The 2015 year-end music numbers are in – and the good news is that the market is up 3.5% year-on-year to a total retail value of £1.059 billion.

Admittedly 2015’s figures, based on Official Charts Company data and released by labels body the BPI, have a degree of assistance, as 2015 was officially a 53-week chart year, incorporating seven more days of sales than 2014. The release of Adele’s blockbusting 25 album also helped, as it moved a gargantuan 2,495,900 ...