Recorded music market 2020 Pandemic-era growth

Mark Mulligan

March 2021

The global pandemic turned the music industry upside down. While live was decimated throughout 2020, after an initial downturn, the recorded music market returned to growth and finished the year with an acceleration that suggests a strong 2021 lies ahead.

Companies and brands mentioned in this report: ADA, AWAL, Sony Music, The Orchard, Universal Music Group, Virgin Music Label & Artists Services, Warner Music Group

Methodological notes:

All revenue values referenced in this report are in USD with all conversions from local currencies calculated taking the average quarterly exchange rate for each quarter of the year. No constant currency values are used in this report.

Independent revenue is measured on a distribution basis, not an ownership basis. Therefore, independent revenue that is distributed via a major record label or a wholly owned major label distributor will appear in the revenue of the respective major record label.

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