The UK's music industry has celebrated its eleventh consecutive year of growth, powered by a potent mix of nineties nostalgia and modern pop fandom. New figures from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) reveal that music consumption reached new heights in 2025, with the equivalent of 210.3 million albums by UK artists being enjoyed by the public.
Nostalgia and Vinyl Fuel a Physical Comeback
The announcement of the long-awaited Oasis reunion tour sent shockwaves through the charts, directly propelling their 2010 compilation, Time Flies … 1994-2009, back to the number one spot. The album later reclaimed the top position in August and finished the year in an impressive fourth place overall. This surge, alongside sell-out tours from acts like Coldplay, underscored the enduring power of live events to drive catalog success.
Simultaneously, the physical format revival gained serious momentum. While streaming remains dominant, accounting for 189 million 'streaming equivalent albums', the fastest growth was seen in tangible products. Vinyl sales grew by 13.3%, marking an incredible 18 straight years of expansion and far outpacing the 5.5% rise in streaming. Taylor Swift's fans, known as Swifties, were pivotal here, buying 147,000 vinyl copies of her 2025 release The Life of a Showgirl – the highest vinyl sales figure for any artist since the Official Charts Company began its modern records in the 1990s.
The Charts: A Blend of New and Legacy Acts
The year's album charts presented a fascinating snapshot of British musical taste. Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl led the pack, followed by Sabrina Carpenter's Short n’ Sweet and Ed Sheeran's +-=÷x (Tour Collection). The Oasis compilation's strong showing was complemented by their seminal 1995 album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? finishing the year in seventh place.
Legacy acts proved their timeless appeal, with Fleetwood Mac's 2018 compilation 50 Years – Don’t Stop landing at number five. Their legendary 1977 album Rumours also secured seventh place in the dedicated vinyl charts. The BPI also highlighted breakthroughs from a new generation of talent, including Olivia Dean, Lola Young, Sleep Token, PinkPantheress, Skye Newman, and 2025 Mercury Prize winner Sam Fender.
Mixed Fortunes for Physical Formats
The physical market story was nuanced. While vinyl soared, CD sales continued to decline, falling by 7.6% to 9.7 million units, suggesting reports of a full format renaissance may have been premature. However, in a surprising twist, cassette tapes saw a dramatic 80% growth, albeit from a small base, contributing to an 'other' category total of 330,000 units. Overall, total physical album sales still grew by 1.4% to 17.6 million.
Reflecting on the results, BPI Chief Executive Jo Twist called the figures "a powerful reminder that British music is a global headline act." She urged the government to ensure the industry's future by protecting the UK's copyright framework and fostering a supportive business environment, particularly in light of growing concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on artists. Twist emphasised that supporting the sector should be "high on the government’s agenda in 2026" to continue nurturing the global stars of tomorrow.
