Despite Adele, British music sales slip

Despite sales of three.8 million for Adele's album "21" -- the greatest single-year tally ever in England -- and record singles sales, the BPI reported a general decline of 5.6% in British album sales throughout 2011. The U.K. music trade org tied the drop to rampant piracy. Biz's loss came despite a 26.6% rise in digital album sales (to 26.six million models) 15 albums offered a lot more than 100,000 digital copies. Sales of digital singles rose 10.4% to 26.six million models. However, Compact disc album sales slid 12.6% to 86.two million models. The Compact disc continued to be the main format within the U.K., comprising 76.1% of sales, versus. 23.5% for digital and .3% of vinyl. The second format grown nevertheless, climbing 43.7% this year. Adele single-handedly propped up music in her own native country: Her chart-topping album was the year's domestic bestseller, while her renascent 2008 debut "19" placed No. 4 one of the year's top game titles. Her tunes "YouInch and "Moving within the Deep" placed first and ninth one of the best-selling singles of the season. Still, unrestrained piracy torched Blighty biz, based on BPI leader Geoff Taylor. "British artists still produce incredible music that resonates both at home and all over the world,Inch Taylor stated inside a statement. "But while other nations take positive steps to safeguard their creative sector, our government takes too lengthy to do something on piracyUnless decisive action is drawn in 2012, purchase of music could fall again -- an innovative crunch which will destroy jobs and mean the following Adele might not get her opportunity to shine around the world stage." Nielsen SoundScan is scheduled to produce U.S. year-finish figures on Wednesday. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com