NME Magazine reports UK artists took almost 13 per cent of all global sales of recorded music in 2011, according to figures relased today from the British Phonographic Industry.
British acts claimed 12.6 per cent of global music sales in 2011, up from 11.8 per cent in 2010, accounting for one in eight of all artist albums sold.
Sales were boosted by Adele, who became the fourth British artist in five years to achieve the best-selling album in the world - following Amy Winehouse, Coldplay and Susan Boyle in previous years.
Adele’s second album ‘21’ has sold 18 million copies, accounting for 1.6 per cent of all albums sold worldwide. Her debut album ‘19’, released in 2008 became the biggest seller in the world last year, three years after it’s original release.
The figures were calculated following an analysis of album sales in the top seven markets of the world. British artists got a record share of album sales in the USA - with British artists including Coldplay, Mumford & Sons and Florene + The Machine accounting for one in eight albums sold.
In the USA, British artists such as Tinie Tempah, Florence + The Machine, Hugh Laure and Mumford & Sons - accounted for a record share of album sales this century with one in eight albums sold (11.7%) produced by a UK act.
In the UK, British acts gained their biggest share of the UK market since 1997 taking - with 52.7 per cent of artist album sales.
The best selling albums by British artists worldwide according to Music Week are as follows:
1. Adele - ‘21’
2. Coldplay - ‘Mylo Xyloto’
3. Adele - ‘19’
4. Amy Winehouse - ‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures’
5. Mumford & Sons - ‘Sigh No More’
6. Susan Boyle - ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’
7. Jessie J - ‘Who You Are’
8. Amy Winehouse - ‘Back to Black’
9. Florence + The Machine - ‘Ceremonials’
10. Florence + The Machine - ‘Lungs’
Tagged in Adele Coldplay Susan Boyle Amy Winehouse