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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Digital sales break £1bn barrier | Digital sales break £1bn barrier |
| (3 days later) | |
| More than £1bn was spent on downloaded films, music and games in the UK in 2012, the highest annual total. | |
| Sales increased 11.4% from 2011, meaning that a quarter of the entertainment market is now digital. | Sales increased 11.4% from 2011, meaning that a quarter of the entertainment market is now digital. |
| But figures released later by entertainment retailers will also show a big drop in physical sales - more bad news for high street shops. | But figures released later by entertainment retailers will also show a big drop in physical sales - more bad news for high street shops. |
| Sales of CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray and video games fell by 17.6% in 2011 although they still make up most of the market. | Sales of CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray and video games fell by 17.6% in 2011 although they still make up most of the market. |
| Kim Bayley, director general of the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), which will release the figures, said that breaking the £1bn barrier was an "incredible achievement" for retailers. | Kim Bayley, director general of the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), which will release the figures, said that breaking the £1bn barrier was an "incredible achievement" for retailers. |
| "This reflects their huge investment in new and innovative services - which means you can buy music, video and games literally at any time of the day and wherever you are. | "This reflects their huge investment in new and innovative services - which means you can buy music, video and games literally at any time of the day and wherever you are. |
| "At the same time I suspect that many people will be surprised to learn just how resilient the physical business still is - with three-quarters of entertainment sales still on disc. | "At the same time I suspect that many people will be surprised to learn just how resilient the physical business still is - with three-quarters of entertainment sales still on disc. |
| "Downloads offer convenience and portability, but people still seem to value the quality and tangibility of a physical product." | "Downloads offer convenience and portability, but people still seem to value the quality and tangibility of a physical product." |
| Geoff Taylor from UK music industry body the British Phonographic Industry credited the Jubilee and London 2012 Olympic Games for showcasing British music around the world and driving up sales. | Geoff Taylor from UK music industry body the British Phonographic Industry credited the Jubilee and London 2012 Olympic Games for showcasing British music around the world and driving up sales. |
| "But market conditions at home remained difficult and pressure on the 'leisure wallet' impacted music sales on the high street," he added. | "But market conditions at home remained difficult and pressure on the 'leisure wallet' impacted music sales on the high street," he added. |
| On the surface, it's been another buoyant year for the entertainment industry. | On the surface, it's been another buoyant year for the entertainment industry. |
| Such healthy figures could lead some to wonder if the threat of piracy - which saw the industry locked in legal to-ing and fro-ing with internet providers throughout 2012 - is perhaps overstated. | Such healthy figures could lead some to wonder if the threat of piracy - which saw the industry locked in legal to-ing and fro-ing with internet providers throughout 2012 - is perhaps overstated. |
| But in truth, the entertainment industry still has a huge battle on its hands. By far the biggest slice of its income is via physical sales - and these continue to decline. | But in truth, the entertainment industry still has a huge battle on its hands. By far the biggest slice of its income is via physical sales - and these continue to decline. |
| In its quest for new revenue models, the music industry's move to offering its artists' material on streaming services - such as Spotify - has been a popular one, with 3.7 billion streams by British fans in 2012. | In its quest for new revenue models, the music industry's move to offering its artists' material on streaming services - such as Spotify - has been a popular one, with 3.7 billion streams by British fans in 2012. |
| But revenue from these services is miniscule when compared to actual sales, leaving the entertainment industry looking over its shoulder - more so in 2013 than ever before. | But revenue from these services is miniscule when compared to actual sales, leaving the entertainment industry looking over its shoulder - more so in 2013 than ever before. |
| "The quality of our music and digital innovation by UK labels means we have excellent potential for domestic growth and to increase our share of the global music market. | "The quality of our music and digital innovation by UK labels means we have excellent potential for domestic growth and to increase our share of the global music market. |
| "We hope government will recognise the potential of digital music to contribute to economic recovery and provide more active support in 2013." | "We hope government will recognise the potential of digital music to contribute to economic recovery and provide more active support in 2013." |
| More than half of the digital sales went on video games, which grew 8% to £552m. | More than half of the digital sales went on video games, which grew 8% to £552m. |
| Films and music had a smaller share of the digital market but sharper growth - downloaded films up by 20% and music by 15%. | Films and music had a smaller share of the digital market but sharper growth - downloaded films up by 20% and music by 15%. |
| BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said: "The entertainment industry has been struggling to adapt to the digital age. | BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said: "The entertainment industry has been struggling to adapt to the digital age. |
| "And while consumers are now paying for downloads, that's not making up for the rapid fall in high street sales." | "And while consumers are now paying for downloads, that's not making up for the rapid fall in high street sales." |
| Sales of video games in shops were particularly badly hit, with retailers blaming a lack of compelling new titles, he added. | Sales of video games in shops were particularly badly hit, with retailers blaming a lack of compelling new titles, he added. |