January 4, 2007 10:00

Muse top download album chart for 2006

Snow Patrol also score biggest selling overall album

Photo Gallery: Muse
Photo: Dean Chalkley

Muse's album 'Black Holes & Revelations' has been confirmed as the top selling most downloaded album of 2006.

The three-piece beat the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Snow Patrol and Gnarls Barkley to the top spot while 'X Factor' winner Leona Lewis's 'On A Moment Like This' was the the top selling single, clocking up 571,253 copies by the end of the year, despite only being released in late December.

Depeche Mode were the most downloaded artist of 2006, ahead of the likes of Pet Shop Boys and Muse, according to figures released by 7.digital.com.

Elsewhere, Gnarls Barkley's chart topping hit 'Crazy' was the biggest selling single of 2006 in overall sales, selling an estimated 700,000 copies by the end of the year.

The track, which topped the charts on download sales alone, stayed at Number One for nine weeks before it was deleted by the band.

Over the last year, 79% of single sales in 2006 were recorded through legal digital downloads.

In the album chart Snow Patrol's 'Eyes Open' LP was officially crowned the best selling overall album by the end of the year.

They beat Take That's album 'Patience' into second and Scissor Sisters 'Ta Dah' while Arctic Monkeys beat The Kooks to the biggest selling debut album with 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', reports BBC News.

All digital singles and album tracks will now count towards the official UK chart without a physical format, as soon as they are released.