Vinyl sales topped three million last year, the highest UK total in 25 years. More than 3.2 million records were sold in 2016, a rise of 53% on the previous year, according to the BPI, which represents the music industry.
David Bowie’s Blackstar was the most popular album on vinyl, selling more than double the number of copies of 2015’s biggest-seller, Adele’s 25. The last time vinyl fared so well in the UK, in 1991, Simply Red’s Stars was the year’s biggest-selling record.
However, vinyl still only accounts for 2.6% of the overall music market – and while it continues to enjoy a resurgence, sales of CDs and downloads are falling rapidly. A total of 47.3 million CDs were bought in 2016, a drop of 11.7%; while downloads plummeted by 29.6%, with just 18.1 million albums bought online.
Four years ago, when the download market was at its peak, that figure was 32.6 million. Now, consumers are increasingly turning to streaming services.
Top ten vinyl albums of 2016
01. David Bowie Blackstar
02. Amy Winehouse Back To Black
03. Various Artists Guardians of the Galaxy Mix 1
04. Radiohead A Moon Shaped Pool
05. Fleetwood Mac Rumours
06. The Stone Roses Stone Roses
07. Bob Marley Legend
08. The Beatles Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
09. Prince Purple Rain
10. NirvanaNevermind
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