Passenger's Let Her Go becomes one of the UK’s biggest selling singles
Let Her Go has become one of the UK's biggest selling singles of all-time, while 2013 has seen the greatest number of million-selling singles since 1998!
Passenger's Let Her Go has become the latest single to break through the million copies sales barrier, according to Official Charts Company sales data released today by British recorded music trade body The BPI.
Let Her Go is the 141st single to sell over a million copies in the entire history of the UK’s Official Singles Chart, and the fourth single released this year to do so. 2013 is shaping up to be the biggest annual haul for million selling singles since 1998, when Cher’s Believe topped the year-end chart and there were also million plus sales for Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On, Run DMC Vs Jason Nevins’ It’s Like That and Boyzone’s No Matter What.
Singer/songwriter Passenger’s success caps a remarkable run of huge singles sales this year: In June, Daft Punk’s Get Lucky FT Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers became the first track released this year to sell a million copies, doing so only 11 weeks after its release. It was followed three weeks later into the Million Sellers Club by Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines FT TI and Pharrell Williams, which reached the sales landmark in a remarkable eight weeks. 24-year-old Swedish DJ and producer Avicii was next to join the list, with the millionth sale of his Number 1 single, Wake Me Up, taking place in the first week of October. And now in December Passenger (AKA Mike Rosenberg) becomes the first British artist to score a million-seller this year!
On reaching the hallowed one million copies sales landmark, Mike told OfficialCharts.com: “It feels wonderful but completely ridiculous if I'm honest (laughs)! For the last five years I’ve been busking and playing tiny gigs in pubs, so for one of my songs to suddenly get so popular is not only a dream come true, but also a huge surprise.”
Martin Talbot, Chief Executive of the Official Charts Company, adds: "Congratulations to Passenger and his label Nettwerk on scoring only the third independent million selling single this Millennium. Let Her Go is not only one of the singles of the year, it is one of the classics of the digital era – as this achievement underlines.”
"The last few years have shown how much the digital revolution has completely revitalised the singles market,” says The BPI’s Gennaro Castaldo. “And this latest landmark of four million-sellers in one year underlines just how popular the format has become again."
With four weeks of the chart year remaining, the average weekly sales for a Number 1 single in 2013 are at their highest level for over a decade. For the year to date, the top-selling track on the weekly Official Singles Chart has sold an average of 109,319 copies – the highest tally since 2002. For 12 consecutive weeks from April to July of this year the Number 1 single sold over 100,000 copies and has done so in over half (25) of the chart weeks (48) of the year to date.
YEAR | AVERAGE NUMBER 1 SINGLE SALES | YEAR | AVERAGE NUMBER 1 SINGLE SALES | |
1994 | 86,250 | 2004 | 71,400 | |
1995 | 122,775 | 2005 | 82,450 | |
1996 | 145,050 | 2006 | 55,975 | |
1997 | 218,300 | 2007 | 55,350 | |
1998 | 140,700 | 2008 | 71,550 | |
1999 | 159,100 | 2009 | 92,900 | |
2000 | 118,700 | 2010 | 102,200 | |
2001 | 121,725 | 2011 | 103,325 | |
2002 | 144,300 | 2012 | 105,775 | |
2003 | 70,175 | 2013 | 109,319* |
© 2013 Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.
