Sam Fender's People Watching earns record-breaking opening week

Sam Fender secures a record-breaking opening week, with People Watching netting the North Shields native a hat-trick of chart-topping albums.

Shifting 107,100 chart units in its first seven days, People Watching earns Sam the biggest opening week of his career to date, and of the year so far. His 2019 debut Hypersonic Missiles managed a 40,900 opening week, while 2021’s Seventeen Going Under netted 43,700.

This earns Sam the biggest opening week for a British artist since the release of Harry Styles’s Harry’s House three years ago, which racked up 113,000 in its first week back in May 2022.

Sam joins an exclusive club of only nine artists who have managed 100,000 UK albums sales in a week this decade, joining Taylor Swift, Adele, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Take That, ABBA and Arctic Monkeys.

What’s more, Sam breaks Official Chart records as People Watching becomes the fastest-selling vinyl album by a British act this century, boasting sales of 43,000 on the format this week. In doing so, the LP tops the Official Vinyl Albums Chart and Official Record Store Chart, too.

Speaking to Official Charts, Sam Fender says:

“This is completely overwhelming. Thank you to everyone who’s supported us and listened to the album this week.” 

MORE: Where every Sam Fender song and album has charted in the UK

Martin Talbot, Chief Executive Officer, Official Charts, comments:

“What an incredible week for Sam Fender, who takes a place at the head of the top table this week by claiming the Number 1 spot in the Official Albums Chart with a blockbuster opening week.

“His new album People Watching not only sets a new first-week high for himself, it’s also a record-breaking first week on vinyl.”

Catch Sam performing at this weekend’s BRITs on Saturday March 1, where he’s nominated for Artist of the Year and Best Rock/Alternative Act.

Oh, golly gee! Tate McRae claims a career-best with her third studio collection So Close To What (2). Previously, the Canadian singer-songwriter enjoyed Top 10 success with 2022 debut i used to think i could fly (7) and 2023’s Think Later (5).

An evening of Fleetwood Mac programming on the BBC sees the group’s enduring 2018 compilation 50 Years – Don’t Stop surge back into the Top 10, up five in its 328th week on chart (9). The band’s seminal Rumours also reaps the rewards, lifting seven (20).

Dale! As he announces brand-new UK shows this summer, Pitbull’s Greatest Hits finally makes its Top 40 debut in its 156th week on chart, vaulting 34 (28).

Congratulations to Dublin rockers The Murder Capital, who secure their third Top 40 LP with Blindness this week (31). It joins 2019’s When I Have Fears (18) and 2023’s Gigi’s Recovery (16) in the lads’ Top 40 tally.

And finally, the release of new track It’s Amazing To Be Young sees Fontaines D.C.’s Romance return to the Top 40, up five (36). 

See the full Official Albums Chart Top 100 here from 5.45pm.