Dido, The Darkness Put U.K. Album Sales Over The Top

While record companies continue to complain that music just isn't selling as well as it did in, say, 1992 (though, according to a recent report, music revenues are actually up this year), such complaints have been all but silenced in the U.K.

According to the BBC, the British music industry is booming. In the 12 months from September 2003 to September 2004, British record companies enjoyed record album sales. Over 237 million albums released by U.K.-based labels (as opposed to U.K.-based bands) were sold (yes, sold, not downloaded) over the course of the year.

Why the rise in sales?

Well, according to the BBC, the British system of fostering domestic talent (think a U.K. version of CanCon) is paying off. The highest selling album of the year was Dido's Life For Rent, followed by original Pop Idol Will Young's Friday Child. Other big sellers include Keane's Hopes And Fears, The Darkness' Permission To Land and Scissor Sisters' (who are actually American, but signed to a British label) self-titled debut.

Meanwhile, British sales of singles and DVDs are also doing brisk business. While CD single sales (which are actually a factor in the U.K.) are down by about 12 per cent, legal downloads (which will be added to the singles tally next year) were huge last year. Also, music DVD sales were up by 41 per cent, thanks in part to the DVD release of Oasis' Definitely Maybe.