Music sales up this year

Jeremy Hobson: Here’s a headline you probably haven’t heard in a while: Music sales are up this year.

Only by 1 percent according to Nielsen Soundscan, but up nonetheless.

The leaders of this new song-buying trend:

British neo-soul singer Adele’s album “21.” And:

Michael Buble’s album called “Christmas.”

Two very different styles. So what to make of it?

Philip Leigh is a music industry analyst.

Philip Leigh: Musical tastes are highly individualistic, that’s typical of what makes the industry tick.

And Leigh says the good times are here to stay for the music industry, thanks in part to all those iPhones and Androids.

Leigh: More and more people are buying digital tracks because they have smartphones.

So, he says, as sales of smartphones go up, so too will the sales of digital music.

As for Buble? He’s pretty happy about it.

Michael Buble: And I’m feeling good.