LONDON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Sales of digital albums in the United Kingdom have topped 50 million in less than five years, outpacing album sales on CD in their first five years.
The British Phonographic Industry and the Official Charts Company showed The Daily Telegraph the industry figures, indicating digital album sales hit the 50 million mark in less than 4 1/2 years, the newspaper reported.
"Despite predictions to the contrary, digital albums have proved themselves a hugely successful format," BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor told the Telegraph. "Although digital downloads have boosted the singles market, many music fans want to hear a complete body of work from their favorite artists. Britain now boasts nearly 70 legal digital music services -- more than any other country. Music fans are responding to the choice, convenience and value on offer from digital downloading.
"For digital to reach the 50 million milestone faster than the CD suggests to me that the confidence consumers have shown in powering digital singles to an all-time high is now also being displayed in the albums market," Taylor said.
Martin Talbot, managing director of the Official Charts Company, added, "While consumers continue to love buying CDs (which still account for four of every five albums sold), the growing number of digital music devices, quality download retailers and competitive pricing are helping make album downloads an increasingly popular option."
Album downloads comprised less than 2 percent of the U.K. market in 2006, but they are pushing 20 percent of sales for 2010, the Telegraph said.
