Y
2011

2011 in British Music

Adele's 21 rewrites the record books — a global phenomenon from Tottenham.

Key Events

  • Adele releases 21 — becomes one of the best-selling albums of all time
  • Ed Sheeran debuts with '+' — the acoustic troubadour goes global
  • Jessie J wins Brits Critics Choice and Brit Award — British pop's new guard arrives

Dominant Genres

PopSoulIndieElectronic

Notable Trends

  • The British pop invasion 2.0: Adele, Ed Sheeran, One Direction
  • Streaming begins to count toward the singles chart
  • Album sales in decline, but Adele proves the format can still be massive

Key Artists of 2011

201020112012