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Business News Labels & Publishers Retail
UK album sales increase for first time since 2009
By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 16 April 2013
Combined digital and physical album sales in the UK increased slightly in the first quarter of this year, the BPI and Official Charts Company announced yesterday. It’s the first increase since the final quarter of 2009. Total sales for January to March were 23.3 million, up 1.4% on the same period last year.
Download albums accounted for 38.5% of all sales (up 17.8% on last year), with CD sales decreasing by 7.2%. Vinyl sales, meanwhile, were up 78.1% year-on-year.
BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor told CMU: “The Q1 sales figures illustrate that as digital grows its share, albums can follow the singles market back to growth. The strength in depth of British music is highlighted by newcomers such as Jake Bugg and Bastille sitting alongside iconic figures like David Bowie in the top 20 best-sellers”.
He continued: “The strong performance of independent labels in March bolstered by releases this quarter from Stereophonics, Atoms For Peace, and many others is also very encouraging. And the second quarter of 2013 looks promising for music fans, with big releases anticipated from Michael Bublé, Rod Stewart, Laura Marling, Daft Punk, and Noah & The Whale”.
In case you’re interested, the top 20 best-selling albums of the first quarter of 2013 are as follows:
1. Emeli Sandé – Our Version of Events
2. Les Misérables Motion Picture Cast Recording
3. Various Artists – Now That’s What I Call Music 84
4. Jake Bugg – Jake Bugg
5. Bruno Mars – Unorthodox Jukebox
6. Various Artists – The Trevor Nelson Collection
7. Calvin Harris – 18 Months
8. Mumford & Sons – Babel
9. Various Artists – Now That’s What I Call Music 83
10. Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience
11. David Bowie – The Next Day
12. Biffy Clyro – Opposites
13 Rihanna – Unapologetic
14 Pink – The Truth About Love
15 Bastille – Bad Blood
16 Various Artists – Anthems: 90s
17 One Direction – Take Me Home
18 Olly Murs – Right Place Right Time
19 Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
20 Taylor Swift – Red
