Maybe the British Don’t Have Computers

“Sales are plunging, pirates are running amok throughout cyberland stealing food from the mouths of starving artists, morality is a thing of the past …. oops, nevermind” – at least in the UK. From the Guardian:

British rock bands Oasis and Coldplay plus the perennially reliable Now compilation series have helped lift music sales out of their torpor, new research out today will show.
Total sales of music in the UK grew 3.5%, while album sales climbed by 9% in volume terms and 5% in value during the three months ending September, according to the British Phonographic Industry.

Annual growth for the year ending September was 0.3%. Internet piracy, economic uncertainty and a lack of big name releases have left global music sales in a rut this year.

During the third quarter new album releases from Oasis and Coldplay occupied two of the top three best-selling album slots but it was Now 52 that took the number one slot. The figures are likely to be good news for EMI, which has seen a sharp fall in its share price this year. The UK’s largest music company publishes Coldplay and has an interest in Now.

Analysts say the test of the health of the music industry will come in the fourth quarter, which includes the Christmas selling season.