Digital Album Sales Surpass 100 Million In The UK

All-time sales of digital albums have crossed the 100 million mark, with the top 10 selling digital albums of all time selling more than 250,000 copies combined (led by Adele, Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga). According to data from the Official Charts Company published by music industry trade body BPI, this 100 million milestone took just over six years to achieve, which is when official records of digital sales began in back April of 2006. It is also comes just two years after news broke of digital album sales surpassing the 50 million mark.  

Revenues from digital downloads and subscription services were beginning to overtake those seen from physical products in the first quarter of 2012, but now digital accounts for a 34% volume of the total albums market. However, overall albums sales in the UK saw a decrease of 13.8% during the first six months of 2012, with 43.6 million units sold from the 50.5 million units sold in the same period of 2011. Yet still, the weekly average for digital album sales is now at 500,000 downloads. 

“Sales of digital albums are surging ahead as British consumers embrace the convenience, value and choice offered by online services,” said BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor. “As our athletes compete against the best in the world, British artists have taken the gold and silver positions in the best-selling digital artist albums of all time, and six places in the top ten. With big releases to come from Rita Ora, The Script, Elbow, and Stooshe, digital album sales should continue to grow strongly.”  

Top 10 best-selling digital albums of all time (according to the Official Charts Company): 

1. 21 - Adele
2. + - Ed Sheeran;
3. The Fame - Lady Gaga
4. Only By The Night - Kings of Leon
5. Loud – Rihanna
6. Lungs - Florence + the Machine
7. Mylo Xyloto – Coldplay
8. Sigh No More - Mumford & Sons
9. The Defamation of Strickland Banks - Plan B
10. Doo-Wops & Hooligans - Bruno Mars

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Hisham Dahud is a Senior Analyst for Hypebot.com. Additionally, he is the head of Business Development for Fame House, LLC and an independent musician. Follow him on Twitter: @HishamDahud