A new set of sales figures, provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries, have revealed that global music sales are not only down, but the decline in sales is actually speeding up.

Sales were down 10.9% in the first half of 2003, which makes for scary reading when compared to the figure of 7.1% at the same time last year. Commercial piracy and illegal downloading has been blamed for the decline. Indeed, the Federation has suggested that illegal markets in Germany, Japan and the US now match or exceed commercial markets.

Sales of music video DVDs have increased.