Rihanna Tops U.K. Weekly Album Charts With Weakest Sales Figure on Record

LONDON – U.K. weekly album sales fell to a new low as a 2011Rihanna release topped the charts with sales of less than 10,000 copies, the first time such a low was set since the use of modern sales data, according to the Independent.

Amid the Olympics and a weak summer release slate, “Talk That Talk,” the album delivered by the singer last year, returned to the top U.K. spot with sales of just 9,578 CDs and downloads combined, it said.

That was the lowest weekly sales figure for a chart-topper since market research firm Millward Brown began compiling music sales data in 1994, the Independent said.

The music industry here is expected to get a boost from Sunday night’s closing ceremony to the London 2012 Olympic Games though, which featured British music stars from the Spice Girls toThe Who. Olympics albums and a fall release schedule with albums from the likes of Robbie Williams and The Killers could also boost sales momentum.

Industry group BPI recorded an album sales decline of 13.8 percent in the first half of 2012.

Industry executives, including Universal Music Group CEO LucianGrainge and Warner Music Group representatives, have since late last year though suggested that the recorded music business was nearing a turning point where digital sales will make up for lower physical sales.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai