This Interim Annual Report on the Music Sector in Europe is part of the continuing work of the European Music Observatory, a project funded by DG X of the European Commission and the European Music Office.

The Interim Annual Report updates information contained in the first Annual Report on the Music Sector in Europe, which was published in January 1999. In particular, the Interim Report contains 1998 statistics concerning the recorded music industry and the revenues of authors` rights societies.

This report contains additional information about such aspects as ownership of Compact Disc players, the retailing of recorded music and the national patterns of soundcarrier sales in the 17 countries of the European Economic Area. There are also some estimates of the employment trends in the European music industry. These are based on a limited amount of data and they may be modified in the next Annual Report.

That Annual Report will include the available data on a number of other areas of musical activity in Europe including the 'live' music scene, broadcasting, musical instrument manufacture, education and training and amateur participation in music.

This report was compiled for the European Music Observatory by Dave Laing of the University of Westminster, London.

October 1999

Content :

1. Recorded music sales
2. Performing and mechanical rights
3. Employment in the European music industry 1998
4. The music markets of associated countries of the EU