The global recorded music market grew by 18.5 per cent in 2021, driven by growth in paid subscription streaming, according to IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry), the organisation that represents the recorded music industry worldwide. Figures released Tuesday in IFPI's Global Music Report show total revenues for 2021 were $25.9 billion, reports 'Variety'. While the free version of the report does not attach numbers to all of the rankings, they're pretty fascinating anyway:
The top 10 global artists, based on "consumption across all formats and all countries, weighted based on the value of each method of consumption", are:
- BTS
- Taylor Swift
- Adele
- Drake
- Ed Sheeran
- The Weeknd
- Billie Eilish
- Justin Bieber
- Seventeen
- Olivia Rodrigo
The top 10 global digital singles were:
- The Weeknd 'Save Your Tears' (2.15 billion streams)
- The Kid Lario, Justin Bieber 'Stay' (2.07 bn)
- Dua Lipa 'Levitating' (1.88 bn)
- BTS 'Butter' (1.76 bn)
- Olivia Rodrigo 'Drivers License' (1.73 bn)
- Justin Bieber (ft. Daniel Caesar and Giveon) 'Peaches' (1.72 bn)
- The Weeknd 'Blinding Lights' (1.61 bn)
- Olivia Rodrigo 'Good 4 U' (1.61. bn)
- Lil Nas X 'Montero' (1.6 bn)
- Ed Sheeran 'Bad Habits' (1.57 bn)
The top 10 all-format albums were:
- Adele '30'
- Olivia Rodrigo 'Sour'
- Justin Bieber 'Justice'
- Ed Sheeran "="
- The Weeknd 'After Hours'
- Dua Lipa 'Future Nostalgia'
- The Kid Laroi 'Fa-Love' (mixtape)
- ABBA 'Voyage'
- Morgan Wallen 'Dangerous: The Double Album'
- Doja Cat 'Planet Her'
And, for good measure, the top-selling vinyl titles across the world were:
- Adele '30' (862,000 global units)
- Harry Styles 'Fine Line' (397,000)
- Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours' (346,000)
- Olivia Rodrigo 'Sour' (339,000)
- Billie Eilish 'Happier Than Ever' (335,000)
- Taylor Swift 'Red (Taylor's Version)' (325,000)
- The Beatles 'Abbey Road' (283,000)
- Nirvana 'Nevermind' (274,000)
- Pink Floyd 'Dark Side of the Moon' (272,000)
- Taylor Swift 'Evermore' (270,000)
According to 'Variety', the report notes that paid subscription streaming revenues increased by 21.9 per cent to $12.3 billion, with 523 million users of paid subscription accounts at the end of 2021.
Opening a press conference in London to announce the report, IFPI CEO Frances Moore expressed concern regarding events in Ukraine and the resulting humanitarian crisis, saying: "IFPI stands with our colleagues across the music community in our support for urgent humanitarian relief for refugees and our call for an end to the violence."
Commenting on the report, Moore continued: "Around the world, record companies are engaging at a very local level, to support music cultures and bring on the development of emerging music ecosystems - championing local music and creating the opportunities for it to reach a global audience. As more markets mature, they join with and contribute to the rich, globally interconnected music world.
"Consequently, today's music market is the most competitive in memory. Fans are enjoying more music than ever and in so many different and new ways. This creates enormous opportunities for artists. Those who choose to partner with a record company, do so to benefit from the support of agile, highly responsive global teams of experts dedicated to helping them achieve creative and commercial success and build their long-term careers.
"As technologies and the online environment continue to evolve and expand, so too do the creative opportunities to share music experiences. From the metaverse, to in-game content, record companies have invested in the people and the technologies to deliver new, highly interactive experiences - adding to the evolving ways for artists to make connections with their fans."
