A RECORD YEAR FOR WOMEN AS CONSUMPTION SPIKES IN U.K.

Women spent a record-breaking 31 weeks at #1 in 2023 as the U.K.’s recorded-music consumption rose 10%.

Female artists enjoyed the most weeks at #1 on the Official Singles Chart since the countdown launched in 1952. The 31-week charge was led by Miley Cyrus with her 10-week chart-topper “Flowers” (Columbia). Tracks by Dua Lipa, Ellie Goulding, Kenya Grace and RAYE were among the other foremost entries.

Based on combined streaming and sales activity, four of 2023’s five biggest tracks and seven of the year’s top 10 were by women. Thirteen of the top 20 tracks were by women, and nearly half (48.5%) of the tracks that reached the Top 10 of the weekly Official Singles Chart were by women, either solo or in collaboration with other artists. This represented the gender's highest annual share of Top 10 hits this century.

“While work continues toward achieving full representation for women across the music industry, 2023 has been a brilliant year for women on the Official Charts,” said BPI Chief Executive Dr. Jo Twist, OBE. “There is a more diverse range of recording artists than ever achieving great success with the backing of their labels. This should be celebrated, but without complacency, and our work in the music industry continues to ensure that this becomes the norm.”

A ninth consecutive year of growth saw 182.8m albums (or their equivalent) sold and streamed last year. Streaming, which was up 12.8%, now makes up 87.7% of the market.

Vinyl sales rose 11.8% to 6.1m. Sales grew at their fastest rate this decade and rose for a 16th consecutive year, taking the format to its highest level since 1990.

Physical albums dipped 1.1% to 17.1m or 9.4% of the market; digital albums dropped 4.6% to 3.5m or 1.9%. CD sales declined 6.9% to 10.8m.