So I wheel out one of those 'singles are on there way out' editorials for the CMU Digest, then the BPI release figures revealing that singles sales have risen for the first time in five years. Single sales in Q2 went up 6.4% while album sales grew 3.7%. Total sales across all formats were up from £221m in the same period last year, to £230m this year. The BPI reckon the introduction of the cheaper two track single has helped the format recover.
BPI chairman Peter Jamieson said, somewhat mysteriously: "For years we've read stories about the death of the single. The single never died. Consumers just opted to buy albums instead. But this new increase in the singles market has to be welcome news."
The BPI also revealed the number of legit downloads purchased in the UK has now passed two million units.
So, everyone is doing very well. Surely time for some major redundancies and roster culls?