Italy’s recorded music revenues grew 18.3% in H1, with Top 10 singles and albums dominated by local acts

Italy’s recorded music sales hit 153 million euros in the first half of 2022, marking an 18.3% year-on-year growth.

Revenue for the first half of that year increased by 23.6 million euros compared to 129.4 million euros generated in the first half of 2021.

These numbers were confirmed today (September 1) by FIMI, the organization representing the Italian recorded music industry, and whose members include Universal Music, Sony Music, Warner Music and BMG.

One of the highlights of the first six months of the year on the Italian recorded music market was that both the Top 10 best-selling singles and albums featured local artists.

Speaking to MBW, FIMI CEO Enzo Mazza said the dominance of homegrown artists in the market was “largely due to the strong investment from the studios in new talent”.

Mazza also notes that there has been a “dramatic generational shift” over the past 10 years, with the average age of an artist in the top 10 down 35% from 2012. The average age of artists appearing was in the Top 10 in Italy last year. year was 26, compared with 36 in 2012.

Elsewhere in the FIMI report, the organization revealed that revenue from subscription audio streams increased by 13.7% to 76.8 million euros, up 9.3 million euros from 67.5 million euros generated in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, revenue from ad-supported audio streams grew 33.1% to 22.1 million euros in the first half of the year.

Overall, music streaming (including subscription and ad-supported audio, plus digital video ads) generated 118 million euros in the first six months, a 20.8% increase over the same period. period of the previous year.

Vinyl sales increased 17.5% to 14.7 million euros in the first half of the year from 12.5 million euros in the first half of 2021.

Overall, physical music accounts for 17% of the local music market share, while streaming accounts for 83%.

The domination of homegrown Italian artists on the market in H1 is part of a trend that has emerged in Italy over the past few years.

For example, for the first half of 2021, the full Top 13 of the Italian domestic album chart and the entire Top 10 of the country’s singles chart for the first half of 2021 are made up of Italian and Italian language acts, according to FIMI/GFK data.

Additionally, every album in the Top 20 of the country’s domestic album chart for all of 2021 is by a local artist. In addition, the full Top 10 of the Singles Chart of the Year also includes entirely Italian artists.

Results for the first 6 months of 2022 today according to the news from March Italian music sales grew 27.8 percent in 2021, reaching $392.4 million (€332 million), an increase of €72 million ($85 million) compared to 2020, when the market generated 259 .89 million euros ($296.3 million) in recorded music sales.

“Italy is currently the fourth largest market in Europe and one of the top countries in the world where domestic operations are leading the charts.”

Enzo Mazza, FIMI

Speaking to MBW, FIMI CEO Enzo Mazza said: “Italy is currently the fourth largest market in Europe and one of the top countries in the world where domestic operations are leading the charts. class.

“This is largely due to the strong investment from brands in new talent. Over the past ten years, there has been a drastic generational shift, and by 2021 the average age of an artist in the top 10 is down 35% from 2012.

“In 2012, the age of artists in the top 10 was around 36 years old while in 2021 this number drops to 26.

“This is an important achievement and confirms the role brands play in discovering new talent, also supported by the Italian tax credit program that allows companies to recoup 30% of their investment. private.”

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