Online and mobile music sales reached £1bn in 2006

Author: Luan Goldie | Source: nma.co.uk | Published: 17.01.07

Record labels sold an estimated $2bn (£1.01bn) worth of music online and through mobile phones in 2006, doubling the market according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry's Digital Music Report.

While digital sales now account for 10% of the music market, they are not yet able to compensate for declining sales of CDs.

The report also addresses the on-going issue of piracy. It found that despite legal action being taken against 10,000 P2P uploaders during 2006, the culture of piracy has continued to devalue music content. As a result the report warns the IFPI will be demanding more responsibility from the ISPs.

IFPI Chairman and CEO John Kennedy said, "With co-operation from ISPs we could make huge strides in tackling internet piracy globally. It is very unfortunate that it seems to need pressure from governments or even action in the courts to achieve this, but as an industry we are determined to see this campaign through to the end."