Adele tops chart, but CD sales fall

Adele (Rex Features)

Music sales have continued to fall in the UK despite Adele's 21 becoming the highest-selling album of the 21st century, according to figures released by the BPI today.

The industry has seen a growth in digital downloads and a resurgent interest in vinyl. But combined sales of digital and physical albums fell overall by 5.6 per cent to 113.2 million in 2011.

While digital album sales rose 26.6 per cent to 26.6 million, sales of albums on CD fell 12.6 per cent year on year to 86.2 million.

Adele's 21 sold 3.8 million copies – more than double the 1.8 million sales of 2010's top album, Take That's Progress.

PA