Compilations – Now More Popular Than Ever!

According to Official Charts Company data, sales of compilation albums dramatically increased during 2012, and that strong growth has continuing into this year, too.

Lead by the Now That’s What I Call Music series sales of compilation albums rose by 7.2% in 2012, with growth continuing well into 2013. The first three months of this year have seen sales increasing by 11.8% year-on-year.

Now! titles took up nearly half of 2012’s Top 20 best sellers, alongside updated volumes of titles such as Pop Party, Radio 1’s Live Lounge, Dreamboats & Petticoats and Ministry Of Sound. New titles to make their mark in 2012 included Be My Baby (1960s pop/soul) and Isles Of Wonder – The Opening Ceremony soundtrack of London 2012 Olympic Games.

Compilations make up a 21.0% share of all albums sold, with 26 titles selling more than 100,000 copies in 2012, up from 18 the year before. Digital downloads grabbed a bigger slice of compilation sales, with almost a quarter (23.5%) bought online last year, compared to 16.3% in 2011.

This shows that even with a myriad of online options for the music fan, having a bunch of tunes in one handy package still appeals! With compilations becoming the fastest growing area of the download market, they still represent the best value for the music consumer, and are a gateway of discovery and wonder for each generation.

In 2013, the rude health of the compilations market shows no sign of letting up either. Just last month the latest in the Now! series, Now 84, became the fastest selling album of the year so far after shifting a cool 262,000 copies in its first week of release and became the biggest selling compilation of the first quarter of 2013.

The Official Compilations Chart 2012 Top 40 is as follows:

© 2013 The Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.