Coldplay's X&Y best selling album in world

British band Coldplay had the world’s best-selling album of 2005, according to figures out today show.

The band’s third album X&Y sold 8.3 million copies around the globe.

Mariah Carey’s The Emancipation of Mimi sold 7.7 million copies, and rapper 50 Cent’s The Massacre shifted 7.5 million.

Overall global music sales of physical and digital music combined were down 3%, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) report.

But revenues from digital music sales almost tripled last year, from $400m in 2004 to $1.1bn in 2005.

Single sales – digital and physical – increased by more than 75% globally.

Singles are now largely a digital format, with digital sales accounting for three quarters of total single sales, compared to 45% in 2004.

CD album sales dropped by 6% in value, according to today’s report.

The total number of digital single tracks downloaded online, or on to mobile phones, rose to 470 million units, up from 160 million in 2004.

The Black Eyed Peas album Monkey Business is fourth in the worldwide album chart, followed by American Idiot by Green Day.

Madonna’s Confessions on a Dance Floor is next, ahead of American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson.

Rap star Eminem’s greatest hits album Curtain Call narrowly beat UK star James Blunt’s debut Back to Bedlam.

Robbie Williams was the third British act on the list, enjoying 5.4 million global sales of Intensive Care at number 10.

IFPI chairman John Kennedy said: “Physical music sales declined again for a combination of reasons, including digital and physical piracy, competition from other entertainment products and the shift in consumer spending to online and mobile.

“In 2006, we expect to see continued growth online and more innovative mobile services attracting music fans into the legal digital market.

“All our member record companies are now aggressively licensing and marketing music in digital formats.”

:: Global Top 10 Albums of 2005

1. X & Y, Coldplay (8.3m)

2. The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey (7.7m)

3. The Massacre, 50 Cent (7.5m)

4. Monkey Business, Black Eyed Peas (6.8m)

5. American Idiot, Green Day (6.4m)

6. Confessions on a Dance Floor, Madonna (6.3m)

7. Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson (6.1m)

8. Curtain Call, Eminem (5.5m)

9. Back to Bedlam, James Blunt (5.5m)

10. Intensive Care, Robbie Williams (5.4m)