Strong first-half sales of hit albums by Coldplay, Gorillaz and the Rolling Stones helped music group EMI to stay ahead of its rivals with better than expected profits in the first-half - and another blockbuster release by Robbie Williams last month is set to keep the group on track to post healthy profits for the full-year.

The X&Y album from Coldplay, whose lead singer Chris Martin has slated corporate profits in the music business, sold 7.5 million copies in the first half, to claim the number one slot in 32 countries. The Demon Days release from Gorillaz sold 3.4 million units over the same period.

Together with upbeat sales from stalwart performing artists such as the Rolling Stones, this helped EMI to pump up first half profits by 9 per cent to £41 million.

Revenues improved by 5.8 per cent to £924.6 million during the six months to the end of September with operating margins increasing to 9.4 per cent from 8.8 per cent. Revenues at EMI Music returned to growth, increasing by 4.3 per cent and the group's digital sales jumped by 142.4 per cent to £44.6 million.

As he reiterated the group's conviction that it was on target on profits for the full year, Eric Nicoli, the chairman of EMI, said: "Today's results show that EMI Group had a successful first half, delivering significant growth in both revenues and profits, and that both our recorded music and music publishing divisions made good progress during the period.

"With strong release schedules for both EMI Music and EMI Music Publishing, the group remains on track to deliver in line with our expectations for the full financial year."

EMI, which is predicted by brokers to make full-year profits of between £160 million and £170 million, said that Intensive Care, the new album from superstar Robbie Williams, has already sold about 3.5 million copies following its release late last month - making it the multi-millionaire performer's fastest-selling album to date.

The City responded by chasing EMI 2p higher to 218p - boosting its market value of just over £1.7 billion. Brokers noted that Japan acted as a drag on the group's momentum, with a poor release schedule from local artists resulting in lost market share in the country.

Although the traditional recorded music industry shrank by 0.9 per cent during these six months - in part due to the constant threat of piracy and illegal internet downloading - EMI said this was almost offset by the growth of digital music.

It also claimed that the industry's initiatives to combat piracy were having a "real impact" and were beginning to contain the threat.

Mr Nicoli said: "The global recorded music industry declined only moderately in the first half, continuing the improved trend driven by rapid digital growth. We remain confident that digital music will return the industry to growth in due course."

Brokers at Panmure Gordon upgraded EMI to hold from sell this morning.

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