Sam Smith, a breakout singer of 2014, has become the first artist to sell a million albums in both the United Kingdom and the U.S. this year.
The Official Charts Company announced the achievement on Thursday, shortly after Smith’s “The Lonely Hour” passed the 1 million landmark in the U.K., and Nielsen Music confirmed it sold over a million copies in the U.S., too.
Smith’s debut joins Taylor Swift‘s “1989” and the “Frozen” sound track as the only albums that have sold over a million copies in the U.S. this year, while Ed Sheeran’s “X” was the only album to do so overseas.
“To hit a million anywhere is impressive, but to become the only artist in the world to do so on both sides of the Atlantic is quite remarkable,” Official Charts’ chief executive Martin Talbot said. “His journey in 2014, from unknown newcomer winning the Brit Awards’ Critics Choice award to internationally renowned double million-seller, has been incredible.”