LOS ANGELES – Record-company shipments of Latin music CDs to U.S. retailers rose 13 percent last year, an increase driven in part by growing demand for Reggaeton, the recording industry's trade group said Thursday.
In all, shipments of CDs, DVDs, cassettes and music videos of Latin music in 2005 increased 14 percent, or 55.6 million units, according to the Washington-based Recording Industry Association of America.
The retail value of the shipments was $753.7 million, a 16 percent increase over 2004. The wholesale value of the shipments was $463.8 million, the RIAA said.
The figures were based on net shipments reported by Univision Music Group, Universal Music Latino, Warner Music Latina, Sony BMG Music Entertainment and EMI Televisa Music.
Shipments to direct retailers, such as mail-order music clubs, were not included in the tally.
Regional Mexican and Tejano music recordings made up 48 percent of the shipments, while pop-rock recordings accounted for 39 percent.
Reggaeton, a blend of reggae, hip-hop and Latin dance music, was included in the urban Latin category, which accounted for 4 percent of shipments.
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