Nielsen SoundScan has released sales data for the first half of 2013, reporting a decline in individual digital track buying. For the first six months of the year (ending June 30), digital track sales were off 2.3 percent from 2012, to 682.2 million from 698 million a year earlier.
Billboard reports that Nielsen SoundScan recorded a 1.34 percent drop in digital single sales in the first quarter of 2013, with a 3.3 percent decline in Q2. At the halfway mark this year, 51 songs have sold over 1 million units, compared to 47 last year.
Album sales fell by 5.6 percent in the first half of the year, to 142 million from 150.5 million in the first six months of 2012. SoundScan reported a 4.9 percent decline in Q1 and an increased 6.4 percent drop in Q2.
One bight note, at the mid-year point 15 albums had scanned more than 500,000 units, compared with last year when only 11 albums had accomplished that feat at the mid-year point in 2012. Total units counted by SoundScan fell 2.9% to 825.9 million units from the 850.2 million units monitored last year.
Universal Music Group once again held the largest market share, with 37.6 percent of “albums plus track equivalents albums” (10 digital tracks = 1 album), followed by Sony Music Group with 29.6 percent, Warner Music Group with 20.2 percent and all independent labels combined for 12.1 percent.
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