Recording Media Strikes Gold With DVD

IRMA President Tells How To Take Advantage Of Online Distribution

27-Jun-01

The unprecedented growth of the DVD-Video systems in the U.S. is now being followed in Europe and should generate a cumulative 7.4 million DVD-Video player households by the end of 2001, according to statistics released by the International Recording Media Association (IRMA).IRMA President Charles Van Horn reported the Association's latest Worldwide Optical Media Market Intelligence Report estimated some 107 million DVDs were replicated in Europe last year, with expected growth to 200 million this year, and exceeding 300 million in 2002.The industry has ""struck gold with DVD,"" Van Horn said, ""with its appealing technology already established in some 25 million households around the world at the end of the year 2000."" That total, which includes DVD-Video players, DVD game consoles, and PCs equipped with DVD-ROM drives, should grow to nearly 40 million households by the end of this year, according to IRMA's report.Van Horn also called attention to a recent PriceWaterhouse Coopers study in which it was estimated that ""the growing importance of the Internet as a distribution medium will lead the global entertainment and media industry to a $1.2 trillion business by 2005."" The report concluded that, ""online distribution of content will continue to be a principal driver of growth, creating opportunities throughout all segments of the entertainment and media industries.""To illustrate how new opportunities have been created, Van Horn noted The Dave Matthews Band made available to Napster its single ""I Did It"" as a free download. When the full CD reached music stores a few weeks later, it hit sales of 450,000 units in its first week and attained the number one listing on Billboard's chart. ""Some believe the release on Napster generated higher consumer awareness,"" Van Horn said. ""We have more to learn about the 'Napster approach' as the industry faces more change in the months and years ahead.""The complete text of Van Horn's remarks is available online at www.recordingmedia.org/speechRepEur2001.html.IRMA is a worldwide trade association encompassing organizations involved in every facet of recording media, from raw materials providers, manufacturers, replicators and duplicators, to copyright holders. IRMA is the advocate for all recording media and is the industry forum on worldwide trends and innovations.For more information, visit www.recordingmedia.org.

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