The billion download milestone was achieved on April 8th. An average of 3.7 million singles are sold every week - an increase of nearly 2.7 million from 2006 figures. Although iTunes remain the most prominent seller of digital music, the figures includes data from 50 different retailers.
167 songs have sold more than 500,000 copies, with only 16 having achieved sales of 1 million or more. The top selling digital single has been Someone Like You by Adele, with 1.46 million sales. However, the digital record pales in comparison to the physical release of Elton John’s 1997 version of Candle in the Wind, which ultimately sold nearly 5 million copies in the UK.
The new digital figures, released by the Official Charts Company, only count the sale of individual songs, and don’t encompass the ‘bundled’ sales of albums. This indicates that the overall digital sales would be much higher.
A more detailed breakdown of the figures is available from the Official Charts Company.
Digital future
Although illegal downloads, YouTube and dedicated streaming services like Spotify have had a major impact on the way people listen to music, many hold out hope for the future of traditional digital downloads. Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the British Phonographic Industry, predicts that “as fans increasingly download music on the move, tablets, smartphones and connected cars will drive another phase in digital music’s expansion.”
A report from the IFPI (International Federation for the Phonographic Industry) on music sales in 2012 showed that digital downloads earned $6 billion and were responsible for 34% of overall music industry revenue.
The top ten selling digital downloads:
1. Someone Like You – Adele (1.46 million sales)
2. Moves Like Jagger – Maroon Five feat. Christina Aguilera (1.40 million)
3. Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye feat. Kimbra (1.38 million)
4. I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas (1.34 million)
5. We Found Love – Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris (1.27 million)
6. Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon (1.24 million)
7. Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen (1.21 million)
8. Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO / Lauren Bennett / Goonrock (1.19 million)
9. Just the Way You Are (Amazing) – Bruno Mars (1.18 million)
10. Price Tag – Jessie J feat. Bob (1.13 million)
