THE BESTSELLING ALBUMS OF 2022

Photo Credit: http://www.pitchfork.com

We’re over halfway through 2022 and music fans have been treated to a slew of brand-new, hype-worthy albums from Harry Styles (Harry’s House), Beyoncé (Renaissance) and Kendrick Lamar (Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers).

But, which have made it onto the Official Charts Company’s list of the bestselling albums of 2022? It’s an intriguing mix of this year’s releases, albums that have been on heavy rotation since as far back as 2017 and heritage greatest hits collections.

To discover which ‘22 albums are rubbing shoulders with the likes of Eminem’s Curtain Call: The Hits, Adele’s 30 and Fleetwood Mac’s 50 Years: Don’t Stop, just keep reading...

Bestselling Albums of 2022

• Ed Sheeran – =
• Harry Styles – Harry’s House
• Olivia Rodrigo – Sour
• Adele – 30
• Little Mix – Between Us
• Fleetwood Mac – 50 Years: Don’t Stop
• The Weeknd – The Highlights
• Ed Sheeran – Divide
• Eminem – Curtain Call: The Hits 
• The Weeknd – DAWN FM
• Elton John – Diamonds
• Queen – Greatest Hits
• ABBA – Gold Greatest Hits
• Harry Styles – Fine Line
• Liam Gallagher – C’mon You Know
• Doja Cat – Planet Her
• Oasis – Time Flies – 1994-2009
• Dave – We’re All Alone in This Together
• Central Cee – 23
• D-Block Europe – Home Alone 2

No.1 Bestselling Album

Ed Sheeran – = (Equals)

• Release date: October 2021
• Label: Asylum, Atlantic
• Standout tracks: ‘Bad Habits’, ‘Overpass Graffiti, ‘The Joker and the Queen’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Acoustic Pop

The biggest album of 2022 so far, according to the Official Charts (UK) is Ed Sheeran’s = (Equals).

Having claimed the title of the second-biggest album of 2021 overall, the 31-year-old’s fourth studio album is leading the charge at the year’s halfway point.

Plus, a recently-released Tour Edition will give the album another new lease of life.

Harry Styles – Harry’s House

• Release date: 20 May 2022
• Label: Columbia Records
• Standout tracks: ‘As it Was’, ‘Music For A Sushi Restaurant’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist:  Pop

Harry’s House is the erstwhile 1D star’s highest-rated album to date critically and is full of Styles’ abundant charm, whilst also being more introspective than his previous releases.

It’s 2022’s biggest new release album and saw Harry claim the rare Official Chart Double as he topped both the Album Chart and the Official Singles Chart with lead track ‘As it Was’.

No other release this year has sold more copies on physical formats.

Olivia Rodrigo – Sour

• Release date: 21st May 2021
• Label: Geffen
• Standout tracks: ‘drivers licence’, ‘brutal’, ‘good 4 u’, ‘deja vu’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Alt-Pop

It’s official: Olivia Rodrigo is the future of pop.

Her debut album has absolutely no right to be as good as it is – singles such as ‘Good 4 U’ and ‘Drivers Licence’ have proven a hit with millions of people worldwide, leading to the 19-year-old singer-songwriter taking home three awards at this year’s GRAMMYS.

Adele – 30

• Release date: 19th November 2021
• Label: Columbia
• Standout tracks: ‘Easy On Me’, ‘Oh My God’, ‘I Drink Wine’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: R&B Pop

Adele has been the queen of the music industry ever since the early 2010s, and with each album just as popular as the next, there seems to be no stopping the soulful singer and her rosé-ready heartbreak anthems.

30 was the fastest-selling album of 2021, and it’s currently the fourth best-selling album of 2022.

Little Mix – Between Us

• Release date: 12th November 2021
• Label: RCA
• Standout tracks: ‘Love (Sweet Love)’, ‘Between Us’, ‘Move’, ‘Sweet Melody’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Mainstream Pop

After a decade together, the Little Mix ladies have been on a well-deserved break since May 2022.

