Singapore – April 25, 2023: Warner Music Singapore and Cross Ratio Entertainment have announced that they have signed an exclusive worldwide distribution agreement. Cross Ratio Entertainment is Singapore’s largest independent record label.
The deal will also see Warner Music Singapore working closely in partnership with Cross Ratio Entertainment to unlock new opportunities for artists and the business. This includes collaborating on new releases, catalogues, brand partnerships, synchronization deals, marketing events, as well as identifying and upstreaming potential artists.
The growth of the Asian market in recent years has proven that Asian music has huge potential for a global audience. With the success of multi-lingual acts and Singapore acting as a regional hub, the labels will employ their mutual strengths in tandem to successfully export artists across Asia and beyond.
Cross Ratio Entertainment is one of Singapore’s most successful independent record labels. It was founded by Dean Augustine, a veteran with more than 30 years of experience in the music industry who has worked on the development and promotion of artists such as Aiza Seguerra, MlCappella, Tay Kewei, and Vanessa Carlton. With a roster of artists including Akeem Jahat, Alfred Sim, Belinda Lee, and Derrick Hoh as well as over 200 music distribution artists such as Carla D, Fauzie Laily, Gentle Bones, and Narysal, the music company boasts an extensive catalogue from some of Singapore’s most active and prominent artists.
Commenting on the alliance, Dean said: “Cross Ratio Entertainment and our talented roster of artists are excited to be joining forces with Warner Music Singapore. It has always been our mission to grow and assist artists to break into the music industry in the region and across the world. We trust that through this collaboration, we can leverage on Warner Music’s strength, regional and global expertise to help us put the music of our homegrown artists on the map.” Gerald Ang, Managing Director, Warner Music Singapore stated: “It’s an honour for Warner Music Singapore to support and partner with Cross Ratio Entertainment in their efforts. Dean has built one of the finest independent record labels in Singapore. Over the years, they have identified and developed a solid repertoire of some of the most notable artists in Singapore, especially in the C-Pop space. Likewise, we are deeply committed to connecting artists with fans in South-East Asia, Greater China and beyond, further strengthening our collective position in C-Pop in the region. Our deep understanding of the markets and worldwide network will enable us to pave a new way for their incredible music to audiences across the globe.”
21st March 2023 – The global recorded music market grew by 9.0% in 2022, driven by growth in paid subscription streaming, according to IFPI, the organisation that represents the recorded music industry worldwide. Figures released today in IFPI’s Global Music Report show total trade revenues for 2022 were US$26.2 billion.
Subscription audio streaming revenues increased by 10.3% to US$12.7 billion and there were 589 million users of paid subscription accounts at the end of 2022. Total streaming (including both paid subscription and advertising-supported) grew by 11.5% to reach US$17.5 billion, or 67.0% of total global recorded music revenues. There was growth in other areas too with physical revenues remaining resilient (+4.0%); performance rights revenue increasing by 8.6% and returning to pre-pandemic levels; and synchronisation income climbing by 22.3%.
Commenting on the release of the Global Music Report, IFPI Chief Executive Frances Moore, said:
“This year’s report tells the continued story of record companies’ commitment to their core mission – working with artists to help them achieve their greatest creative and commercial potential over the course of a career. That requires an artist-label partnership that constantly evolves and innovates so that it can capitalise on opportunities in more business areas and more parts of the world.
“Record companies’ investment and innovation has helped make music even more globally interconnected than ever, building out local teams around the world, and working with artists from a growing variety of music scenes. This is driving music’s development whilst enabling fans to seize the expanding opportunities to embrace and celebrate their own local artists and culture.
“However, as the opportunities for music continue to expand, so too do the areas in which record companies must work to ensure that the value of the music artists are creating is recognised and returned. This challenge is becoming increasingly complex as a greater number of actors seek to benefit from music whilst playing no part in investing in and developing it.”
Growth in the world’s regions:
Recorded music revenues grew in every region around the world in 2022:
- Asia grew by 15.4% with its largest market, Japan, seeing growth of 5.4% whilst the second largest market, China, grew by more than 20% (28.4%), becoming a global top five market for the first time. In a continuing trend, Asia also accounted for almost half of global physical revenues (49.8%).
