The consumption of UK-recorded music has seen a substantial increase in 2024, per the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
Today (December 31), the BPI has shared its music market analysis for the year, which includes positive figures in regards to the consumption of UK-recorded music and physical sales for the first time in two decades.
Per the BPI, UK-recorded music saw an increase in sales and streams by 9.7 per cent in the past year to 200.5million albums (or their equivalent), marking a decade of uninterrupted growth. Part of the success of UK music in 2024 is attributed to an unrivalled rise and support for women in the industry, led by the likes of Charli XCX among others.
Charli XCX. CREDIT: Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images
Yet despite a steady increase in consumption of UK-recorded music, British music is still in danger of being upended not only by intensifying global competition, but by the threat of AI, which could see copyrighted music be altered or used in ways that don’t incentivise artists.
BPI Chief Executive Dr. Jo Twist said in a statement: “The UK’s creative output and human creativity is being placed at risk by proposed changes to British copyright law, which would allow international tech giants to train AI models on artists’ work without payment or permission, and would be the wrong way to realise the exciting potential of AI. Meanwhile, streaming fraud is also a rising concern.
“By meeting the growing global challenge head-on, tackling challenges around AI, copyright and streaming fraud, and encouraging consumers towards viable models, like paid streaming subscriptions, we can help to ensure that the value of British music is protected and that our industry can continue to grow and flourish at home and around the world.
“The UK remains a world music power, but this status cannot be taken for granted: we need a supportive policy environment that puts the focus on human artistry and enables continued investment in the next generation of British talent.”
For the first time since 1994, sales of physical albums have seen a year-on-year increase by 1.4 per cent, marking the 17th consecutive rise in vinyl purchases – this was forecast in July, when it was reported that sales would see an increase for the first time in 20 years. This takes the vinyl market to a three-decade high, with sales up 9.1 per cent to 6.7million units. However, the sale of physical CDs have continually declined 2.9 per cent, though this is offset by vinyl’s increase.
Fontaines D.C.’s Grian Chatten performs live. CREDIT: Martyn Goodacre/Redferns/Getty
While classic releases remain a fixture in the revival of vinyl culture, eight of 2024’s Top 10 vinyl record sales are new releases from the likes of Taylor Swift, Fontaines D.C., Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Coldplay, The Cure and more. The two evergreen records remaining in the top 10 are Oasis‘ ‘Definitely Maybe’ and Fleetwood Mac‘s ‘Rumours’.
2024 also marked a landmark year for women on the UK charts, with women leading the top 10 albums list with six entries, and a total of 10 albums in the top 20 list. On the singles charts, women broke yet another record, shattering 2023’s 31 weeks at Number 1 with 2024’s 34-week streak. This was boosted by Sabrina Carpenter, who spent 21 weeks at the top of the charts with her trio of hits ‘Espresso’, ‘Please Please Please’ and ‘Taste’.
The BPI and Official Charts Company have also shared the Top 10 rankings for albums, singles, vinyl and streaming in 2024. You can check them out below.
Official Album Charts, 2024:
1. Taylor Swift – ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
2. The Weeknd – ‘The Highlights’
3. Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Short N’ Swet’
4. Noah Kahan – ‘Stick Season’
5. Billie Eilish – ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’
6. Chappell Roan – ‘The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess’
7. Fleetwood Mac – ’50 Years – Don’t Stop’
8. Charli XCX – ‘Brat’
9. Coldplay – ‘Moon Music’
10. Olivia Rodrigo – ‘Guts’
Official Singles Charts, 2024:
1. Noah Kahan – ‘Stick Season’
2. Benson Boone – ‘Beautiful Things’
3. Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Espresso’
4. Teddy Swims – ‘Lose Control’
5. Hozier – ‘Too Sweet’
6. Shaboozey – ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’
7. Billie Eilish – ‘Birds Of A Feather’
8. Chappell Roan – ‘Good Luck, Babe!’
9. Dasha – ‘Austin’
10. Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Please Please Please’
Official Vinyl Charts, 2024:
1. Taylor Swift – ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
2. Oasis – ‘Definitely Maybe’
3. Chappell Roan – ‘The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess’
4. Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Short N’ Sweet’
5. Fontaines D.C. – ‘Romance’
6. Billie Eilish – ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’
7. Fleetwood Mac – ‘Rumours’
8. The Cure – ‘Songs Of A Lost World’
9. Coldplay – ‘Moon Music’
10. Charli XCX – ‘Brat’
Official Streaming Charts, 2024:
1. Noah Kahan – ‘Stick Season’
2. Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Espresso’
3. Benson Boone – ‘Beautiful Things’
4. Teddy Swims – ‘Lose Control’
5. Hozier – ‘Too Sweet’
6. Shaboozey – ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’
7. Billie Eilish – ‘Birds Of A Feather’
8. Chappell Roan – ‘Good Luck, Babe!’
9. Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Please Please Please’
10. Dasha – ‘Austin’
Charli XCX’s culture-dominating sixth record ‘Brat’ was released in June and has been named as the Album of the Year by NME. “‘Brat’ as cultural sensation was a sight to behold, to be sure. But ‘Brat’ as an album – the record at the core of the rollout, the music beneath the marketing – is quite simply exceptional,” NME noted.
‘Brat’ summer looks set for round two in 2025. Charli has been confirmed as the first headliner for next year’s Parklife and the ‘360’ artist has also curated a day at London’s LIDO Festival, where she’ll deliver a bill-topping performance.
Additionally, she will play two outdoor shows in Belfast and Dublin, perform at Coachella 2025 and top the bill at Primavera Sound in Barcelona and Porto. On top of that, she’s also announced a US arena tour for April and May.
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