Rock album sales hit their lowest level for eight years

Rock music suffered its poorest album sales for eight years in 2011, the Official Charts Company has revealed.

Seven of the top 10 best-selling albums of last year were classed as pop records, with Adele and Bruno Mars both crossing the million sales mark.

Only two entries in the top 10 were rock and indie albums - Ed Sheeran's + and Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto.

Overall, rock music albums accounted for 29.4.% of total music sales last year, down from 31.2% in 2010.

The figures represent the poorest year for the genre since 2003.

Artists and label bosses have previously told Newsbeat they're worried about the lack of new guitar bands being signed in the UK.

Sales of pop records rose to 33.6% last year - the highest share for the genre since 1999.

Adele led the way as her album 21 became the best-selling album of the 21st century so far.

Other British acts to achieve high sales in 2011 included Jessie J, Olly Murs and Noel Gallagher.

Rihanna had two entries in the end-of-year chart, with combined sales of Loud and Talk That Talk exceeding 1.5 million.

The best-selling albums of 2011 were:

1. Adele - 21

2. Michael Buble - Christmas

3. Bruno Mars - Doo-wops & Hooligans

4. Adele - 19

5. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

6. Rihanna - Loud

7. Lady Gaga - Born This Way

8. Jessie J - Who You Are

9. Ed Sheeran - +

10. Rihanna - Talk That Talk

11. Amy Winehouse - Lioness: Hidden Treasures

12. Olly Murs - In Case You Didn't Know

13. Cee-Lo Green - The Lady Killer

14. Noel Gallagher - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

15. Take That - Progress