U.S music sales grew by 0.8% to total $4.47 billion in 2013, accounting for 30% of global trade revenues, according to IFPI’s 2014 “Recording Industry In Numbers” report, which was published today (Apr.1). The annual report, which provides detailed figures and market breakdowns for 50 international territories, reaffirmed America’s dominant position as the world’s largest music market with its nearest rival, Japan, experiencing a sharp 16.7% decline to total $3.01 billion.
The third largest music market, according to IFPI, is Germany, which -- continuing a now-annual trend -- once again switched places with the United Kingdom, which falls to No. 4. Music sales in Germany totaled $1.37 billion (up 1.1% year-on-year) in 2013, while recorded music revenues in the U.K. totaled $1.30 billion (up 2.2%).
France maintained its position at No. 5 in the world market rankings with music sales totaling $956 million (up 1.3%), while Australia was No. 6 with $430 million (down 8.4%). The rest of the Top 10 was rounded out by Canada ($424 million, down 2.5%), Italy ($238 million, up 8.3%), Brazil ($228 million, down 1.7%) and South Korea ($211 million, up 9.7%), which enters the top 10 for the first time, displacing the Netherlands.
Music sales in Latin America, for instance, grew by 1.4% in 2013, with digital accounting for 35% of overall revenues. The region’s dominant markets -- Brazil and Mexico -- jointly account for 70% of recorded music income in the region, although both markets experienced a fall in 2013. Music sales in Brazil totaled $228 million (down 1.7% on the previous year), while the market in Mexico fell by 4.4% to total $135 million.
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