Nevertheless, Perrie, Jade and Leigh-Anne are still on top of the world, with their 2021 greatest hits record, Between Us, currently the fifth best-selling album of 2022.

Fleetwood Mac – 50 Years: Don’t Stop

• Release date: 16th November 2018
• Label: Rhino
• Standout tracks: ‘Go Your Own Way’, ‘Landslide’, ‘The Chain’, ‘Dreams’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Pop Rock

Fleetwood Mac’s 2018 compilation album entitled 50 Years: Don’t Stop is yet to take its own advice and stop selling.

Clearly, none of us can resist the appeal of listening to the rock band's hits back-to-back, and when a 45-year-old track like ‘Go Your Own Way’ still sounds this fresh, it’s little wonder.

The Weeknd – The Highlights

• Release date: 5th February 2021
• Label: XO, Republic
• Standout tracks: ‘Blinding Lights’, ‘Can’t Feel My Face’, ‘Often’, ‘I Feel It Coming’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Alt R&B

Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd (AKA Abel Tesfaye) is now a household name, and what do superstars do? They release greatest hits albums.

The Weeknd’s The Highlights was released in ‘21 to coincide with his spellbinding Super Bowl Half-time show, and now, in ‘22, it’s still one of the UK’s most-streamed albums.

Ed Sheeran – Divide (÷)

• Release date: 3rd March 2017
• Label: Asylum, Atlantic
• Standout tracks: ‘Shape of You’, ‘Galway Girl’, ‘Dive’, ‘Perfect’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Acoustic Pop

Journey to the four corners of the world and you’ll find individuals humming, singing and listening to the songs featured on Ed Sheeran’s Divide.

According to the stats it’s one of the most popular albums of the 21st century.

Eminem – Curtain Call: The Hits 

• Release date: 6th December 2005
• Label: Shady, Aftermath, Interscope
• Standout tracks: ‘My Name Is’, ‘Lose Yourself’, ‘Stan’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: US Hip Hop

Many consider Eminem the GOAT when it comes to US hip hop.

Since 2005, the artist’s ‘05 greatest hits album Curtain Call: The Hits has been a consistent seller.

Just last year, the album went 8x platinum in the US, so it comes as no surprise that the album has secured a spot on this list. Curtain Call 2 dropped on 5th August – can it match the success of the first volume?

The Weeknd – DAWN FM

• Release date: 7th January 2022
• Label: XO, Republic
• Standout tracks: ‘Take My Breath’, ‘Out of Time’, ‘Less Than Zero’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Electro Dance & Pop

The second of the albums released in 2022 to make the best-selling list is The Weeknd’s DAWN FM.

For this record, the artist experimented with retro sounds – specifically, dance beats, electro-pop rhythms, powerful lyrics and R&B flows – to create music for the future.

Elton John – Diamonds

• Release date: 10th November 2017
• Label: Rocket, Virgin EMI
• Standout tracks: ‘Your Song’, ‘Rocket Man’, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’, ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Glam Rock

In 2017, Elton John released one of the greatest greatest hits albums of all time: Diamonds.

Stick this on in the car and you’ll have all your passengers singing along. Isn’t it incredible how a five-year-old album filled with pre-millennial hits is one of the best-selling albums of 2022? Hats off to the Rocketman.

Queen – Greatest Hits

• Release date: 26th October 1981
• Label: EMI
• Standout tracks: ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Somebody to Love’, ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, ‘We Are the Champions’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Classic Rock

Over 40 years on from its release, Queen’s Greatest Hits is still one of the UK’s bestselling albums.

Currently at 25 million+ copies sold, we wonder how long Queen’s record-breaking success will go on.

ABBA – Gold – Greatest Hits

• Release date: 21st September 1992
• Label: Polygram
• Standout tracks: ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘The Winner Takes it All’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Waterloo’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist:  Pop

With sales of over 30 million, Gold is one of the world’s best-selling albums of all time.

