Spotify boosts iTunes sales, says classical label
Published May 7 2012, 16:21 BST | By Mark Langshaw
Spotify is helping to create record sales on iTunes, according to a Swedish classical music label.X5 claims that the launch of the Classify app saw streams of its 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music rise by 412%, which in turn saw sales of the record increase by 50% on the Apple-owned storefront.
© PA Images / Myung Jung Kim/PA Archive
The sales figures propelled the album to the top of iTunes classical chart, and helped it reach 152 in the overall sales chart. X5 cited this as evidence that free plays on Spotify are not detrimental to the recording industry.
"People use the Spotify free service as a discovery tool and then go to iTunes for buying their music," X5 CEO Johan Lagerlof told TechCrunch.
"The recent sales spike for 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music follows the same trend we have seen in Sweden, where there is a positive correlation between Spotify streaming and digital sales."
Major label artists including Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Adele and The Black Keys have voiced opposition to Spotify, expressing fears that offering tracks for free could kill album sales.
Spotify, which released its official iPad application last week, launched Classify as part of its dedicated apps service last year.
I pay £4.99 a month for Spotify Unlimited, which is enough for me. Absolutely no reason to buy any music on iTunes or a hard copy (e.g. CD) if it's already on Spotify and I'm not having to listen to ads. I doubt the artists get very much of my monthly £4.99 though, so I can understand their concerns.
May 8th 2012 at 12:59pm
I happily pay £10 a month for Spotify premium to have ad free, Off-line access on my mobile. I was never a person that has illigally downloaded music and over the past few years haven't really bought that many phyical or downloads either so people like me offer a completely new revenue stream therefore growing the market. Its a bit like how Sky have revolutionised subscription TV in the UK and have grown revenues for sports, films etc which was never there before.
May 8th 2012 at 12:57pm
its so true though I listen to a new album and if I like I buy it outright.
May 8th 2012 at 12:12pm
Spotify is of greater significance in Sweden though, they base their overall music charts on the number of Spotify plays if I'm not mistaken..
May 8th 2012 at 10:53am
Mike Barty "People use the Spotify free service as a discovery tool and then go to iTunes for buying their music", just like torrenting an album and listening to it, then going to iTunes to buy their music. It is the same, foolish comment.
May 8th 2012 at 10:46am