Some of that good news stuff was coming out of the BPI on Friday as the record companies' trade body released its end of year sales round up for 2005.
Starting from the top, sales of artist albums were up to 126.2 million units last year, a 1.4% increase on 2004 , which was in itself a record breaking year. Aided by strong sales in the last few weeks of the year, this meant the UK record industry again bucked the global trend and achieved an increase in sales. Commenting on that fact, BPI chairman Peter Jamieson told CMU: "The rise of compilations and the Pop Idol phenomenon led some to suggest the days of the great artist album were numbered. On the contrary, strong investment in new talent means album sales are flourishing."
The BPI also confirmed that singles sales recovered somewhat last year, though this is down primarily to boom in single track download sales. 26.4 million downloads were sold in 2005, a massive 357% increase on the previous year, all of which boosted overall singles sales by 48%.
In fact the only bit of bad news appearing in the end of year stats was that relating to compilations, sales of which were down 15.7%. Then again, with artist albums in demand and more people making their own compilations via the download platforms, that is no real surprise.
The BPI also confirmed the best selling albums and singles of the year as follows:
2005's Top-Selling Albums:
1. James Blunt - Back to Bedlam (Warner/Atlantic)
2. Coldplay - X&Y (EMI/Parlophone)
3. Robbie Williams - Intensive Care (EMI/Chrysalis)
4. Kaiser Chiefs - Employment (B Unique)
5. Gorillaz - Demon Days (EMI/Parlophone)
6. Westlife - Face to Face (Sony-BMG)
7. KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope (EMI/Relentless)
8. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (SonyBMG/RCA)
9. Eminem - Curtain Call - The Hits (Universal/Interscope)
10. Faithless - Forever Faithless - The Greatest Hits (SonyBMG/Cheeky)
2005's Top-Selling Single Tracks:
1. Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay - (Is This The Way To) Amarillo (Universal)
2. Shayne Ward - That's My Goal (SonyBMG)
3. Crazy Frog - Axel F (Gut/Gusto)
4. James Blunt - You're Beautiful (Warner/Atlantic)
5. Pussycat Dolls ft. Busta Rhymes - Don't Cha (Universal/A&M)
6. McFly - All About You/ You've Got A Friend (Universal/Island)
7. Akon - Lonely (Universal)
8. Madonna - Hung Up (Warner/Maverick)
9. Westlife - You Raise Me Up (Sony-BMG)
10. Sugababes - Push The Button (Universal/Island)