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The US was the only major market in
which we falled to make progress in the
year. Although the market grew a healthy
14.0%, our market share fell from l2.3%
1o 9.0%. Performance in clasycs, jazz,
Latin and Christian music continued to
be strong but new mainstream pop and
R&B releases underperforrned.
The loss in market share in the US more
than accounted for our estimated globat
market shar €ductio- frorn 13.2% to
approximately 12.5%.
Reflecting the USS importance as a prime
source of international repertoire for
the global music market place, we have
continued to take steps to ensure that our
artist and repertoire teams produce stars
who have the abiljty to sell internationally.
ln the past two yea6 new A&R resources
have been added to the North Amencan
portfol o. However, the time lag betnieen
srgning and releasing new records
means that the benefits have not yet
flowed through.
Last yeat we announced our intention
to expand our US presence in the areas
of pop and R&B. One of the first releases
in the new fiscal year was the plat num
soundtrack Rorneo Must D/.e featuring
Aaliyah, which was a product of one of our
new A&R relationships. I remain optimistic
that this and other relationships, together
with an improved release schedule, will
bring further success in the U5 as the
year proceeds.
Worldwrde a total of 30 EMI albums sold
over 1 million units from artists including
Utada Hikaru, Backstreet Boys, George
Michael, Brtney Spea6, Tina Turnet Queen,
Garth Brooks, The Chemical Brothe6,
Lenny Kravitz and D'Angelo as well as
the UKS Volume 44 in the Nory fha6
What I Call Music hits compilatio'l series.
Our clasical division substantially increased
its turnover, with best selling artists
inc{uding Sarah Brightman, Placido
Domingo and Sir Simon Rattle.
Our global release schedule for the
current year includes new albums from
many of our major artists, lncluding
Utada Hikaru, Robbie Williams, Spice
Girls, Radiohead, Rrchard Ashcroft,
Lenny Kravitz, .lanet Jackson, Thalia,
Snoop Dogg and Sarah Brightman.
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