UK albums released by pop acts in 2011 outsold their rock rivals for the first time in seven years, the BPI has said.
Records classified in the Pop genre accounted for 33.6% of all albums sold during the past twelve months, with seven of the top ten selling LPs of 2011 also coming from the pop world. By comparison, rock album units dropped from 31.2% in 2010 to 29.4% – the lowest share of sales for the genre since 2003.
“2011 was a vintage year for pop albums so it is hardly surprising that the genre has elbowed Rock aside as the nation’s favourite,” BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor has said on the figures. “Although rock’s share is the lowest for eight years, it still accounts for three in ten of every albums sold so recent reports of its demise are premature.”
“Pop has managed to double its share of singles sales in the space of five years and now outsells Rock by two-to-one. It’s no coincidence that over the same period dozens of vibrant, digital music services have launched in Britain, enabling younger music fans to buy and enjoy tracks online at pocket money prices.”
Unsurprisingly, sales of pop singles also outweighed those from the rock world by a scale of two to one.