2011 music sales strike upward note

Getting into the vacation gift-purchasing season, total music sales were up 5.1% with the finish of October, based on figures launched Thursday by Nielsen SoundScan. Throughout an internet seminar presentation by NARM, SoundScan senior veep of entertainment analysis David Bakula stated total music sales through March. 30 rose to 353 million models, versus. 336 million this year. Overall album sales were up 3% over this past year, with 249 million albums offered versus 242 million this past year. Digital album sales grown 19.7% to 81 million, but physical album sales ongoing to say no, shedding 3.5%, with 168 million offered this season. However, Bakula noted the drop in Compact disc sales has abated somewhat, following 2010's precipitous 20% decline. Current album sales ended up 1.7% with the finish of October, but catalog sales demonstrated reasonable increase, with overall catalog increased 9.1% and deep catalog up 12.5%. Vinyl sales remained as forecasted to increase 30% this year, although the format makes up about just 1.6% of overall sales. Bakula noted the configuration may be the center of indie stores, which sells exclusive vinyl pieces on Record Store Day and also the publish-Thanksgiving To Black Friday. Sales within the traditional retail space ongoing to erode. Niche music chains were off 10% (using the closure of Edges getting some unquestionable impact), independent stores fell 9.3%, mass retailers were lower 3.2% and non-traditional merchants for example Local cafe dropped 21.8%. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com