Digital sales fuel record biz in first-half '06
Digital sales boost
July 6, 2006
Physical album sales continued to decline in the U.S. during the first six months of 2006, down 4.2% in comparison to the same period last year.
However, Nielsen SoundScan figures through the week ending July 2 indicate that digital sales might loft the business as a whole. Sales of digital albums soared 126% during the first half of the year, while digital tracks rose 77%.
Looking at the entire sales picture -- comprising physical albums, digital albums and digital tracks -- overall sales to date this year have actually gained about one-tenth of a percentage point over the first six months of '05.
A total of 270.6 million physical albums sold domestically through the end of June, representing a drop of 12 million units from last year's six-month total of 282.6 million.
Digital albums improved by 8.2 million units, with 14.7 million units sold since January versus just 6.4 million units in the first half of 2005. Digital tracks gained by 122 million units; 281 million tracks were sold in the first six months of the year versus 158 million in the same period last year.
The top-selling title of the year so far is Walt Disney Records' "High School Musical" soundtrack, which has shifted 2.6 million copies to date. Disney's Lyric Street imprint also accounts for the No. 2 release, Rascal Flatts' "Me and My Gang," which is just shy of 2 million units.
Three '05 holdovers round out the best-sellers of the first six months: U.K. troubadour James Blunt's "Back to Bedlam" (Custard/Atlantic), which sold nearly 1.7 million; R&B diva Mary J. Blige's "The Breakthrough" (Matriarch/Geffen), which moved 1.5 million; and "American Idol" Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" (Arista), at 1.4 million.
In market share, Universal Music Group led the field during the first six months of the year, taking a whopping 31.6% of overall album sales; that figure includes sales from Fontana Distribution, UMG's independent arm. Sony BMG Music Entertainment placed second with 23.9% of the market. The independent sector -- which includes the indie distributors operated by Sony BMG (RED), Warner Music Group (Alternative Distribution Alliance and Ryko Distribution) and EMI (Caroline Distribution) -- accounted for 19.3% of all albums sold.
Bringing up the rear are WMG, fourth with nearly 15.9% of the market, and EMI, which captured a slim 9%.
Looking at the current chart, new titles by neo-soul songstress India.Arie and emo heartthrob Dashboard Confessional enliven the top of the Billboard 200.
India.Arie's "Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship" (Motown) tops the chart this week, entering with sales of 161,000 units. It's the singer-songwriter's first No. 1 album and comes off her best sales week ever.
Singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba, who records as Dashboard Confessional, equals his chart best with the No. 2 bow of "Dusk & Summer" (Vagrant), which sold 134,000 in its first week. He also debuted at No. 2 with his 2004 release, "A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar."
Last week's No. 1 debut, Nelly Furtado's "Loose" (Geffen), falls to No. 3 behind a 99,000-unit performance, representing a 55% decline.
Dixie Chicks' "Taking the Long Way" (Columbia) dips a notch to No. 4, tracking 78,000. The country trio's set already is the eighth-best-selling album of the year, with a total of 1.2 million sold to date.
Two booming R&B acts continue to climb this week. Rihanna's "A Girl Like Me" (SRP/Def Jam) rises seven positions to No. 5, tallying 62,000. Gnarls Barkley's "St. Elsewhere" picks up two slots and moves to No. 6; the collaboration of Cee-Lo Green and Danger Mouse captured sales of 59,000.
Rascal Flatts' "Me and My Gang" picks up four positions, moving to No. 7 with 59,000 sold. Rapper Busta Rhymes' "The Big Bang" (Interscope), which debuted at No. 1 two weeks ago, falls three positions to No. 8 with a 58,000-unit week.
A pair of Disney soundtracks wrap up the top 10. The indefatigable "High School Musical" soundtrack drops three rungs to No. 9, with 57,000 sold, while the companion to the animated feature "Cars" sits tight at No. 10, scoring 50,000 units.
The week's other top debuts include rapper Shawnna's "Block Music" (No. 13, Disturbing Tha Peace/Def Jam, 47,000 units), country vet Hank Williams Jr.'s "That's How They Do It in Dixie" (No. 16, Curb, 39,000) and country vocalist Julie Roberts' "Men & Mascara" (No. 25, Mercury Nashville, 31,000).
