David Bowie soars to the top of the music charts following death from cancer

David Bowie's unexpected death from cancer prompted fans to revisit his music and propel him back to the top of the charts. By Sunday, 17 January, the Thin White Duke's last album Blackstar had soared to the number one spot, according to the UK's Official Chart Company.

Released just three days before he passed away on Sunday, 11 January, Blackstar sold almost 150,000 copies in the four days after his death was announced on the Monday.

These included 94,000 CDs, 50,000 downloads and 12,000 limited vinyl LPs. His best of compilation album "Nothing has Changed" was also at number five. In total 19 of Bowie's albums had entered the Top 100, a quarter of which occupied the Top 40 (10 albums) the Official Charts Company said.

As news of the 69-year-old artist's death sunk in there was also a surge in users searching for his music on music streaming sites. Seven of the top 10 places on Spotify's global viral chart were taken by Bowie's songs with his 1977 hit Heroes at number one. Also featured were Space Oddity, Life on Mars and Starman.

Bowie had an average of 4m listens a month on the music streaming site but last week saw a spike to 9.1m.

The demand for all things Bowie also saw a "crazy" spike in the demand for his artwork, Gerard Marti, the director of the Robert Kidd Gallery in Detroit, told The Sunday Times.

There were also around 43,000 items of Bowie memorabilia listed on ebay including albums and copies of the free weekly music magazine, The New Musical Express for £4.99 ($7).

In New York where a tribute concert had been arranged before his death at Carnegie Hall in March tickets sold out in three hours. By Friday, 15 January, secondary ticketing site were offering tickets with a face value of $33 (£23) for more than $3,000 (£2,100), prompting organisers to offer a second night.

Meanwhile, in London the organisers of next month's Brit Awards are said to be organising a tribute.

However, Bowie's family including his wife Iman, son Duncan and daughter Zulekha posted a message online saying none of the memorials were endorsed or organised by them.

It is believed that the singer left them £135m (€180.5m, $195.3m).

In a Facebook post on Thursday, 14 January, they said they were "making arrangements for a private ceremony celebrating the memory of their beloved husband, father and friend".

"We are overwhelmed by and grateful for the love and support shown throughout the world," they said.