This made 2011 a disappointing year for rock music artists, with only 29.4% of album sales being by rock bands – a situation attributed by many music critics to the continuing failure of a new, scene-sparking band to emerge, in the manner of previous such trend-setting bands as the Strokes and the Arctic Monkeys during the previous decade. However, despite losing ground to pop music in terms of overall sales, 2011 did nonetheless see major numbers of digital and CD copies sold by established artists like Noel Gallagher, with his new project the High Flying Birds, and Coldplay.

The chief executive of the BPI, Geoff Taylor, said:

“2011 was a vintage year for pop albums so it is hardly surprising that the genre has elbowed rock aside as the nation’s favourite. Although rock’s share is the lowest for eight years, it still accounts for three in ten of every album sold so recent reports of its demise are premature.”

Given the huge popularity of Sherlock, created by Steven Moffat and starring Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role, this release is set to sell large numbers of DVD copies, and have DVD duplication manufacturers working overtime, throughout 2012. The second series saw the show build on the popularity of the initial outing, with Moffat using the greater freedom provided by audience familiarity with the characters of Holmes – and Martin Freeman’s Dr Watson – to devote more time to exploring other characters such as Holmes’ criminal nemesis Moriarty, and the mysterious Irene Adler. The second series also features the adaptations of classic Holmes tales The Hound of the Baskervilles and A Scandal in Bohemia.

Furthermore, with Moffat indicating in a recent interview that viewers had missed a vital clue during the initial television screening of the series, the availability of the DVD will allow avid fans to scrutinise the episodes more closely in an attempt to find it, which is likely to further increase sales of DVD copies. This will keep devotees busy until the third series of the show hits screens – likely to be sometime during 2013.

The four previously unavailable songs set to be included on CD copies of the EP were originally performed by the band during the December 2011 shows for their fan club and were subsequently made available exclusively to members. The presence of these rare songs on the CD release is likely to prove a major additional selling point for a release already set to require significant use of the services of CD duplication manufacturers.

In a statement announcing the release, Metallica stated:

“We’ve been feeling all the love and positive vibes beyond our wildest expectations on the mp3 side, so we decided to go “old school” (!!) and also release those four songs on a CD.”

The band also confirmed that the four songs had originally been recorded for inclusion on their last album – Death Magnetic – but left off the final ten-song track listing, before adding that they wished to make them available to a wider audience:

“These four songs were released as a gift to our closest fans, the members of our Fan Club, to enjoy. Now they’re being made available to you.”

Following the re-release of Dracula Prince of Darkness, a number of other Hammer classics, including The Mummy, The Curse of Frankenstein and Dracula will be given the same treatment throughout 2012. Furthermore, in addition to the greatly improved picture and sound quality that the new high definition releases will have, the reissues will also boast a number of exclusive special features.

With many of the Hammer titles remaining enormously popular amongst fans of horror and cult British films in general, the series of reissues – by the home entertainment distribution company StudioCanal, together with Pinewood Studios, Anolis Entertainment and HTV – are set to be strong sellers in both formats. This will be good news for HD blu ray DVD duplication manufacturers, and for UK retailers.

The CEO and president of Hammer studios, Simon Oakes, said:

“Our decision to restore some of Hammer’s most famous titles not only allows existing fans to experience the films again in high definition, but also encourages a new global audience to discover Hammer for the first time.”

The studio was reborn two years ago, with John de Mol, the founder of Endemol, investing £25 million.

The film is Kemp’s first foray into directing, but the star has previous experience in the British film industry, taking a leading role in the hit crime film The Krays in the early 1990’s. His first directorial effort, which stars former James Bond actor Colin Salmon alongside Anna Brecon, Billy Murray and Jane March, offers an intriguing blend of atmospheric cinematography and solid acting. March in particular, gives a marvellously sinister performance, which is far removed from her notorious debut in the controversial film The Lover.

