David Bowie's Blackstar debuts at No 1 as late artist dominates UK charts

Fans picked up more than 500,000 Bowie records last week, with 19 of his back catalogue albums appearing in the Top 100

David Bowie in Blackstar (Johnny King)

David Bowie’s Blackstar album, released days before the star’s death from cancer was announced, has topped the UK charts with sales of 150,000 copies.

Fans picked up more than 500,000 Bowie records last week, with 19 of his back catalogue albums appearing in the Top 100. Ten Bowie albums made the Top 40.

The Official Charts Company (OCC) said that Blackstar was already heading to number one before news broke of Bowie’s death on Sunday. Sales however accelerated and have exceeded the 94,000 opening week figure recorded by Bowie’s 2013 album, The Next Day.

The lyrics to the jazz-inspired Blackstar have been closely scrutinised, with several songs alluding to the advanced stage of Bowie’s illness, which he disclosed to producer Tony Visconti during the album’s recording.

His 2014 retrospective Nothing Has Changed – The Very Best Of leaped back in the chart at Number 5, followed by The Best Of 1969/1974 at Number 11.

The OCC said it recorded 623,000 combined Bowie sales and streams. The figure includes 241,000 album sales and 167,000 singles purchased. Bowie tracks were streamed over 19 million times on audio streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play and Deezer.

Following reports that Bowie had been privately cremated in New York in line with his wishes, a statement on Bowie's Facebook page said the family was arranging "a private ceremony" in his memory.

They also welcomed the concerts and tributes that have been planned, but said they were not officially endorsed.

Bowie’s family said they were “overwhelmed” by the tributes that have been paid to the singer since his death.