According to a new survey, Japan’s transition from CD and downloads to streaming may have increased substancially due to COVID-19.

CDs are still the favourite format of Japan, but streaming is quickly becoming more relevant, with stats to show this in 2019.

COVID-19 may be spurring this movement even more according to a survey of labels, managers, producers and other industry figures conducted by Music Ally in April and May.

The results show 10.9% of respondants reporting significant growth in streams, and 36.4% seeing modest growth, along with zero cases of significant delines.

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This is as expected a very different story for physical music sale of CDs and vinyl records, as well as downloads. 65% report a decline in physical sales, with 32.7% saying significant and 32.7% modest, and less than 2% reporting any kind of incline. This data supports evidence of the markets shift towards streaming platforms.

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Further questions indiciate an increase in primarily catalogue streams at 38.2%, followed by playlist streams at 34.5%.

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COVID-19 may also be pushing older demographics to take up streaming.

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Where should you be sending your music to reach Japanese markets?