New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Adele's 21 has been named the biggest-selling album of 2012 worldwide for a second consecutive year. The singer topped the global chart with total sales of 8.3 million units throughout 2012, while Taylor Swift's Red placed second with 5.2m records sold.
One Direction claimed the third and fourth positions, with their debut album Up All Night selling 4.5m and the follow-up Take Me Home shifting 4.4m.
Lana Del Rey's Born To Die rounds off the Top 5 with sales of 4.4m units, while Mumford & Sons' Babel finished at nine.
Overall music revenues were up by 0.3% to $16.5bn (£10.9bn) in 2012, making it the first year of industry growth since 1999, reports BBC News.
Digital revenues rose by 9% in 2012 and now account for 34% of total revenue, according to the IFPI's annual
Digital Music Report.
Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe' was the world's biggest-selling single of 2012 after shifting 12.5m copies.
It was followed by Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used To Know' at two (11.8m), Psy's 'Gangnam Style' at three (9.7m), fun.'s 'We Are Young' at four (9.6m) and Maroon 5's 'Payphone' at five (9.1m).
Downloads accounted for 70% of overall digital revenue, while subscription streaming accounts for 10% and mobile ringtones and YouTube and VEVO ad revenue made up the remaining 20%.
However, despite the first industry growth in 13 years, the IFPI said internet piracy is still a major problem in music.
The organization have urged companies to stop advertising on illegal music websites and have asked search engines to prioritise legal download sources over results that could lead to piracy.
"Our markets remain rigged by illegal free music," said IFPI chief executive
Frances Moore.
"This is a problem where governments have a critical role to play, in particular by requiring more co-operation from advertisers, search engines, ISPs and other intermediaries.
"These companies' activities have a decisive influence in shaping a legitimate digital music business."
GLOBAL ALBUM SALES FOR 2012
1.
Adele - 21 (8.3m units sold)
2.
Taylor Swift - Red (5.2m)
3.
One Direction - Up All Night (4.5m)
4.
One Direction - Take Me Home (4.4m)
5.
Lana Del Rey - Born To Die (4.4m)
GLOBAL SINGLE SALES FOR 2012
1.
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe (12.5m)
2.
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (11.8m)
3. Psy - Gangnam
Style (9.7m)
4. Fun - We Are Young (9.6m)
5.
Maroon 5 - Payphone (9.1m)
