Sales of music on the digital format have exceeded its more traditional CD counterpart for the first time ever in the UK, the BPI has confirmed.
Figures released today show 56% of music sales in the UK so far this year have come in the form of downloads or streams, bringing in a total revenue of £86.5million, with physical formats accounting for £69.3million.
And despite the shift in trends towards online music purchasing appearing to coincide with a sharp decline in album sales – Emeli Sande was able to reach number one on the UK Album Chart last Sunday with sales of a little over 13,000 – the same BPI reports shows album sales have in fact increased by 22% on the last quarter of 2011.
“This is a significant milestone in the evolution of the music business,” BPI chief executive, Geoff Taylor has said. “UK record labels have embraced digital to their core, supporting innovation and licensing more new online and mobile services than any other country.”