UK artists are selling big in Europe

UK artists are dominating album sales in France and Germany - the world’s fourth and fifth largest markets for recorded music.

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) claim that the UK’s share of recorded music market in both countries hit a four-year high last year.

Katie Melua’s album ’Piece By Piece’ was the second best selling album in Germany in 2006.

In total 23 of the 100 top selling albums were by UK acts.

Acts such as Coldplay and Depeche Mode also achieved strong sales.

Debuts from Corinne Bailey Rae and James Morrison also featured in the Top 100.

In France more than one in ten albums sold are currently UK acts.

James Blunt’s ’Back To Bedlam’ was the biggest selling album of last year, but Robbie Williams remains one of France’s most popular artists, with three titles in the UK artists' top 20.

BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor told BBC News: “Music is one of the UK’s great cultural and economic exports.

“The fact that UK labels are gaining an increasing share of these major international markets demonstrates the diversity and quality of new British artists."