UK digital album sales have hit 10m this year, although CDs still account for 80% of the market, according to the Official Charts Company.

Sony Music Entertainment artist Adele helped boost demand, with her album ‘21’ generating 600,000 downloads so far this year, making it the most popular digital album in the UK.

Meanwhile, Rihanna’s ‘Loud’ and Bruno Mars’ ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans’ have also proven popular, both generating more than 100,000 downloads.

Digital album sales generated 22% of official UK record sales this year, compared to 17.8% for all of 2010, according to OCC data.

The body further predicted that digital album sales will reach 20m for the first time in 2011 if downloads continue at the current rate.

Martin Talbot, MD of the OCC, said, “These figures amount to 59,000 digital albums a day on average this year, compared to 42,000 in the first six months of 2010.

“It’s also true, however, that we should prepare for digital albums to co-exist with physical albums for some time to come,” he added. “But with digital accounting for just 22% of all albums sold, CD continues to be the mass market favourite.”