The annual output of CD albums in Japan sank below 100 million in 2018 for the first time on record, an industry group said Wednesday, as more people listen to music via online streaming services.
The nation's CD album production, which totaled 88.65 million copies last year, peaked at 276.33 million in 2000, according to data released by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Production has been declining as popular domestic musicians have started delivering their music through streaming services.
The best-selling CD album in Japan to date is "First Love" by pop star Hikaru Utada, released in 1999 with some 7.67 million copies sold, followed by a greatest hits album released in 1998 by rock duo B'z that sold 5.14 million copies, according to music statistics firm Oricon Inc.