Busy release schedule boosts retailers as LPs back in black. (News).

Retailers are hailing 2002 as the busiest summer release schedule for at least five years which has helped send year-on-year artist album sales back into the black.

In a season that has traditionally been a wash-out for new superstar albums, stores have already been treated this summer to new albums by the likes of Oasis and Red Hot Chili Peppers, while August will bring new albums by acts including Daniel Bedingfield, Coldplay and Toploader.

"One of the great things last year was we had Stereophonics and Travis out in May and early June, which was an improvement on previous years, and this year has been even better," says Asda buying manager Becky Oram.

During July, eight new albums had debuted inside the Top 10 ahead of yesterday's (Sunday) chart, more than was achieved during the whole of July and August combined in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Last summer's schedule was busier than those three years, thanks largely to a strong August finish with sets by Five, Slipknot and The Strokes. But among recent years, only summer 1997--which boasted the likes of new Oasis and Prodigy albums--compares favourably to 2002.

HMV's head of rock and pop Rob Campkin reckons labels are paying more attention to retailers' calls for releases to be spread more evenly through the year. "Labels have been very responsive over the last few years and listened to our requests not to squeeze everything into quarter four," he says.

This year's crowded summer schedule contrasts sharply with a ...