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Piracy fears sidelined as Brits rediscover love for the CD
And pretty much every other music format you can think of

By Jo Best

Published: Monday 23 August 2004

While record execs are quick to trumpet music piracy as being the apocalypse of the industry as we know it, it seems UK music buyers are quietly rediscovering their love for the CD.

Trade association the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has discovered that sales of CD singles have shown their first rise in five years, while albums are also showing some upward movement. Sales of CD singles rose by over 15 per cent in the second quarter, with the top seller being F*** It, by R&B expletive-fan Eamon. Album sales were up by nearly four per cent in the second quarter.

The rise in CD sales isn't the only evidence of the UK's new taste for the old skool. Seven-inches are also on the up as new rock bands are rejuvenating the format by releasing their tunes on wax.

Music downloads flourished in the second quarter of the year with the market the arrival of iTunes and others in the UK. The running total of songs downloaded has now hit two million, as music fans went from buying 100,000 legal tunes a month in the first quarter to 500,000 in the second.

The BPI is hoping the upcoming launch of a download chart will get UK consumers reaching for their wallets even more.

The general good news for music even extended its reach to the infant format of music DVDs. DVDs now make up around four per cent of all music sales compared to under two per cent a year ago - with Guns N' Roses' tenth anniversary collection Welcome to the Videos shifting most units.