Ed Sheeran is named the most-viewed artist on TikTok in 2021 days after festive track Merry Christmas enters the UK singles chart at number one
Ed Sheeran has been crowned the most-viewed musical artist on video-sharing platform TikTok for 2021.
The popstar, 30, launched three exclusive single previews from his album Equals on the social media site this year.
More than five million people also tuned in to watch his record-breaking live performance at the UEFA Euro 2020 show.
Animated: He worked the crowd in his usual confident style
The report, an analysis of the songs and artists who have “dominated” the platform in the UK this year, features singer Sam Ryder in second position, with KSI and Yungblud following on in the top five.
The Castle on the Hill hitmaker also had the most new followers this year.
Ed has just under 10 million followers and his account is just shy of garnering 80 million likes, leading to him overtaking last year’s leading artist, Essex-based singer-songwriter Ryder, for the amount of people viewing the account.
The musician, who released album Equals in October, also had the most new followers this year, with Niall Horan, Coldplay, and Dua Lipa – whose music is consistently at the centre of TikTok trends – all making major gains.
Cool: While on stage Ed rocked an all-black ensemble and played his guitar to the adoring fans
All smiles: Earlier on Thursday evening he took to the stage at the iconic venue with his guitar and wowed the crowds with his songs
Paul Hourican, head of music operations EU and UK for TikTok, said: ‘2021 has been a landmark year for TikTok, our artists and partners across the UK music industry, a year when our artist community and sounds became even bigger and more diverse and when fans discovered and rediscovered incredible music, both new and old.’
Ed, who became a father for the first time in August 2020 devastated fans when announced he’d be stepping back from performing for a few years, in order to prioritise his family life.
However, after making a comeback earlier this year, the Suffolk native is ending a year on a double high as he and Sir Elton John’s festive song went straight to number one of the UK singles chart on Friday.
Celebration: Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John’s festive song goes straight to number one of the UK singles chart, it was announced on Friday
The song released last week, which is called Merry Christmas, had 76,700 chart sales in its first week.
The tune also has had 7.6 million streams, according to the Official Charts Company.
The single is the A-Team singer’s third number one this year, and his 12th in total, while it is Elton’s second of this year after his song Cold Heart with Dua Lipa (PNAU Remix)
The profits from the song will go to Ed’s Suffolk Music Foundation and the Elton John Aids Foundation.
Success: The song released last week, which is called Merry Christmas, had 76,700 chart sales in its first week
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