According to figures released by the British Phonographic Industry yesterday, British music fans are bucking global trends by buying more music than anyone else. The BPI confirmed that Brits buy an average of 3.2 CDs each per year, larger than the worldwide average, which appears to suffer from the impact of piracy and product decline. The UK market saw a three percent increase in volume sales over 2004, a four percent increase in legal downloads, and the best ever year for the British Recording
Industry.
Figures released by IFPI, the International Federation of The Phonographic
Industry also indicate improved prospects for British exports, whilst predicting that the global music decline is starting to level out.
BPI chairman Peter Jameson said: "The strength of the UK market in the face of worldwide decline is a testament to the skills and courage of UK record companies who have never stopped taking risks in signing and developing some of the best talent in the world. Improving prospects for recorded music internationally is also good news for the UK since after the US we remain the world's biggest exporter of music."