U.K. Strong In U.S.

The U.S. market may be shrinking but the Brits are gaining strength in it, as more than one in 10 albums sold in North America in 2008 was by a U.K. act.

The first indication that it was a good year came when former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant won five Grammys for his collaboration with Alison Krauss. Coldplay took three awards.

The figures show the U.K. market share rose from 8.5 percent to 10 percent. In Canada, British artists accounted for almost 15 percent of album sales, up from 12.5 percent in 2007.

An April 14 British Phonographic Industry report leaked to the Sunday Times said the U.K. success is due to a mix of older established acts building on their past success in the territory, such as Coldplay and Radiohead, and newer acts breaking into the market, such as Duffy, Leona Lewis, Estelle and The Ting Tings.

“After the U.S., we are the biggest exporter of repertoire, and in the U.S. itself the U.K. is the second-largest source of repertoire after U.S. home grown artists.”

“One of the great things about the music business, is that the success of these artists will help other new acts break through,” said BPI chairman Tony Wadsworth. “Revenues generated from sales abroad are crucially important for new acts, with U.K. labels reinvesting an estimated 20 percent of their revenues back into A&R.”

BPI chief exec Geoff Taylor said the “outstanding performance” of British artists in the U.S. and Canada reflects the energy, enterprise and investment that British music companies commit to breaking their artists overseas.