London - U.K. recorded music sales were down 3.2% in 2008 to 138.1 million units, a fall that was cushioned by a 0.9% sales rise in the fourth quarter, Billboard reported, citing data from the Official Charts Co. and record label trade group BPI.

Digital album sales climbed 65% to 10.3 million units, representing 7.7% of the total album market.

More than 115 million singles were sold in the U.K. last year, a rise of 33%. Only 4.8 million of these were physical singles; that market was down 43.5% from 2007.

"A strong release schedule and a digital retail market that continues to diversify and grow helped the business confront the challenges of unlawful P2P and disruption to retail supply to deliver what are, in context, encouraging sales figures in 2008," said BPI CEO Geoff Taylor.

"The challenge for music companies in 2009 is to ensure that artist investment continues to remain profitable, as the way consumers discover and enjoy music continues to go through a period of unprecedented change."

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/9lvu6 (Billboard)

http://www.bpi.co.uk