SoundExchange Celebrates Decade in Digital Music Industry

Organization Reveals Data from its "10 Years in Play"

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SoundExchange, the independent nonprofit performance rights organization that collects and distributes digital performance royalties for digital radio, is celebrating 10 years of propelling the music industry forward. The organization is marking the occasion by revealing data from "10 Years in Play." 

In just a decade, SoundExchange has put more than $1.5 billion into music creators' pockets. In fact, the organization's third-quarter 2013 payments of $153.7 million mark the highest quarterly payment to recording artists and record labels to date and reflects tremendous growth in the industry. When compared to SoundExchange's entire 2003 distribution of $3 million, it is clear that more and more music fans are listening to their favorite artists through digital radio. SoundExchange is proud to facilitate royalty payments from more than 2,000 digital radio services, including satellite radio, internet radio and cable TV channels, to the recording artists and record labels that it represents.

To honor its 10 year anniversary, SoundExchange prepared an infographic entitled "10 Years in Play." From rappers and rockers to pop stars and country singers, the data reveals that music fans of all genres are taking advantage of the streaming capabilities available to them today.

Click here to view SoundExchange 10 Years in Play infographic.

"Music is more accessible now than ever before; today, a single sound recording can be streamed millions of times by listeners across the globe," said SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe. "SoundExchange takes great pride in having helped enable the growth of the digital music industry, and we strive to ensure that all recording artists and labels are rewarded for their art. Over the last decade, we've grown as an organization, fought for what we believe in and persevered to become the company we are today. And we look forward to an even brighter future for the entire music industry."

10 Years of Digital Streaming

SoundExchange represents more than 90,000 artist accounts and 28,000 rights owner and label accounts. According to data reported to SoundExchange by 2,000 plus digital streaming services:  

Top Tracks by Year from 2003-2013

• 2003       "Get Busy" – Sean Paul
• 2004       "The Reason" – Hoobastank      
• 2005       "Lonely No More" – Rob Thomas            
• 2006       "You're Beautiful" – James Blunt            
• 2007       "Before He Cheats" – Carrie Underwood            
• 2008       "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis
• 2009       "Love Story" – Taylor Swift         
• 2010       "Hey, Soul Sister" – Train           
• 2011       "Rolling in The Deep" – Adele  
• 2012       "Set Fire to The Rain" – Adele
• 2013       "When I Was Your Man" – Bruno Mars

Top 10 Artists from 2003-2013

1. Elvis Presley
2. Bruce Springsteen
3. Pearl Jam
4. Rihanna
5. Drake
6. Usher
7. Lil Wayne
8. The Beatles
9. Taylor Swift
10. Grateful Dead

Celebrate 10 Years in Play

Attention artists, labels and music fans: Help SoundExchange celebrate 10 Years in Play. Tweet us with your birthday wishes @soundexchange using #SX10yrs.

About SoundExchange
SoundExchange is the nonprofit performance rights organization representing the entire recorded music industry. The organization collects statutory royalties on behalf of recording artists and master rights owners for the use of their content from satellite radio, Internet radio, cable TV music channels and other services that stream sound recordings. The Copyright Royalty Board, created by Congress, has entrusted SoundExchange as the only entity in the United States to collect and distribute these digital performance royalties from more than 2,000 services. SoundExchange has paid out more than $1.5 billion in royalties since its inception. For more information, visit www.SoundExchange.com or www.facebook.com/soundexchange.

SOURCE SoundExchange