PC-based music downloads in Japan increased by 144% in volume terms to 5.7 million units in the July-September quarter compared to the third quarter of 2005, according to data released Nov. 28 by labels body the Recording Industry Assn. of Japan.
In value terms, PC downloads racked up by the RIAJ’s 42 member companies rose 173% to ¥1.2 billion ($10.3 million).
Mobile downloads, meanwhile, rose 20% in volume terms to 86.2 million units and 36% in value to ¥12.4 billion ($106.8 million), showing that mobile remains the digital-download medium of choice for Japanese consumers.
The RIAJ defines the PC-downloads category as comprising singles, albums, mini-albums and “other related content” sold over wired networks, with albums and mini-albums counting as single units regardless of the number of tracks they contain. The association says that although the data doesn’t differentiate between sales of single tracks and albums, singles account for the overwhelming majority of download sales.
The mobile category comprises sales over wireless networks of full single tracks, ring tones, master ring tones and other related content, regardless of whether those sales were made on a per-track basis or by subscription.
Including data from digital delivery media other than PCs and mobile phones, digital downloads of music in the third quarter totaled 91.9 million units, up 23% from the corresponding period of 2005, for a wholesale value of ¥13.6 billion ($117.7 million), an increase of 43%.
