Rock Music Overtakes Pop As Most Popular Album Genre

Rock Music has overtaken pop music as the most popular album genre in the UK, according to the British Phonographic Industry.

Last year, rock accounted for 33.8% of album sales compared to pop’s 31% - the first time the genre has had the upper hand in five years.

However, the Official Charts Company classification of ‘rock’ is extremely loose with acts including crooner Rod Stewart and Bastille falling under the genre.

Pop music also continues to be dominant in the singles chart with the likes of One Direction, Pink and Katy Perry accounting for 36.2% of sales dwarfing rock’s 21.4%.

BPI spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said: "While the appeal of pop remains consistent, the popularity of rock music tends to ebb and flow a little more, reflecting the excitement that can quickly build around new acts as they burst through.

"With Arctic Monkeys now taking on near-iconic status, and the likes of Jake Bugg and Bastille to name a few connecting with a new generation of fans, rock music looks set to enjoy another wonderfully vibrant period."

UK album sales across the board dropped by 6.4% in 2013 to 94 million. It was also the first year since the 1980s that not one solitary album sold a million copies.

The Top 10 album sales by genre, 2013:

1. Rock - 33.8% 2. Pop - 31% 3. Dance - 8.3% 4. MOR/easy listening - 8.1% 5. R&B - 5.7% 6. Hip-hop - 3.6% 7. Classical - 3.2% 8. Country - 1.7% 9. Jazz - 1.3% 10. Folk - 1.2%

Check out Jared Leto's thoughts on the decline of rock music debate here.