Retail Music Sales Increased in 2004

While it is unclear whether the record industry's battle against unauthorized file sharing may have had any effect, domestic shipments of music actually increased for the first time in five years in 2004. According to a report made public by the Record Industry Association of America, 814 million units were shipped, an increase of 2 percent.

Total revenue for music shipments in 2004 reached $12 billion, an increase of 2.5 percent. The RIAA's report follows an earlier study by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry who said that at least worldwide sales remained flat year over year.