U.S. album sales down, digital sales up

U.S. album sales plunged 9.5 percent last year from 2006, continuing a downward trend for the recording industry, despite a 45 percent surge in the sale of digital tracks, according to figures released Thursday.

-- A total of 500.5 million albums sold as CDs, cassettes, LPs and other formats were purchased last year, down 15 percent from 2006's unit total.

-- About 844.2 million digital tracks sold in 2007, compared to 588.2 million in 2006.

-- Last year, Apple Inc.'s iTunes Music Store became the third-largest music retailer in the U.S.

-- The recording industry continued to benefit from mobile music, with mobile phone owners buying 220 million ringtones.

[via the Associated Press]

emily | 10:53 AM | Random Stats |
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