British artists account for one in eight albums purchased by fans around the globe. As a trade body, BPI champion the interests of their membership which includes more than 300 independent music companies and the UK’s major record companies – Universal Music, Sony Music, and Warner Music. Together, BPI’s members account for 85% of all music sold in the UK. BPI organises the BRIT Awards show, the Hyundai Mercury Prize for Album of the Year and the Classic BRIT Awards show. Substantial proceeds from both shows go to the BRIT Trust – the charitable arm of BPI – which has donated almost £20 million to charitable causes nationwide since its foundation in 1989. BPI co-owns the Official Charts Company in a joint venture with the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA). The Official Charts Company is responsible for the commissioning, distribution, marketing and promotion of the UK’s industry standard music and video charts and sales data. BPI also maintains the industry standard for certifying Gold, Silver and Platinum sales awards.
