While total singles sales this year have expanded year-on-year by 12.2%, according to the Official Charts Company, to break through the 100 million barrier in the fastest time yet in a calendar year, among 2011's Top 10 sellers the rise has been even more impressive.

Led by XL act Adele's million-selling Someone Like You, the year's 10 most commercially-successful singles have collectively sold around 2.1m units more than the equivalent 10 biggest sellers had managed at the same point last ...