Streaming and vinyl kept the music industry buoyant in 2015
6th January 2016
A huge rise in streaming, combined with the continued resurgence of vinyl, helped keep the British music industry buoyant in 2015.
A total of 26.8 billion songs were streamed last year, a rise of 82%, according to trade body BPI. Vinyl sales jumped 64% to 2.1 million, while retailer HMV says it sold a turntable every minute over Christmas. Overall, the retail value of UK music rose from £1.03bn in 2014 to £1.06bn, the first increase since 2004. That figure includes the retail value of physical albums – CD, vinyl, cassette and minidisc – alongside digital downloads and an estimate of revenues from streaming subscriptions.
“Yet again it’s UK artists who are driving this growth and inspiring the fans,” said BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor, “whether it’s global icons such as Adele, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and One Direction, or recent British breakthroughs and newcomers like Jess Glynne, Little Mix and James Bay.”
Read more on the BBC website
