CD Sales Figures for 2002

Music Industry News Network reports on Neilsen Sounscan CD sales through 12/22/02:

Nielsen SoundScan, the entertainment industry’s data information system which tracks point-of-purchase sales of recorded music product, has announced its 2002 sales research data through 12/22/02. A subsequent report will be release on 01/02/03 will include sales through 12/29/02.

2002 TOP TEN SELLING ALBUMS
(01/01/2002-12/22/2002)

Title / Artist Units Sold
1. Eminem Show / Eminem 7,420,840
2. Nellyville / Nelly 4,757,876
3. Let Go / Avril Lavigne 3,858,398
4. Home / Dixie Chicks 3,430,694
5. 8 Mile / Soundtrack 3,185,537
6. Missundaztood / Pink 3,049,865
7. Ashanti / Ashanti 3,049,516
8. Drive / Alan Jackson 2,998,114
9. O Brother Where Art Thou? / Soundtrack 2,704,299
10. Up / Shania Twain 2,646,107

TOP TEN SELLING ALBUMS OF SOUNDSCAN ERA
(1991 – 12/22/2002)

Title / Artist Units Sold
1. Come on Over / Shania Twain 14,490,470
2. Jagged Little Pill / Alanis Morisette 14,084,425
3. Metallica / Metallica 13,332,320
4. Millennium / Backstreet Boys 12,030,804
5. Bodyguard / Soundtrack 11,714,440
6. Supernatural / Santana 11,165,842
7. Human Clay / Creed 11,078,203
8. No Strings Attached / N Sync 11,023,057
9. Falling Into You / Celine Dion 10,525,873
10. Baby One More Time / Britney Spears 10,416,070

2002 YEAR-TO-DATE RECORD COMPANY MARKET SHARE (01/01/02-12/22/02)

TOTAL ALBUMS
(Catalog & Current Titles)
2002 2001
UMVD 28.86 % 26.39 %
BMG 14.78 % 14.66 %
WEA 15.86 % 15.93 %
SONY 15.64 % 15.64 %
EMD 8.43 % 10.65 %
OTHERS 16.44 % 16.74 %

Also listed are figues by genre, current label breakdowns, total sales, and other tidbits – all very interesting, but remember: just because it sells doesn’t mean it isn’t crap.

UPDATE
USA Today reports figures through 12/29:

CD album sales through Dec. 29 amounted to a rounded-off 649.5 million, compared with 712 million in 2001, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The decline follows a 2.5% drop in 2001 — the only two declines the music industry has experienced since SoundScan began tabulating sales in 1991.