U.K. MUSIC SAILS OVERSEAS
The Brits provided 13% of all music purchased or streamed in the world’s leading music markets last year, accounting for nearly one in every eight albums sold worldwide, taking nearly 50% of the market at home. How does that compare to previous years?
According to research from trade body BPI, that stat is up 0.4% from 2016’s 12.5% but down from 2015 when Adele’s 25 grew the U.K.’s global marketshare to 17.1%. It’s also down when compared to the prior seven years’ average of 13.6%.
Naturally, Europe is the biggest market percentage wise with U.K. acts counting for a 22.1% share in their sister territories and a trade value of $1.2b. The U.S. is the second biggest earner in trade value terms for Blighty at $704m, where U.K. acts have a marketshare of 11.9%. Australia is the third highest in trade value terms at $102m where British music has a 24.9% share of the market.
In emerging markets China, Mexico and India, British music has an estimated share of 2.5% ($7.3m), 4% ($5.5m) and 0.1% ($0.1m) respectively.
Ed Sheeran’s Divide, Rag’n’Bone Man’s Human, Sam Smith’s Thrill of it All, Harry Styles’ self-titled solo debut and Depeche Mode’s Spirit were the best-selling albums by U.K. artists worldwide in 2017.
