Ed Sheeran helping to keep CDs alive with Divide accounting for over 10 per cent of sales
ED Sheeran’s album Divide has kept demand for CDs on song over the past quarter despite a rising digital tide, but interest in other physical entertainment products fell sharply.
Ed Sheeran’s album Divide has accounted for over 10 per cent of CD sales since its launch
Divide accounted for over 10 per cent of CD sales since its March launch, pulling back 250,000 buyers who had not bought a CD in the past year, says Kantar Worldpanel.
CD sales were down 0.5 per cent on the previous year, with videos and games down 13 per cent and 20 per cent.
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Kantar data showed HMV market share rose to 15.4 per cent, overtaking Tesco as the UK’s second biggest entertainment retailer behind Amazon, which has a 20.6 per cent share.
Olivia Moore, analyst at Kantar Worldpanel, said: “The physical entertainment market has had another tough quarter, parting company with 1.3 million shoppers compared to this time last year.
However interest in other physical entertainment products fell sharply
"Music has been a real bright spot, thanks in large part to Ed Sheeran’s latest chart-topping offering.
"Divide has accounted for over 10 per cent of CD sales since its launch in March.
"A quarter of those buying Sheeran’s offering hadn’t bought a CD in the previous 12 months, so the release tempted 250,000 buyers back to the physical entertainment market.”