Britons top list for most spent on music apps
BOOMING demand for mobile apps helped global spend on digital entertainment jump by 30 per cent last year, according to new figures released yesterday.
Consumers spent $57bn (£34bn) on digital games, apps and online movies in 2013, up from $44bn the previous year, research analysts IHS Global Insight and App Annie said.
Mobile apps – driven by the download gaming apps – led the charge, with overall spend up 130 per cent.
But digital games was still by far the biggest category, with consumers splurging $34bn excluding apps.
Spend on music apps was also strong – up 77 per cent – with Brits, who are seen as early adopters, spending more than any other country per capita.
“Online music accounted for 20 per cent of all UK consumer spend on digital games, movies, apps and music in 2013, the highest share for music in any of the leading content markets tracked in this report,” said IHS said.
Meanwhile separate figures from the UK’s music trade body BPI showed that digital revenues now account for 50 per cent of the UK record industry.
A 41 per cent rise in streaming sales helped bring total UK music revenue to £730.4m – up from £716.8m in 2012 and the first growth since 2009.