U.S. music sales drop 6.2% in ’06
U.S. music sales declined 6.2% in 2006, as higher digital revenue failed to counter illegal copying and a drop in purchases of compact discs.
Retail music sales decreased to $11.5 billion last year from $12.3 billion in 2005, the Recording Industry Assn. of America said Tuesday. In contrast, sales of albums downloaded to computers doubled.
The report underscores the growing importance of online sales to the music industry, as well as the accelerating decline in purchases of CDs and losses to piracy. Gains in digital sales weren’t enough to offset a 13% drop in CDs shipped to retailers, the trade group said.
Sales of downloaded singles rose 60% to 586 million in 2006, while album downloads doubled to 28 million, the RIAA said.
The shipment figures are provided by record companies. The dollar values are based on suggested retail prices, although many CDs are sold for less.
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