The balance was heavily swayed by rock bands - AC/DC were the fifth best-selling band of the year, with an average age of 60, while Pink Floyd, at number seven, averaged 70 years old.

And 'king of pop' Michael Jackson, at number six, would have been 56 if he hadn't died in 2009. The information, sourced from the IFPI Global Record Artist Chart, was revealed by Music Business Worldwide, who comment: "Thought pop was music made for teenagers, by teenagers? Not any more."