Now here's a problem. How do you spin it when you keep talking about how illegal P2P file sharing is killing the music business, and then your album sales go up? Ah, I know, you talk about how it's all down to the fact there's been a string of high profile British releases in recent months. Now there's an interesting concept - succeed by creating and selling compelling content. And there was me thinking it was all about lawsuits and DRM.
Anyway, enough of that, this is good news. Album sales were up 1.4 per cent this summer compared with the same quarter last year, aided by big seller releases from the likes of Coldplay, Gorillaz, Kaiser Chiefs and James Blunt. And in fact artist sales were up much more than that - 8.9% - the overall sales increase lower because compilation sales were down considerably.
Confirming the latest stats, BPI boss Peter Jamieson told reporters: "Our members invest millions of pounds each year in new UK artists, and time and again music fans choose to buy British. It's been a tough summer on the high street, but these figures demonstrate the enduring appeal of great British music."
Good news also on single sales, though needless to say that's only true if you count download stats in that equation. Physical single sales continue to slump - down 21.8% - but legit download sales were up a massive 288% meaning that overall single sales were up 49%, which is huge when you think about it.