BPI Classical Review of the Year 2003

Excellent year for the Classical sector.

Hayley Westenra is best selling artist. Large jump in Supermarkets’ share.

... At the top of the annual chart was Hayley Westenra, the young vocalist from New Zealand whose album Pure was her debut release in the UK. As a result of rising sales the market share of Classical music moved up to 5.8% of total album sales value (from 5.5% in 2002), a fine achievement in a year when strong album sales were recorded across most genres.

Review of the Year

... Universal Classics struck gold with a series of autumn-released crossover titles. Platinum sales for Deutsche Grammophon's Bryn placed the great Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel on top of the classical album chart and secured sixth place in the pop album chart, driving retail interest in other Universal autumn releases and paving the way for Universal's most exciting new classical artist, Hayley Westenra. The 15-year-old New Zealand soprano's Pure registered multiplatinum sales in Q4, becoming the fastest-selling classical debut album in UK chart history.

Above info thanks to Dave Ludlow
Item below located by the Webmaster

Classical Renaissance in 2003 as Sales rise 8% : 8:3:2004

Classical music sales enjoyed a renaissance in 2003, according to final year-end figures for trade deliveries published by UK record companies’ trade association the BPI (British Phonographic Industry).

The figures, which measure shipments from UK record companies to retailers, show unit sales were up 7% compared with 2002 to 14m. The value of sales was up 8% to £64.9m.

This performance compares well with figures for the market as a whole issued last month which showed that in 2003 total album sales were up 4.9% by volume and 2.1% in value.

The best-selling classical album of the year was Pure, the debut UK release from 15 year old New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra.

The second biggest-seller of the year was Bryn, the platinum-selling album from Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel.

Also featuring in the Classical Top 10 for 2003 were artist albums from Andrea Bocelli, Aled Jones and Amici Forever and a brace of compilations reflecting the public’s taste for themed relaxation and chill-out music.

BPI chairman Peter Jamieson says,

“There’s no doubt 2002 was a tough year for classical, but in 2003 the classical record industry bounced back with a whole range of exciting artists and innovative compilations which brought classical music to new audiences.

“The record industry invests heavily in the standard classical repertoire with new recordings featuring the best contemporary conductors and performers; the success of the UK classical record industry lies in this symbiotic relationship between the crossover and traditional classical markets.”

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