Digital music sales slowed in 2010 - The Boston Globe

Big challenges remain for music publishers

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry said in its annual report that digital sales increased by 6 percent in 2010 — only half the growth rate in 2009 and far from the explosive expansion seen in earlier years. The federation values the market in legal digital music at $4.6 billion, but says the trade in unauthorized content remains much more important.

“As an industry we remain very challenged,’’ federation chief executive Frances Moore said before the report’s publication. “Something like 95 percent of downloads are still unlicensed.’’

Digital music sales slowed in 2010 - The Boston Globe