- Australasia experienced growth of 8.1%, an increase on the prior year’s growth rate of +4.7%. Australia (+8.1%) remained a top 10 market globally and New Zealand saw a rise in streaming revenues push the overall market to growth of 8.0%.
- Revenues in Europe, the second-largest recorded music region in the world, grew by 7.5%, with the region’s three biggest markets all posting gains: UK (+5.4%), Germany (+2.2%) and France (+7.7%).
- Latin America saw gains of 25.9%, maintaining more than 10 years of regional increases. Every market in the region posted double-digit growth.
- Middle East and North Africa – previously the fastest growing market in 2021, MENA had third highest growth rate in 2022, seeing increase of 23.8%, and representing the highest share for streaming of any region globally (95.5%).
- Sub-Saharan Africa – becoming the fastest growing region in 2022 with more than 30% growth (34.7%), SSA was driven largely by a significant boost to revenues in the region’s largest market, South Africa (+31.4%).
- The USA & Canada region – the world’s largest in revenue terms – grew by 5.0% in 2022; The world’s single biggest market, the USA, grew by 4.8% a – exceeding US$10 billion for the first time – and Canadian recorded music revenues increased by 8.1%.
Download the free Global Music Report 2023 – State of the Industry report (English language) here
IFPI Global Music Report 2022: Full Report – with Data and Analysis: Purchase the full data and analysis report here
IFPI, the organisation that represents the recorded music industry worldwide, has announced that As It Was by Harry Styles is the winner of IFPI’s Global Single Award for 2022.
The IFPI Global Single Award is presented to the artist with the world’s best-selling single of the year across all digital formats – including paid subscription streaming, ad-supported platforms, and single-track downloads.
As It Was is Harry Styles’ first IFPI Global Single Award – but marks the tenth anniversary of his other IFPI Award wins with previous band One Direction who topped the first ever IFPI Global Recording Artist Chart and also the IFPI Global Album Chart back in 2013. Harry led a strong performance from UK artists in the latest annual chart. He is joined by fellow British acts Glass Animals, whose sleeper-hit single Heat Waves features at #2; Elton John and Dua Lipa whose collaboration Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) is at #4 and further tracks from Ed Sheeran (Shivers #7, Bad Habits #10), Adele (Easy On Me #13) and Dua Lipa’s Levitating (ft. DaBaby) at #12.
For the first time the Top 20 sees four songs performed predominantly in Spanish feature – global star Bad Bunny appearing twice, at #9 with his collaboration with Chencho Corleone, Me Porto Bonito, and at #11 with his solo hit Tití Me Preguntó. Fellow Puerto Rican artist Farruko made his debut appearing in the IFPI Global Singles Chart with his single Pepas landing at #18, while Colombian star Karol G also debuted with her single PROVENZA at #20.
The latest IFPI Global Singles Chart also shines a light on the reimagination and rediscovery of classic songs on the global stage. Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) charted at #16 following its appearance on Netflix’s breakout show Stranger Things in 2022, while Elton John and Dua Lipa’s reimagined version of a medley of Elton John’s hits, Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) charted at #4.
Frances Moore, Chief Executive of IFPI, said: “Congratulations to Harry Styles, and all of his team, on winning IFPI’s Global Single of the Year Award. Harry first received an IFPI Award as part of One Direction when we first launched the IFPI Global Recording Artist Chart 10 years ago, so it’s an honour to present him with an award this year for his stellar single As It Was which has soundtracked the year for so many music fans around the world.
“It’s wonderful to see such a diverse mixture of songs in the Global Singles Chart this year – some familiar tracks from the previous year that continued to grow in 2022, amongst plenty of new tracks and some reimagined older tracks – all going to show that record companies are working hard to find new ways to ensure music fans around the world have access to such a wide range of music year on year.”
