Harry Styles Leads Nationwide Album Success

According to an analysis of Official Charts data by the BPI, the representative voice for independent and major record labels in the UK, there is a wealth of musical talent present throughout the country, with over three-quarters of UK artists scoring No. 1 albums in the year to date1 coming from areas outside of London.

While US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift dominated the vinyl albums market in 2022, solo artists and bands from practically every country and region of the UK accounted for the vast majority of the year’s top-selling new albums across all mediums. This is in line with the fact that, as of today1, almost 77% of the UK artists who topped the all-format Official Albums Chart were born outside of London or started their bands there.

Along with Harry Styles, bands from the North West of England topped the Official Albums Chart this year, including The 1975 from Wilmslow, Cheshire, The Wombats from Liverpool, Blossoms from Stockport, and Manchester-born Liam Gallagher with “C’mon You Know” (Being Funny In A Foreign Language).

Yungblud (Yungblud), Louis Tomlinson (Faith In The Future), who is from the South Yorkshire city of Doncaster, and Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott (N.K.Pop), who first collaborated in the Hull band The Beautiful South, are among the four artists from Yorkshire and the Humber who made it to No. 1 this year. There was also a strong showing from Yorkshire and the Humber. Despite having one of the highest sales debuts of the year with The Car, Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys narrowly missed debuting at No. 1 in 2022, which would have been unfortunate for the region.

SJM Concerts artist manager Conrad Murray, who represents artists including Blossoms and Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, said:

“It’s no surprise that most of the UK talent who reached No.1 in 2022 are from outside London. As a Manchester-based manager, it’s been evident for a long time that you don’t have to be in the capital to succeed – the artists I represent are testament to that. Blossoms started out a decade ago in Stockport, where they grew up, and have now scored three No.1 albums, including Ribbon Around The Bomb. And since the first Housemartins LP back in the Eighties, tellingly called London 0 Hull 4, Paul Heaton has been living proof of the exceptional music talent that exists across the entire UK. All these years later, alongside his long-time collaborator Jacqui Abbott, he is still making brilliant No.1 albums.”

Throughout the year, Welsh and Scottish artists shared the top spot on the Official Albums Charts. With his song Last Night In The Bittersweet, Paisley singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini rose to the top of the charts in July. Meanwhile, Stereophonics, a rock band that was founded in the Cynon Valley village of Cwmaman 30 years ago this year, had their eighth number-one album with Oochya! four months earlier.

Artists from the East Midlands and West Midlands each had one No. 1 album. Robbie Williams, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent in the West Midlands, surpassed Elvis Presley as the solo artist with the most UK No. 1 albums when XXV became his 14th solo chart-topper in September. Leicester rock band Kasabian, from the East Midlands, also reached No. 1 with The Alchemist’s Euphoria.

In 2022, six East English artists reached the top of the charts: Ed Sheeran (=), who was raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, Don Broco (Amazing Things), George Ezra (Gold Rush Kid), who was raised in Hertford, and Sam Ryder (There’s Nothing But Space, Man! ), who was raised in Chelmsford, are four artists from Essex: Charli XCX (Crash), who was raised in Start Hill, Olly Murs (Marry Me), who is from Witham, and Charli

Dan Jenkins, Raw Power Management artist manager whose roster includes rock band Don Broco, said:

“Over the years, Don Broco have diligently built a fanbase through global touring, playing countless festivals and continually releasing records that separate them from their peers, culminating this past year with a first ever No.1. The success of Amazing Things was made even more special by the enormous logistical challenges putting out the album, as global vinyl shortages caused by the pandemic meant we had to delay its physical release by several months. This was a great opportunity to extend the campaign, ahead of the anticipated release on vinyl and CD, which saw the band at their creative best across a multitude of different formats, being able to top the charts with the physical release. It shows the level and commitment of fans this band do really have.”

Wet Leg (Wet Leg), an indie rock band from the Isle of Wight, was one of the South East England musicians to top the Official Albums Chart in 2017. Rex Orange County (Who Cares?) and Frank Turner (FTHC), both from Hampshire, also had No. 1 albums, while Teignmouth, Devon-based band Muse had their sixth No. 1 album with Will Of The People.

Rappers Digga D (Noughty By Nature), Stormzy (This Is What I Mean), and Central Cee (23), all from London, were among the musicians to top the Official Albums Chart in 2022. Additionally, Bastille (Give Me The Future), Florence + The Machine (Dance Fever), Jamie T (The Theory Of Whatever), and Steps also had No. 1 albums (Platinum Collection).

Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI, BRIT Awards & Mercury Prize, said:

“Scoring a No.1 album is high on the list of ultimate career goals for most artists, but one only a relative few fulfil. However, as the class of 2022 makes so clear, no matter where you are from in the UK, with the right music talent and support this is an achievable dream. From Scotland to the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England, chart-topping artists came this year from almost every region and nation of the UK. Backed by the investment and support of record labels, this rich spread of artistic excellence is one of the cornerstones of why the UK has flourished as a music superpower for many decades, but we must not take this for granted.

The talent we are fortunate to have needs to be treasured, encouraged, and protected so it may realize its full potential, as the global music industry is more competitive than it has ever been and successful musicians are emerging from everywhere.

Artist & Title (Town/city, region/nation where artist grew up or where band were formed)

The Wombats – Fix Yourself, Not The World (Liverpool, North West England)
Years & Years – Night Call (Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber)
Don Broco – Amazing Things (Bedford, East England)
Bastille – Give Me The Future (London, Greater London)
Frank Turner – FTHC (Meonstoke, South East England)
Ed Sheeran – = (Framlingham, East England)
Central Cee – 23 (London, Greater London)
Stereophonics – Oochya! (Cwmaman, Wales)
Rex Orange County – Who Cares? (Grayshott, South East England)
Charli XCX – Crash (Start Hill, East England)
Wet Leg – Wet Leg (Isle of Wight, South East England)
Digga D – Noughty By Nature (London, Greater London)
Blossoms – Ribbon Around The Bomb (Stockton, North West England)
Florence + The Machine – Dance Fever (London, Greater London)
Harry Styles – Harry’s House (Holmes Chapel, North West England)
Liam Gallagher – C’mon You Know (Manchester, North West England)
George Ezra – Gold Rush Kid (Hertford, East England)
Paolo Nutini – Last Night In The Bittersweet (Paisley, Scotland)
Jamie T – The Theory Of Whatever (London, Greater London)
Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria (Leicester, East Midlands)
Steps – Platinum Collection (London, Greater London)
Muse – Will Of The People (Teignmouth, South West England)
Yungblud – Yungblud (Doncaster, Yorkshire and the Humber)
Robbie Williams – XXV (Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands)
Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott – N.K-Pop (Hull, Yorkshire and the Humber)
The 1975 – Being Funny In A Foreign Language (Wilmslow, North West England
Louis Tomlinson – Faith In The Future (Doncaster, Yorkshire and the Humber)
Stormzy – This Is What I Mean (London, Greater London)
Olly Murs – Marry Me (Witham, East England)
Sam Ryder – There’s Nothing But Space, Man! (Chelmsford, East England)

Harry Styles Leads Nationwide Album Success

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