In terms of album sales, singles and tour sales, French music was exported as never before in 2019. With DJs and rappers as best ambassadors, Zaz and Piaf as best ambassadors. The Export Office, the structure responsible for supporting, advising and accompanying French artists abroad, even spoke of a "record year" this Friday in Paris on the occasion of its traditional point at the start of the year.
The certifications officially mark the sales levels for albums and singles, the gold certification corresponding in France to 50,000 albums sold (in CD, vinyl or streaming equivalent), platinum to 100,000, diamond to 500,000. For singles, it takes 15 million streams to be golden, 50 million to reach the diamond…
In terms of certifications, and therefore sales, 2019 was a record year for French music abroad. 55 artists obtain 121 certifications (34 for albums, 87 singles), against 63 in 2018, 66 in 2017 and 38 in 2016. This represents an increase of 98%. “What is interesting is that our growth exceeds that of the streaming market, comments Marc Thonon, the director of the Export Office. In Europe and Latin America, this is particularly strong. "
DJs, rappers and singers in mind
Two obvious facts: French electro and rap also work abroad and Zaz is decidedly the best ambassador for French song. The singer has exceeded, beyond our borders, the 520,000 copies of her album "Paris" and is approaching 180,000 for her latest album, "Mirror Effect". Aya Nakamura and Angèle are following in her footsteps, with 247,000 and 237,000 records sold in 2019 respectively. Also have exceeded 100,000 album sales, Dadju, the duo Polo and Pan and the rapper Soolking, which shines in the Maghreb.
Rappers and DJs are logically even more present in the sale of singles. And only a singer manages to overtake King David Guetta. It’s Jain who is approaching the billion streams with “Lil Mama”, a title from his first album. "It's the Chinese effect, decrypts Marc Thonon. Jain having made a big impact by singing during the opening ceremony of the 2019 Women's Soccer World Cup, Sony decided to promote this title in China. With this phenomenal result. "
Zaz and Piaf, queens of the scene
It is also a record year for the concerts of the French who, it must be said, are listed with precision for the first time. In total, 750 French artists performed abroad last year, totaling more than 5,500 concerts in 114 countries (22% electro). The most played in 2019 is a Nice show that pays tribute to Edith Piaf and has performed 78 times in the world. Knowing as much success on stage as on record, which is not the case for rappers, Zaz comes in 2nd position with 44 concerts.
In addition to the sure values of tours abroad, like Caravane Palace and Nouvelle Vague, 2019 has its phenomena, like Polo and Pan, therefore, which played last April at Coachella and has since made 25 dates in the United States . But also the electronic musicians Perturbator, The Blaze and Gesaffelstein… “Those who succeed in exporting are those who wet the shirt, comments Matthieu Gazier, of the Polo and Pan team. Chaining the Coachella festival and 5,000 spectators in Los Angeles in 2019 is the culmination of seven years of work. But this is just the beginning. "
Jazz and classical go crescendo
Their sales and tours are less impressive but jazz and classical music artists see their export figures progress from year to year. They even have volumes of concerts superior to pop, rock, song and rap. If Germany is their European country of predilection, Asia and Oceania are more and more welcoming, unlike North America, in terms of customs taxes, as in the issuance of visas.
Among the touring champions, let us quote in the classic the Modigliani quartet (62 dates), the Gli Incogniti ensemble (34 dates), the Arod quartet (47 dates), Les Arts Florissants (31 dates) and the Debussy quartet (21 dates ). In jazz, Vincent Peironi is the champion with 54 concerts in 2019 and the champion Marthe with 29 concerts. "French baroque is very popular abroad," said Françoise Clerc, head of the classical and jazz division at the Export Office.
Newsletter - The essentials of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
To extend these good figures, the Export Office will organize its first “Jazz Export Days” at the Jazz sous les Pommiers festival in May in Coutances (Normandy). A selection of French artists will perform in front of representatives from 35 major jazz festivals around the world.