Country music enjoyed double digit sales increase in 2004
The CMA announced early predictions of increased album sales of Country Music in 2004 proved true with 77,912,000 units sold from Jan. 5, 2004, through Jan. 2, 2005 - a 12 percent increase over 2003, which had sales of 69,311,000 units, according to figures released today by Nielsen SoundScan.
The news was promising with a 1.6 percent rebound of the total music industry following a four-year period of steady decline, which was stemmed slightly in 2003 once Internet and digital track sales were factored into the equation by Nielsen SoundScan research. Overall music purchases in 2004 exceeded 800 million for the fist time since 2000. And while the bulk of the industry slumped since that time, Country Music pushed to develop the next round of Country hitmakers. By mid 2004, the outlook was promising when for the first time in five years, RIAA shipments for the first half of the year increased (RIAA tabulates store shipments which are expected to be future sales to consumers and Nielsen SoundScan tracks point-of-purchase sales of recorded music product).
"Country Music held its own and even enjoyed growth during a very tumultuous period for the music industry over the past five years," said CMA Executive Director Ed Benson. "The vision of our industry leaders, the loyalty of our fan base, the caliber of our artists community and the breakthrough success of some of our bright new talent all contributed to this achievement."
Driving Country Music's gain in 2004 was the phenomenal success of Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson and Tim McGraw, who all had albums in the Top 10 Selling Albums of the Year - Chesney's When The Sun Goes Down (No. 4 - 3,072,224); Wilson's debut Here For the Party (No. 5 - 2,931,097); and McGraw's Live Like You Were Dying (No. 6 - 2,786,840). Shania Twain's Come on Over continues to reign supreme atop the Top Ten Selling Albums of the SoundScan era with 15,267,050 units sold.
Are you reading this from a forwarded email?
