According to Nielsen SoundScan’s 2011 mid-year report, total album sales (which includes CDs, digital albums, LPs and other media) have increased in the first six months of 2011 over the same period last year. How big of an increase are we talking here? Well…only by 1%. Ok, so before you laugh, take into consideration how sales have been dramatically decreasing since 2004. Sure, it’s a low percentage, but it’s still a modest improvement and gives hope that the next six months may show improvement as well.

In more good news for the industry, digital album sales for the first six months of 2011 have increased by 19% over the same period last year. That’s a significant improvement. According to The LA Times’ Pop & Hiss blog, though, new releases from artists like Lady Gaga and Adele aren’t the only ones deserving credit for the increases. Apparently sales of albums released 18 months ago or earlier have a major role in the net gain. Greatest hits collections from older acts like journey and Credence Clearwater Revival made the 10 bestselling catalog albums list. In other words, older records are selling just as well, if not slightly better than newer releases.

You can read Pop & Hiss’ piece to learn more about Nielsen SoundScan’s mid-year report findings. Though these increases are good news for the industry, it still proves that album sales are still weak and that newer artists aren’t selling as well. Take the good with bad, we guess.

[pic via Digital Music News]