January 16, 2012 could become an important date in contemporary music history, at least in the UK. According to the figures released by the Official Charts Company, seven of the top 10 selling albums of 2011 are pop albums. Moreover, if we analyse the sales of pop artists – with key names as Adele and Jessie J – we can easily see that pop albums had a 33.6% share of sales during 2011.

So, pop is rising strong again, after seven years of “rock supremacy” in the UK charts. As NME explained: “The sale of albums classified as rock albums fell from 31.2% to 29.4%, their lowest figures since 2003. This was despite the release of big-selling albums from Coldplay and Noel Gallagher‘s High Flying Birds. The sale of pop singles was also up, outselling rock singles by two to one across the year“.

According to British Phonographic Industry Chief Executive Geoff Taylor: “2011 was a vintage year for pop albums so it is hardly surprising that the genre has elbowed rock aside as the nation’s favourite. Although rock’s share is the lowest for eight years, it still accounts for three in ten of every albums sold so recent reports of its demise are premature. Pop has managed to double its share of singles sales in the space of five years and now outsells rock by two-to-one. It’s no coincidence that over the same period dozens of vibrant, digital music services have launched in Britain, enabling younger music fans to buy and enjoy tracks online at pocket money prices“.