英语随身听:Online Music Sales 网络音乐销售

That figure is more than twice as much as were downloaded in 2004, and experts think it will continue to grow over the coming years.

However, the traditional single has not disappeared. In fact, there was an 87% increase in sales of 7-inch vinyl singles this year. "You cannot write off traditional fomp3ats just yet", said Mr Jamieson, spokesman for the BPI.

Since music download services began a year ago, the British music industry has been quick to take advantage and is now beginning to feel the benefits. While the fight against illegal downloading continues, it seems the public have been happy to join the new legal services. You access the web page, choose the songs you want, type in your credit card details and you can download immediately.

The British public still enjoys buying records, however, and sales have been the best since 1998, according to the BPI. New rock groups such as Babyshambles, Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand have been extremely popular and helped make sales so high.

British music is also incredibly popular in the USA at the moment. Last year 75 UK albums sold over 100 000 units in the US, compared to just 66 in 2003. Coldplay also had number one albums in the UK at the same time as the US, the first time this has happened since 2000.

With music you can buy in the shops and music you can download from the Internet, from Coldplay to Oasis, Gorillaz to Franz Ferdinand, British music is going from strength to strength!

GLOSSARY 词汇表 (收听发音, 请单击英语单词)

downloaded 下载 
twice 两倍的 
7-inch vinyl singles 7英寸唱片 
write off 认为…无价值；勾销 
fomp3ats 格式  spokesman 发言人 
illegal 非法的  albums 专辑 
strength 力量