The recent growth in the music sector looks likely to continue this Autumn with record labels promising one of the strongest pre-Christmas release schedules for years. With most of the major labels already seeing revenues and profits on the rise, some reckon the combination of forthcoming major album releases and the usual year-end best of compilations will make 2004 a particularly successful year for the industry at large.
Among the artists delivering new studio albums this Autumn are U2, Kings Of Leon, Jennifer Lopez, Green Day, Destiny's Child, Elton John, REM, Nelly, Joss Stone, Daniel Bedingfield, Westlife and Duran Duran. Meanwhile Robbie Williams, Marilyn Manson, Super Furry Animals, Britney Spears, Blue, Ronan Keating, Seal and The Verve will all release greatest hits albums.
The number of new albums is crucial. In the same period last year most of the big releases were best of compilations. The combination of both kinds of album from leading artists should send record sales sky high.