MUMBAI: Although Adele's LP '21' sold 3.8 million copies in 2011 to become the biggest ever-selling album in the year, UK music sales (combining digital and physical) for 2011 have decreased by 5.6 per cent as compared to 2010.

According to British Phonographic Industry (BPI), CD sales fell by 12.6 per cent to 82.2 million but digital album sales rose by 24 per cent to 26.6 million and sales of vinyl LPs increased by 43.7 per cent to 337,000 – its highest figure since 2005.

BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor said, Although it was encouraging to see the increase in popularity of digital album sales, the Government still needs to tackle piracy to help protect the UK music industry. While other countries take positive steps to protect their creative sector, our Government is taking too long to act on piracy, while weakening copyright to the benefit of US tech giants."

"The UK has already fallen behind Germany as a music market. Unless decisive action is taken in 2012, investment in music could fall again – a creative crunch that will destroy jobs and mean the next Adele may not get her chance to shine on the world stage," he added.

MUMBAI: Although Adele's LP '21' sold 3.8 million copies in 2011 to become the biggest ever-selling album in the year, UK music sales (combining digital and physical) for 2011 have decreased by 5.6 per cent as compared to 2010.

According to British Phonographic Industry (BPI), CD sales fell by 12.6 per cent to 82.2 million but digital album sales rose by 24 per cent to 26.6 million and sales of vinyl LPs increased by 43.7 per cent to 337,000 – its highest figure since 2005.

BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor said, Although it was encouraging to see the increase in popularity of digital album sales, the Government still needs to tackle piracy to help protect the UK music industry. While other countries take positive steps to protect their creative sector, our Government is taking too long to act on piracy, while weakening copyright to the benefit of US tech giants."

"The UK has already fallen behind Germany as a music market. Unless decisive action is taken in 2012, investment in music could fall again – a creative crunch that will destroy jobs and mean the next Adele may not get her chance to shine on the world stage," he added.