U.K. Downloads To Soar In 2008, Says ERA

British consumers will likely spend more than £160 million ($312 million) on digital downloads this year, up by roughly 50% from the previous year, according to new figures published by ERA Digital, a division of the Entertainment Retailers Association trade body. A spike in interest for full album downloads is one of the catalysts for growth, ERA reports, a format which is forecast to account for £69.4 million ($135 million) in sales this year. Single track downloads will be worth an estimated £96.4 million ($188 million). (Billboard)

DRM-free MP3s will boost music download sales, say UK retailers

The UK's Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) has praised Sony BMG's decision to abandon its opposition to DRM-free music, and allow online retailers to sell its tracks as MP3 files. "Sony-BMG's decision to back MP3 is great news for music fans and the music market," says director general Kim Bayley. However, there's a catch. Sony BMG's decision only applies to the US at the moment. "Now that the principle has been established that MP3 is the way forward, it is vital that UK music fans do not get left behind," she says. "We are on the verge of a great boom in download sales, but this can only happen if the music is available." (Tech Digest)