Stalker was developed by the independent UK company Black and Blue Films, and is centred around a successful novelist – played by Brecon – who attempts to overcome her writer’s block with a visit to a country retreat. However, she finds herself haunted by a frightening figure with whom she has a past. Details of additional features to be included with DVD copies have yet to be made available.

The rise in sales has been attributed to the home cinema release of a number of films which had been smash cinema hits, for the Christmas market. The festive season traditionally represents perhaps the most important period for everyone connected with the home entertainment market – from retailers to DVD replication companies – and 2011 proved no exception to this, with the sales during December accounting for 23 percent of total Blu-ray and DVD sales for the year.

Furthermore, the list of films which sold the highest number of Blu-ray and DVD copies during 2011 included an impressive number of home-grown titles, such as the two-part Deathly Hallows conclusion to the Harry Potter franchise, The King’s Speech and The Inbetweeners. Outside of film releases, the best sellers list also included the latest live comedy release by comedian Peter Kay, further adding to the British flavour of the top sellers. DVD remains the most popular format amongst British consumers, with an overall 6 percent rise in value on that of the previous year coupled with an 87 percent share of total sales across physical formats.

This overall increase in sales figures was largely down to the purchasing of CD copies, which continued to prove the favoured format of the majority. Confirmation that CDs outsold digital copies by 2:1 will be a significant boost, not only for the music industry, which has been struggling to compete with downloading websites, but also for related industries – such as the manufacturers of CD copying services. Now CD duplication companies in the UK will be hoping that the appeal of artists such as Adele, to those preferring physical music formats will translate to the UK during 2012.

There is already some evidence to suggest that this may be the case as, although there was an overall drop in music sales in the UK during 2011, CDs outsold digital music by over three times – an even greater disparity than in the US, ensuring that British CD duplication companies remained busy throughout the year. Once more Adele proved to be the top selling artist, shifting 3.8 million digital and CD copies of her album.

The Christmas episode, which proved one of the most popular festive programmes, is set during the Second World War and centred around a woman who has recently lost her husband in combat, but cannot bring herself to tell their two young children that their father is dead. While spending Christmas in a country house, they encounter the Doctor, played by Matt Smith, who offers them an unforgettable adventure. Given the massive worldwide enthusiasm for the show, the BBC will be expecting to sell significant numbers of Blu-ray and DVD copies, despite January often being a slack time for sales.

The release can already be pre-ordered in both formats and both Blu-ray and DVD copies come with a number of special features – including a prequel episode and three specials running for 45 minutes each, which were produced for BBC America. Furthermore, DVD replication companies are likely to be kept even busier over the following two months, as the special receives its American release on February 14th and the Australian release on March 1st.

The film centres on a rewriting of World War Two history, beginning with Britain occupied by the Nazis. Sarah Lewis, played by Riseborough, wakes one morning to discover that her spouse – along with all of the other men living in the valley – has vanished. Believing the men to have joined the anti-Nazi resistance movement, the females of the small community decide to take care of the farms themselves, while awaiting news of the men. The area is then taken over by a Nazi patrol, which finds itself forced to rely upon the help of the women to keep the farms functioning throughout a harsh winter – a situation which leads to a blurring of the boundaries in the relationships between the women and the German soldiers.

Blu-ray and DVD copies of the film are set to be released simultaneously in March, although there is no word yet on what additional features will be included for each format.

The new album will be the first the star has released since ‘Hard Candy’ back in 2008 and the first since signing a new three-album recording contract with Interscope Records, which will earn her $1 million for every album issued. Madonna will also be looking to boost sales of download and CD copies of the single with a promotional performance at the Super Bowl XLVI in February, before embarking on a major tour – under the terms of her deal with Live Nation – later in the year. The chairman of Interscope, Jimmy Levine, stated at the time of the contract announcement:

“Very rarely does an opportunity like this come around. We would like to thank Madonna, Guy (Oseary, manager) and Live Nation for their belief in us.”

A demo recording of the new single was leaked on to the internet some months ago, sparking anger from the singer; but those within the industry, from the record company to CD duplication producers, will be hoping that this does not seriously affect sales.