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U.S. Music Sales Up in First Half

By Ed Christman

NEW YORK (Billboard) - The U.S. music industry finished the first half of 2004 with album sales of 305.7 million units, up 6.9% from the 285.9 million units scanned in the corresponding period last year, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

In market share, Universal Music & Video Distribution was the No. 1 ranked distributor for the first six months of 2003, with a 27.1% stake. While that is up from the 26.6% it had in the first three months of this year, it is down from the 27.7% it had in the first half of last year.

Independent labels collectively ranked No. 2, with a 17.5% share for the six-month period ended June 27. This compares with 16.8% in the same period last year.

Making a big move in market share, BMG Distribution finished at No. 3 with 16.4%, up from the 13.7% it had in the first half of 2003. On the other hand, WEA's market share dropped to 14.6% in the first half, down from the 17.6% it had in first-half 2003. Also down was Sony Music Distribution, to 12.8% from 13.4%.

But EMI Music Marketing enjoyed a market share increase over its 2003 performance, finishing the first half of 2004 with 10.7%, vs. 10%.

Universal also came out as the top distribution company in terms of current-album market share, with 28.6%. It was followed by BMG, with 19.8%; the independent sector, 15.4%; Sony, 12.8%; WEA, 12.7%; and EMM, 10.7%.

Usher's BMG-distributed "Confessions" (LaFace/Zomba) was the top-selling album in the first half, at 4.5 million units. It was followed by Norah Jones (news)' "Feels Like Home" (Capitol/EMI), with 3.1 million.

Reuters/Billboard




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