Ed Sheeran breaks record as he becomes first person get most played artist and song accolades for second year
Ed Sheeran has broken a major record, after his track Bad Habits catapulted him to become the most played artist, as well as most played record.
This makes the singer, 31, the first person to claim both accolades in two separate years.
He previously made the achievement in 2017, which saw the release of his hit single Shape of You and popular album Divide.
Double winner! Ed Sheeran has broken a major record, after his track Bad Habits catapulted him to become the most played artist, as well as most played record
The only other artist to have topped both charts in the same year is Adele, with Rolling In The Deep being the most played single and her album 21 making her the top played artist of 2011.
The Thinking Out Loud singer has taken the crown for the most played artist for the past five years, with the only exception being Dua Lipa in 2020 with her album Future Nostalgia.
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The annual charts are compiled by music licensing company Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) from music usage and airplay data from radio stations and TV channels as well as public performances.
Peter Leathem, chief executive of PPL, said: “Congratulations to Ed Sheeran. His chart-topping success over the last five years is a testament to not only the quality of his output but also the strength of UK music.”
Record breaker: This makes the singer, 31, the first person to claim both accolades in two separate years
Following Ed, was Tom Grennan, 27, who claimed the second and third mostp layed tracks of 2021 with By Your Side with Calvin Harris and Little Bit Of Love respectively.
The record breaking news comes after Ed and South African artist Jeremy Loops have given a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their latest collaboration on Friday.
The track titled Better Together, was released last month, but the talented duo have treated fans with footage of their writing process in a new video clip.
An excited Ed could be seen as he shared his thoughts with Jeremy, 38, before the video cut to them recording in the studio.
Sneak peek: The record breaking news comes after Ed and South African artist Jeremy Loops have given a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their latest collaboration on Friday
At the end of the clip, Jeremy donned a dapper tan blazer and shirt, with his long hair pulled back into a bun for the official music video.
Ed and Jeremy first met a few years ago and instantly hit it off at the private party that followed Ed's first stadium show in South Africa.
The hitmaker joked that Jeremy was a better loop artist than him and requested to write together.
Exciting: The track titled Better Together, was released last month, but the talented duo have treated fans with footage of their writing process (Jeremy pictured)
Hard at work: An excited Ed can be seen as he shares his thoughts with Jeremy, 38, before the video cuts to them recording in the studio
The duo have penned a number of tracks together, working on Better Together ahead of Jeremy's upcoming third studio album, Heard You Got Love.
It was co-written by Ed and the star's longterm co-writers Johnny McDaid and Steve Mac.
Jeremy revealed: 'He said I was a better loop artist than he is. Very kind, but not true! But we are very similar artists, in many aspects of our jobs. We spent the night hanging out and talking shop, and he suggested we write together.'
Good pals: Ed and Jeremy first met a few years ago and instantly hit it off at the private party that followed Ed's first stadium show in South Africa
History: The hitmaker joked that Jeremy was a better loop artist than him and requested to write together
News of the musical collaboration broke two years ago when Ed was said to have come out of music retirement to write new songs with Jeremy.
The Shape Of You star announced back in August 2019 that he intended to take an 'extended break' from the music business following the end of his record-breaking 258-date Divide tour.
But Jeremy, 36, revealed that he had been working on an exciting new project with Ed prior to the UK's lockdown.
New hit track: At the end of the clip, Jeremy dons a dapper tan blazer and shirt, with his long hair pulled back into a bun for the offical music video
Speaking to The Sun at the time, Jeremy said: 'I arrived early in the morning and we worked all day on a few different songs. He's known to be a very fast writer.
'He's very fluid and moves quickly. He can work with whoever he wants, so there's something beautiful about the fact that he wanted to work with me.
'I couldn't have called him and been like, "Yeah, I want to work together, like, get ready."'
Better Together is out now and Jeremy Loop’s album, Heard You Got Love, will be released next month.
Return: News of the musical collaboration broke two years ago when Ed was said to have come out of music retirement to write new songs with Jeremy (Pictured in 2020)
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