UK Music Sales Dip Further In 2010 But Digital Albums Hit The Mainstream

Paolo Nutini's Sunny Side Up (No.6)

UK Music Sales Dip Further In 2010 But Digital Albums Hit The Mainstream. A third successive record year for singles and the emergence of a mainstream market for digital albums failed to halt a further overall decline in UK music sales in a market that remains heavily distorted by still-increasing levels of illegal downloading, new Official Charts Company data released today by the BPI confirmed.

Combined sales of digital and physical albums overall fell by 7.0% to 119.9m in 2010, with growth in digital sales failing to offset the decline in physical CD sales. Despite the encouraging digital albums sales of 21.0m, growing 30.6% on last year’s sales of 16.1m, the market for CD albums declined 12.4% to 98.5m from 112.5m in 2009.

The singles market recorded an all-time sales high of 161.8m, 5.9% up on 2009′s tally of 152.7m, reflecting the unparalleled choice and value on offer from the UK’s burgeoning digital music retail environment. 5.2m tracks were downloaded in the final week of 2010 – the first time weekly sales have surpassed 5m. Sales of digital single tracks represented 98.0% of overall singles sales, with CD singles only accounting for 1.9m sales, down on last year’s total of 2.5m.

Geoff Taylor, BPI Chief Executive, said, “2010 showed that the digital singles highs seen in the previous two years were no fluke – music fans continue to embrace the convenience, value and choice offered by legal download stores. The market for digital albums also went mainstream in 2010 with nearly a fifth of sales now coming from online services.

“Yet however encouraging it is to see the digital market grow, this must be seen against the bigger picture. Despite unprecedented demand for music, and strong innovation offering consumers new ways to access music online, legal downloads are unable to offset the decline in CD sales because they are dwarfed by illegal competition.

“We will continue to do everything we can to promote the legal market, but meaningful action to tackle illegal downloading remains absolutely critical if we are to stabilise British music sales, let alone return to growth. Without it, investment in new digital services and in British musical talent will begin to dry up.”

Tony Wadsworth, BPI Chairman, added, “Consumer choice for recorded music has never been greater – both in depth of catalogue and the many ways to buy it. It is now crucial that action to stem illegal downloading, incentivising continued investment in this popular art form, is implemented decisively and urgently.”

It was a solid year for British artists in the 2010 album charts. Take That’s Progress was crowned overall year-end album chart champion, selling more than 1.8m copies during 2010. It was boosted in part by first week sales of almost 520,000, making it the fastest-selling album of this millennium.

Including Take That, The Official Charts Company end-of-year artist album Top 10 boasted five placings from new and established British talent, including Plan B’s The Defamation of Strickland Banks (No.5), Paolo Nutini’s Sunny Side Up (No.6), Florence & The Machine’s Lungs (No.8) and Mumford & Sons’ Sigh No More (No.10).

While Pop and Urban titles dominated the bestsellers list, there were also big successes for Classical artist André Rieu – who had two albums in the year-end Top 30 – and Michael Bublé, whose Crazy Love (classified as MOR / Easy) was the second-biggest selling UK album overall.

Eminem featuring Rihanna’s Love The Way You Lie sold 854,000 copies to become the UK’s No.1 single of 2010, narrowly seeing off a late challenge from X-Factor winner Matt Cardle’s single When We Collide which ended 2010 as the second biggest-selling single. Tinie Tempah also featured in the year-end Top 10 with his breakout hit Pass Out.

UK record companies and retailers worked hard during 2010 to make CDs available to consumers in record numbers of outlets on the high street. The Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) confirmed that over 6,600 stores stocked CDs in the run up to Christmas, compared to just over 4,600 at the beginning of 2010 – around 15% more than the 5,750 in 1999, music’s previous boom year.

Glastonbury 2011- Who’s playing.

Glastonbury 2011- Who's playing.

Glastonbury 2011- Who’s playing. The last year before Glasto takes a break for the Olympics, Music News takes a look at what’s being lined up for next year’s premier UK festival. Already self confirmed for the bash are The Coral, who confirmed in November through their Twitter account. Fatboy Slim also confirmed an appearance immediately after his 2010 performance too. Other strong rumours include Kylie Minogue on the Pyramid Stage, as she was infamously booked in 2005 to close the Sunday before pulling out. The reformed Pulp seem certainties to make a headline appearance across the weekend. The band played a vintage set in 1995 and their reform is likely to be due to a set booked at Glastonbury. U2 have been rumoured to make a headline appearance this year after missing their 2010 slot due to Bono’s back injury, however a secret slot appears more likely. Whether they do appear as headliners or with a secret appearance, I’d bet my entire treasured back catalogue of Nirvana on U2 making some sort of appearance at Glastonbury next year. Other names that have been thrown into the mix include Prince,Coldplay and The Foo Fighters, however none are likely to appear as headliners across the weekend. The Rolling Stones seem a promising prospect, with Ronnie Wood stating earlier this month that ‘He’d love to do it’. Glastonbury is always welcoming to bands from the yesteryear, so seeing The Stones headlining wouldn’t surprise any fans of the festival. Take That are one band who have confirmed they will not be appearing, with Gary Barlow stating ‘I don’t think it’s possible’ due to the size of the production of their show. Here are some of other names rumoured to be appearing: Beyonce, Radiohead, Daft Punk, Paolo Nutini, The Strokes, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Lady GaGa, The Libertines, Kings of Leon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Bowie, Arcade Fire, Rage Against the Machine, Led Zeppelin (again) and The White Stripes.

Paolo Nutini to headline Scottish Music Awards

Paolo Nutini to headline Scottish Music Awards. The Glasgow: Scotland with style Scottish Music Awards ‘ The Tartan Clefs will this year see Paolo Nutini reveal a unique performance for the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland charity at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket on Saturday 20th November. The awards, which sold out in recession busting record time, have now been running for 12 years and, this year, are being held in partnership with Glasgow: Scotland with style. Every year, the organisers of this prestigious showcase have built upon the year before, ensuring it remains innovative and exciting ‘ and above all else, unique to Glasgow. Hosting this event in the city not only reinforces Glasgow’s status as a UNESCO City of Music, but also helps profile its cutting-edge style credentials and utterly magnetic music scene. Held to raise money for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, it is an important date in the Scottish event calendar, fast making its mark upon the music industry as the ‘Scottish Brits’, receiving international media attention. The charity, which receives no statutory funding, relies on the event as its largest and most prominent fundraiser. The Glasgow: Scotland with style Scottish Music Awards ‘ The Tartan Clefs is a celebration of the massive strength, and huge diversity, of Scotland’s international music industry. Recent winners include acts such as The Fratellis and Capercaillie as well as Mott the Hoople and songwriter John Reid. In August 2008 Glasgow was named a UNESCO City of Music, and over the past 30 years there has been a major investment in Glasgow venues ‘ both by Glasgow City Council and by individuals and companies. The unique combination of music and therapy that Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland offers is both a release and sense of fun for the individual through the power of music. Unique to other forms of therapy, the concept of taking our creative side and combining this with alternative modes of therapy is revolutionary; illustrating that music has strong healing qualities. Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland Executive Director, Mary Brown, said: “Funds raised from the Tartan Clef Music Awards are crucial as they help to secure the continuation of music therapy sessions for the many children and adults accessing the services. Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland is looking to expand and develop its work, so it is hoped that the increased profile the Tartan Clef Music Awards brings will enable even more children and adults to receive music therapy.”