Audioglobe end of year statistics 2024 are available now!
Audioglobe end of year statistics 2024 are available now!
When we publish an article on the Audioglobe end-of-year statistics, it always becomes one of the most-read pieces on Side-Line. Fortunately for all of you, Europe’s leading distributor of darkwave and related music resumed publishing these statistics last year, after a long hiatus. (2018 was the first year Audioglobe ceased communicating these stats.)
Also this year Sebastian Koch shared insights into what was popular over the past year, marking Audioglobe’s 31st year of existence (check also this interview with Sebastian Koch on the distributor’s 30 years in existence). In his mail to the Audioglobe customers he adds that while these statistics might not be of critical importance, they are often interesting and sometimes yield surprising and unexpected results, even for Audioglobe itself.
First some general facts from Audioglobe
- In 2024, Audioglobe added an impressive 10,944 new items to its catalog, including re-releases of previously issued albums in new editions. This expanded their active catalog to around 55,000 titles. Notably, 2,338 of these were limited editions that sold out and were subsequently removed from the catalog within the same year.
- This year also marked the end of an era in Audioglobe’s 31-year history: 2024 was the final year they received an order by fax. The decline of this practice began as far back as 1998, when Audioglobe sent their first newsletter (No. 110) via email on February 10, 1998. The first title featured in that email was Das Ich’s album “Egodram”.
- Audioglobe also reported a positive turnover compared to 2023, with growth of 5.5% in Italy and 8.9% in exports.
- At the start of 2024, Audioglobe collaborated with 380 different suppliers, representing over 1,600 labels. By the end of the year, this number had dropped to 241 due to the decision to cease working with many smaller suppliers. Despite this reduction, the company began partnerships with 28 new suppliers during the year.
- The Audioglobe team also expanded, growing from 14 employees at the beginning of the year to 16 by the end, alongside two trainees.
- In 2024, Audioglobe exported to 23 countries within Europe and 12 outside Europe. The countries with the highest increase in turnover were Croatia, Kazakhstan, and Malta, while Romania, Russia, and Spain saw the largest decreases.
- On the artist front, Steve Roach stood out as the artist with the most new releases or re-releases in 2024, followed by Front 242. Among labels, Frontiers led the charge with the highest number of new releases, followed closely by Napalm, Bureau B, and Back on Black.
- The most expensive export product of 2024 was the Merzbow “Merzbient” 18-LP Box at € 394.00.
Top 20 bestselling artist albums for Audioglobe Exports year 2024
- Teardo & Bargeld – Christian & Mauro CD/LP (2 Versions) Specula
- Twin Tribes – Pendulum CD/LP (2 Versions) Young & Cold/Beso De Muerte
- Clan Of Xymox – Exodus CD/LP (2 Versions) Trisol
- Lebanon Hanover – Tomb For Two CD/LP Fabrika/Dead Scarlet
- Bill Leeb – Model Kollapse CD/2LP Metropolis
- Cyberaktif – Endgame CD/2LP Artoffact
- Front 242 – No Comment CD/LP Alfa Matrix
- Front 242 – Geography CD/LP Alfa Matrix
- Ultra Sunn – US CD/LP Artoffact
- She Past Away – Belirdi Gece CD/LP (3 Versions) Fabrika/Dead Scarlet
- Selofan – Animal Mentality CD/LP (4 Versions) Fabrika/Dead Scarlet
- Coil/Nine Inch Nails – Recoiled CD/LP (3 Versions) Cold Spring
- Then Comes Silence – Trickery CD/LP Metropolis
- Night In Athens – Wasted Reflektions CD/LP Wave Records
- Front Line Assembly – Millennium 2CD/2LP (2 Versions) Artoffact
- Kontravoid – Detachment CD/LP Artoffact
- :Wumpscut: – Schlossgheist CD/LP Betonkopf Media
- Funker Vogt – Final Construct 2CD/LP/MC Repo
- KMFDM – Let Go CD/2LP Metropolis
- Einstürzende Neubauten – Rampen 2CD/LP (2 Versions) Potomak
Bestselling (export) artist albums in previous years
- 2023: Lebanon Hanover – Tomb For Two CD/LP (3 Versions) Fabrika/Dead Scarlet
- 2022: Lebanon Hanover – Tomb For Two CD/LP (3 Versions) Fabrika/Dead Scarlet
- 2017: Clan Of Xymox – Days Of Dark CD/LP Trisol
- 2016: Front 242 – Geography CD/Box/LP Alfa Matrix
- 2015: Marsheaux – A Broken Frame 2CD/LP/LPL Undo
- 2014: Coil/Nine Inch Nails – Recoiled CD/LP/PLP Cold Spring
- 2013: VNV Nation – Transnational CD/LP Anachron
- 2012: Emilie Autumn – Fight Like A Girl (FLAG) CD Asylum Emporium
- 2011: Covenant – Modern Ruin CD/2CD Synthetic Symphony
