The story of the year in the music industry should have been music streaming, as consumers almost doubled their use of streaming services in 2015.
But then along came Adele.
Just six weeks before the curtain fell on a year in which audio and video streaming increased 93%, the British queen of heartbreak released “25,†an album that was withheld from on-demand services and, nevertheless, shattered sales records.
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Those are the two main findings of year-end figures released Wednesday by Nielsen Music, the company that tracks consumers’ spending and listening habits.
“We were awed by Adele’s record-crushing ‘25,’ †said Erin Crawford, Nielsen’s senior vice president of entertainment and general manager of music, in her overview of the company’s report.
Among the milestones that “25†registered:
— First week sales of 3.34 million copies, almost 40% higher than the longtime record holder, ‘NSync’s “No Strings Attached,†which sold 2.41 million copies during its first week of release in 2000.
— Sales of “25†constituted 41% of all albums sold during that week.
— In just six weeks, “25†has sold 7.44 million copies and is the only album in the Nielsen era dating to 1991 to sell more than a million copies in three separate weeks.
— It also gave Adele her third year with the top-selling album of the year. Her sophomore album, “21,†led the pack in 2011 and 2012.
Otherwise, music streaming is where the industry saw its greatest gains, as audio streams increased 83% during the year, from 79.1 billion in 2014 to 144.9 billion last year, and video streams jumped even more, 102% from 85.4 billion two years ago to 172.4 billion in 2015.
Yet current hits were not what consumers were streaming the most. Catalog songs — defined as those released at least 18 months earlier, constituted 70% of streamed music.
A small but noteworthy area of growth continued to be vinyl albums, which have grown increasingly popular over the last decade.
Last year vinyl sales hit 12 million units, a 30% increase over sales of 9.2 million vinyl albums a year earlier. That’s still a drop in the bucket compared with total album sales of 241 million, which combines CDs, cassettes, vinyl and digital albums during the year. But it’s the only format outside of streaming that showed growth. CD sales were down 11%, and digital album sales were off just under 3% over the previous year.
The move to streaming is also reflected in a drop in digital track sales, which dipped 12.5% from 1.1 billion in 2014 to 965 million last year.
However, when all digital music consumption was combined, Nielsen showed an overall increase of 26% in 2015. That pools the number of digital albums sold, track-equivalent album sales (whereby sales of 10 individual tracks from an album are credited as one album sold) and streaming-equivalent album sales (with 1,500 streams being counted as a single album sold).
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Madonna performs at the Forum in Inglewood on Oct. 27, 2015. Read the review.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 2/82
Don Henley performs at the Forum in Inglewood on Oct. 9, 2015. Read the review.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 3/82
Los Lobos perform at El Gallo Plaza in East Los Angeles on Sept. 29, 2015. Read the review.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 4/82
Silversun Pickups perform at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery Masonic Lodge on Sept. 28, 2015. Read the review.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 5/82
R. Kelly, cigar and mike in hand, performs at the Forum in Inglewood on Oct. 10. Read the Times review.
(Axel Koester / For the Los Angeles Times) 6/82
Grace Jones in concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Sep. 27.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 7/82
Lauryn Hill performs at the Greek Theatre on Sept. 14, 2015. Read the review.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 8/82
Little Big Town band member Phillip Sweet performs at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Sept. 10.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 9/82
Miguel performs at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Sept. 4, 2015. Read the review.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 10/82
D’Angelo and the Vanguard performs at FYF Fest at Exposition Park on Aug. 23, 2015. Read the review.
(Christina House / For The Times) 11/82
Morrissey takes the stage at FYF Fest on Aug. 23, 2015. Read the review.
(Christina House / For The Times) 12/82
Solange onstage at FYF Fest on Aug. 23, 2015.
(Christina House / For The Times) 13/82
FKA Twigs performs at FYF Fest at Exposition Park on Aug. 23, 2015.
(Christina House / For The Times) 14/82
Kanye West performs during FYF Fest on Aug. 22.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 15/82
Jehnny Beth performs with Savages at FYF Fest on Aug. 22, 2015.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 16/82
Taylor Swift performs at Staples Center in August.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 17/82
Shania Twain at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 20.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 18/82
Aretha Franklin at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 2.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 19/82
The Weeknd performs during Hard Summer at the Fairplex in Pomona on Aug. 1, 2015. Read the review.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 20/82
Mötley Crüe celebrates the end of another concert, at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., on July 22.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 21/82
John Famiglietti, left, front man Jake Duzsik, and Jupiter Keyes of the L.A. experimental band Health performing at the Echo in Los Angeles on July 22, 2015.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 22/82
Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie performing at the Hollywood Bowl on July 12.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 23/82
Kendrick Lamar performing at the BET Experience at Staples Center on June 27.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 24/82
Underworld performs at the Hollywood Bowl on June 21. Read the review.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 25/82
Brian Wilson at the Greek Theater on Saturday, June 20. It was also his 73rd birthday.
(Michael Robinson Chávez / Los Angeles Times) 26/82
D’Angelo performs at Club Nokia on June 8, 2015. Read the review.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 29/82
Ciara performs at Club Nokia on May 30, 2015.
(Michael Robinson Chávez / Los Angeles Times) 30/82
U2 guitarist The Edge, left, and lead singer Bono perform at the Forum on Tuesday, May 26. It was the first night of five at the venue.
(Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times) 31/82
Guitarist Ron Wood, singer Mick Jagger, drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones play Petco Park in San Diego on May 24, on the opening night of their 2015 American tour.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 32/82
Neil Diamond performs at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, May 23, 2015.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 33/82
Steve Aoki, EDM DJ, producer and recording artist, performs on Broadway between 4th and 6th streets in downtown Los Angeles, May 16, 2015.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 34/82
Rapper Big Sean performs at Rock in Rio in Las Vegas on May 16.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 36/82
Sia performs during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105, in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 37/82
Justin Bieber performs during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105, in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 38/82
Kanye West performs in shadowy lights during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105, in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 39/82
Ne-Yo performs in front of a full house during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105, in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 40/82
Nick Jonas performs during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105 in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 41/82
James Hatfield fronts Metallica at the Rock in Rio Festival in Las Vegas on May 9.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 42/82
Chester Bennington and Linkin Park play the Rock in Rio fest in Las Vegas on May 9.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 43/82
Tim McIlrath, lead singer for the Chicago-based, melodic hardcore band Rise Against, wades into the crowd at Rock in Rio on May 9.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 44/82
Gwen Stefani fronts No Doubt at Rock in Rio in Las Vegas on May 8.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 45/82
Janet Weiss, left, and Corin Tucker perform during the
Sleater-Kinney concert at the Palladium in Hollywood on April 30.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 46/82
Carrie Brownstein performs during the
Sleater-Kinney concert at the Palladium in Hollywood on April 30.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 47/82
Swedish-born soft-indie-rock artist
Jose Gonzalez performs at the Regent on April 30.
(Adam Della / For The Times) 49/82
Bassist Dusty Hill, left, and guitarist Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top perform on the Palomino Stage at the
Stagecoach Country Music Festival on April 25.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 51/82
Rumer performs at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetary in Hollywood on April 23.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 52/82
Kanye West makes a surprise appearance during the Weeknd’s performance at the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 18.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 53/82
Marina and the Diamonds perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 18. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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FKA Twigs performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 18. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Barry Manilow performs at the Staples Center on April 14.
(Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times) 56/82
Florence + The Machine perform during the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 12.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 58/82
El-P, left, and Killer Mike of
Run The Jewels perform at the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 11.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 59/82
Brittany Howard of
Alabama Shakes performs at the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 10.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 60/82
Ariana Grande performs at the Forum in Inglewood, April 8, 2015.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 61/82
Rivers Cuomo of Weezer performs with his band at Burgerama on March 28. Weezer was one of the headliners for the two-day festival at Santa Ana’s Observatory.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 62/82
Lead singer Zac Carper of FIDLAR performs with his band at Burgerama, the two-day Santa Ana festival thrown by OC DIY impresarios Burger Records.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 63/82
Experimental artist Lustmord makes his Los Angeles debut on March 21 at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 64/82
R&B singer Chris Brown performs at the Forum in Inglewood. The March 8 show was a stop on his tour with Trey Songz and Tyga.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 65/82
Trey Songz performs at the Forum on March 8.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 66/82
Alan Jackson performs at the Nokia Theatre on Feb. 27 as part of his
Keepin’ It Country tour.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 67/82
Brandy Clark performs as part of Alan Jackson’s
Keepin’ It Country tour at the Nokia Theatre on Feb. 27.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 68/82
Caribou performs at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood on Feb. 26.
(Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times) 69/82
Roots rocker
Bob Seger performs at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on Feb. 25.
(Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times) 70/82
Tegan and Sara perform with the Lonely Island during the 87th
Academy Awards on Feb. 22 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 71/82
Sarah Barthel of Phantogram performs at the
Air + Style concert and snowboarding event at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Feb. 21.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 72/82
Kendrick Lamar performs at the Air + Style concert and snowboarding event at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Feb. 21.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 73/82
John Legend performs during a rehearsal for “Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Tribute†on Feb. 9 at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
Read the review (Christina House / For The Times) 75/82
Madonna interacts with a dancer during the 57th Grammy Awards on Feb. 8.
Read the review (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 77/82
Patti Smith at the Roxy on Feb. 2.
Read the review (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 78/82
R&B singer Tinashe sings to a packed crowd at the El Rey Theatre on Jan. 22.
Read the review (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 79/82
Eric Church rocks the house while performing at Staples Center on Jan. 23.
Read the review (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 80/82
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue performs at the Grand Plaza during the 2015 NAMM show at the Anaheim Convention Center on Jan. 22. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Sam France of Foxygen performs at the Roxy on Jan. 2.
Read the review (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 82/82
Foxygen at the Roxy on Jan. 2. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
That composite measure showed 411.3 million albums consumed in 2015, up from 326.4 million in 2014.
But again, older albums outnumbered current releases, which constituted a flip from a year earlier. Current albums sold 118.5 million units in 2015, while catalog albums surpassed them with 122.8 million units. In 2014, current albums outsold catalog albums 130.5 million to 126.5 million.
Only in the shrinking sub-category of digital album sales did current releases outsell catalog items: 52.5 million current albums to 50.9 million catalog sales.
By genre, Nielsen’s report places rock at the top of the heap in total music consumption, with 24.5%, over R&B and hip-hop (18.2%), pop (15.7%) and country (8.5%). All other genres — classical, dance/EDM, jazz, Latin, holiday/seasonal, Christian/gospel and children’s music — had market shares of under 5% each.
Here are the Top 10 albums of 2015, combining albums and song sales and on-demand audio streams:
1.Adele’s “25†(8 million)
2.Taylor Swift’s “1989†(3.1 million)
3.Justin Bieber’s “Purpose†(2.22 million)
4.Ed Sheeran’s “X†(2.2 million)
5.The Weeknd’s “Beauty Behind the Madness†(2 million)
6.Drake’s “If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late†(1.9 million)
7.Meghan Trainor’s “Title†(1.8 million)
8.Sam Smith’s “In the Lonely Hour†(1.7 million)
9.Sam Hunt’s “Montevallo†(1.4 million)
10.Fetty Wap’s “Fetty Wap†(1.3 million)
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