Overall U.S. music sales rose 6.9% in 2011, as album sales increased for the first time since 2004, according to Soundscan. Digital powered the increase, with sales of album downloads up 19.5% over 2010. But for all the talk here and elsewhere about the ascendancy of independent music, indies accounted for just 12.1% of U.S. music sales last year. Here's how independents did alongside the 4, or if the sale of EMI to UMG passes regulators, 3 major label groups:
% Of U.S. Music Sales In 2011
- Universal Music Group – 29.9%
- Sony Corp. – 29.3%
- Warmer Music Group – 19.1%
- EMI Group – 9.6%
- Indies 12.1%
