One Direction, Ed Sheeran & Sam Smith help UK dominate global album sales
New sales figures have revealed that British music is dominating album sales across the globe!
Thanks to huge releases such as One Direction’s ‘Four’, Ed Sheeran’s ‘X’ and Coldplay’s ‘Ghost Stories’, UK artists account for one in seven album sales across the planet in 2014.
British acts enjoyed surges in popularity across a whole swathe of countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy and Sweden.
Including dual nationality rockers AC/DC’s latest effort ‘Rock or Bust’, UK artists account for six of the top 10 best selling records across the planet last year – Pink Floyd’s ‘The Endless River’ and Sam Smith’s ‘In The Lonely Hour’ also appeared in the list.
Unstoppable pop phenomenon Taylor Swift is at the global album sales summit after selling 6million copies of ‘1989’.
BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor commented: "Music is a tremendous exports success story for the UK - all around the world, fans are listening to the records we produce, supporting not only our balance of trade but a positive image for Britain overseas.
"It's encouraging to have a government that backs British music exports and understands the key role music plays in projecting Britain's identity as a creative powerhouse."
The Top 10 selling albums across the globe are as follows:
1. Taylor Swift (USA) – ‘1989’, 6.0m album sales 2. One Direction (UK) – ‘Four’, 3.2m album sales 3. Ed Sheeran (UK) – ‘X’, 4.4m album sales 4. Coldplay (UK) – ‘Ghost Stories’, 3.7m album sales 5. AC/DC (UK/Australia) – ‘Rock Or Bust’, 2.7m album sales 6. Michael Jackson (USA) – ‘Xscape’, 1.7m album sales 7. Pink Floyd (UK) – ‘The Endless River’, 2.5m album sales 8. Sam Smith (UK) – ‘In The Lonely Hour’, 3.5m album sales 9. Katy Perry (USA) – ‘Prism’, 1.2m album sales 10. Beyoncé (USA) – ‘Beyoncé’, 1.4m album sales