Music sales in Britain dropped by their smallest amount in five years in 2009, new figures show.

Despite the recession, sales were down just 0.8% last year, according to the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA).

Kim Bayley, director general of the ERA, whose members include HMV and Amazon, attributed music's resilience to the success of big name artists.

"Surging download sales and the huge appeal of SuBo and Gaga show music still has huge appeal for the British public," she told the BBC

"It is too soon to call an end to music's decline, but in 2009 entertainment retailers discovered music has still got a lot to offer."

However, sales of videos and games software fell last year by 10.6% and 11% respectively.

The only resurgence came from the sales of VHS cassettes, which doubled on the year before to 95,201.

(by Jason Gregory)