U.K. MUSIC CONSUMPTION RISES 4.3%

U.K. recorded-music consumption rose 4.3% in 2022, according to research by the BPI. In a historic feat, British artists accounted for the entire year-end singles Top 10.

Last year, 166.1m albums or their equivalent were streamed or purchased in the U.K., marking an eighth consecutive annual increase. Streaming-equivalent albums made up 86.1% of the market, up 8.1% year-over-year.

Physical albums dropped 13.1% to a 10.4% share, while vinyl rose 2.9% to 5.5m and CDs dropped 19.3% to 11.6m. Digital downloads declined 18.9% to 3.7m, a 2.2% share.

For the first time since the year-end singles chart was issued more than a half-century ago, British acts occupied the entire Top 10. Harry Styles’ “As It Was” (Columbia) was the best-selling single of the year, followed by releases from Sheeran, Fireboy DML and Cat Burns.

The Top 10 biggest albums of 2022 feature four and a half British acts; Fleetwood Mac accounted for the half as its members are a mix of Brits and Americans. Styles topped the list with Harry’s House. In addition to Fleetwood Mac, Britons with releases on the chart include Sheeran, Elton John and Little Mix.

Independent labels grew their marketshare for a fifth year in a row in 2022, rising to 28.6% from 26.9% in 2021. That’s thanks in part to chart-topping albums by 5 Seconds of Summer, The 1975, Central Cee and Wet Leg.