Sony/ATV Music Publishing is celebrating a full year at No.1 on the UK singles chart, having published or co-published every chart-topper for the past 12 months.
Sony/ATV songwriter Ed Sheeran simultaneously secured his ninth and the publisher’s 52nd consecutive week atop the Official Singles Chart with Shape Of You in this week’s charts.
This company’s stellar run dates back to March 2016 Mike Posner spent the first of four weeks at No. 1 with his single I Took A Pill In Ibiza. Since then, Sony/ATV’s run has included Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla’s 15-week chart-topper One Dance, as well as No. 1 hits by Major Lazer/Justin Bieber, The Chainsmokers, James Arthur, Little Mix, Clean Bandit and Ed Sheeran.
The landmark coincides with an incredible week for Sheeran. He not only extended his stay at the top of the singles chart to nine weeks with Shape Of You, but also occupies nine positions in the Top 10 and 16 in the Top 20 songs – a first in the history of the Official Charts.
Sheeran’s album ÷ has also enjoyed a multi-record-breaking week, shifting 671,542 copies in its first week and becoming the fastest selling record by a male solo artist of all time.
Sony/ATV chairman and CEO Martin Bandier, said: “We can’t underestimate this incredible accomplishment. It’s difficult enough to have one No. 1 but 52 weeks or a solid one year is unheard of. It proves our global approach to music with a strong local A&R presence is a successful strategy.”
Guy Moot, Sony/ATV UK managing director and president, European creative, added: “To have been part of the No. 1 single in the UK for an entire year is an amazing achievement by Sony/ATV and it’s a nice bonus that we got there in Ed’s record-breaking week. We are lucky enough to work with Ed and so many other incredible songwriters and I’m particularly pleased that this run highlights the diversity of our roster from emerging and established homegrown talent to international superstars.”
Below is a full breakdown of Sony/ATV’s yearlong stay at No. 1 in the UK:
I Took A Pill In Ibiza by Mike Posner (Sony/ATV writer(s) Mike Posner) four weeks at No.1
One Dance by Drake feat. Wizkid and Kyla (Drake, Ayodeji Balogun, Paul Jefferies aka Nineeten85, Errol Reid) 15 weeks
Cold Water by Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber and MO (Ed Sheeran, Jamie Scott) five weeks
Closer by The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey (Andrew Taggart, Frederic Kennett, Isaac Slade, Joseph King) four weeks
Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur (James Arthur) three weeks
Shout Out To My Ex by Little Mix (Camille Purcell) three weeks
Rockabye by Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul and Anne-Marie (Jack Patterson, Sean Paul) nine weeks
Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran (Ed Sheeran) nine weeks
