Music sales were up 14 percent for 2011 over the previous year, while the number of music buyers also increased 2 percent.
NPD reports 78 million Americans purchased music in 2011, marking the second consecutive year that the number has increased.
The report indicates that CD sales continue to decline, but some 45 million music fans opted for digital downloads via iTunes and Amazon, up 14 percent from 2010.
“Given that it’s easier than ever to listen to free music, legally, via streaming options like Pandora and Spotify, the fact that paid downloads are up is a little counterintuitive,” notes AllThingsD. “But that’s always been part of the streaming music service pitch to the big labels: Let us give away your stuff, and we’ll help increase demand — just like radio used to do.”
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