Digital music sales set for record year

In 2011, digital album sales reached a record 1.3 billion sales in the US, according to Nielsen, but this year is set to be even bigger for digital music.

As at the end of August 2012, US buyers have purchased more than one billion tracks, which is 15% more than at the same time last year. Digital sales in 2011 were up 19% over 2010 figures.

While Nielsen didn't reveal its data for August 2011, a previous Nielsen study showed digital sales in the first six months of 2011 reached 660.8 million. If the pattern of sales this year matches last year's data, it's likely that the US will sell over 1.5 billion tracks in 2012.

Nielsen says that the increased role of smartphones and tablets in consumers' lives has helped drive digital music sales.