Sales of music have been higher in each of the first four weeks of 2013 than in the corresponding weeks of 2012, according to Official Charts Company data.

The figures, released today by the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), show that year-to-date sales are up 11.6% on the corresponding period last year, the best start to the year for at least three years.

The positive figures follow a tough 2012 during which music sales fell 5.5% compared with the previous year.

ERA ...