Music to Our Ears

In 2006:

• total music sales slipped $624 million, despite a $1 billion increase in online sales from 2005;
• online music adoption grew 93 percent during same period;
• retail music sales totaled about $18 billion globally, down 8 percent;
• digital music sales were $1.2 billion and mobile audio sales were about $850 million;
• online music represents roughly 7 percent of total music sales (CDs, paid music downloads, and online music subscriptions), up from 3 percent in 2005;
• approximately 582 million songs were downloaded, up 65 percent; and,
  
• 54 songs sold more than 500,000 digital copies (went Gold) and 11 albums sold more than 100,000 downloads; compare this to 22 songs and three albums in 2005.

So far in 2007, digital song sales have risen 54 percent, while album sales, whether physical or digital, dropped more than 16 percent.

Note: this figures do not count ring tones as music.

Source: Nielsen Soundscan, Maxim Group LLC.

Tags: music, digital downloads, download stats, online music, Nielsen