InsideJapan News Network

Sales of digital music in Japan fell by five per cent in volume during the first nine months of 2010.

According to the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), there was also a four per cent drop in value of the digital music sales in the year up to September.

Overall, a total of 334.3 million sales were made, which generated revenues of 65 billion yen (£487 million).

Japan consumers tend to download music via their mobiles and this method accounted for 83 per cent of the sales in 2009, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

However, such mobile sales have fallen by six per cent, with revenues dropping by four per cent to 56.6 billion yen (£430 million).

In total, there were 36.6 million music downloads made via the internet - a five per cent increase compared to 2009.

The figures are compiled using data supplied by 54 companies that are members of the RIAJ.
 

Written by Mark Smith.