The rise in streaming subscriptions and the success of French-produced artists, the driving force behind the recorded music revival

25 February 2020 - Press release

 

In 2019, after 3 years of slightly positive results, the French market for recorded music showed a sustained growth of 5.4%, with a turnover of € 772M, including physical and digital sales, record producers' neighbouring rights and synchronisation.

These encouraging results were fuelled by dynamic growth in streaming (59% of sales), and in particular by growth in premium subscriptions, which lie at the very heart of value creation. In 2019 premium subscriptions rose by 18.5%, topping CDs as the main source of revenue.

 

THE DIGITAL MARKET: FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO SUCCESS STORY - THE RESULT OF FRUITFUL PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN RECORD PRODUCERS AND PLATFORMS

2019 saw a marked increase in subscriptions (+ 1.7million), with figures exceeding the 10% of the population threshold for the first time ever. Including family plan subscriptions, there are now 9.4 million French people who listen to music via paid streaming.

 

RISING SALES FIGURES, BUT STILL ONLY 44% OF 2002 SALES FIGURES 

Since 2016, the French recorded music industry has seen a return to growth, but there is still a long way to go - with physical and digital sales for 2019 at €625 million, the market has just about caught up with levels from 10 years ago, and still represents a mere 44% of the 2002 market.

Physical sales continue to play a significant role in France, thanks to the strength and diversity of a network made up of more than 4,000 stores, bolstered by the reaffirmed popularity of vinyl.

 

 

'MADE IN FRANCE' ARTISTS CONTINUE THEIR SPECTACULAR RUN

2019 once again confirmed the French public's taste for home-produced recording artists - 19 of the 20 best-selling albums were home-grownproductions, and what's more, French-speaking.

Outstanding performances by French artists were not confined to the top of the charts, as French-produced talent made up 80% of the Top 200.

Behind these remarkable results lies another indicator of the vitality of the Frenchmusic industry whose importance should not be overlooked- the emergence of new, home-based talent. In fact, in 2019, 46 emerging artists had a debut album in the Top 200, and made up almost a quarter of the year's best-selling albums.

With 121 albums and singles certified for export, the French music industry further improved on its international rankings of recent years, in all musical genres, and including all new talent. In 2019, a grand total of 28 artists were certified for the first time!

Consumer appetite in recent years for urban music showed no sign of waning in 2019, making up in all its various forms 44% of Top Albums of the Year. However, the 'spotlight' effect caused by the intensive consumption of these particular repertoires by young audiences should not take away from the diversity of musical genres both produced and appreciated in France.

French pop and song enjoyed remarkable success in 2019, not least of all among young consumers. As the streaming subscriber demographic continues to broaden, there will be less overexposure to rap, hip hop & R&B music, which in turn will lead to chart rankings that reflect a diversity more in tune with the reality of music consumption, regardless of age.

Alexandre Lasch, Managing Director of SNEP, stated that "These promising results have been achieved thanks to the the talent of the artists combined with the work of the producers. Recording labels have had to redefine themselves, and in the process have developed new tools and new expertise. In fact, a third of record label employees today work in fields that didn't even exist 5 years ago. "

 

IN ORDER TO SUPPORT ARTISTS IN THIS NEW ORDER, PRODUCERS ARE REINVENTING THEMSELVES, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SERVICES AND SOURCES OF REMUNERATION.

The role of producers in relation to recording artists has changed considerably in recent years. Their scope of action now extends far beyond simple production, promotion and distribution of music. Of course, record producers still develop revenues from their music, but as a result of the fan bases and devoted followings generated by their protected, they now also collaborate with brands. Record labels today produce increasingly innovative content for artists, allowing them to continually strengthen the close ties they have woven with the public.

The activity of music labels is based on an economy founded on prototypes and risk-taking. For this reason, producers require an adapted and stable legal and regulatory framework, in order to create the conditions essential for sustainable growth, as well as to preserve their capacity for investment.

  

KEY CHALLENGES REMAIN IN ORDER TO TRANSFORM THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PAST FEW YEARS INTO TRULY SUSTAINABLE GROWTH.

Significant reforms are currently under discussion, notably the Audiovisual Law draft, which may affect a still very recent and fragile balance. SNEP will show the utmost vigilance and determination in ensuring that these reforms promote growth in the French music industry and that they do not, on the contrary, undermine its renewed momentum.

Due to the sheer size of available content today, the partnership between labels and artists is an ever-strengthening one, linked as both parties are by commongoals - that of meeting the expectations of fans, of standing out through innovation, of bringing music to all four corners of the world, and of allowing it to brighten up people's lives.