Latest sales figures from the BPI have confirmed that the bankability of all out pop is a thing of the past, with rock music selling more albums last year. It marks a turning point - back in 1999, something of a heyday for manufactured pop - pop sales were 13% ahead of rock. Now rock accounts for 33% of album sales while pop has slipped to 30%. Although pop still dominates in singles sales for most record labels it is albums that bring in profits.
A spokesman for the BPI commented: "Rock benefited from highly anticipated releases by amongst others Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Oasis along with strong sales of back catalogue compilations from major artists such as Queen, The Rolling Stones, Nirvana and U2."