SALES of music in Australia soared last year, thanks to the success of home-grown bands such as Human Nature, Wolfmother and Rogue Traders.

Australia is the only country in the world where the recorded music market is bucking a downward trend and showing big increases.

New media music sales are fuelling the rise, with digital downloads lifting by 150per cent between 2005 and 2006, says a report on the global entertainment market by accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Overall the recorded music market, which includes CD and vinyl sales, downloads and mobile phone ring tones, rose by 17.6 per cent year-on-year to $998million.