…OK in Sweden, and just for the first 9 months of 2009…. but HEY this has to be good news!

So what’s the deal?

Well Sweden is pretty much under the music industry spotlight at the moment for a number of reasons:

1. The Majors won a court battle against illegal file sharing and a new copyright law was passed in Sweden.

2. Spotify is Swedish and it’s innovation in providing new ways for users to consume music is apparent.

3. Against the general trend 4 new record stores have opened in Stockholm. OK 4 stores don’t sound too spectacular but this is Sweden not the USA.

The report implies that music trade revenues have increased by 18%, with an 80% jump specifically in digital sales - even physical sales grew by 9%!!

So does this mean if other countries defend copyright, provide compelling alternative ways to consume music (legally) that people will actually continue to buy music.We guess so and it’s not really that surprising is it. You make something too easy to take for free and people will do. You make it harder and more of them pay.

So watch this space and see other key markets following the Swedish lead - those that talk in recent years of the death of copyright have to take into account that there is too much money at stake for the Industry to just let it go. We’re not saying that the Industry (both technology and content) can’t evolve into even more remarkable new business models as it probably will but free music for everyone for ever - not quite how things will pan out just yet.

GYEO