Emeli Sandé’s Our Version of Events, the motion picture cast recording from the hit film Les Misérables and the latest volume in compilation series Now 84 have boosted year-on-year sales by 1.4 percent from January to March.
Date from the Official Charts Company, released today by the BPI, showed quarterly growth in the albums market from 23 million in the first quarter of 2012 to 23.3 million in the first quarter of 2013.
Digital downloads accounted for 38.5 percent of all albums sold, climbing 17.8 percent from 7.6 million in 2012 to nine million in the first quarter of 2013, with CD unit sales dropping by 7.2 percent to 14.2 million. Vinyl sales rose for a third consecutive quarter, increasing by 78.1 percent.
Sandé’s multi-platinum-selling Our Version of Events tops the chart of the biggest-selling artist albums of the year so far, with releases from English singer-songwriter Jake Bugg, DJ and producer Calvin Harris, American star Bruno Mars, and Grammy award-winning Mumford & Sons featuring in the year-to-date top 20 best sellers.
BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor said: ’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. The strong performance of independent labels in March bolstered by releases this quarter from Stereophonics, Atoms for Peace, and many others is very encouraging.
‘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.’
The singles market remained steady with first quarter unit sales totalling 48.5 million, up 3.9 percent year-on-year compared with 46.7 million in the first quarter of 2012.
Date from the Official Charts Company, released today by the BPI, showed quarterly growth in the albums market from 23 million in the first quarter of 2012 to 23.3 million in the first quarter of 2013.
Digital downloads accounted for 38.5 percent of all albums sold, climbing 17.8 percent from 7.6 million in 2012 to nine million in the first quarter of 2013, with CD unit sales dropping by 7.2 percent to 14.2 million. Vinyl sales rose for a third consecutive quarter, increasing by 78.1 percent.
Sandé’s multi-platinum-selling Our Version of Events tops the chart of the biggest-selling artist albums of the year so far, with releases from English singer-songwriter Jake Bugg, DJ and producer Calvin Harris, American star Bruno Mars, and Grammy award-winning Mumford & Sons featuring in the year-to-date top 20 best sellers.
BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor said: ’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. The strong performance of independent labels in March bolstered by releases this quarter from Stereophonics, Atoms for Peace, and many others is very encouraging.
‘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.’
The singles market remained steady with first quarter unit sales totalling 48.5 million, up 3.9 percent year-on-year compared with 46.7 million in the first quarter of 2012.
