UK artists cash in on US charts

Coldplay and Leona Lewis helped boost the British share of the US music market last year, British Phonographic Industry (BPI) figures show.

One in 10 albums bought in the US were by British artists while Coldplay's Viva La Vida was the second bestselling album in the US, according to the BPI.

The figures showed the UK market share rose from 8.5% in 2007.

In Canada, British artists accounted for almost 15% of album sales - up from 12.5% in 2007.

Coldplay sold more than five million singles in the US last year, closely followed by 2006 X Factor champion Leona Lewis, who shifted just under 4.75 million tracks, according to the BPI.

Lewis's single Bleeding Love was also the most-downloaded single in the US last year.

New acts breaking into the market, including Duffy, Leona Lewis, Estelle and The Ting Tings, helped boost the UK's share.

BPI chairman Tony Wadsworth said: "Britain's creative industries consistently excel on the world stage with British music chief amongst them.

"After the US, we are the biggest exporter of repertoire and, in the US itself, the UK is the second largest source of repertoire after US home grown artists.

The increase in our North American market share reflects the UK's enduring ability to create world class artists."