JAMAICA is one of seven countries in the region which, when combined, saw music sales inch up 1.2 per cent to US$8.8 million ($756 million) in 2010 over 2009, due to a huge rise in ringtones, according to data just released by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

Concurrently, the legendary reggae group Bob Marley and the Wailers dominates the top-20 local chart for ringtones (which are popular singles customised as mobile phone rings), according to Digicel Intunes — the island’s largest mobile provider.

It’s the first time since 2007 that total sales have increased for the Central America and the Caribbean region, which included the countries of Barbados, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Panama.

The annual report, entitled ‘Recording Industry in Numbers 2010,’ indicated that digital sales (which includes ringbacks and online singles) actually surpassed physical CD sales for the first time, at 49 to 48 per cent, respectively. The rise skyrocketed the region’s digital sales ranking by eight slots to rank 31st in the world. Whilst its physical CD sales ranking remained constant at 47th, its performance rights ranking worsened to 45th from 41st a year earlier.The IFPI represents the recording industry worldwide with some 1400 members in 66 countries and affiliated industry associations in 45 countries.

Digital sales rose to US$4.2 million in 2010 or half of total sales up from 39 per cent in the previous year and only nine per cent in 2008. Physical CD sales, however, declined to roughly half of total sales in 2010 from a high of 89 per cent of total sales in 2008. Performance rights earning stood at US$400,000 in 2010 flat, year on year.

Consumers are rarely paying to download full singles but they are paying for ringtones. IFPI data indicate that ringtones accounted for 85 per cent of digital sales in the region in 2010 whilst mobile singles and video tracks accounted for the remainder.

Locally, ringtones cost $100 for a 90 day purchase and another $100 to acquire the monthly service according to Intunes online statements. It’s roughly the same cost to buy a single for US$1 ($89) elsewhere on the internet.

Digicel did not return calls up to press. However, its Intunes site indicated that the top-20 Digicel Intunes were all from the legendary group Bob Marley and the Wailers including: Three Little Birds, Lively Up Yourself, One Love, Waiting in Vain, Could You be Loved, Buffalo Soldier, Redemption Song and No Woman No Cry.

New songs on that site include Vybz Kartel’s Cake Soap, Mavado’s Gal a Mad Ova, Justin Bieber’s Born to be Somebody, and so on.

Global digital music sales increased six per cent to US$4.6 billion ($395 billion) in 2010, according to the Digital Music Report 2011, a separate report published in January by the IFPI. The report also indicated that despite piracy, sales increased.