SWIFT LIFTS H1 U.K. MUSIC SALES

The value of U.K. music sales rose by 7.9% in H1 2024, according to figures by digital entertainment and retail association ERA. The growth significantly outpaced video and video-game sales.

Music revenue in the first half of the year was £163.8m, up from £151.8m in 2023. The figure excludes streaming, for which figures aren't available, and combines vinyl, CD and downloads. Streaming volume was up 11% in the same period.

The video-sales market, which also excludes streaming, grew 5.4% in the same period to £213.7m, while physical and digital video-game sales dipped 29.4% to £348.6m.

Vinyl album sales rose 13.5% to £86.3m in H1. CD sales increased 3.2% to £57.9m.

Taylor Swift was responsible for the period’s biggest-selling album, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT (EMI), and the top-selling physical single, “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone.

ERA CEO Kim Bayley attributed a successful Record Store Day, as well as the enduring commercial appeal of Swift, as the main contributors to the numbers. “It was clear back in April the impact they have had on the vinyl sector, but they seem to have lifted the market as a whole too,” she said.

Indeed, in the chart week of RSD and the release of TTPD, vinyl sales enjoyed their highest weekly total in 30 years in the U.K., with 306.8k albums and singles sold.