- 2010: Wumpscut – Siamese CD/CDDVD/LP/Box Betonkopf Media
- 2009: Wumpscut – Fu* It* CD/LP/Box Betonkopf Media
- 2008: Emilie Autumn – Opheliac 2CD Trisol
- 2007: Emilie Autumn – Opheliac 2CD Trisol
- 2006: Emilie Autumn – Opheliac 2CD Trisol
- 2005: Lacrimosa – Lichtgestalt CD Hall Of Sermon
- 2004: Front 242 – Geography CD Alfa Matrix
- 2002: Hocico – Signos De Aberracion CD Out Of Line
- 2000: Apoptygma Berzerk – Welcome To Earth CD Tatra
- 1997: Sopor Aeternus – Inexperienced Spiral Traveller CD Apocalyptic Vision
Top 10 bestselling artist singles/EPs (both CD and vinyl) 2024
- Front 242 – Endless Riddance 12” Alfa Matrix
- Front 242 – Politics Of Pressure 12” Alfa Matrix
- Front 242 – Two In One 12” Alfa Matrix
- Sopor Aeternus – Fab Dead Cult Veil MCD/MLP Apocalyptic Vision
- Rue Oberkampf – Essenz MCD/MLP Young & Cold
- Blutengel feat. Solar Fake – Nothing Left MCD Out Of Line
- Funker Vogt – Death Seed MCD Repo
- Lacrimosa – Schakal 2xMCD Hall Of Sermon
- Kite – VI MCD Progress Productions
- Kite – II MCD Progress Productions
Top 10 bestselling longplayer vinyls 2024
- Teardo & Bargeld – Christian & Mauro LP (2 Versions) Specula
- Front 242 – No Comment LP Alfa Matrix
- Front 242 – Geography LP Alfa Matrix
- Lebanon Hanover – Tomb For Two LP Fabrika/Dead Scarlet
- Twin Tribes – Pendulum LP (2 Versions) Young & Cold/Beso De Muerte
- Ultra Sunn – US LP Artoffact
- Teardo & Bargeld – Christian & Mauro LP (2 Versions) Specula
- Night In Athens – Wasted Reflektions LP Wave Records
- Kontravoid – Detachment LP Artoffact
- She Past Away – Belirdi Gece LP (3 Versions) Fabrika/Dead Scarlet
Top 15 bestselling labels for Audioglobe Exports Year 2024
- Metropolis (Bill Leeb, Fla, Kmfdm, Then Comes Silence, Birthday Massacre, A Projection, March Violets, )
- Artoffact (Ultra Sunn, Kontravoid, Leathers, Cyberaktif, Kaelan Mikla, Sacred Skin, Ploho, Urban Heat…)
- Alfa Matrix (Front 242, Alien Vampires, Aiboforcen, Acylum, Metroland, Implant, C-Lekktor, Ad:Key, …)
- Fabrika (Lebanon Hanover, She Past Away, Selofan, Harsh Symmetry, Qual, Glass Beads, Jovana..)
- Young & Cold (Twin Tribes, Rue Oberkampf, Nürnberg, Bleib Modern, Sweet Kill, Bragolin, Haunt Me…)
- Icy Cold/Manic D. (Traitrs, Je T’aime, Sydney Valette, Echoberyl, French Police, Golden Apes, Closed Mouth.)
- Projekt (Steve Roach, Erik Wֹøllo, Black Tape For A Blue Girl, Lycia, Michael Stearns, Lovesliescrushing…)
- Avantgarde (Solar Fields, Ison, Remina, Dark Sanctuary, Frozen Autumn, Lycia, Nest, …)
- Rustblade (Claudio Simonetti/Goblin, Ennio Morricone, Lydia Lunch, Spiritual Front, Legendary Pink Dots…)
- Trisol (Sopor Aeternus, Rome, Clan Of Xymox, Skinflicks, Asp, Ostara, Nachtmahr, Future Lied To Us…)
- Out Of Line (Blutengel, Ashbury Heights, She Hates Emotions,
- Cold Transmission (Kalte Nacht, Dead Astronauts, Iamtheshadow, Noromakina, Lovataraxx, Iamnoone…)
- Swiss Dark N. (Ductape, They Die, The Rope, Emily Kinski’s Dead, Terminal Serious, Sexblood, Ash Code…)
- Cold Spring (Coil, Trepaneringsritualen, Meat Beat Manifesto & Merzbow, Lull, B.E.F…)
- Dependent (Kirlian Camera, Mesh, Haujobb, Black Nail Cabaret, Spectra*Paris, Beborn Beton, Dero Goi…)
End of year statistics 2024
Compared to the previous year, 2024 brought quite some shifts in export dynamics for Audioglobe. Starting in June, exports to all customers in Russia ceased entirely. Germany and Greece maintained their long-standing positions as the strongest export markets, with Greece alone accounting for sales to 12 shops. However, Portugal overtook the Netherlands to claim the third spot, while the United States dropped two positions. The United Kingdom continued to experience setbacks due to the lasting impact of Brexit.
The biggest surprises of the year were Croatia and Malta, both of which made significant gains. Poland climbed an impressive four positions, and China’s interest in Western music grew rapidly, landing the country in Audioglobe’s Top 10 for the first time. Joining this year’s Top 10 for the first time were Croatia, Malta, Denmark, and China.
Top 10 export territories in 2024:
- Germany
- Greece
- Portugal
- Netherlands
- Croatia
- Poland
- United States
- Malta
- Denmark
- China
Other strong export markets included France, Spain, Japan, Kazakhstan, and Peru. By comparison, the Top 10 export territories in 2023 were:
- Germany
- Greece
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Spain
- Russia
- Poland
Let’s see what 2025 will bring us…
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