Adele’s 2011 album 21 has smashed the five million sales barrier, including streaming, according to OCC figures.
The 16-times platinum album, which is currently the fourth biggest selling British album of all time, achieved the feat six years after its release. The only British albums to have shifted more copies are The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (5.1 millions sales), ABBA’s Gold compilation (5.2m) and Queen’s Greatest Hits (6.1m).
As such, it is the second biggest selling British studio album of all time.
The album had sold 4,999,130 copies in the final chart week of 2016. Now, according to today's official midweek sales flash, the album has since sold another 2,432 units, taking it across the five million mark.
The follow-up to 21, 25, has achieved 10-times platinum status since its release in 2015 and has so far sold 3,249,094 copies.
