This week yet another review of the music industry was published. This time the research comes from a study conducted by two Norwegian thesis students. Two graphics on TorrentFreak show the study's developments in the income of the Norwegian music industry and those of Norwegian musicians, adjusted for inflation. 

In a period of 10 years (between '99 and '09), the Norwegian music industry revenues have increased by 4%. That's no great growth, but what is striking is that the share of revenue for selling physical and digital sales appears to have declined by half, while revenues from live performances seem to have doubled. 

By contrast the income of artists, according to Norwegian study have in the same period increased by 114%. This seems particularly attributable to a near doubling of revenue from live performances by the artist, an increase in the contribution from collecting societies and a doubling of revenues from state subsidization and grants. Revenues from record sales (CDs) seem unchanged in proportion. Nevertheless the study does indicate that there are only a few Norwegian artists who can make a full living out of their music. 

The popularity of Norwegian music has increased a lot in recent years, especially across the Norwegian borders. Music Export Norway doesn’t have exact figures but states "there is no doubt that the export of Norwegian music in all formats has increased substantially the last 10 years.” The fact that Norwegian music world is now more than ever in the picture will surely also have had its affects on the figures. 

Source: TorrentFreak