Date posted:17 Jan 2012
Source - Generator:
The BPI has kicked off the year by announcing that UK music sales have predictably dropped for a seventh successive year despite digital sales rising by 26%- Not that this seems to be affecting Adele, whose album ‘21’ jumped back up to number one this week.
Despite the encouraging rise in download sales, music sales took an overall dive of 5.6% to £113.2m in 2011, with cd sales unsurprisingly dropping by 12.6% year on year. Interestingly, vinyl sales rose by more than a third to 337,000, the highest figure since 2005 and the stats don’t include any figures for streaming services, which grew significantly last year.
BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor said: "It has been another record year for digital singles, but the most encouraging news of the year is the strong backing consumers are giving to the digital album format. British music fans understand that the album remains the richest way to connect with an artist’s work. Digital developments grab the headlines but the CD remains hugely popular with consumers, accounting for three-quarters of album sales".
It seems a little strange to be celebrating the cd as it plunges year on year in popularity or significance but does Taylor have a point?
It’s significant to note that British acts accounted for exactly half of the year’s top selling albums. Of course, the big success story of the year was Adele, whose ‘21’ has just claimed the top album spot again 50 weeks after release, selling a total of 3.8m in the UK.
In live news, U2 had the highest grossing tour according to Pollstar, with their 360 degree in Africa, North America and South America pulling in over £150m and selling 2,387,535 tickets. Take That, Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift and Roger Waters made up the rest of the top five.
Anyway, back to the top albums. This complete list is below. Please look away now if you have Bublé syndrome, a widespread condition that sends sufferers into a murderous rage upon mention of the wholesome Canadian crooner. I repeat, look away now.
The Top Ten Albums Of 2011
1. Adele – 21 (Beggars/XL)
2. Michael Bublé – Christmas (Warner/Reprise)
3. Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops & Hooligans (Warner/Atlantic)
4. Adele – 19 (Beggars/XL)
5. Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto (EMI/Parlophone)
6. Rihanna – Loud (Universal/Mercury)
7. Lady Gaga – Born This Way (Universal/Polydor)
8. Jessie J – Who You Are (Universal/Lava)
9. Ed Sheeran – + (Warner/Atlantic)
10. Rihanna – Talk That Talk (Universal/Mercury)
