[lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Adele[/lastfm]‘s album ‘21‘ is the first album to sell more than 5 million copies in one year in the US since 2004.

Reuters is reporting that the second album from the English Artist has sold 5.6 million copies in 2011.

The last artist to accomplish such a feat was [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Usher [/lastfm]and his 2004 album ‘Confessions‘.

The data, compiled by Nielsen Soundcan, also suggests that overall music sales were up in 2011 three percent from the previous year, and digital music sales were up ten percent.

Nielsen Soundscan’s David Bakula attributes the overall rise in music sales to the popularity of Adele’s ’21′, sating, “In 2004, you had one massive album driving sales. This year is similar in that you have one really great story that everyone is talking about.’

Last week NME reported that Adele had begun “basic vocal training” following her throat surgery. Earlier this year she underwent microsurgery on her vocal chords, forcing the singer to cancel all of her remaining live dates of 2011.

We wish the singer a speedy recovery, and congratulations on the album sales.