It’s been re-released a number of times over the decades: in 1999 to mark the group’s 25th anniversary of winning the Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Waterloo’, in 2008 to coincide with the release of Mamma Mia! and in 2014 for the 40th anniversary of the Eurovision win.

A bonafide pop classic, there’s no doubt the compilation got a boost following the opening of ABBA’s immersive live experience in London.

Harry Styles – Fine Line

• Release date: 13th December 2019
• Label: Columbia Records
• Standout tracks: ’Watermelon Sugar’, ‘Golden’, ‘Treat People with Kindness’, ‘Falling’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Indie

Mr Styles’ second entry on the list has everything you could want: pop rock, psychedelic pop, folk, soul, funk and indie pop. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified triple platinum in the US.

It was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2020 Brit awards and received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance, together with a Brit Award for British Single of the Year for ‘Watermelon Sugar’.

Liam Gallagher - C’mon You Know

• Release date: 27th May 2022
• Label: Warner
• Standout tracks: ‘C’mon You Know’, ‘Better Days’, ‘Diamonds in the Dark’, ‘Everything’s Electric’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Indie Rock

The erstwhile Oasis and Beady Eye frontman’s third solo studio album was his fourth solo album to debut at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, attaining silver certification in its first week.

Critics thought that Gallagher’s most experimental solo album was packed with Summer of Love anthems, ideal for singalongs in festival fields.

‘Everything’s Electric’ was co-written by Dave Grohl and became Gallagher’s first solo single to reach the UK Top 20.

Doja Cat – Planet Her

• Release date: 25th June 2021
• Label: Kemosabe, RCA
• Standout tracks: ‘Kiss Me More’, ‘Woman’, ‘You Right’, ‘Get Into It (Yuh)’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Hip Hop/R&B

Over the past year, Doja Cat has become one of the biggest stars in the world. She’s winning all the awards, popping up in all of the right places and treating our ears to the best fusion of hip hop and pop we’ve heard since mid-2010s Drake.

Her third studio album Planet Her is, according to Chart Data, the most streamed album by a female rapper in Spotify’s history, with over five billion streams. The album is the first by a female rapper to hit this huge milestone.

Oasis – Time Flies – 1994-2009

• Release date: 14th June 2010
• Label: Big Brother Recordings
• Standout tracks: ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Supersonic’, ‘Roll with It’, ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Indie Rock

Rock out and take yourself back to the glory days of Knebworth, Oasis vs Blur and the band’s Britpop heyday with this compilation of all 27 of their UK singles.

Dave – We’re All Alone in This Together

• Release date: 23rd July 2021
• Label: Neighbourhood
• Standout tracks: ‘Verdansk’, ‘Clash’, ‘In The Fire’, ‘Heart Attack’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: UK Hip Hop & Grime

Brixton-born rapper David Orobosa Omoregie, better known as Dave, can do no wrong.

Instead of leaning on braggadocio like many of his peers, the UK rapper uses his music as a platform to challenge politicians, condemn inequality and discuss his true feelings.

His 2021 album We’re All Alone in This Together is arguably his best work yet, which explains why it’s one of the bestselling albums of the year.

Central Cee – 23

• Release date: 25th February 2022
• Label: Warner Chappell UK
• Standout tracks: ‘Retail Therapy’, ‘Air Bnb’, ‘Straight Back to It’, ‘Obsessed With You’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Driller

Shepherds Bush-born drill rapper Central Cee’s 23 is the second-highest British new release of 2022. And, in our opinion, it's hardly surprising that this record has performed so well considering the record features this many bangers.

‘Obsessed With You’ – a song that samples PinkPantheress’ viral smash ‘Just For Me’ – happens to be our current favourite.

D-Block Europe – Home Alone 2

• Release date: 19th November 2021
• Label: D-Block Europe (Self-released)
• Standout tracks: ‘Overseas’, ‘Make You Smile’, ‘No Competition’
• Relevant Audio Network Playlist: Trap

Whether you’re a fan of the British rap scene or not, you’ve most likely heard of D-Block Europe by now.