Top 10 Global Singles 2022
Rank | Artist and song title | Global subscription streams equivalent
- Harry Styles- As It Was | 2.28bn
- Glass Animals – Heat Waves | 1.75bn
- The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber – STAY | 1.74bn
- Elton John and Dua Lipa – Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) | 1.34bn
- The Weeknd – Save Your Tears | 1.32bn
- Imagine Dragons & JID- Enemy | 1.26bn
- Ed Sheeran – Shivers | 1.23bn
- GAYLE – abcdefu | 1.22bn
- Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone – Me Porto Bonito | 1.21bn
- Ed Sheeran – Bad Habits | 1.20bn
- Bad Bunny – Tití Me Preguntó | 1.14bn
- Dua Lipa – Levitating (feat. DaBaby) | 1.11bn
- Adele – Easy On Me | 1.03bn
- The Weeknd- Blinding Lights | 1.01bn
- Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow – INDUSTRY BABY | 1.01bn
- Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) | 1.00bn
- Encanto Cast – We Don’t Talk About Bruno | 0.95bn
- Farruko – Pepas | 0.94bn
- Jack Harlow – First Class | 0.92bn
- Karol G – PROVENZA| 0.92bn
Source: https://www.ifpi.org/
22nd February 2023 – IFPI, the organisation that represents the recorded music industry worldwide, has announced Taylor Swift as the winner of IFPI’s 2022 Global Recording Artist of the Year Award – the third time that the superstar has won the award. No other artist has won the award as many times as Taylor Swift.
The unique award is calculated according to an artist’s or group’s worldwide performance across digital and physical music formats during the year, from streams to vinyl, and covers their entire body of work.
This year marks the tenth year of the IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Award, with Taylor Swift having topped the chart more than any other artist during that time (having won in 2014, 2019 and 2022). In the years between, Taylor Swift has been a regular presence in the IFPI Global Artist Chart – placing second in 2021 behind K-Pop sensation BTS, and charting in the Top 3 in 2015, 2017 and 2020. The release of her newest album Midnights in October 2022 powered her return to the top of the IFPI Global Artist Chart.
Elsewhere in the Global Artist Chart, BTS were at #2 (their third consecutive year in the Top 3 following back-to-back wins in 2020 and 2021) and Drake at #3 with his fifth Top 3 appearance since the chart began.
Frances Moore, Chief Executive, IFPI, said: “It is a great pleasure to award the IFPI Global Recording Artist Award to Taylor Swift for an unprecedented third time in the chart’s ten-year history. Taylor is a truly magnificent international star, who continues to grow and evolve as an artist whilst maintaining an incredibly strong connection with her fans around the world.
“It is exciting to see this year’s Global Recording Artist Chart reflect the increasingly diverse spectrum of music available to music fans today, with superstars from Latin America, Taiwan and South Korea as well as the US, UK and Canada represented. Record companies continue to work diligently in every corner of the globe to find and develop global stars and build their successful careers for the long-term.”
The IFPI Global Recording Artist Chart continues to reflect the breadth of diverse artists finding global success in today’s industry. Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny landed at #4, the first ever artist from Latin America to enter the Top 5, and the highest position ever achieved for an artist performing predominantly in Spanish.
At #9, Jay Chou became the first Taiwanese artist to appear in the Chart, thanks to his enduring popularity across China and South-East Asia. It was also an impressive year for South Korean acts, with more artists than any other nationality appearing in the Top 10 for the first time ever; BTS were joined by SEVENTEEN and Stray Kids charting at #6 and #7 respectively. Harry Styles (#8) and Ed Sheeran (#10) represented the UK in the chart, while Canadian mega-star The Weeknd charted at #5.
The IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Award and Top 20 chart is the only ranking to accurately measure consumption across all formats (including streaming formats, digital and physical album and singles sales) and all countries. It is weighted based on the relative value of each method of consumption.
Source: https://www.ifpi.org/
IFPI, representing the recording industry worldwide, today released Engaging with Music 2022, a global report on how people around the world enjoy and engage with music. Based on the responses of more than 44,000 people in 22 countries, the report is based on the largest music study of its kind.
Engaging with Music 2022_full report_EMBARGOED UNTIL 17 NOVEMBER AT 00.01 GMT
From 8th November (Chart Week 44) onwards, enhancements to the RIAS Charts will be introduced, approved by RIAS Board Committee.
Update of Conversion Rate
In line with global best practices, conversion rates have been updated to most accurately reflect economics in the market.
All rates calculation using the 2021 IFPI Global Charts Best Practice; the calculations will determine how many audio and video ad-supported streams amount to one subscription-based stream.
Streams of less than 30 seconds are excluded, in line with other charts contributors, and “user-generated content” videos where a music track is not the primary focus; will be excluded from the charts.
