Debussy Google Doodle boosts music sales

28 August 2013, 16:53

After Google featured Debussy's dreamy Clair de lune as an animated Google Doodle, sales of the track have soared on iTunes.

Classical music fans have chosen to celebrate Debussy's 151st birthday by downloading his music. Millions of people across the world were exposed to his Clair de lune, from the Suite Bergamasque, as part of an animated Google Doodle on 22 August - and they were clearly taken with what they heard.

François-Joël Thiollier's performance of the music, which featured in the animation, experienced a surge in downloads as a single, and as part of his complete album of Debussy works. A recording by Michel Béroff also saw a spike in purchases despite not being part of the original Google Doodle.

Anthony Anderson, managing director of Naxos distributor Select, said: "François-Joël Thiollier’s recording of Clair de lune has often appeared in bestseller lists since its release and it is no surprise that Google Doodle used it in its Debussy celebration. It is rewarding to see that the feature resulted in increased sales for the album and that consumers are therefore discovering lesser-known Debussy works."