New figures from the BPI shows that over half a million downloads have been sold in the UK so far this year. This is a significant achievement given that none of the global players - Apple iTunes, Napster or Sony Connect - were operational in the UK in the period the figures relate to, and that in the same period the previous year legitimate download sales were practically zero. The biggest-selling download in the UK so far this year is Coldplay's '2,000 Miles', just ahead of OutKast's 'Hey Ya!'.
In the same report, the BPI confirmed that the growth of downloads has essentially brought an end to the cassette single, and is having a real impact on the sale of CD singles. In the first quarter of 2003, £418,000 worth of cassette singles were sold - but there were no shipments at all in the first three months of this year. The sale of CD singles were down by almost a third.
However industry bosses do not seem too bothered about the decline in sales of loss leading singles - especially given the growth of download sales. Of more concern are CD album sales, where the UK industry makes 90% of its income. Those were down about 3% in the first quarter of 2004, however the BPI seemed pleased, stressing that the figures "come as a relief in an industry which has seen double digit declines in some major markets", and pointing out that in the twelve months prior to March this year album sales actually rose by 3%.
Commenting on the latest figures BPI chairman Peter Jamieson said: "With 500,000 legal downloads sold already this year, we have hit yet another milestone in the development of this exciting new market for music. This is shaping up to be a breakthrough year for the music industry."
Interestingly, given the decline in cassette and CD single sales, 7" singles saw a 47.8% increase in sales in quarter one this year, proving vinyl remains popular in the digital music age.