4.2 million vinyl albums were sold in the UK in 2018

4.2 million vinyl records were sold in 2018, an increase of 100,000 or 1.6% from the year before.

Arctic Monkeys' 'Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino' was the bestselling vinyl album of the year, with 38,000 units sold, followed by 'The Greatest Showman' soundtrack in second with 32,000, and Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' also with 32,000 in third place.

The vinyl rise accompanies bleaker news for physical sales, with CD sales falling by 23% last year, and the announcement of HMV's administration between Christmas and New Year.

However, the BBC reports that physical sales still account for nearly £2 billion in the UK, while the British Phonographic Industry state that if streaming is included into album sales there is significant growth, with a total of 142.9 million albums purchased phsyically, downloaded, or streamed; a 5.7% rise on 2017. Likewise, physical retail figures don't include second hand sales, so assuming the UK vinyl market is similar to the US the size of vinyl sales is even larger.

Top selling vinyl albums in the UK of 2018:

1. Arctic Monkeys 'Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino' (38,000 copies)
2. Various Artists 'The Greatest Showman' (32,000 copies)
3. Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours' (32,000 copies)
4. Queen 'Greatest Hits' (31,500 copies)
5. Pink Floyd 'Dark Side Of The Moon' (26,000 copies)
6. George Ezra 'Staying At Tamara’s' (24,000 copies)
7. Nirvana 'Nevermind'
8. Oasis '(What’s The Story) Morning Glory'
9. David Bowie 'Legacy'
10. Amy Winehouse 'Back to Back'