In late 2021, the South London collective released a sequel to their 2019 gold record Home Alone titled – can you guess? – Home Alone 2.

Judging by how ubiquitous the record’s singles are, it’s safe to say the album has proved popular.

Ones to Watch in 2022

• The 1975 – Being Funny In A Foreign Language
• Kid Cudi – Entergalactic
• Normani – TBC
• Arctic Monkeys – TBC
• Madonna - Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones
• Muse – Will of the People
• Christine and the Queens - Redcar Les adorables étoiles
• Cardi B – TBC

The 1975 – Being Funny In A Foreign Language

The UK’s biggest pop-rock band are set to return on October 14th with the follow-up to 2020’s Notes On A Conditional Form.

Lead track ‘Part Of The Band’ saw the band nodding to Bon Iver-esque folk experimentalism – with backing vocals provided by Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner – while second single ‘Happiness’ featured sunny, sax-flecked indie-funk.

Judging on previous albums, there’s probably little point guessing what we can expect from the rest of the record musically, but thematically we’re definitely in for ride, with garrulous frontman Matty Healy recently revealing to Pitchfork that, “There are so many good dick jokes on the record”. Make of that what you will…

Kid Cudi – Entergalactic

Back in 2019, Netflix announced that Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi) would write and produce an adult animated television series for the streaming service, and Kenya Barris and Ian Edelman would contribute as executive producers.

This year, the television show is set to debut alongside Kid Cudi’s album of the same name, expected to drop on September 30th.

Normani – TBC

Normani has been dropping heat since 2018 in the shape of singles ‘Wild Side’, ‘Waves’ and ‘Motivation’, and yet fans are still waiting to hear what a Normani album sounds like.

Fingers crossed the wait might soon be over: according to rumours, 2022 is the year the former Fifth Harmony star finally drops her debut record.

Arctic Monkeys – TBC

It’s been a while since Arctic Monkeys last released an album.

But now the English rock band have announced tour dates for this summer (they’re headlining Reading and Leeds at the end of August), fans are waiting on an announcement of the long-awaited follow-up to 2018’s Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino.

Monkeys drummer Matt Helders revealed to NME that musically, the album ‘picks up where Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino left off’, but was tight-lipped on either a release date or a title…

Madonna – Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones

FIFTY NUMBER ONES! Count ‘em. The Queen of Pop’s new album marks achieving a record number of US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart toppers – the most of any artist on any Billboard chart.

All of the tracks have been remastered by Mike Dean, who’s worked with Madonna on her albums Rebel Heart and Madame X.

Muse – Will of the People

‘It’s the end of something. It’s the end of a certain cycle of civilisation…’ Muse’s main man, Matt Bellamy, revealed to the NME that the big themes of the Devon rockers’ new album are about what’s happening in the world right now, rather than the ‘fantasy Metaverse fictional world’ they explored in 2018’s 80s-themed Simulation Theory.

Christine and the Queens – Redcar Les adorables étoiles

Can it really be four years since the amazing Chris was released?

Redcar, the new alias of French art-pop star Christine and the Queens, has announced that Redcar Les adorables étoiles will be released on September 23rd.

Cardi B – TBC

New York rapper Cardi B has been teasing the follow-up to her 2018 debut, Invasion Of Privacy, for what feels like forever, but with the release of lead single ‘Hot Shit’ back in July, the wheels are now finally in motion.

A minimal, Tay Keith-production featuring Kanye West and Lil Durk, it augers very well for the full-length.

The Edit

Now that you’ve read up about the most popular albums of 2022 – all hail No. 1 best-seller Ed Sheeran’s Equals - and glanced into the future hits, find out which have been the best ads of 2022 as well as the best sport ads of 2022, over on The Edit.

Once you’re fully versed in the records that have made it big this year, it’s time to start exploring our playlists to discover music for your next project. Take inspiration from Ed Sheeran’s success by adding one of our chilled pop songs to your next commercial, capture the attention of Gen-Zs by utilising one of our UK grime tracks in your podcast or trigger nostalgia by enhancing your television series with some retro-rock.