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Japan music sales bounce back
January 26, 2013
The Japanese music industry has broken a 14-year losing streak.
Local labels body the Recording Industry of Japan (RIAJ) says its 63 member companies last year shipped audio software worth 227.7 billion yen ($2.5 billion). That’s up 8% from 2011 — and the first time the value of audio shipments has risen year-on-year since 1998.
Shipments rose 9% to 218 million units in 2012 — the first annual increase since 1997.
The RIAJ says last year’s surprisingly strong physical results were due to the huge popularity of idol groups such as the ubiquitous AKB48, and greatest-hits albums by veteran acts like Yumi Matsutoya and Tatsuro Yamashita.
CD shipments increased 8% to 224.6 billion yen ($2.5 billion). Even LPs showed strong results, with shipments doubling in value to 673 million yen ($7.5 million) as EMI Music Japan and Universal Music released high-quality vinyl product aimed at Japan’s hardcore audiophiles.
Shipments of music videos also showed strong results, rising 18% to 83.1 billion yen ($929.9 million).