The line graph compares the total number of music sales by method in terms of their three types—streams, downloads, and CDs purchased—from 2011 to 2018. Units are measured in percent.
From an overall viewpoint, downloads and CDs purchased show a downward trend, while streams increased consistently throughout the timeframe. Of particular note are streams, which rose continually and overtook the others to become the dominant category.
Beginning at one-third, downloaded music sales rose during the initial five years, thus reaching a pinnacle of just over 40%. From 2015 onwards, however, the figure decreased sharply, hitting a low of 30 percent.
In contrast, CDs purchased sales followed a similar pattern. Although the category for CDs purchased sales stood as the leading section, reaching a peak of approximately 55 percent, it then fell dramatically from under three-fifths in 2011 to just over 30 percent.
On the other hand, streamed music sales experienced a distinct pattern. After streamed music sales occupied the lowest position at about 5 percent in 2011, they went up drastically at a steady pace, exceeding all other rates and climbing to the top at just over 40 percent by the close of the timeframe.