7digital, the leading open digital music platform, today announced that 21 by Adele was the top selling album of 2012 in the United States and Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen was the top selling track. The full list of top 20 best sellers is listed below.

New partnerships in the mobile and connected device space have seen 7digitial’s mobile reach increase by 277% in 2012. Mobile now accounts for 67% of sales, up from 50% in December 2011. 7digital’s Android app attracted an additional 1 million users in Q4 of 2012, bringing the total to 4.3 million.

7digital’s track to album sales ratio was 3:8, meaning the company is selling far more albums vs. tracks compared to the industry average of 6:7. The company attributes this to its practice of merchandising albums as opposed to tracks, and pricing albums aggressively so that consumers see the value of buying the entire release, not just a single.

During 2012 7digital continued to expand its network of partnerships in both downloads and streaming, bringing music applications to new devices and services. Major partnerships with Microsoft, Acer, Sonos and Pioneer brought 7digital apps to Windows 8 PCs, connected TVs and in-car entertainment systems, while the launch of a Windows Phone 8 app and new partnerships with Samsung, RIM and HTC increased the company’s mobile footprint.

“Streaming is an increasingly important part of our business in the US. Radio continues to be the number one music discovery mechanism, and coupled with downloads, it gives music fans new music and ownership of their favorite songs and albums. The launch of on-demand streaming and acquiring publishing rights was a huge feat and major upgrade,” said Vickie Nauman, president of 7digital North America. “The abundance of start-ups that are building innovative applications around music contributes to a creative marketplace and new legally licensed uses for digital music. The demand from start ups was a major catalyst for us creating the prototype package, which allows developers access to our API to create a live, working prototype while they seek funding or simply hone the user experience. This creates much-needed ramp time.”

In response to the growing business, North American operations were also expanded with key hires and offices in New York, LA, and San Francisco.

Expansion will continue in 2013, with the roll-out of more on-demand and radio streaming from the 7digital platform. Connected devices will be the largest platform for music in 2013, and 7digital will continue to offer an open platform that is compatible with the widest range of mobile devices. This will be increasingly important in the coming year; as music fans have the choice of download, streaming and radio services, music collections and libraries will need to be accessible on the different platforms consumers are using.

“The increasing availability of 4G and high speed mobile connections, coupled with the increasing number of devices and services, means connected devices will continue to be a growth area in 2013,” comments Ben Drury, CEO at 7digital. “Music fans have a much bigger choice in how they purchase digital music today. As well as download, radio and streaming there is also the options of access; free, rental through subscriptions, and purchase. The increase in mobile and variety of access options is a big opportunity for us, especially with the launch of our new streaming services in the coming year and presence on a wide range of connected device platforms.”

“We’ll also likely see more high levels of investment in the digital music sector in 2013, coupled with more high market valuations of digital music companies. While these may not all pan out as investors hope, it’s encouraging to see so much enthusiasm for the digital music space going into 2013.”

7digital’s Top US 20 Albums 2012*

1. Adele – 21
2. LMFAO – Sorry For Party Rocking (Explicit Version)
3. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter IV (Explicit Deluxe Version)
4. Drake – Take Care (Explicit Deluxe)
5. Beyoncé – 4
6. fun. – Some Nights
7. P!nk – The Truth About Love
8. Gotye – Making Mirrors
9. Rihanna – Talk That Talk (Explicit Version)
10. Justin Bieber – Believe
11. JAY Z / Kanye West – Watch The Throne (Explicit Version)
12. Maroon 5 – Hands All Over
13. Nelly Furtado – The Spirit Indestructible
14. 2 Chainz – Based On A T.R.U. Story (Explicit Version)
15. Flo Rida – Wild Ones
16. Whitney Houston – The Bodyguard - Original Soundtrack Album
17. Eminem – Recovery (Explicit Version)
18. Young Jeezy – TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition (Explicit Version)
19. Whitney Houston – Whitney The Greatest Hits
20. David Guetta - Nothing But The Beat

7digital’s Top US 20 Singles 2012

1. Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
2. LMFAO – Sexy And I Know It
3. Gotye / Kimbra – Somebody That I Used To Know
4. fun. – We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monáe)
5. Adele – Someone Like You
6. Adele – Rolling In The Deep(Album Version)
7. LMFAO / GoonRock / Lauren Bennett – Party Rock Anthem
8. Luke Bryan – Suntan City
9. Adele – Set Fire To The Rain
10. Luke Bryan – Spring Break-Up
11. Kanye West / 2 Chainz / Big Sean / Pusha T – Mercy
12. Maroon 5 / Wiz Khalifa – Payphone
13. Luke Bryan – Shake The Sand
14. Luke Bryan – Little Bit Later On
15. Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa – Young, Wild & Free (feat. Bruno Mars)
16. Flo Rida – Whistle
17. Justin Bieber – Boyfriend
18. One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
19. T-Pain Featuring Lily Allen & Wiz Khalifa – 5 O'Clock(Explicit Version)
20. Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

* Note: the list provided reflect sales from across 7digital’s US consumer store.

About 7digital

7digital is the world’s leading digital music and content technology platform, and provides open access to the broadest catalogue of fully licensed, high quality digital music. The company powers comprehensive digital music services for consumers, developers and a wide range of partners around the world.

Through 7digital’s website (www.7digital.com), mobile applications and cloud locker technology, consumers can access over 22 million legal, high quality tracks and listen to their music on the device of their choosing. 7digital provides the complete music experience; discovery, organization and purchase.

The 7digital API (Application Programming Interface) allows developers and partners to license 7digital’s technology platform and music catalogue to create new music websites, applications and devices, or to integrate music into existing services. The 7digital API removes the complexity of developing digital music services by providing partners and developers with an extensive catalogue that is fully licensed by major labels, independent labels and royalty collection societies. The API enables a range of digital music services to be developed; from a la carte downloads to radio streaming.

7digital has provided digital music services to hundreds of international partners, including record companies, artists, FMCG brands, retailers, consumer electronics companies, fashion brands, advertising agencies and many other organizations. Using 7digital’s technology platform, partners can harness the power of digital music to engage with their customers.

7digital’s global partner network includes Samsung, RIM, Toshiba, HP, Acer, HTC, T-Mobile US, Ubuntu, Shazam, Last.fm, Winamp, Songbird, HMV, Waterstone’s, Universal Music, EMI, Warner Music and Sony.

Established in 2004, 7digital is headquartered in London, at the heart of the city’s Silicon Roundabout, and operates offices in Los Angeles and Luxembourg.

For more information visit about.7digital.com. To download 7digital images and the press kit visit: http://about.7digital.com/press/press-kit/.