Britannia Rules The Airwaves

Posted Thu 10 Jul 2008 11:57AM BST by Mitch Carter in The Guestlist

We crashed out of the tennis and our football team failed to even qualify for Euro 2008 but when it comes to music, Brits are in a league of their own.

This year British artists account for four of the five biggest-selling albums on the globe with troubled diva Amy Winehouse leading the way. Her sophomore album Back to Black has sold 3.67 million copies already this year with its overall global sales totalling 9.78 million.

Coldplay's much anticipated fourth studio album Vida La Viva takes second place with 2.6 million sales and X-Factor winner Leona Lewis bags third position with Spirit. Hawaiian born singer-songwriter Jack Johnson scrapes in to fourth but Welsh warbler Duffy beats Madonna to fifth place with Rockferry.

Elsewhere, R&B acts Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey take seventh and eighth position respectively. Rapper Lil Wayne takes ninth place and Michael Jackson completes the top ten with his re-release of Thriller.

Watch more Amy Winehouse videos

118 Comments

61. anthony - Thu 10 Jul 2008 2:38PM BST

amy 9.7 mil abba 371 mil no contest she will be blown away soon sooner the better

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62. Mark - Thu 10 Jul 2008 2:38PM BST

With the rubbish music around these days ,it makes u sick to be british...Jayz?..untalented knob !!...aarrggggggggggggggg

63. Zoe - Thu 10 Jul 2008 2:38PM BST

Im glad were on top here in the charts and everything but i cant help but think that theres got to be something better than amy winehouse, i have to turn over when shes on. Coldplay are like listening to wallpaper being put up and Duffy and Leona - i mean theyre alright at least they arnt walking around looking like the wreck of the titanic but they are soo old fashioned leonas like a 80/90's warbler and duffys like something from the 50's .... it would be nice to hear something new and exciting. I suppose at least Leona and Duffy are good rolemodels!?!

64. HannahD - Thu 10 Jul 2008 2:43PM BST

What the **** is wrong with some of you? She's not the first or last talented, "ugly" star to do drugs.

65. Adrian - Thu 10 Jul 2008 2:43PM BST

We are always known for creating our own Statistics, sales records and believing that our SO called music is the best, even when no one is listening us. We simply air for free on our radio and consider ourselves as the HITS.
Well done Britannia!

66. Yahoo! Music User - Thu 10 Jul 2008 2:44PM BST

yeah right, hoax. as per who's survey? the brits lol dream on

67. Yahoo! Music User - Thu 10 Jul 2008 2:47PM BST

never mind we have the talented Newton Faulkner who will be a better advert for british music climbing the charts now. so these others will soon be history

68. Zoe - Thu 10 Jul 2008 2:49PM BST

No shes not the first or last shes just the most annoying with only one album to her name but somehow she keeps going because all the rest of the druggy music artists like her to be there cus it takes the heat off of them. and with the increasing amount of drugs in the country its people like her who make taking drugs acceptable and cool which inturn is leading to the problem with people killing themselves and others and a general breakdown in the way people treat eachother.

69. Yahoo! Music User - Thu 10 Jul 2008 2:51PM BST

It's quite nice to see that the UK is catching up with America but I'm not sure these artists are the artists I wanted to represent the UK. Duffy has a good voice and by the looks of it she won't do drugs. Same for Leona. Amy does have a good voice but the whole drug problem she has, has put me off her. One of my favourite artists is Kylie and I think she should be in the top 5. I have read all these comments and most of them say how much they like Iron Maiden which shows that they must be quite good. I have never listened to them to be honest. I think Britney is also an amazing singer and I hope she gets help and support from her so called family. Ox

70. Yahoo! Music User - Thu 10 Jul 2008 2:58PM BST

Jesus, get off your soapbox darlin', artists have been taking drugs for centuries. Old Bill Shakespeare chased the dragon back in the day!

71. mad - Thu 10 Jul 2008 2:58PM BST

This list is alright. Jack "distinctly average" Johnson shouldn't be in there, but Amy Winehouse is having it. And don't have a go at her drug taking. If she was born in the 60's she would have cleaned herself up, because back then people weren't sticking their noses in and piling on the pressure.
Lighten up!

72. MICK - Thu 10 Jul 2008 3:02PM BST

Our Football Team??? If your talking about "Brits" - there are 4 National teams - Scotland, N Ireland, Wales and erm oh yes England. Get yer facts right mate.

73. Alabi - Thu 10 Jul 2008 3:11PM BST

The only aspect i detest is the drug issue otherwise kudos to her especially, her celebration of Mandela; the only living legend of our time.

74. Yahoo! Music User - Thu 10 Jul 2008 3:15PM BST

Personally, I think you're all [profane]ing stupid for taking this to heart... bleeting on about how great or bad the music industry is... the fact is that Iron Maiden are not mainstream and therefore will not be on the list. Yeah, I like Maiden. I also like Def Leppard, did our so called purists forget about this great English band?
The fact is that the music in this list is mainstream and therefore reaches more ears. Okay, so there are better bands out there and bands more deserving of the top spot. Personally, I think that the best album of tthe year should go to Kid Rock. But it didn't!
Basically, what I am trying to say is "These aare the figures! Whether you like them or nnot!"

75. Anne - Thu 10 Jul 2008 3:15PM BST

'Our' football team? Last I looked there were more than one in Britain! Must've been written by an Englishman!!!

76. leanne p - Thu 10 Jul 2008 3:16PM BST

kamal n........ you blind or summit, she's a t*t, not fit lol

77. - Thu 10 Jul 2008 3:19PM BST

Winehouse and Duffy outselling Alicia Keys. Hmmm.....

Basically (although I admit I haven't heard the Duffy album) they both seem to be 60s black music copyists....

Seems the record buying public is just as racist (small r) as it was in when Elvis was around???????

78. - Thu 10 Jul 2008 3:25PM BST

Winehouse and Duffy outselling Alicia Keys?

Suggests the record buying publice is as racist (small r) as it was in Elvis' day?????

79. patrick - Thu 10 Jul 2008 3:25PM BST

u all seem to forget some of the best music ever recorded has been written by some of the most famous drug takers ever,not that i condon it but no way some of the best music ever would of even been written.

80. Yahoo! Music User - Thu 10 Jul 2008 3:44PM BST

Some of the worst music ever has been written by some of the most famous drug takers ever as well Patrick C. But some music does sound better when your off your noggin. Be that alchohol or whatever. Amy Wino probably sounds better in her own head when out of her crazy hair on flying saucers.

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