June 11, 2018

Consumption of British music accounted for 12.9% of all the music purchased or streamed around the world in 2017 according to BPI research.

The BPI has conducted a market analysis of album sales in 11 of the leading 15 music markets of the world, including the big top five: the US, Japan, Germany, the UK and France. These markets account for revenues of $14.0 billion (at trade value), which represents 81% of the global total of $17.3 billion according to IFPI’s recently published Global Music Report 2018.

British artists enjoyed their largest share of music consumption here at home, accounting for just under half (48.2%) of all UK album sales. However, they also thrived across Europe, where they were responsible for well over a fifth (22.1%) of consumption, and in North America, taking up over one in eight album purchases in the US and nearly one in six sales in Canada. In Australia, the figure was an impressive quarter (24.9%) of consumption.

UK artists fared less well in markets such as Japan and South Korea, which are dominated by their own local repertoire. Whilst estimated share in emerging territories such as China and India also remains relatively small, both markets offer huge potential, the BPI says. In the past 12 months the BPI has partnered with fellow music body AIM and with the Department for International Trade (DIT) to host successful trade missions in both countries.

The 12.9% share of global consumption is down when measured against the exceptional Adele 25, inspired peak of 2015 (17.1%), but up on 2016 (12.5%) and in line with the trends of the past seven years. For further information, click here.