YouTube Inclusion
In line with the IFPI’s YouTube Global Charts Framework, weighted YouTube streams will now included in the charts.
Spotify Capped Stream Feed
As recommended, Spotify streams capped at 10 streams per user per day. It will then bring RIAS’s chart in line with global best practices and done to help prevent ‘play inflation’ on the chart.
“A global framework for the inclusion of eligible YouTube consumption in national charts will benefit artists, who will see consumption of their music on the platform recognised in a meaningful way, and fans, who will see a chart that further reflects the full breadth of their music engagement in their country. It will also improve our understanding of the music market,” said the IFPI’s head of global charts Mr. Lewis Morrison.
For more information, you may contact Mr. Gerald Ow (Gerald.ow@rias.org.sg)
IFPI, the organisation that represents the recorded music industry worldwide, has announced 21st century pop icons BTS as the winners of 2021’s IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Award. The news marks a landmark moment for the recording industry as the South Korean group become the first act to win the award for two consecutive years.
The unique award is calculated according to an artist’s or group’s worldwide performance across digital and physical music formats during the year, from streams to vinyl, and covers their entire body of work. The award was announced at the culmination of the IFPI Global Artist Chart countdown, which revealed the top 10 best-selling artists of the year globally.
By topping the IFPI Global Artist Chart for the second year in a row, BTS (consisting of members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook) continue to make global chart history. Having become familiar faces in the IFPI Global Artist Chart since 2018 when they entered at #2, the 2020 chart saw them become the first Korean act to win the accolade, as well as the first winner to perform primarily in a language other than English. In the latest chart, BTS were joined by fellow K-pop superstars SEVENTEEN who made their first chart appearance at #9, demonstrating the growing popularity of K-Pop with music fans across the globe.
2021 saw BTS continue their world dominance. Butter, which was released in May 2021, was an instant success and charted at #1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart for seven consecutive weeks. In July, the group’s new single Permission to Dance also debuted at #1 on Hot 100, replacing themselves at the top spot. In September, Coldplay and BTS released a new single My Universe which also charted at #1 in the US. In Asia, BTS released their Japanese language greatest hits album BTS, THE BEST which topped the Oricon Year End Album Chart – the first time a non-domestic act has done so in 37 years. The CD release of Butter topped the Gaon year-end charts in South Korea, incredibly the sixth year in succession that BTS have managed this feat, with six separate releases.
Frances Moore, Chief Executive, IFPI, said: “BTS’ phenomenal success over the last year is a testament to their creativity, hard work and ongoing commitment to continuing to find ways to bring their music to the world. By performing in three different languages, they demonstrate their extraordinarily unique global appeal and their dynamic and passionate fanbase has helped to make them the first artists in history to top the Global Artist Chart in two consecutive years.
We would like to wish RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook and all who work on their team huge congratulations on winning the Global Recording Artist of the Year Award and on another year of brilliant success.”
BTS were joined in the top three of the IFPI Global Artist Chart by two-time winner Taylor Swift – who finished at #2 for the second consecutive year after previously topping the 2019 chart. Swift was the highest charting solo artist followed by Adele, who secured third place, re-entering the chart for the first time since winning it in 2015. Former Global Artist Chart winners Drake and Ed Sheeran followed at #4 and #5 respectively. Breakthrough-newcomer Olivia Rodrigo made her first impression on the chart for 2021, entering at #10, following a year of incredible success with her debut album SOUR.
IFPI Top 10 Global Recording Artists of 2021
Previous winners
2020 – BTS
2019 – Taylor Swift
2018 – Drake
2017 – Ed Sheeran
2016 – Drake
2015 – Adele
2014 – Taylor Swift
2013 – One Direction
(source: IFPI)
The IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Award and top 10 chart is the only ranking to accurately measure consumption across all formats (including streaming formats, digital and physical album, and singles sales) and all countries. It is weighted based on the relative value of each method of consumption.
For further information please contact:
press@ifpi.org | +44 (0)20 7878 7979
BTS announced as the winners of IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Award
Licensing of Copyright For Public Performance of Sound Recordings
Newspaper AnnouncementThe new Copyright Act (“the Act”), which was passed in Parliament in September 2021, will come into force on 21 November 2021. The Act enhances our copyright regime through its updated provisions, which factor in technological developments that have impacted how content is created, distributed, accessed and used.
