September 7, 2001. Copyright 2001. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

Brits buy the most music albums

LONDON, September 7, Graphic News: Britons buy the most albums per head of any nation, with rap, hip-hop and other types of urban music showing the greatest rise in popularity, according to a report by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

The British buy an average of four albums a year, followed closely by Denmark and the worldÕs biggest music market, the United States, with Britney Spears, Santana, the Beatles and Eminem the most popular artists last year, the IFPI said.

The report showed local artists and labels have surged in popularity, representing seven out of every 10 albums sold worldwide.

ÒWeÕre not seeing as many massive international artists with decades of success any more and music companies have become more sophisticated in their international marketing to develop local artists,Ó said the IFPIÕs Keith Jopling.

Types of music available have also exploded, with genres such as urban and dance rising in the charts while rock music has made a comeback.

The music industry is facing the prospect of sluggish growth in coming years as the replacement of cassettes with CDs wanes. The IFPI, which represents the global industry, said CD sales hit 2.5 billion in 2000, up 150 percent over the decade.

World music sales fell slightly by 1.3 percent to $36.9 billion last year. The five major music groups -- EMI, Warner, Universal, Sony and BMG -- control around 75 percent of world music sales.
/ENDS
Sources: IFPI, Reuters