BPI release Second-Quarter figures

LONDON, UK (www.bpi.co.uk) - The second quarter of 2004 demonstrated another strong performance from the UK record industry with total value up 4% on the same period last year.

Among a slew of good news for the UK industry – the primary investor in new British music talent – were the following:

* Album sales up 3.7%;
* The Singles market showing its first increase in five years;
* Music DVD doubling its share of the UK music market;
* Download sales hitting 2m units this year so far.

This series of positive economic indicators for the UK business follows a run of musical breakthroughs for the industry, with a new wave of UK talent scoring sales at home and abroad.
Even in the US market, there are signs of resurgence with acts like Franz Ferdinand, Joss Stone and The Darkness all scoring US breakthroughs.