The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry has released its annual report, detailing what happened in the music industry worldwide in 2017.
Titled “Global Music Report 2018: Annual State of the Industry”, the report says that the worldwide music industry saw revenue grow by 8.1% in 2017. This is the third straight years of growth and one of the largest jumps in growth since the IFPI began tracking the market in 1997. Despite the third straight year of growth, the worldwide music industry took in just 68.4% of what it took in in 1999, the industry’s peak.
Digital now makes up 54% of total global revenue. Streaming (free and paid) is the biggest part of digital, growing by 41.4% in 2017 to now make up 38% of total global revenue. Streaming is now the single largest source of revenue. Paid streaming grew by 45.5% in 2017, adding 64 million new subscribers for a total of 176 million subscribers worldwide.
However, download revenue fell by 20.5% to now comprise 16% total global revenue, while physical revenue fell by 5.4%, making up 30% of revenue. The remaining 20% of revenue is comprised of performance rights (14%) and synchronization rights (2%).
Two songs from 2018 was certified Gold this month for selling 100,000 copies: SEKAI NO OWARI’s “Sazanka” and PANDORA feat. Beverly’s “Be The One.”
Band CHAI has released a brand new MV for their track Center of the FACE!
It will be included on their upcoming EP titled Wagamamania. Their third EP overall, it will contain five tracks including the previously released I’m Me.
The entire MV for Center of the FACE! is filmed in a “portrait mode”, like on mobile phones. It features various closeups of the band members and multi-cultural actors doing random activities and making quirky expressions.
Wagamamania will hit store shelves on May 9th, 2018. Check out the full MV for Center of the FACE! below.
20th anniversary celebrations for singer Utada Hikaru have officially begun!
Today she announced her 7th Japanese studio album, and first since making Epic Records her new home. After a hiatus Utada burst back on to the scene with her 2016 album Fantome, it was an instant success selling over 690,000 copies.
Her 7th album will be titled HATSUKOI , which means “First Love“, the name of her recording breaking debut studio album.
Sisters Mai & Mao Asada are the latest cover girls for the newest issue of GQ Magazine Japan.
Released today on April 24th, the June issue of the magazine claims to depict the sisters like “you’ve never seen them before”.
SKY-HI (AAA’s Mitsuhiro Hidaka) has teamed up with UNION SQUARE GARDEN member Kosuke Saito for his latest song Driver’s High.
His 9th physical single overall, Driver’s High will be included on a double a-side single paired with the song Snatchaway. Both songs have tie-ins with the popular franchise Gundam.
This week’s guests were Nishino Kana, An Cafe, and Honeycome. Tokyo.
Nishino Kana – I Love You
An Cafe – Negaigoto wa Hitotsu sa
Honeycome. Tokyo – Yeah!!
We’re back with this week’s edition of Oricon Flashback. This is where we look back on what topped Oricon this week 5, 10, 15, and 20 years ago. Think of it as a way to reminisce and learn about the past of Japanese music.
