U.S. STILL BUYS THE MOST MUSIC
You Gotta Give It Up For The U.S.A.
The groups' report said, of the top five markets, only the U.S. and the U.K. showed growth when calculated in local currency.
Americans bought the most music, 3.9 units each in the year, followed by the British at 3.8, the report says. The Germans were next at 3.1.
Meanwhile, the global market was up 1% to $38.5 billion when compared with figures from 1998. Total units sold was 3.8 billion, with CD sales increasing 3%.
Sales in Japan, the second biggest market, fell 7%. With a 4% gain, the U.K. landed at No. 3, passing Germany, which traditionally has finished third. This year, Germany came in fourth, as sales dipped 2%.
France, down 4%, held at No. 5, and Canada, down 9%, still passed Brazil, down 43%, to reach No. 6. Australia, up 5%, jumped two spots to No. 8, and Spain, with 4% growth, dropped to No. 9. Appearing for the first time in the top 10 was Mexico—despite a 30% drop in sales.
