new types of music? Nothing changes.
Pennies for play will end the need for subscriptions, and the art revolution is based on music quality not promotion, so it’ll bring lots of new music.
Totally agree. The music business has less breadth than it did in the old days. Still, a lot of the problem is audience tastes, a lack of DJs to push better material, and American media that doesn’t want anything edgy to become popular.