U.S. CD sales plummet by almost a third
CD sales in the U.S.A. have dropped by roughly 31.5% in the first six months of this year, according to figures from the music industry.
These latest CD figures mean that 'just' 41 million CDs were purchased between January and June, a fair few down on the 56.8 million from the same time in 2014.
This steep decline arrives in a year when vinyl sales have hit their highest numbers since the turn of the century. Streaming services, such as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and Amazon Prime, have risen a considerable amount this year as well.
These losses have been numbed by a ferious uptake in streamin, which grew to take one-third of the U.S. music industry's total income ($3.17 billion).
Sales of LPs grew by 52% in the first half of the year, raking in $221.8m (£143m) - roughly half as much as CD sales.
The chairman of the RIAA, Cary Sherman, says that these new statistics show "the story of a business undergoing an enormous transition."
He added that "intense demand and billions of streams does not always equal fair market rates or a fair playing field."
Taylor Swift's 2014 1989 was the top-selling record in the first six months of 2015, with Drake hurtling into second place with If You're Reading This It's Too Late.
- Fontaines D.C. sign to XL Reocrdings and announce their fourth studio album, ROMANCE
- A. G. Cook shares new single, "Soulbreaker"
- SQUARE: four-city event in Portugal unveils creative partnerships and international artist callout
- Been Stellar further preview their forthcoming debut album with new single, "Sweet"
- Charli XCX and Troye Sivan announce Sweat tour with special guest Shygirl
- SZA is the second black woman to be honoured the Hal David Starlight Award by Songwriters Hall of Fame
- King Hannah share new single, "Davey Says"
Get the Best Fit take on the week in music direct to your inbox every Friday