Ed Sheeran’s New Single Bolts To No. 1 From Second-To-Last Place

Every month for the past three months, Ed Sheeran has released a new single from his upcoming full-length Play. The album isn’t expected to arrive until mid-September, but Sheeran has already shared a trio of tracks, including “Azizam,” “Old Phone,” and his most recent cut, “Sapphire.”

This frame, the newest of those three debuts across multiple rankings, hitting the top 10 on each of them simultaneously. That feat marks an improvement over last week, when the cut only barely managed to chart on one tally.

“Sapphire” Hits No. 1

This time around, “Sapphire” dominates a single list in the U.K., as it rockets from No. 99 to No. 1 on the Official Singles Downloads chart. It initially launched in second-to-last place on the 100-spot roster after arriving on a Thursday, meaning it only had a few hours of availability in which to sell copies. Despite that handicap, it still ranked among the most-downloaded tracks in the nation, but only barely. Now that its first full tracking period has concluded, it’s become a champion.

Ed Sheeran’s 16 No. 1s

Sheeran collects his sixteenth No. 1 on the Official Singles Downloads chart as “Sapphire” rockets to the summit. Play has now produced a pair of leaders, as “Azizam” ruled the tally for two weeks, while “Old Phone” stalled at No. 3.

“Sapphire” Launches Inside the Top 10

“Sapphire” also reaches the top 10 on three other rankings, debuting inside that loftiest tier on all of them. The cut misses the throne on the Official Singles Sales chart by just one space. It also kicks off its time at No. 9 on the Official Singles roster — the main list of the most-consumed songs in the country — and it lands at No. 8 on the Official Streaming tally.

Ed Sheeran’s Dozens of Smashes

On each ranking that “Sapphire” reaches, Sheeran has already collected dozens of top 10s. He’s earned the most on the Official Singles chart, where his latest track becomes his forty-second placement inside the top 10. He’s secured the fewest number of smashes in that region on the Official Streaming roster, where “Sapphire” is his thirty-fourth such win.

“Azizam” and “Old Phone” Hold On

Both of Sheeran’s previous Play singles are still present on multiple U.K. rankings. “Azizam” lives on five lists, while “Old Phone” — the newer of the two — is declining on all four rosters where it can be found. Just one older cut by Sheeran, “Perfect,” is also present on the Official Streaming chart. That tune barely holds on at No. 96, as it reaches 348 weeks on the tally.