You can see the full list of the UK’s 141 Official Million-Selling Singles below:
The UK's 141 Official Million-Selling Singles
2010s
TRACK | ARTIST | YEAR OF RELEASE |
BLURRED LINES | ROBIN THICKE FT TI & PHARRELL WILLIAMS | 2013 |
GET LUCKY | DAFT PUNK FT PHARRELL WILLIAMS & NILE RODGERS | 2013 |
LET HER GO | PASSENGER | 2013 |
WAKE ME UP | AVICII | 2013 |
CALL ME MAYBE | CARLY RAE JEPSEN | 2012 |
GANGNAM STYLE | PSY | 2012 |
IMPOSSIBLE | JAMES ARTHUR | 2012 |
MOVES LIKE JAGGER | MAROON 5 FT CHRISTINA AGUILERA | 2011 |
PARTY ROCK ANTHEM | LMFAO FT LAUREN BENNETT AND GOONROCK | 2011 |
PRICE TAG | JESSIE J FT B.O.B | 2011 |
SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW | GOTYE FT KIMBRA | 2011 |
SOMEONE LIKE YOU | ADELE | 2011 |
THE A TEAM | ED SHEERAN | 2011 |
TITANIUM | DAVID GUETTA FT SIA | 2011 |
WE ARE YOUNG | FUN FT JANELLE MONAE | 2011 |
WE FOUND LOVE | RIHANNA FT CALVIN HARRIS | 2011 |
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (AMAZING) | BRUNO MARS | 2010 |
LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE | EMINEM FT RIHANNA | 2010 |
ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) | RIHANNA | 2010 |
WHEN WE COLLIDE | MATT CARDLE | 2010 |
2000s
TRACK | ARTIST | YEAR OF RELEASE |
BAD ROMANCE | LADY GAGA | 2009 |
FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE | CHERYL COLE | 2009 |
I GOTTA FEELING | BLACK EYED PEAS | 2009 |
POKER FACE | LADY GAGA | 2009 |
HALLELUJAH | ALEXANDRA BURKE | 2008 |
SEX ON FIRE | KINGS OF LEON | 2008 |
USE SOMEBODY | KINGS OF LEON | 2008 |
BLEEDING LOVE | LEONA LEWIS | 2007 |
CHASING CARS | SNOW PATROL | 2006 |
CRAZY | GNARLS BARKLEY | 2006 |
(IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO | TONY CHRISTIE FT PETER KAY | 2005 |
THAT'S MY GOAL | SHAYNE WARD | 2005 |
DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? | BAND AID 20 | 2004 |
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE/EVERGREEN | WILL YOUNG | 2002 |
UNCHAINED MELODY | GARETH GATES | 2002 |
CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD | KYLIE MINOGUE | 2001 |
IT WASN'T ME | SHAGGY FT RIKROK | 2001 |
PURE AND SIMPLE | HEAR'SAY | 2001 |
WHOLE AGAIN | ATOMIC KITTEN | 2001 |
CAN WE FIX IT? | BOB THE BUILDER | 2000 |
1990s
TRACK | ARTIST | YEAR OF RELEASE |
...BABY ONE MORE TIME | BRITNEY SPEARS | 1999 |
BELIEVE | CHER | 1998 |
BLUE (DA BA DEE) | EIFFEL 65 | 1999 |
HEARTBEAT/TRAGEDY | STEPS | 1998 |
I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING | AEROSMITH | 1998 |
MY HEART WILL GO ON | CELINE DION | 1998 |
NO MATTER WHAT | BOYZONE | 1998 |
ANGELS | ROBBIE WILLIAMS | 1997 |
BARBIE GIRL | AQUA | 1997 |
I'LL BE MISSING YOU | PUFF DADDY & FAITH EVANS | 1997 |
IT'S LIKE THAT | RUN-DMC VS JASON NEVINS | 1997 |
NEVER EVER | ALL SAINTS | 1997 |
PERFECT DAY | VARIOUS ARTISTS | 1997 |
SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT / CANDLE IN THE WIND '97 | ELTON JOHN | 1997 |
TELETUBBIES SAY "EH-OH!" | TELETUBBIES | 1997 |
TORN | NATALIE IMBRUGLIA | 1997 |
2 BECOME 1 | SPICE GIRLS | 1996 |
KILLING ME SOFTLY | FUGEES | 1996 |
SPACEMAN | BABYLON ZOO | 1996 |
THREE LIONS | BADDIEL & SKINNER & LIGHTNING SEEDS | 1996 |
WANNABE | SPICE GIRLS | 1996 |
BACK FOR GOOD | TAKE THAT | 1995 |
EARTH SONG | MICHAEL JACKSON | 1995 |
GANGSTA'S PARADISE | COOLIO FT LV | 1995 |
I BELIEVE/UP ON THE ROOF | ROBSON & JEROME | 1995 |
MYSTERIOUS GIRL | PETER ANDRE FT BUBBLER RANX | 1995 |
UNCHAINED MELODY/(THERE'LL BE BLUEBIRDS OVER) THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER | ROBSON GREEN & JEROME FLYNN | 1995 |
WONDERWALL | OASIS | 1995 |
LOVE IS ALL AROUND | WET WET WET | 1994 |
SATURDAY NIGHT | WHIGFIELD | 1994 |
THINK TWICE | CELINE DION | 1994 |
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU | WHITNEY HOUSTON | 1992 |
(EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU | BRYAN ADAMS | 1991 |
1980s
TRACK | ARTIST | YEAR OF RELEASE |
RIDE ON TIME | BLACK BOX | 1989 |
FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK | POGUES FT KIRSTY MACCOLL | 1987 |
THE POWER OF LOVE | JENNIFER RUSH | 1985 |
CARELESS WHISPER | GEORGE MICHAEL | 1984 |
DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? | BAND AID | 1984 |
