The UK music industry can remain “very optimistic” about the continued rise in streaming consumption despite the slowing growth for Q1, BPI and BRIT Awards chief executive Geoff Taylor has told Music Week.

According to BPI/OCC figures for Q1, Album Equivalent Sales increased by 4.8% year-on-year to 33,575,058 units – slower growth than the 10.7% recorded in Q1 for 2017.

However, that result appears to be down to a single release skewing the figures: Ed Sheeran’s blockbuster album ÷’s 1.4m ...