UK acts dominate global music sales – accounting for one in seven albums sold
UK music acts account for one in seven albums sold around the world, sharing a 13.7 per cent stake in global sales, according to new figures.
While Taylor Swift sold the most albums around the world in 2014, British artists One Direction, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay took the positions of second, third and fourth, helping British albums and singles generate £1.8bn last year.
Five of the top 10 global recording artists of the year were British. The list also included British artists Pink Floyd (seventh) and Sam Smith (eighth), according to the British Phonographic Industry's (BPI) Music Market 2015 Yearbook.
While accounting for a 53.5 per cent share of music sales in the UK, British music also dominated in other countries such as Australia and Italy – with a 22.4 per cent and 19.8 per cent share in each respectively.
UK music also accounted for 12.2 per cent of album sales in the US, 14.2 per cent in Germany and 15.3 per cent in Canada.
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Sajid Javid, said:
The popularity of British music at home and abroad is, appropriately, only going in 'One Direction'.
These record figures are fantastic news and show the enormous demand for UK music all around the world.
The figures were described as "truly outstanding" by BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor.