callum walker hutchinson
Independently released songs and albums accounted for almost a third of all music consumption in the UK last year, with the country's indie sector marking its sixth consecutive year of growth, according to new figures from label trade body BPI. did.
In 2023, the equivalent of more than 53 million independently released albums were streamed or purchased in digital and physical formats, accounting for 29.2% of all music consumption in the UK. This number is a 12% increase compared to his 2022 numbers and represents an increase of almost one year. That's 30% higher than his 2017 figure, when indies accounted for just over a fifth (22.1%) of music consumption.
Growth across the independent sector has been driven by the rapid rise in popularity of physical formats, with almost four in 10 vinyl LPs (39%) bought by UK music fans last year, compared to just under a third of CDs (33%). However, BPI reports that artists are being signed to or distributed by independent labels.
Arlo Parks, Kylie Minogue, Enter Shikari, The Prodigy and homegrown rappers Dave and AJ Tracey are among the UK's most popular indie artists in both digital and physical formats 'Escapism', a recent single featuring multi-Brit Award-winning singer-songwriter Ray and 070 Shake, was one of the biggest hits in the UK last year, being streamed 142 million times. Ta.
However, there are some conditions to consider when analyzing the apparent growth of the UK indie market. BPI's analysis of this sector is based on Official Chart Company (OCC) data and the definition of what counts as an independent release. Essentially, this means albums and songs that do not belong to his three major groups on the OCC database: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group.
However, that broad classification includes completely independent or self-released records, as well as some “indie” albums and songs sold by major companies such as Sony-owned The Orchard and Warner-owned ADA. It is included. Raye, for example, is distributed by Human Re Sources, an independent distributor owned by Sony. BPI said it could not provide a more detailed breakdown of independent music consumption.
Around 400 independent singles and albums achieved BRIT-certified platinum, gold or silver sales status in 2023, according to the London-based industry body. (representing the total consumption of) singles with 600,000 units or more and albums with 300,000 units or more, the gold and silver awards have progressively lower thresholds. )
As for vinyl releases, more than 200 indie titles sold more than 1,500 copies last year, including albums by alternative rock band Bdrmm and R&B singer Jorja Smith.
“It’s great to see independents thriving. It’s not just the big-name labels and their artists that are redefining the sector and gaining support and supporting smaller micro-labels and There is an increasingly dynamic and entrepreneurial community of self-releasing artists 'driving further growth', says Femi, founder of British indie label Just Another Label and independent representative on the BPI Council. Olasehinde said in a statement.
BPI reported earlier this year that total UK recorded music revenue (including digital and physical revenue from major and independent labels, performance rights and synchronization) will rise by 8.1% to £1.43 billion in 2023. billion dollars). This is the highest figure achieved in the UK in the past year, excluding inflation adjustment, and underlines the UK's long standing position as the world's third largest recorded music market after the US and Japan in IFPI's annual rankings. contributes to maintaining it.
BPI's latest figures for the independent sector are taken from All About The Music 2024, the 45th edition of the yearbook measuring the state of the UK recorded music industry, published on Tuesday (16 April) It is what was done.
BPI's analysis also includes newly released statistics on the UK recording market, which will increase by 18.6% to £142 million (approximately $181 million) in 2023, the 16th consecutive year of growth. was recorded.
BPI said the growing popularity of pop music contributed to the rise in record income, with the genre accounting for almost a quarter (23.7%) of UK record sales, up from 19.6% a year earlier. Selling albums by Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Lewis Capaldi.
Hip-hop/rap also increased its share of the record market to 5.3% in 2023, driven by the reissue of De La Soul's 1989 debut Three Feet High and Rising However, among record fans, rock remained overwhelmingly popular and remained the largest genre. Market share is 55%.