Y
2014
2014 in British Music
Sam Smith's heartbreak reign, grime's resurgence, and Ed Sheeran's X factor.
Key Events
- •Sam Smith's In the Lonely Hour — debut sells 12 million globally
- •Ed Sheeran's X becomes the year's biggest album worldwide
- •Skepta and Stormzy begin grime's second wave revival
Dominant Genres
PopGrimeElectronicIndie
Notable Trends
- →Grime's resurgence: from underground to mainstream
- →British solo artists dominate global streaming
- →Spotify and streaming services become central to chart success