More than half of all CDs are purchased by people in the 25 to 44 age group.

Cassette's market share has halved since 1993, yet cassette players remain the most widespread audio equipment; 92 per cent of households have one.

Mail order accounts for a quarter of all UK classical music sales, as opposed to nine per cent for dance and two per cent for jazz. Mail order also has the highest proportion of male customers at 66 per cent.

Almost a quarter of last year's album sales were made in December. The figure for May was 5.6 per cent.

Ten per cent of new releases were made available on vinyl in 1997.

Source: BPI statistical handbook 1998