CD reaches 30

The compact disc is officially 30 years old and to mark the occasion record label trade body the BPI and the Official Charts Company have released some new statistics which show that whilst digital accounts for most sales for urban and dance music albums, 77.7% of classical album sales are still on CD. The biggest selling CD of all time in the UK is ABBA's hits collection 'Gold', which has sold 4 million units to date. Second is Adele's '21', which has so far sold 3.5 million copies on CD and Oasis's 'What's The Story Morning Glory' is the third biggest selling disc, having sold 3.4 million units.

Nielsen reported that U.S. digital album sales are up 15 percent year-over-year, continuing an upward trajectory. Single track sales are up as well, already surpassing 1 billion sold so far this year. 2011 ended with a record 1.3 billion digital tracks sold, meaning that 2012 is likely to break that ceiling and set a new benchmark for digital track sales. Nielsen said smartphone and tablets have played a major role in this growth.