Culture

How to Top the 2007 US Music Charts (Hint: Groban)

by Jarrett Martineau | January 4, 2008 at 08:49 am

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Who says the music industry is in decline? Here's the perfect recipe for chart-topping success.

Mix equal parts Josh Groban xmas croons with second-volume Disney tween-showtunes, sprinkle with aging Eagles, add a dash of the Duchess...and enjoy.

Vocalist Josh Groban was America's top selling artist of 2007, according to newly released official figures.

The 26-year-old, whose hits include You Raise Me Up, had the best-selling album of the year with Christmas compilation Noel, which sold close to 3.7m copies.

That put him comfortably ahead of the next biggest seller, the soundtrack for Disney's High School Musical 2.

Nielsen SoundScan data shows a 14% rise in overall music sales - though overall album sales fell by 9.5%.

Sales of digital tracks rose by 45%, with more than 840m purchased during 2007.

Reformed rockers the Eagles were 2007's biggest selling group with sales of 3.58m albums.

Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie was named the year's best-selling digital artist, selling more than 7.5m units during the year.

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Kaitlin

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:02 on January 4th, 2008

Jarrett, thanks for posting this. While I'm not surprised in a general sense, it is surprising that the Eagles made that much of a dent. It just shows you who buys CDs these days, I suppose. (Read: Oldsters.)

Nielsen SoundScan data is (like most statistical data on such things) tragically flawed and calculated in a fairly antiquated way, but it's kind of all we've got so far. Not to mention that its held aloft by those it benefits (Read: the Oldsters who run labels and TV Networks.)

Look past the data, my friends. At least, that's the choice I'm making. Fergie...*shudder.*