If your clients need one more reason to embrace high-res music listening, it’s variety. You'll find no shortage of it, based on a report released recently by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). According to data compiled by the RIAA from its member labels, more than 33,500 albums representing nearly 400,000 tracks are currently available in studio quality formats to stream or download.

This is the first-ever tally the RIAA has conducted, and the results are clear: Record labels are placing a high priority on providing music fans with access to high-quality listening experiences.

Studio quality is defined as a category encompassing both Hi-Res Audio (48khz/20-bit or higher) and the studio production format of 44.1kHz/24-bit audio.

“Fans now have access to their favorite music in more ways than ever before, in more formats than ever before, and with better quality than ever before,“ says RIAA chief technology officer David Hughes.

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“To meet fans' growing demand for the highest-quality sound, labels have made the development of the hi-res music market a top priority. It’s another example of how labels continue to drive music forward and provide fans new ways to listen and engage with music.”

It’s Not Just the One-Hit Wonders

Studio quality formats are already widely available for some of the U.S.’s most popular music of all time. 

Currently, the following have hi-res audio support:

• 77% of RIAA’s 100 Highest Gold & Platinum Certified Albums
• 79% of one major streaming service’s Top 100 All-Time Streamed Tracks
• 78% of the SoundScan’s Top 100 Albums of 2018
• 68% of one major streaming service’s Top Weekly Tracks

The figures issued by the RIAA represent a 29% increase of available hi-res music albums and tracks from a year ago, as major labels are now releasing around 1,000 albums per month in studio quality formats.

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