Nielsen SoundScan has released the list of the Top 10 Christian albums sold in 2005. Christian/gospel album sales were off by 8.1% for the year. Digital sales of tracks and albums rose 2.4% to 43.5 million units. "Gospel music held its own in 2005, maintaining its album market share in an overall music industry that was down in sales," said John W. Styll, president of the Nashville-based Gospel Music Association, in a press release announcing the year-end figures.
1. Switchfoot - Nothing Is Sound
Columbia
Featuring the hit single, "Stars," Nothing Is Sound sold 449,102 units in 2005.
2. Casting Crowns - Lifesong
Reunion
Featuring the hit single, "Lifesong," Lifesong sold 430,227 units in 2005.
3. Relient K - MMHMM
Capitol
Featuring the hit singles, "Be My Escape" and "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been," MMHMM sold 421,291 units in 2005.
4. Switchfoot - The Beautiful Letdown
Red Int / Red Ink
Featuring the hit singles, "Meant to Live," "More Than Fine" and "Dare You to Move," The Beautiful Letdown sold 407,482 units in 2005.
5. Kirk Franklin - Hero
Gospocentric
Featuring the hit single, "Hero," Hero sold 377,123 units in 2005.
6. Various Artists - Wow Hits 2005
Featuring hit singles, by artists like Newsboys, Selah, Mark Schultz, FFH, BarlowGirl and Audio Adrenaline, Wow Hits 2005 sold 368,940 units in 2005.
7. Casting Crowns - Casting Crowns
Reunion
Featuring the hit singles, "What If His People Prayed," "If We Are the Body" and "Who Am I," their debut release from 2003, Casting Crowns sold 360,274 units in 2005.
8. Various artists - Wow Hits 2006
Featuring hit singles, by artists like Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Michael W. Smith, Kutless, Building 429 and Krystal Meyers, Wow Hits 2006 sold 360,146 units in 2005.
10. Various artists - Wow Gospel 2005
Verity
Featuring hit singles, by artists like Fred Hammond, Deitrick Haddon, Kierra Kiki Sheard, Shea Norman, John P. Kee, Tonex, Tri-City Singers, Smokie Norful, Byron Cage, Karen Clark-Sheard, Twinkie Clark and Martha Munizzi, Wow Gospel 2005 sold 341,749 units in 2005.