However, Nielsen SoundScan figures through the week ending July 2 indicate that digital sales might loft the business as a whole. Sales of digital albums soared 126% during the first half of the year, while digital tracks rose 77%.
Looking at the entire sales picture -- comprising physical albums, digital albums and digital tracks -- overall sales to date this year have actually gained about one-tenth of a percentage point over the first six months of '05.
A total of 270.6 million physical albums sold domestically through the end of June, representing a drop of 12 million units from last year's six-month total of 282.6 million.
Digital albums improved by 8.2 million units, with 14.7 million units sold since January versus just 6.4 million units in the first half of 2005. Digital tracks gained by 122 million units; 281 million tracks were sold in the first six months of the year versus 158 million in the same period last year.
The top-selling title of the year so far is Walt Disney Records' "High School Musical" soundtrack, which has shifted 2.6 million copies to date. Disney's Lyric Street imprint also accounts for the No. 2 release, Rascal Flatts' "Me and My Gang," which is just shy of 2 million units.
Three '05 holdovers round out the best-sellers of the first six months: U.K. troubadour James Blunt's "Back to Bedlam" (Custard/Atlantic), which sold nearly 1.7 million; R&B diva Mary J. Blige's "The Breakthrough" (Matriarch/Geffen), which moved 1.5 million; and "American Idol" Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" (Arista), at 1.4 million.
In market share, Universal Music Group led the field during the first six months of the year, taking a whopping 31.6% of overall album sales; that figure includes sales from Fontana Distribution, UMG's independent arm. Sony BMG Music Entertainment placed second with 23.9% of the market. The independent sector -- which includes the indie distributors operated by Sony BMG (RED), Warner Music Group (Alternative Distribution Alliance and Ryko Distribution) and EMI (Caroline Distribution) -- accounted for 19.3% of all albums sold.
Bringing up the rear are WMG, fourth with nearly 15.9% of the market, and EMI, which captured a slim 9%.
Looking at the current chart, new titles by neo-soul songstress India.Arie and emo heartthrob Dashboard Confessional enliven the top of the Billboard 200.
India.Arie's "Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship" (Motown) tops the chart this week, entering with sales of 161,000 units. It's the singer-songwriter's first No. 1 album and comes off her best sales week ever.
Singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba, who records as Dashboard Confessional, equals his chart best with the No. 2 bow of "Dusk & Summer" (Vagrant), which sold 134,000 in its first week. He also debuted at No. 2 with his 2004 release, "A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar."
Last week's No. 1 debut, Nelly Furtado's "Loose" (Geffen), falls to No. 3 behind a 99,000-unit performance, representing a 55% decline.
Dixie Chicks' "Taking the Long Way" (Columbia) dips a notch to No. 4, tracking 78,000. The country trio's set already is the eighth-best-selling album of the year, with a total of 1.2 million sold to date.
Two booming R&B acts continue to climb this week. Rihanna's "A Girl Like Me" (SRP/Def Jam) rises seven positions to No. 5, tallying 62,000. Gnarls Barkley's "St. Elsewhere" picks up two slots and moves to No. 6; the collaboration of Cee-Lo Green and Danger Mouse captured sales of 59,000.
Rascal Flatts' "Me and My Gang" picks up four positions, moving to No. 7 with 59,000 sold. Rapper Busta Rhymes' "The Big Bang" (Interscope), which debuted at No. 1 two weeks ago, falls three positions to No. 8 with a 58,000-unit week.
A pair of Disney soundtracks wrap up the top 10. The indefatigable "High School Musical" soundtrack drops three rungs to No. 9, with 57,000 sold, while the companion to the animated feature "Cars" sits tight at No. 10, scoring 50,000 units.
The week's other top debuts include rapper Shawnna's "Block Music" (No. 13, Disturbing Tha Peace/Def Jam, 47,000 units), country vet Hank Williams Jr.'s "That's How They Do It in Dixie" (No. 16, Curb, 39,000) and country vocalist Julie Roberts' "Men & Mascara" (No. 25, Mercury Nashville, 31,000).
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