UK record labels association, the BPI, have today released their annual yearbook.
All About the Music 2020 gives a detailed insight into the year in UK recorded music in 2019 through facts, figures and informed analysis.
According to statistics in the book, rap and hip hop hit a new high point in 2019 driven by British rappers.
In the singles market, releases from the genre made up over a fifth (21.5 percent) of all consumption.
Between 2015 and 2019, UK artists’ share of rap’s sales and streams increased from 10.0 percent to 26.9 percent on albums and from 15.5 percent to 42.2 percent on singles.
Geoff Taylor, chief executive, BPI & BRIT Awards, said: ‘From the superfan to the most casual of listeners, music plays an indispensable role in most British lives. This seeming near-ubiquity is not achieved without constant innovation and relentless record label investment in the next generation of diverse new talent that keeps British music riding high at home and around the world.
‘Through Stormzy, Dave, AJ Tracey and others, UK rap is at a new critical and commercial peak and even though global competition for attention in the streaming age is fierce, artists such as Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Mabel, Rex Orange County and Lewis Capaldi have kept the profile of UK music high with their international chart success. This, in turn, builds on the platform for exciting new talent such as BRITs Rising Star Celeste and BRIT Awards nominees Freya Ridings and Aitch to join them.
‘Music has a unique power to connect us all, even at a distance, to reduce feelings of isolation, and to cheer our hearts and to soothe our minds. This will be even more valuable in these troubled times.’
James Walsh, general manager, Neighbourhood Recordings, said: ‘It's great to see Rap at the heart of popular culture and to see how big its footprint has evolved and grown over the last few years. There's so many talented British artists within the genre that are connecting with people of all backgrounds on their own terms, and that's really powerful. Audiences today are very tuned in – artists who are the most authentic to themselves have shown time and time again that integrity in their message and music wins out.’
All About the Music 2019 is available free to all BPI members or it can be purchased from the BPI’s website.