GHOSTBUSTERS | RAY PARKER JR. | 1984 |
I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU | STEVIE WONDER | 1984 |
LAST CHRISTMAS/EVERYTHING SHE WANTS | WHAM! | 1984 |
TWO TRIBES | FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD | 1984 |
BLUE MONDAY | NEW ORDER | 1983 |
KARMA CHAMELEON | CULTURE CLUB | 1983 |
RELAX | FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD | 1983 |
UPTOWN GIRL | BILLY JOEL | 1983 |
COME ON EILEEN | DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS | 1982 |
EYE OF THE TIGER | SURVIVOR | 1982 |
FAME | IRENE CARA | 1982 |
THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT | TIGHT FIT | 1982 |
DON'T YOU WANT ME? | HUMAN LEAGUE | 1981 |
STAND & DELIVER | ADAM AND THE ANTS | 1981 |
TAINTED LOVE | SOFT CELL | 1981 |
1970s
TRACK | ARTIST | YEAR OF RELEASE |
ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART 2) | PINK FLOYD | 1979 |
BRIGHT EYES | ART GARFUNKEL | 1979 |
HEART OF GLASS | BLONDIE | 1979 |
I WILL SURVIVE | GLORIA GAYNOR | 1979 |
HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK | IAN DURY AND THE BLOCKHEADS | 1978 |
MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD | BONEY M | 1978 |
RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING | BONEY M | 1978 |
SUMMER NIGHTS | JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN | 1978 |
YMCA | VILLAGE PEOPLE | 1978 |
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT | JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN | 1978 |
I FEEL LOVE | DONNA SUMMER | 1977 |
MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL | WINGS | 1977 |
DANCING QUEEN | ABBA | 1976 |
DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA | JULIE COVINGTON | 1976 |
DON'T GIVE UP ON US | DAVID SOUL | 1976 |
DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART | ELTON JOHN & KIKI DEE | 1976 |
SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME | BROTHERHOOD OF MAN | 1976 |
UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE | SHOWADDYWADDY | 1976 |
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY | QUEEN | 1975 |
IMAGINE | JOHN LENNON | 1975 |
SAILING | ROD STEWART | 1975 |
I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE | GARY GLITTER | 1973 |
MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY | SLADE | 1973 |
TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE | DAWN FT TONY ORLANDO | 1973 |
EYE LEVEL | THE SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA | 1972 |
LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL | LITTLE JIMMY OSMOND | 1972 |
I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING | THE NEW SEEKERS | 1971 |
1960s
TRACK | ARTIST | YEAR OF RELEASE |
SUGAR SUGAR | THE ARCHIES | 1969 |
HEY JUDE | THE BEATLES | 1968 |
RELEASE ME | ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK | 1967 |
THE LAST WALTZ | ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK | 1967 |
GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME | TOM JONES | 1966 |
TEARS | KEN DODD | 1965 |
THE CARNIVAL IS OVER | THE SEEKERS | 1965 |
UNCHAINED MELODY | THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS | 1965 |
CAN'T BUY ME LOVE | THE BEATLES | 1964 |
I FEEL FINE | THE BEATLES | 1964 |
WE CAN WORK IT OUT/DAY TRIPPER | THE BEATLES | 1964 |
I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND | THE BEATLES | 1963 |
SHE LOVES YOU | THE BEATLES | 1963 |
I REMEMBER YOU | FRANK IFIELD | 1962 |
THE YOUNG ONES | CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS | 1962 |
STRANGER ON THE SHORE | MR ACKER BILK AND HIS PARAMOUNT JAZZ BAND | 1961 |
IT'S NOW OR NEVER | ELVIS PRESLEY | 1960 |
1950s
TRACK | ARTIST | YEAR OF RELEASE |
DIANA | PAUL ANKA | 1957 |
MARY'S BOY CHILD | HARRY BELAFONTE | 1957 |
(WE'RE GONNA) ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK | BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS | 1955 |
1940s
TRACK | ARTIST | YEAR OF RELEASE |
WHITE CHRISTMAS | BING CROSBY WITH THE KEN DARBY SINGERS AND JOHN SCOTT TROTTER ORCHESTRA | 1942 |
© 2013 Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.
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