Los Angeles - Despite a 45% increase in digital sales, overall U.S. music album sales fell 9.5% in 2007, the Associated Press reported, citing data from Nielsen SoundScan. Physical album sales totaled 500.5 million in 2007, down 15% from a year ago; however, when digital tracks are counted in tens, to represent an album's typical length, album sales dropped 9.5% overall.

The top-selling albums of 2007 were Josh Groban's "Noel" (3.7 million), Disney's "High School Musical" soundtrack (2.9 million), and the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" (2.6 million).

Individual digital track sales totaled 844.2 million in 2007, up from 588.2 million in 2006.

The holiday week was the best ever for the industry, which saw a record 58.4 million units moved during the last week of 2007.

On the mobile front, Americans purchased more than 220 million ringtones last year.

Related Links:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080103/music_sales.html?.v=3

http://www.soundscan.com