New Zealand’s digital sales exceed physical for the first time

New Zealand’s digital sales exceeded those on physical formats for the first time in 2013, figures by Recorded Music NZ show.

Digital sales increased 3% to 51% of sales, amounting to NZ$27.9 million. Streaming revenues tripled to 9% of total digital gross.

The remaining 49% physical sales drove $27.1 million in revenues. However, digital’s rise failed to balance physical’s fall, and the market fell by 9.8% to $55 million.

Vinyl continued its resurgence, with album sales up 29% since 2012, although still a small fraction of the overall picture. “It’s encouraging to see the rapid growth and take up of streaming services by New Zealanders,” said Recorded Music NZ CEO Damian Vaughan.

It was a strong year for domestic repertoire. Sales for NZ acts showed an 8% rise in digital singles, up 45% for digital albums and up 39% for physical albums.