How about some Tuesday lunchtime record sale stats?
More compilation albums have been sold this year than last year - the compo market being helped by the fact the 'Mamma Mia' soundtrack fell into this category, plus Now That's What I Call Music 70 (yes, 70, the first Now album I bought was 8, I am so old) proved to be the fastest selling Now album ever.
Five albums sold over a quarter of a million copies in the third quarter of 2008, compared with just three in the same period last year. CDs still dominate the albums market, though the sales of digital albums are very much growing, up 61% in the last quarter compared to 2007.
The albums market has been doing alright, helped by the major releases from Kings Of Leon, The Script, Metallica and The Verve, though the lack of a new album from an X-Factor style pop star had an impact on overall album sales for the third quarter, which is [a] a reminder as to why Simon Cowell is still one of the most important men in British music and [b] a somewhat distressing insight into the buying habits of the mainstream music fan.
But record label chiefs are hopeful that the album market will enjoy a particularly strong period in the run up to Christmas thanks to new albums from Take That, Dido, Snow Patrol, Enya, U2, Will Young, Pink, Seal, Beyonce, Keane, Wiley, Kaiser Chiefs, Killers, Razorlight and Oasis.
We know all this because of a stats-filled email that reached us via record label trade body the BPI, the boss of which, Geoff Taylor, said this: "The ongoing success of the Now albums may surprise some in a digital age of abundant choice, but it's become a well-loved brand. Digital music promises huge potential, but music fans still love the quality, convenience and added value in CDs. Retail conditions are challenging in the credit crunch, but music is great value for money and with one of the strongest album release schedules we've had for years, labels are optimistic about the market leading up to Christmas".
But I know what you're all saying. Stat reports are all well and good, but where are the lists, we want lists. Well, here are some lists courtesy of the BPI and the Official Chart Company.
Top Ten Selling Albums Of Quarter 3 of 2008
1. Various - Now That's What I Call Music 70 (EMI TV/UMTV)
2. Original Soundtrack - Mamma Mia (Universal/Polydor)
3. Duffy - Rockferry (Universal/Polydor)
4. Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (EMI/Parlophone)
5. Abba - Gold Greatest Hits (Universal/Polydor)
6. Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad (Universal/Mercury)
7. Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night (Sony/Columbia)
8. The Script - Script (Sony/RCA)
9. Metallica - Death Magnetic (Universal/Mercury)
10. The Verve - Forth (EMI/Parlophone)
Top Ten Best Selling Albums (Artist & Compilation) So Far This Year
1. Duffy - Rockferry (Universal/Polydor)
2. Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His (EMI/Parlophone)
3. Various - Now That's What I Call Music 69 (EMI TV/UMTV)
4. Various - Now That's What I Call Music 70 (EMI TV/UMTV)
5. Original Soundtrack - Mamma Mia (Universal/Polydor)
6. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons (Warner/Roadrunner)
7. Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad (Universal/Mercury)
8. Amy Winehouse - Back To Black The Deluxe Edition (Universal/Island)
9. Scouting For Girls - Scouting For Girls (Sony/Epic)
10. Leona Lewis - Spirit (Sony/RCA)