Universal, Sony top US music streaming market
January 11, 2017
Music Business Worldwide has conducted an in-depth market share analysis of the US recorded music business last year across audio streaming, video streaming, total album ‘projects’ and more besides – using stats from the annual report of trusted market monitor BuzzAngle.
The research found that Universal Music Group dominates the market in most categories.
However, when Sony’s ownership of The Orchard and RED are taken into account, it runs its rival extremely close in the world of online video streams.
Elsewhere, Tunecore (owned by Believe Digital) had a particularly impressive year, claiming just under 5 per cent of the total audio streaming market by volume…
Audio streaming
Universal Music Group finished 2016 having distributed 84.03 billion audio streams of music in the US (data which will include UMG signings in addition to partner labels such as Disney and Glassnote).
This figure, which doesn’t include UMG’s indie distribution company Caroline’s share, was enough to secure approximately 33.5 per cent of the total market (250.73 billion audio streams).
Sony Music (not including RED or The Orchard) claimed 51.193 billion streams (20.4 per cent), with Warner Music (not including ADA) on 39.964 billion (15.9 per cent).
Tunecore – owned by Believe Digital following a 2015 acquisition – claimed 11.375 billion audio streams (4.5 per cent).
That was ahead of rivals such as ADA (10.242 billion, 4.1 per cent), RED (9.02 billion, 3.6 per cent), The Orchard (8.136 billion, 3.2 per cent), INgrooves (5.54 billion, 2.2 per cent) and Caroline (3.315 billion, 1.3 per cent).