Glastonbury sends sales stratospheric for Rocket Man Elton John

30 June 2023 - Press release

Elton John’s incredible closing performance at Glastonbury has resulted in a huge sales boost for his album Diamonds at hmv.

Following what is said to be his last ever gig in the UK, the 76-year-old icon has seen demand for his compilation album soar by 922% following his set. The special edition, highly collectable, Diamonds – Pyramid Edition vinyl also sold-out almost instantly on hmv’s online store and is currently being listed on online marketplaces for almost double the retail price.

Elton was not the only recipient of the “Somerset Sales Spike” as hmv saw sales for Lewis Capaldi, who recently announced he is taking a break from touring, up 142% as he captured fans’ hearts with his moving set. 

Guns N’ Roses, who closed out Saturday night at the Somerset music festival, experienced a 198% jump in sales for their catalogue at hmv.

A highly energetic performance and set from Lizzo, that saw tracks like About Damn Time and Truth Hurts belted out, resulted in sales of the artist’s albums rising significantly in the music retailer’s shops and online (419%).

Legendary Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers saw a big uplift at hmv with sales of their full catalogue increasing 214% when looking at this week compared to last. Despite having her set cut short, US artist Lana Del Rey’s catalogue still saw a 45% rise. Yusuf Cat Stevens’ sales doubled (up 122%) following his “legends” slot.

Phil Halliday, Managing Director at hmv and Fopp, said: “Glastonbury is probably the country’s best showcase for artists and we see a sales boost across the board for the big names who take to the stage.

 

“This year the headliners all saw substantial increases in sales across our stores as those who were at Worthy Farm or watched on TV rushed to add artists that made a lasting impression on them to their collections. 

 

“Beyond the main-stage headliners, the Glastonbury’s crowd’s heartwarming response to Lewis Capaldi’s set clearly had an affect beyond the fields of Somerset and has translated at the tills, while Lizzo’s stand-out performance has attracted a new audience to her music based on our sales data.”