Album sales (digital+physical) actually inched upward 1 percent during the first half, according to US-based stats shared by Nielsen Soundscan.
That’s the first time that has happened since 2004, but is this a bottom, or just a breather on the multi-year sales skydive?
Here’s the first-half, year-over-year snapshot, as pulled from the report.
Total Album Sales (1/3/11 – 7/3/11)
(Includes CD, CS, LP, Digital Albums – In Millions)
Units Sold, 2011: 155.5
Units Sold, 2010: 153.9
% Change: +1 %
Digital Album Sales (1/3/11 – 7/3/11)
Units Sold, 2011: 50.3
Units Sold, 2010: 42.2
% Change: +19 %
…and here’s a look at first-half album sales since 2004, the last time first-half sales actually increased.