New Record Set For Single Downloads

More than 1.7million singles were downloaded last week, setting a new record.

The massive figure was bolstered by Leona Lewis’ ‘Bleeding Love’ which achieved the highest first week sales of 2007 – selling 218,000 copies, nearly half of which were downloads.

Take That and McFly also released big singles last week too with ‘Rule The World’ and ‘My Heart Never Lies’ respectively.

Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the British Phonographic Industry, told Channel 4:  Just three years ago, sceptics forecast the death of the single but instead singles have gone from strength to strength.

"New digital music services have combined with existing music stores to give music fans unprecedented choice as to how they discover, sample and buy new music.

"British pop fans still love to buy physical singles, which speaks volumes for the quality of the music and the important role British retailers play in supporting home-grown talent."