Sales of compilation albums grow for the first time in a decade

Sales of compilation albums have grown for the first time in a decade, suggesting that streaming services like YouTube, iTunes and Spotify might not be killing them off, as had been predicted.
According to The Guardian, more than 20.6m compilation albums were sold in Britain in 2012, up 7.2 per cent from 19.2m in 2011. Sales had been falling steadily since 2004 (bar a brief increase in 2007) when 39 million were sold. Downloads are powering the revival in the compilation album, accounting for 23.5 per cent of sales.

The ‘Now That’s What I Call Music!’ series was, unsurprisingly, the most popular, taking nine places in the top 20 biggest selling compilations of 2012. The series turns 30 this year. Other big sellers came from Ministry of Sound and the Olympic Opening ceremony soundtrack ‘Isles of Wonder’. Sales look positive into 2013 too, as the number of units shifted in the first three months of this year are up 11.8 per cent from the first quarter of 2012.

Last week – the world of online music discovery saw a new competitor in the market as Twitter launched a new music service, which will enable users able to keep a close track on the bands and artists being discussed on the social network. The new music app recommends tracks to users based on who they follow with songs being steamed directly via iTunes, Spotify and Rdio. No other streaming services are currently connected to the app. Users can get new music tips direct from the artists they follow and marks Twitter’s biggest move toward incorporating music into its service since launching in 2006.

Source: NME