RECORD companies collected $728m in royalties from 51 countries in 2006, up by 8% on 2005, according to IFPI, a trade body. This is equivalent to 4% of the companies' music-sales revenue that year. Some 87% of income comes from licensing sound recordings; music videos make up the remainder. Britain's collection society is by far the most industrious, taking $142.1m on behalf of its members. This represents 7% of the $2.1 billion earned in Britain by companies for music sales that year. Although America's income grew most in the top ten, $35.7m is peanuts in a market worth $6.5 billion. Russia, home to dodgy download sites and reluctant radio stations (only half pay royalties), took a tiny $0.9m, representing a mere 0.4% of sales revenue. Malaysia's collection agency, on the other hand, took a sum equivalent to 22% of their music-sales income.

Reuters