British Olympic Ceremony music sales soar by 185%

More than 50 British songs which soundtracked Danny Boyle’s Olympic opening ceremony have experienced a total sales uplift of 185% following the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics Games.

According to the BPI The Chemical Brothers’ Galvanise, which accompanied the Athletes’ Parade, saw sales surge by 1708%, whilst Mike Oldfield’s seminal performance of Tubular Bells drove a sales increase of 1070% over the weekend.

Music Directors of the show, Underworld, benefitted from a week-on-week sales boost of almost 700% with their Trainspotting hit, Born Slippy, and tracks from current artists Arctic Monkeys, Tinie Tempah and Frank Turner all charted in the Top 100 Official Singles Chart.

The Ceremony, which attracted 27 million UK TV viewers, also boosted sales of tracks by The Who, Soul II Soul, and Muse, New Order, and Dizzee Rascal.

Initial sales indications from the mid-week charts show that five of the songs featured in the Opening Ceremony are on track to make it into the Top 40 Official Singles Chart this weekend, including the Arctic Monkeys’ cover of The Beatles track Come Together, Emeli Sandé’s version of Abide With Me, and Caliban’s Dream by Underworld which is currently in the Top 5.

BPI Chairman, Tony Wadsworth CBE, said: “Throughout the decades the UK has been at the top of the game in producing music that a global audience can enjoy. Its importance in the Opening Ceremony underlines the fact that music is part of our national identity and something the British public are truly proud of.”

The Arctic Monkeys debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not re-charted in the Top 75 Official Albums Chart with a week-on-week sales increase of 121%. Singer-songwriter Frank Turner, who performed his track I Still Believe, saw his 2011 album England Keep My Bones re-enter at 85.

The official soundtrack to the Opening Ceremony, Isles Of Wonder, became the fifth biggest compilation seller of the week despite only going on sale at midnight as the Ceremony drew to a close. It has reached the top spot in the iTunes Charts in 11 countries and is currently Top 10 in 42 countries around the world.

Commenting on the figures, BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor, added,“Music has been placed firmly at the heart of the country’s celebrations this year with both the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics Opening Ceremony focusing on one of our country’s greatest exports.

“Danny Boyle’s cultural extravaganza was a reminder of how important music is to Britain. The Closing Ceremony will showcase even more outstanding British talent to the rest of the world".