This progression is driven by digital, which represents three quarters of music sales in 2022, against a quarter in 2012, according to figures published on Tuesday by the National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing.
Last year, the French recorded music market generated a turnover of 920 million euros, up 6.4% compared to 2021, the Syndicat national de l’édition phonographique revealed on Tuesday March 14. . Among this turnover, digital and physical music sales are still on the rise (+4.7% between 2021 and 2022).
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This growth is driven by digital which amounts to 569 million euros in 2022. This represents three quarters of music sales made in 2022, whereas in 2012 physical was the majority and streaming accounted for only 25% Sales. The inversion of the sales pattern continues, as digital sales increased by 12% between 2021 and 2022. This increase “not only compensates for the physical decline, but allows total music sales (…) to return to their 2007 level”, explains the SNEP. We remain, that said, barely halfway through the historic peak of 2002.
Physical sales down, after a “spectacular” rebound
“Subscription streaming remains by far the number one source of recorded music revenue (56%)” and thus remains a “major lever for market growth”. Although it has increased by 11% since 2021, France is still in “delay in the development of this segment”, concedes the National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing. For its part, ad-supported streaming grew 21% year-on-year, accounting for 8% of total recorded music sales revenue.
“Vinyl now accounts for 45% of physical revenue, up from less than 1% a decade ago.”
the National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishingin a press release
Physical sales are on the decline. In 2021, the SNEP had certainly seen a rebound “spectacular and conjunctural” 21% over one year due to a catch-up effect after the confinements. But the results are now mixed, and the syndicate notes a decline of 12% between 2021 and 2022. Physical sales thus represented 197 million euros in 2022, against 223 million euros in 2021. Vinyl still pulls its success: its turnover increased from 47 million euros in 2018 to 89 million euros last year. At the same time, CD sales have plummeted, its sales having fallen by a quarter in one year.
“We have never consumed so much music in France”
The Syndicat national de l’édition phonographique is also interested in the overall consumption of French music. Last year, they listened to an average of 17 hours of music per week, 3.5 hours more than before the coronavirus epidemic. A duration that rises to 19 hours per week for young people aged 16 to 24. “We have never consumed so much music in France”, salutes the SNEP. Uses are changing: radio and streaming by subscription are equal with 3h48 each of listening. Video services also occupy a significant place: 45% of 16-24 year olds say they spend more time on TikTok than on online music services.
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Finally, according to the Syndicat national de l’édition phonographique, the musical tastes of the French are very eclectic: they listen “on average 10 different genres” regardless of their age. Pop, rock and French chanson represent 46% of albums listened to via audio streaming, but at the same time rap and urban music represent 57% of the TOP 200 annual albums (ranking which corresponds to 8% of the consumption of music streaming audio).