Digital music sales have surpassed the physical media in the UK, marking a turning point in the recording industry.
The music industry is not in top form since the democratization of the internet, a medium that many are still trying to penalize instead of making it a preferred medium. The UK industry has understood it since Phonograpic British Industry (the interprofessional association of British Industry's CD grouping the major players in the sector) has published a report placing the digital sales over physical sales. A turning point that the U.S. had experienced last year, but in smaller proportions in relation to its population.
The paper reported a 2.7% increase in digital sales over the first quarter of 2011, generating revenue of £ 155.8 million, or 55.5% of total revenue generated by the recording industry. Conversely, sales of physical media have generated revenues of 69.3 million pounds. A relatively low figure nevertheless argues that the leader of the BPI claiming that CD sales remain an important source of income. This trend is due largely to a la carte services and other subscription unlimited which rose by 23.6% over the first half of 2011, generating 86.5 million pounds equivalent to 133 million. In comparison, the U.S., these services have generated last year "only" $ 241 million in revenue, an increase of 13%.
If the Internet has caused the crisis in good numbers of industries, it also seems to be the cure, as this report shows the BPI will be based on which, we hope, more industries in the future.
