Revenue rises as traditional music looks for new sales

The amount of money British record labels made outside of traditional music sales increased for the third successive year.

By The Newsroom

Published 3rd Aug 2010, 11:38 BST

Updated 3rd Aug 2010, 11:38 BST

Secondary revenues, which do not include CD sales or digital services, brought in 193.5m in 2009, an increase of 6.6 per cent on 2008.

It includes income received for music played on radio, TV and in pubs and clubs as well as merchandising and the labels' share from concerts and touring.

Secondary revenues now account for just over a fifth (20.8 per cent) of total industry revenue.

Geoff Taylor, from the industry group BPI, which released the figures, said it shows the record industry could transform itself in the face of the "enormous challenge from illegal downloading".

He said: "Music companies continue to face an enormous challenge from illegal downloading, but are responding positively by transforming themselves for the future, identifying new opportunities to generate returns."