Yahoo Finance British Albums Enjoy Record-Breaking US Sales
UK musicians had a record-breaking year in the American charts in 2012, according to figures from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
British acts took a 13.7% share of stateside album sales, up from 11.7% the year before, recording four of the top five best-selling albums.
Adele, Mumford & Sons and two albums by One Direction racked up the highest sales, with Ed Sheeran, Muse and The Wanted also shifting big numbers.
The only US artist to make it into the top five list for 2012 was Taylor Swift, with her album Red.
For London-born Adele the past two years have been nothing short of spectacular.
Her second record, 21, has been the best-selling album for two years running in America and has now sold 10 million copies on the other side of the Atlantic (4.4m of those in 2012).
The singer is currently in LA preparing for her performance of Skyfall at this month's Oscars, where the Bond theme is nominated for best original song.
Boy band One Direction also have plenty to smile about after 2012 saw them become the first British group to have their first two albums debut at number one on the US Billboard chart.
BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor called the UK success "a new British invasion" and said it was an exciting time for the homegrown record industry.
"British labels are discovering unique talent and using social media to help build fanbases right around the world, in particular in the US where fans have such an affinity for British music.
"Increasing our share of the US market for three years in a row is an encouraging sign for the future," said Mr Taylor.
The BPI, the trade body for the British record industry, first started recording UK album sales in America in 2003.
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