Ed Sheeran has emerged as the U.K.’s undisputed king of the streaming era in a musical landscape transformed by the digital age.
As the Official U.K. Charts mark a decade since embracing the streaming revolution, the ginger-haired troubadour from Suffolk, England stands tall atop a mountain of megahits and record-breaking achievements.
It’s hard to believe that just ten years ago, in July 2014, the U.K. charts took their first tentative steps into the world of streaming. Ariana Grande’s “Problem” featuring Iggy Azalea claimed the historic first No. 1 spot in this new era, setting the stage for a decade of the format’s dominance.
But it’s Sheeran who’s truly stolen the show. His 2017 album Divide didn’t just break records – it shattered them. With a staggering 4.26 million chart units and the title of the most-streamed album of all time in the U.K., Sheeran’s musical juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down.
And let’s talk about “Shape of You.” This earworm has burrowed its way into the nation’s collective consciousness, racking up a mind-boggling 6.29 million chart units and over 627 million streams.
It’s officially the biggest song of the streaming era, proving that Sheeran’s shape is the one we all want to be in.
But the streaming revolution isn’t just about one man. It’s transformed the very fabric of the music industry, opening up a world of unlimited choice for music lovers. Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts Company, puts it perfectly:
“We are delighted to be celebrating this exciting landmark for the Official Charts, 10 years since the way we measured music fandom changed forever. It feels like only yesterday that streams were ushered into the Official Singles Chart for the first time – and yet we seem to have enjoyed access to every track in music history, instantly, delivered like water through a digital pipe, for a lifetime.”
From Adele’s record-breaking 24 million streams in a single week for “Easy On Me” to the surprising dominance of “Baby Shark” in video streams, the past decade has been a wild ride.
We’ve seen Meghan Trainor make history with the first streaming-only U.K. top 40 hit, and watched as total U.K. audio streams surpassed the trillion mark.
As we raise a glass (or perhaps a pair of headphones) to ten years of streaming, one thing is clear: the way we consume music may have changed, but our love for it is stronger than ever. Here’s to another decade of chart-topping hits, unexpected viral sensations, and the thrill of discovering your next favorite song with just a click.
And to Ed Sheeran? Well, as Talbot says, “What a decade it has been for the Suffolk-raised superstar. Congratulations Ed!”
