Fewer debuts see stars as strike rate drops.

Just six new acts attained platinum status with 2008-released debut albums last year, down from a decade-best figure of 14 in 2006

By Paul Williams

A DROP IN THE NUMBER OF DEBUT ACTS achieving platinum albums in 2008 has not dampened the optimism of labels aiming to break the same sales barrier with new artists this year.

Despite a late surge in the final quarter of last year when inaugural albums by N-Dubz, The Priests and The Script were all certified platinum by the BPI, less than half the number of debuts released during the year were recognised for 300,000 sales or more compared to the trend just two years ago.

Six debut albums issued in 2008 made the grade, led by Duffy's five- times platinum Rockferry, which finished as 2008's top seller overall, while Adele and The Ting Tings also reached platinum status.

Debuts by Amy Macdonald and Scouting For Girls, both issued in 2007, also secured platinum status during the year, while Rhydian's self- titled debut sold more than 350,000 units at retail, according to the Official Charts Company, but had not been certified platinum by year's end.

This left 2008's platinum tally for debut acts narrowly down on 2007, when eight debuts issued in the year reached platinum status, but sharply down on 2006 when Arctic Monkeys and Corinne Bailey Rae were among a decade's peak of 14 making the grade.