You can access the Factsheet For Businesses On The Copyright Act 2021 from IPOS Website.
IPOS_Factsheet for Businesses on the Copyright Act 2021
Fans around world are listening to more music – 18.4 hours (368 three-minute tracks) weekly
Fans enjoy music in more ways, as labels’ innovation drives excitement and diversity of music
Use of unlicensed music remains an issue harming creators, continues to evolve
Download the full report here
Infographic available for download here
Localised report also available in French, German & Italian.
21st October 2021 – IFPI, representing the recording industry worldwide, has today released Engaging with Music 2021, measuring how 43,000 people across 21 countries – the largest study of its kind – engage with music.
Report highlights include:
- Fans make their own listening choices thanks to streaming – The main reasons fans gave for their engagement with streaming were being able to choose their favourite songs, artists, and their own playlists. 68% searched for specific songs and 62% listened to playlists they created more than once a week.
- Around the world, music fans are enjoying a rich and diverse mix of genres. In addition to well-known popular genres, well over 300 different genres were named by at least one person in the 43,000-person study as music they typically listen to, including gqom, axé, and hokkien song. This reflects the rich, diverse, and highly competitive music landscape fans now enjoy around the world.
- Engagement is fuelled by music fans’ increasingly rich experiences, with music driving innovations such as short form video, livestreaming, and in-game experiences. 68% of the time spent on short form video apps involved music-dependent videos such as lip syncing and dance challenges. Furthermore, one in three (29%) said they had watched a music livestream such as a concert in the last 12 months.
- Time spent listening to music is up globally. Fans are enjoying more music today than ever before, on average spending 18.4 hours a week listening to music (up from 18 hours in 2019) – the equivalent of listening to 368 three-minute tracks.
- Driven, in part, by record labels’ investment, engagement with streaming – particularly subscription audio streaming – continues to grow, demonstrating increasing value to fans. Time spent listening to music through subscription audio streaming grew 51%, as music fans continue to embrace streaming for the access and autonomy it provides to choose the artists and the music that they love.
- Music makes a powerful contribution to wellbeing, providing comfort and healing to many – especially younger people – in challenging times. 87% said that music provided enjoyment and happiness during the pandemic. 68% of 16-19 said new releases from their favourite artists helped them during the pandemic.
- Music is central to what people enjoy about listening to the radio. 74% listen to the radio mainly for the music and 73% tune in to their favourite radio station because of the music it plays.
- The availability of unlicensed music remains an issue for the music ecosystem and the threat continues to evolve. Almost one in three (29%) of people had used illegal or unlicensed methods to listen to or download music, and 14.4% had used unlicensed social media platforms for music purposes.
Frances Moore, IFPI Chief Executive, said: “Engaging with Music 2021 tells the story of how fans around the globe are connecting with the artists and music they love in ways never before imagined, with the rapid emergence of short form video, livestreaming, and in-game experiences, all enhanced by people’s love of music.
“Record companies have enabled artists to develop their vision, licensed an abundance of music tracks to a multitude of platforms, and harnessed new technologies to pave the way for music fans around the world to connect with artists in these growing, and exciting ways.
“The freedom of record labels to license music to these new and immersive experiences is crucial to the future growth of the entire music ecosystem. We are campaigning worldwide to ensure governments maintain or implement a fair environment in which such commercial deals can be made.”
Download Engaging with Music 2021 here
Download the accompanying infographic here
ENDS
IFPI’s Engaging with Music was previously released in 2019 under the title Music Listening.
For further information please contact:
Email: press@ifpi.org
Tel. +44 (0)20 7878 7979
Notes to editors:
The report also contains dedicated country reports that offer a deeper look at the way people are engaging with music in China, India, and Russia.
About IFPI
IFPI is the voice of the recording industry worldwide, representing over 8,000 record company members across the globe. We work to promote the value of recorded music, campaign for the rights of record producers and expand the commercial uses of recorded music around the world.
Methodology
Data is based on fieldwork conducted in June and July 2021 across 21 countries and gathered the views of 43,000 respondents aged between 16-64. Panels were nationally representative in each country.