Sam Fender has stormed to the top of the UK album charts with his new album ‘People Watching’, landing the biggest UK opening week for a British act since Harry Styles‘ ‘Harry’s House‘.
Fender shifted 107,100 chart units in his third album’s opening week, earning him his third Number One album in a row, per the Official Charts Company. It’s also his biggest ever opening week, selling more units than 2019’s debut ‘Hypersonic Missiles‘ and 2021’s ‘Seventeen Going Under‘ combined.
In addition, it’s also the biggest opening week of 2025 and the largest UK opening week for a British artist since Styles racked up 113,000 units just under three years ago.
Only nine artists including Fender, have managed 100,000 UK albums sales in a week this decade – Taylor Swift, Adele, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Take That, ABBA and Arctic Monkeys.
Furthermore, ‘People Watching’ has become the fastest-selling vinyl album by a British act this century.
“This is completely overwhelming. Thank you to everyone who’s supported us and listened to the album this week,” said Fender in response to the news.
Earlier this week, it was reported that ‘People Watching’ was on course to outsell the rest of the UK Top 10 combined.
In a four-star review of ‘People Watching’, NME wrote: “Reflective, analytical and vulnerable, ‘People Watching’ does exactly what the title may suggest: takes stock of the characters, friends and loved ones who have made Fender the person he is today. He approaches each track with sensitivity as he looks back on his life so far – perhaps even with an inkling of guilt – and contemplates who he may be next.”
In other Sam Fender news, the musician recently teased another new album, saying that he is “desperate” to lean into more of a punk-inspired sound going forward.
During a recent interview on Apple Music 1‘s The Zane Lowe Show, the Geordie songwriter opened up about working with The War On Drugs‘ Adam Granduciel, and reiterated that he is already working on its follow-up.
Fender recently added further dates to his forthcoming UK stadium tour in the summer – including Wythenshawe Park in Manchester, Edinburgh Summer Sessions, and Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast. Visit here to buy tickets and find a list of UK tour dates here.
He is also nominated for two BRIT Awards at next month’s ceremony: Artist Of The Year and Alt/Rock Act, and has been announced as the official ambassador of Record Store Day UK 2025. The event will be held on April 12 and Fender will release two new songs as part of a special EP to celebrate.
On top of that, it was recently announced that Fender will be one of the headlining acts at this year’s Formula 1 British Grand Prix.
