Music streaming sales in the UK have crossed the £1 billion mark for the first time in history. This is according to end of year figures from the Entertainment Retailers Association, which determined in the UK a 7.1% rise for overall music spending in 2019.

This landmark moment in music history acquired data from the Official Charts Company for their report. The streaming numbers from ERA are estimations based on digital service information and label trade income shared with BPI.

ERA’s analysis of the UK’s entertainment market ascertained a fall of 17% in physical sales, totaling £318 million. Approximately a third of the sales were vinyl purchases, which rose by 6.4% year-on-year to an impressive £97 million. However, downloads fell by 27% to a little under £90 million.

There was a notable 23% rise in streaming subscription sales, which exceeded £1 billion. This is a staggering four times as much as people spent streaming music five years ago. It’s a further 31 times the level it was a decade ago in 2010. At that point in time, sales only reached £31 million.

That’s an increase of £69 million over ten years.

With all music spending accounted for, across all formats, it reaches a dizzying total of £1.4 billion in 2019.

BPI’s annual report determined that 114 billion tracks were streamed in the UK throughout 2019. 154 million albums were purchased across all formats, soaring up 7.5% from 2018.

Drake was recently announced as the most-streamed artist on Spotify for the decade. Drake boasted an impressive 28 billion streams to his name, with Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape Of You’ becoming the most streamed single, (2.3 billion). Drake’s ‘One Dance’ followed in second place.

Billie Eilish’s critically acclaimed debut, ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’ was the most-streamed album of the year. In the UK, the most-streamed song and album came from Glaswegian comedian and singer Lewis Capaldi.