Japan’s RIAJ reported a 15% decline in trade revenues in 2013 on the 13% decline in CD and music video sales, still representing 87% of trade revenues

Digital trade revenues fell 23% on collapsing mobile sales; internet DTO revenues were up 24% and subscription revenues trebled to $31 million

UMG, WMG and even Sony each have limited exposure to Japan, where domestic labels dominate. Avex and other publishers exploit J-pop through 360 degree contracts with acts and enjoy robust concert and merchandising revenues

This report on the digital transformation of the creative industries in the UK was produced by Enders Analysis and research partner Bain & Company, to support the Creative UK event organised by Enders Analysis and held at the BT Centre on 18 March 2104. The event is sponsored by BT, Enders Analysis, Bain & Company, Powerscourt and Shine Group. 

 The UK’s rate of business creation since 2010 has been especially strong relative to other major economies, backed by a solid trend to self-employment. Business creation in the creative industries  – music, film, television, advertising, the arts, book and newspaper publishing - has been a major contributor, up 17% since 2010.  

Underpinned by a generation of investment in broadband, digital technology is changing how many creative-sector companies produce and distribute products. But experiences vary widely:  

• For advertising and marketing companies, the transition has had a benign impact on revenue; online’s share of total advertising was at 36% in 2012, placing the UK in the vanguard of digital advertising
• Television has remained relatively resilient to disintermediation by the internet and TV remains the single biggest advertising medium
• Consumer-facing newspapers have undergone a painful transition as pennies from digital replace pounds from print and ad sales
• Recorded music sales halved in the decade to 2013, but digital accounted for 50% of revenues in 2013, and the corner has been turned; artist management is being transformed by the use of online media
• New online pure play businesses have sprung up, like Rightmove and Zoopla Property Group, AutoTrader, LoveFilm and Spotify
• The crafts industries have been transformed by online marketplaces like Etsy, which allow them to serve their customers wherever they may be
• YouTube is emerging as an important outlet for UK creative talents 

Strong growth in UK sales of mobile devices in 2013, with tablet shipments overtaking declining PC sales, pushed smartphone and tablet penetration up to about 63% and 35% respectively, in line with our forecasts.

We estimate that mobile devices now account for 50% of time spent online in the UK, the lion’s share via apps, reaching this milestone sooner than expected. Mobile internet usage looks set for further growth in 2014 and beyond, with PC-based consumption flattening.

After a slow start mobile monetisation is also rising fast, with UK advertising and e-commerce to mobile devices accelerating and closing the gap with that on the PC. We expect much, if not all, future growth in commercial internet revenues to be driven by mobile devices.

The French Professional Football League (LFP) is to auction its 2016-20 broadcasting rights next month, one year earlier than expected. The anticipated auction (and short notice) increases pressure on rival LFP broadcasters – a failure to renew their existing rights deals would unsettle their position for over two years

Due to uncertainty over the future ownership of Canal+ and the political background of Al Jazeera’s beIN Sports we believe that both would prefer to maintain the status quo: the top two weekly games on Canal+ and the other eight on beIN Sports

The LFP rights are precisely packaged to prevent this, and to force the two to compete at least for one lot. As the market leader Canal+ has more to lose, while beIN Sports could sustain its current complementary positioning with fewer games

Slides from the presentations by the following speakers at the Media & Telecoms: 2014 and Beyond conference on 4 February 2014: James Purnell, BBC; Dido Harding, TalkTalk; NIcola Mendelsohn, Facebook; John Paton, Digital First Media; Mike Darcey, News UK; Ashley Highfield, Johnston Press; Michael Comish, Tesco

Enders Analysis co-hosted its annual conference, in conjunction with BNP Paribas and Deloitte, in London on 4 March 2014. The event featured talks by 13 of the most influential figures in media and telecoms, and was chaired by Sir Peter Bazalgette.

This report provides edited transcripts of the talks given by seven of those speakers: James Purnell, BBC; Dido Harding, TalkTalk; Nicola Mendelsohn, Facebook; John Paton, Digital First Media; Mike Darcey, News UK; Ashley Highfield, Johnston Press; Michael Comish, Tesco

Slides from the presentations by the following speakers at the Media & Telecoms: 2014 and Beyond conference on 4 February 2014: Andrew Griffith, BSkyB; Thomas Rabe, Bertelsmann; David Dyson, Three UK

Enders Analysis co-hosted its annual conference, in conjunction with BNP Paribas and Deloitte, in London on 4 March 2014. The event featured talks by 13 of the most influential figures in media and telecoms, and was chaired by Sir Peter Bazalgette. This report provides edited transcripts of the talks given by six of those speakers: Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP; Gavin Patterson, BT; Andrew Griffith, BSkyB; Thomas Rabe, Bertelsmann; David Dyson, Three UK; David Abraham, Channel 4

ITV has enjoyed an excellent 2013, which has seen the largest increase in total ITV revenues since the launch of the Transformation plan in 2010 and the fourth consecutive year of double digit growth in EBITA

2014 promises to be another strong year of growth, boosted by a sharp advertising upturn where ITV can expect to outperform the television advertising market, while Online, Pay & Interactive and ITV Studios maintain strong growth as their markets continue to expand

ITV nonetheless faces significant challenges to maintain the business it has built as viewing habits change in an increasingly connected TV landscape with multiple screens and the shape of the ITV Studios business as a result of its domestic and international acquisitions

In an audacious move to minimise the risk of mobile social disruption, Facebook is to acquire leading messaging app Whatsapp for up to $19 billion, or $42 per user, or 11% of Facebook’s current market cap

Messaging platforms are becoming the new social media, particularly for younger demographics, and while Facebook/WhatsApp will be huge in mobile, other services could still side-step into Facebook’s territory

The price for WhatsApp may be justifiable to counter the threat, but Facebook has only bought one of many, and paying a full price may encourage the others; expensively buying every competitor does not feel like a long-term strategy