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List of most-downloaded songs in the United Kingdom

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"Happy" by Pharrell Williams is the most-downloaded single in the UK

A music download is the transfer of music as a digital file from a provider (such as iTunes) to a device capable of playing it; legal sales of music downloads have been monitored and charted in the United Kingdom since 2004. As of 4 January 2023, the UK's most downloaded song of all the time was "As It Was" by Harry Styles, which became the U.K.'s top-selling single and album.[1] In 2021, "Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran became one of the most streamed song of the year. In the year of 2020, "Head & Heart" by Joel Corry Ft. MNEK became one of the most trending songs of the time. As for in 2010s songs by singers like Rihanna, Adele, Vance Joy, Sia, James Arthur became famous.

Besides, as per 9 September 2014, the UK's most-downloaded song of all time is "Happy" by Pharrell Williams, which topped both the UK Singles Downloads Chart and UK Singles Chart.[2]

The first single to sell 1 million downloads in the UK was "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas[3] and "Someone like You" and "Set Fire to the Rain" by Adele are the best-selling downloads by a female artist.[2] The best-selling song not to top the UK Singles Chart is "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera, whilst the best-selling song not to top the Download Chart is "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem featuring Rihanna, which peaked at number two.[2]

Most-downloaded songs

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Rihanna
Adele
Lady Gaga
No. Artist Song Record label Year Peak
position
Copies sold[a]
1 Pharrell Williams "Happy" Sony 2013 1 1,922,000[4]
2 Adele "Someone Like You" Beggars 2011 1 1,637,000+[5]
3 Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams "Blurred Lines" Universal 2013 1 1,620,000+
4 Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera "Moves Like Jagger" Universal 2011 2 1,500,000+
5 Gotye featuring Kimbra "Somebody That I Used to Know" Universal 2012 1 1,470,000+
6 Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams "Get Lucky" Sony 2013 1 1,400,000+
7 The Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" Universal 2009 1 1,350,000+
8 Avicii "Wake Me Up" Universal 2013 1 1,340,000+
9 Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris "We Found Love" Universal 2011 1 1,337,000+
10 Kings of Leon "Sex on Fire" Sony BMG 2008 1 1,293,000+
11 Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe" Universal 2012 1 1,264,000+
12 Bruno Mars "Just the Way You Are" Warner 2010 1 1,247,000+
13 Psy "Gangnam Style" Universal 2012 1 1,229,000+
14 LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem" Universal 2011 1 1,229,000+
15 Jessie J featuring B.o.B "Price Tag" Universal 2012 1 1,188,000+
16 Eminem featuring Rihanna "Love the Way You Lie" Universal 2010 2 1,173,000+
17 Little Mix "Shout Out To My Ex" Syco 2016 1 1,159,827+
18 David Guetta featuring Sia "Titanium" EMI 2012 1 1,158,000+
19 Little Mix "Black Magic" Syco 2015 1 1,146,000+
20 Lady Gaga "Poker Face" Warner 2009 1 1,131,000+
21 Passenger "Let Her Go" Nettwerk 2012 1 1,114,000+
22 Rihanna "Only Girl (In the World)" Universal 2010 1 1,103,000+
23 fun. featuring Janelle Monáe "We Are Young" Warner 2012 1 1,095,000+
24 Kings of Leon "Use Somebody" Sony BMG 2008 2 1,068,000+
25 James Arthur "Impossible" Sony 2012 1 1,053,000+
26 Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne "Rather Be" Warner 2014 1 1,053,000+
27 Ed Sheeran "The A Team" Warner 2011 3 1,053,000
28 Little Mix "Touch" Syco 2016 3 1,041,000+
30 Rihanna "Diamonds" Universal 2012 1 1,006,000
31 Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith "La La La" Universal 2013 1 1,000,000+
32 Katy Perry "Firework" EMI 2010 3 1,000,000+
33 Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer "Give Me Everything" Sony 2011 1 1,000,000+
34 Adele "Rolling in the Deep" Beggars 2011 2 1,000,000+
35 Journey "Don't Stop Believin'" Sony 2010 6 1,000,000
36 Lady Gaga "Bad Romance" Universal 2009 1 1,000,000
37 Katy Perry "Roar" Universal 2013 1 990,000
38 Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin "Don't You Worry Child" Universal 2012 1 980,000
39 LMFAO "Sexy and I Know It" Universal 2011 5 974,000
41 Nicki Minaj "Starships" Universal 2012 2 967,000
42 CeeLo Green "Forget You" Warner 2010 1 963,000
43 Bruno Mars "Grenade" Warner 2011 1 949,000
  1. ^ As of 2014[2]

Most-downloaded songs by year

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References

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  1. ^ Smirke, Richard (4 January 2023). "Harry Styles Helps UK Music Streams Cross 150 Billion Mark for First Time in 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Copsey, Rob (9 September 2014). "Pharrell's Happy now the UK's most downloaded track of all time". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  3. ^ Kaufman, Gil (14 September 2011). "Adele, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber Land New Guinness Records". MTV. Viacom International Inc. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  4. ^ Moss, Liv (19 June 2015). "The Official 40 biggest songs of the decade revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  5. ^ Moss, Liv (26 April 2017). "Official Top 20 Biggest Selling Singles Of All Time By Female Artists". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
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