Ed Sheeran was the most played artist of 2021 in the UK and had the most played single with “Bad Habits”.

The 31-year-old megastar is the only artist in history to win both titles in two different years.

In 2017, Ed achieved the same with his mega-hit “Shape of You” from his “Divide” LP.

Ed has been the most played artist in the UK for four years, however, in 2020 Dua Lipa interrupted his run by beating him for the title.

Pop superstar Adele, 34, is the only other musician to claim the most-played artist and most-played song of the year in the same year.

The “Hello” singer Adele was the most played artist of the year in 2011, with “Rolling In The Deep” winning the most played single.

The data, compiled by Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), revealed that David Guetta was the second most played artist in 2021.

Dua is third, followed by Little Mix, Coldplay, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Calvin Harris, Taylor Swift and Pink.

Tom Grennan, 27, claimed two spots on the UK’s most played singles for 2021, with his Calvin Harris collaboration ‘By Your Side’ coming in second and ‘Little Bit Of Love‘ third.

“Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd, “Higher Power” by “Coldplay”, “All You Ever Wanted” by Rag’n’Bone Man, “Heartbreak Anthem” by Galantis, David Guetta and Little Mix, “Starstruck” by Years and Years, Miley Cyrus’ ‘Midnight Sky’ and Joel Corry’s ‘Bed’, Raye and David Guetta round out the top 10.

This means that David Guetta is the only other artist to have two songs in the top 10.

Peter Leathem, Managing Director of PPL, said: “Congratulations to Ed Sheeran on having the most played track in the UK in 2021 and being the most played artist in the UK in 2021.

“Its success at the top of the charts over the past five years is a testament not only to the quality of its output, but also to the strength of British music at a time when the global music landscape is more competitive than ever.”

The most played artists of 2021:

1. Ed Sheeran

2. David Guetta

3. Doua Lipa

4. Small mixture

5. Cold play

6. The weekend

7. Justin Bieber

8. Calvin Harris

9. Taylor Swift

10. Pink

The most played singles in the UK in 2021:

1. “Bad Habits” – Ed Sheeran

2. “By Your Side” – Calvin Harris with Tom Grennan

3. “A Little Bit of Love” – ​​Tom Grennan

4. “Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd

5. “Higher Power” – Coldplay

6. “Everything You Ever Wanted” – Rag’n’Bone Man

7. ‘Heartbreak Anthem’ – Galantis, David Guetta and Little Mix

8. ‘Starstruck’ – Years and Years

9. “Midnight Sky” – Miley Cyrus

10. “Bed” – Joel Corry, Raye and David Guetta