SOUNDTRACKS, COMPS TOPPED U.K. SALES IN 2018

The Top 10 of the U.K.’s best-selling albums in 2018 shows the extent to which compilations and soundtracks ruled last year. Given the ongoing popularity of U.S. hip-hop acts, little space remained for homegrown artist albums.

The Greatest Showman was the best-selling album in the U.K. last year with 1.6m, according to data from the Entertainment Retailers' Association. George Ezra is the only British artist with an album released last year to make the Top 10, with Staying at Tamara’s (Columbia) at #2, followed by Ed Sheeran with his 2017 release Divide (Atlantic) at #3. Universal has the most Top 10 entries with five and a half, followed by Sony with two and a half and Warner with two. Two more U.K. artist albums released last year made the Top 20—Take That (Polydor) at #14 and Jess Glynne (Atlantic) at #17.

Half of the Top 10 singles list were releases from British artists, with “One Kiss” (Columbia/Warner Bros.) by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa the year’s best-selling single at 1.57m. Ezra’s “Shotgun” follows at #3 with 1.49m, while his “Paradise” also charted at #8 with 1.11m. Rudimental are #5, with “These Days” (Atlantic) selling 1.39m and Sheeran is #6 with “Perfect." Warner ruled singles with four and a half in the Top 10, followed by Universal with three and Sony with two and a half.

Best-selling albums Top 10 U.K. 2018

1. The Greatest Showman (Atlantic), 1.6m sales
2. George Ezra, Staying at Tamara’s (Columbia), 690k sales
3. Ed Sheeran, Divide (Atlantic), 510k sales
4. Various Artists, Now That’s What I Call Music 100 (Sony/Universal), 479k sales
5. Various Artists, Now That’s What I Call Music 99 (Sony/Universal), 395k sales
6. Mamma Mia – Here We Go Again (Polydor), 374k sales
7. Drake, Scorpion (Island), 300k sales
8. Various Artists, Now That’s What I Call Music 101 (Sony/Universal), 287k sales
9. Post Malone, Beerbongs & Bentleys (Island), 282k sales
10. A Star Is Born OST (Polydor), 272k sales

Best-selling singles Top 10 U.K. 2018

1. “One Kiss,” Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa (Columbia/Warner Bros.)
2. “God’s Plan,” Drake (Island)
3. “Shotgun,” George Ezra (Columbia)
4. “This Is Me,” Keala Settle (Atlantic)
5. “These Days,” Rudimental (Atlantic)
6. “Perfect,” Ed Sheeran (Atlantic)
7. “Nice for What,” Drake (Island)
8. “Paradise,” George Ezra (Columbia)
9. “No Tears Left to Cry,” Ariana Grande (Island)
10. “Feel It Still,” Portugal. The Man (Atlantic)