The death of Amy Winehouse has played a big part in those numbers. The 2006 Island-released Back to Black is currently at number two, the double Frank/Back To Black album is at number six, and the deluxe edition of Back to Black at seven.

But sales are spread across a range of female acts, covering a wide range of genres, from soul to jazz and R&B to classical.

Adele's 21 remains the number-one bestseller so far this week and will ...