Harry Styles has grabbed the coveted top spot of the lists of both the UK’s best-selling singles and albums in 2022.
And it was in what was a record-breaking year for British music too.
According to the data shared by the Official Charts Company this week, for the first time since year-end chart data began being released over 50 years ago now, the year’s most popular songs were all by British artists – with Cheshire‘s finest Styles claiming the top slot of the top 40 list with his undeniable smash-hit ‘As It Was’.
The lead single from Styles’ third solo album, Harry’s House, sold an impressive 1.57 million chart units since its release in April 2022 to the end of the year, which was probably helped by the fact that it was also the longest-running Number 1 of 2022, managing an 10 weeks at the top of the charts.
‘As It Was’ also leads the pack as the most-streamed song of the year, with over 180.9 million audio and video streams.
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It was also best-selling across combined physical and digital sales with 65,000.
Not only that either, as Harry’s House – which was released in May 2022 – also ran away with the top spot on the best-selling albums list too.
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Elsewhere on the official top 10 biggest songs of 2022 list, Ed Sheeran’s ‘Bad Habits’ is immediately behind Styles in second, Fireboy DML’s Sheeran collaboration ‘Peru’ coming in third, London newcomer Cat Burns’ smash-hit single ‘Go’ in fourth, and Sheeran again rounds-out the top five with his other huge hit ‘Shivers’.
It’s not all brand-new songs released in 2022 taking top 10 spots though, as Glass Animals’ sleeper hit ‘Heatwaves’ originally released back in 2020 takes the seventh spot, but just one place before that in sixth is ‘Running Up That Hill’ by Kate Bush, which enjoyed a resurgence of success in the summer and shot to number 1 for the first time ever thanks to its use in an iconic scene on Netflix’s Stranger Things.
Adele, LF System, Sam Fender, Calum Scott, Dave, Elton John, George Ezra, Lewis Capaldi, and Eliza Rose and Interplanetary Criminal are just a handful of the other names appearing on the top 40 list.
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Official Top 10 biggest songs of 2022
‘As It Was’ by Harry Styles
‘Bad Habits’ by Ed Sheeran
‘Peru’ by Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran
‘Go’ by Cat Burns
‘Shivers’ by Ed Sheeran
‘Running Up That Hill’ by Kate Bush
‘Heatwaves’ by Glass Animals
‘Where Are You Now’ by Lost Frequencies ft. Calum Scott
‘Afraid To Feel’ by LF System
‘Seventeen Going Under’ by Sam Fender
Harry Styles claims top-selling single and album of 2022 / Credit: Harry Styles
‘As It Was’ may have been Styles’ biggest song of 2022, enjoying success atop countless charts globally for a significant period of time, but the singer also had another one of his smash-hit singles make it onto the top 40 list.
The follow-up single ‘Late Night Talking’ found itself in the 32nd spot.
Billie Eilish reveals the reason why chose Manchester to film her new movie
Danny Jones
Global superstar Billie Eilish has revealed the reason why she chose Manchester, of all places, to film her upcoming new movie.
The answer won’t surprise you, but we were buzzing with it nonetheless.
In case you were unaware, Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour is the new documentary and live concert film directed by Billie herself, along with some help from none other than James Cameron.
Being screened not only in cinemas but also in 3D (yes, that’s still a thing), the performance-based movie captures content taken from her run of gigs right here in Manchester. Here’s why she picked us:
Though it’s still no surprise, really, we always find it so surreal seeing some of the world’s most famous artists speaking so highly about our city.
As you can see, while she did quip that the schedule lined up production-wise, it was an easy decision to pick her four – yes, FOUR sold-out nights at Co-op Live, as the place to film the project based on the atmosphere alone.
“I fricking love Manchester”, said the 24-year-old, going on to add, “Honestly, Manchester is one of my favourite audiences ever.”
Manc fans simply couldn’t get enough of her, hence why she was able to book so many big dates at the massive arena.
Here’s the big surprise she brought out for the show we were lucky enough to be at:
We love Billie and, as it turns out, she feels the same about us.
The release date for Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft tour movie is coming around early next month, with the film set to be screened in selected cinemas across the UK and beyond on May 8, 2026.
Speaking in the recent interview on the red carpet with the BBC, she also detailed how fellow Academy Award-winner Cameron contacted her first about the prospect of creating this immersive music project.
Imagine just picking up the phone to James Cameron – as you do…
Will you be watching? Better still, were you at one of the shows and plan to look out for yourself in the crowd, which is now soon to be splashed on the big screen?
Manchester’s very own Interplanetary Criminal announces major headline Warehouse Project show
Daisy Jackson
Interplanetary Criminal will play a major headline show this autumn, taking the stage at Warehouse Project in his hometown.
Manchester’s very own rising star producer, who has been a driving force behind the global resurgence of UK garage, will play his biggest headline show to date.
Interplanetary Criminal will be joined by a huge line-up that includes ANZ, Joy Orbison, Jyoty, HAAi, and more.
He’ll be returning to his home city for a Warehouse Project gig on Saturday 10 October – his only Manchester appearance of the year.
As well as taking over the illustrious Depot Mayfield, including Depot, Concourse and Archive stages, there’ll be a special WHP Records takeover at the iconic Star & Garter pub too.
Manchester’s very own Interplanetary Criminal announces major headline Warehouse Project show
The line-up has been curated by Interplanetary Criminal himself and spans house, garage, techno and beyond, with a series of surprise B2Bs in the works too.
There’ll be key names on the bill like ANZ, Joy Orbison, Jyoty, DJ Seinfeld, HAAi and Skin On Skin, alongside a deep roster of emerging and established talent.
Pre-sale tickets for Interplanetary Criminal at Warehouse Project in Manchester go on sale from 10am on Thursday 30 April, priced at £35 plus booking fees – you can sign up HERE.
General sale is from 10am on Friday 1 May.
Interplanetary Criminal at Warehouse Project A-Z line-up
Emily Sergeant -
4th January 2023 
