It was recently revealed that sales of digital albums have achieved the 100 million milestone, with the top 10 selling digital albums of all time selling more than 250,000 copies combined. According to data from the Official Charts Company published by music industry trade body BPI, this 100 million milestone took just over six years to achieve, which is when official records of digital sales began in April 2006. These are the Top 10 best-selling digital albums of all time, according to the Official Charts Company:

1)  21 – Adele

2)  + – Ed Sheeran

3)  The Fame – Lady Gaga

4)  Only By The Night – Kings of Leon

5)  Loud – Rihanna

6)  Lungs – Florence + the Machine

7)  Mylo Xyloto – Coldplay

8 )  Sigh No More – Mumford & Sons

9)  The Defamation of Strickland Banks – Plan B

10)  Doo-Wops & Hooligans – Bruno Mars

Revenues from digital downloads and subscription services were beginning to overtake those seen from physical products in the first quarter of 2012, but now digital accounts for a 34% volume of the total albums market.

Despite the rise in digital album sales, physical music in the shape of vinyl sales have also risen in the same period!! According to the Official Charts Company, by the end of this year vinyl sales are expected to reach their highest level since 2005. The current sales figure so far this year is around 240,000 units – a 40% leap from last year’s 170,000. This increase is partly due to the popularity of Radiohead’s “The King of Limbs”, which has sold more than 20,000 copies on vinyl.

What is particularly interesting is that here at MyFirstRecord.co.uk we are finding more and more that our customers are from a younger demographic ie 20 to 35. When MyFirstRecord.co.uk was launched 18 months ago, we were very much targeting the 40 to 70 age group ie the generation that grew up with vinyl and have a fondness and strong sense of nostalgia for the era of the vinyl record. However our sales are spread democratically across a 50 year age range!! It seems that the younger generation too have a fondness for vinyl records that matches the passion that their parents and grandparents had for the format from the 1950s through to the 1990s. It seems that as convenient and accessible as digital downloads are, this is no substitute for the traditional black vinyl record or indeed the later multi coloured and picture discs.

The truth is that vinyl records stimulated four of the five senses. Vinyl provides a superior sound ( despite the crackles ), is tactile and good to the touch and has a particular distinctive aroma. Last and perhaps most importantly, the vinyl record indulges our visual sense, from the brightly coloured label to the record cover artwork. The reality is that the vinyl record has personality compared with the invisible ghostly digital download and the poor country cousin, the dull, uninspiring CD!! The vinyl record has charm and charisma in an era of global homogenization, where all cars look the same and all car showrooms are on high streets occupied by the same retail brands!! If we humanise the vinyl record, perhaps it is because each vinyl record is individual and distinctive in the way it appeals to the aforementioned four sensory receptors!!

Order your favourite vinyl record or CD; single, album or album cover; framed and mounted as a picture disc souvenir. You can also personalise it with an inscribed / engraved plaque…… ORDER NOW…….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Framed vinyl records with a personalised plaque, make a unique present or original gift for a special celebration  ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th Birthday, a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!!  THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!! ORDER NOW…….. www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

We can also source other childhood favourites, such  as comics ( masthead & front cover ) and pop idol posters, framed ( with a personalised , engraved plaque, if you wish ) ……… Please E-mail  info@MyFirstRecord.co.uk