ADELE CONTINUES TO BREAK RECORDS & CHANGE MUSIC HISTORY

In January 2012, Adele’s “21” surpassed UK album sales of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” [4.11 million units] and in turn became the 7th highest selling UK album of all time. At 4.14 million units, it will soon move past Dire Straits’ “Brothers In Arms”, albeit it still has some way to go before it catches the seemingly unbeatable UK bestseller of all time “Queen’s Greatest Hits” [5.83 million units and counting].

“21” was released less than 2 years ago. “Dark Side Of The Moon” was released in 1973, “Brothers In Arms” in 1985 and “Queen’s Greatest Hits” in 1981, thus the size and speed at which “21” has sold in the UK is incredible, especially at a time when CD sales are steady declining.

In 2011, “21” sold more than 18 million units worldwide; the last CD to sell at such a pace was “The Eminem Show” in 2002 [14 million units].

Adele is single-handedly reversing global CD sales trends, and leading the way for UK artists’ presence in the USA. Asides from Adele, Mumford and Sons, Coldplay & Florence And The Machine were major contributors to British acts accounting for more than 10% of all CDs sold in the USA in 2011; again a record statistic.

Adele may never outsell “21” with her future CDs, however nobody can deny that she is now an indelible part of music history.