Despite a recent slowdown in the overall decline in record sales in the US and UK, the British singles market reached an all time low yesterday when Eric Prydz returned to the top of the singles chart with the smallest weekly sales for a number one single ever.
Prydz's track 'Call On Me' sold just 23,519 copies to get to number one, the smallest chart topping sales figure since chart statistics were first compiled in 1969. The slump is particularly bad as it comes in a generally busy time of year for music sales - the previous lowest number one sales figure, when Daniel Bedingfield's 'Gotta Get Through This' sold just 25,354 in 2001, came in the traditionally slow week between Christmas and New Year. In contrast, the biggest selling UK number one single, Elton John's 'Candle In The Wind', sold 3.4million in a week in 1997.
The low figure won't bother Prydz's people too much - he returns to the top of the chart again having been shifted into second place last week by Robbie Williams. However it will be bad news for last week's new releases, especially for Virgin Records who will have been hoping for a better performance from the first solo single from Blue's Duncan James which went in at number two.
While we're on the chart - sales may have been low, but the number of new entries this week was very high (in fact, I suppose you could argue sales were cut across so many new entries, that that might explain the low sales figures at the top of the chart). Entering the singles chart this week were Rooster (7), Morrissey (8), Cliff Richard (9), Scissor Sisters (14), Kasabian (17) The Beautiful South (24), Good Charlotte (25) Rhian Benson (27), VS (29) Velvet Revolver (32) and 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster (40).
Albums wise, and oh joy, Ronan Keating's best of album goes straight in at number one, but let's forget that shall we and assume that Duran Duran got the highest new entry with 'Astronaut' - they go straight in at three. Then let's forget that Celine Dion has the next highest new entry with 'Miracle' at 5, and pretend that accolade goes to Good Charlotte with 'The Chronicles Of Life And Death' at 8. Personally I have no problems with Daniel O'Donnell having a new entry at 9 with 'Welcome To My World'.
Other new entries in the albums chart this week for Lucie Silvas (11) and Jimmy Eat World (22).