advertisement
FYI

US Music Industry Sees Fastest Growth in More Than 20 Years

This is the first time since 1999 that US music revenues grew materially for two years in a row, while gaps in core rights continue to distort the marketplace and deprive recording artists and songwriters of the royalties they deserve.

US Music Industry Sees Fastest Growth in More Than 20 Years

By FYI Staff

The music business posted its fastest growth since Boyz II Men and Hootie & the Blowfish topped the charts 23 years ago.


US recorded music sales climbed 17 percent to $8.7 billion last year, the second straight gain in domestic revenue, the Recording Industry Association of America said Thursday.

At wholesale, revenues grew 12.6% to $5.9 billion. These increases were driven by more than 35 million paid subscriptions, a 56% growth year-over-year.

This is the first time since 1999 that US music revenues grew materially for two years in a row, while gaps in core rights continue to distort the marketplace and deprive recording artists and songwriters of the royalties they deserve.

advertisement

See the full report here and read more from RIAA Chairman & CEO Cary Sherman in his Medium commentary here.

advertisement
Elton John in the video for 1989's "Sacrifice."
YouTube/Alex Keshishian

Elton John in the video for 1989's "Sacrifice."

Pop

Elton John’s First Song to Enter YouTube Billions Club Might Surprise You

The 1989 video stars supermodel Yasmeen Ghauri and singer Chris Isaak.

Sire Elton John‘s video for the maudlin 1989 single “Sacrifice” has joined the YouTube billion-views club. The single from John’s 22nd studio album, 1989’s Sleeping with the Past, chronicles the challenge of remaining faithful in marriage, with a video starring singer/songwriter Chris Isaak and supermodel Yasmeen Ghauri.

The clip directed by Alex Keshishian (Madonna: Truth or Dare, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me) follows Isaak as he and Ghauri struggle to maintain their connection as a married couple while raising their young daughter, with Isaak seeming to take on single parenthood near the end of the video.

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.

keep readingShow less
advertisement