Quebec's music industry has undergone a major transformation over the past decade. While physical and digital sales have declined by nearly 50%, streaming has exploded with growth exceeding 200%.

Quebec artists continue to dominate local charts, particularly in francophone and rap categories. Names like Loud, Les Cowboys Fringants, and Roxane Bruneau stand out with impressive Gold and Platinum certifications.

Key Figures

Evolution of Album Sales (2015-2024)

The digital transition of the music industry is evident in sales data. Physical albums (CD, vinyl) have experienced a steady decline, dropping from 5.6 million units sold in 2015 to 2.35 million in 2024. Digital albums have followed a similar trend, falling from 1.8 million to 650,000 units over the same period.

These figures, while declining, tell only part of the story. Streaming, not counted here, has experienced phenomenal growth and now represents the primary way Quebecers consume music.

Top 10 - Best Sellers All Categories

Quebec's recorded music market welcomes both international hits and local talent. This ranking of best sales for the 2015-2024 decade reflects this diversity, with a strong presence of Quebec artists alongside global superstars.

Top 10 - Best-Selling Quebec Artists

Quebec artists demonstrate impressive strength in their local market. Les Cowboys Fringants dominate with their album Les antipodes, while Loud confirms the popularity of Quebec rap with Une année record.

Distribution by Musical Genre

Analysis of Quebec music production reveals remarkable diversity. Pop/Rock dominates with 35% of production, closely followed by Rap/Hip-Hop representing 28% of releases. Traditional francophone chanson maintains an important place with 18%.

This diversity testifies to the vitality of Quebec's music scene and its ability to adapt to changing public tastes while preserving its francophone roots.

Conclusion

The 2015-2024 decade will have marked a decisive turning point for Quebec's music industry. While physical and digital sales have experienced a marked decline, this transformation conceals a more nuanced reality: Quebec music is doing well, it's simply being consumed differently.

Local artists continue to shine and capture an impressive share of the local market, a rare phenomenon on a global scale. The emergence of new genres like Quebec rap and the persistence of francophone chanson demonstrate the richness and resilience of this cultural industry.

The future belongs to streaming, but the heart of Quebec audiences still beats to the rhythm of its own music.

Sources

• ADISQ. (2024). Sales Rankings. palmaresadisq.ca
• Institut de la statistique du Québec. (2022). The Quebec Recorded Music Market. statistique.quebec.ca
• Wikipedia. (2025). Best-Selling Quebec Albums. fr.wikipedia.org
• Radio-Canada. (2019). Quebec Artists Lead Sales. ici.radio-canada.ca