Online Music Sales Surge in Britain

Online music downloads in Britain surged during the last week of 2007, more than doubling the corresponding week of 2006, Reuters reports. With physical album sales still down and digital piracy continuing, analysts saw a high note: "The news should help induce optimism that the recorded music industry may be seeing the roots of recovery," one said.

Britons downloaded 2.9 million tracks the last week of '07, and 77 million for the year overall—a 50% rise over 2006. Digital music players such as Apple iPod, and gift cards for music services were hot gifts this holiday season, and independent music retailer eMusic also enjoyed a burst in paying subscribers, now numbering 400,000. (More online music stories.)