Ed Sheeran has enjoyed a truly stellar year since he first kicked off the latest era of his career, and he now has yet another reason to celebrate. The British singer-songwriter’s single “Shape of You” currently ranks at No. 13 on the Hot 100 during a very important week for the single.
“Shape of You” has now been present on the Hot 100, Billboard’s all-encompassing singles tally, for an entire year. 52 weeks ago, the song blasted onto the chart at No. 1, becoming one of fewer than 30 songs to ever be so immediately popular that they begin their time on the listing at the peak position. The tropical pop tune went on to rule for 12 nonconsecutive frames, which tied it for the fourth-longest run at No. 1. The lead single from Sheeran’s album ÷ (Divide) ended up remaining inside the top five for 20 frames (a new record for the longest stay inside that region for a track that started there), and a total of 33 weeks within the top 10 (also a new best for the lengthiest stay in the tier).
Most songs that hold on for anywhere near a year are close to the bottom by the time an anniversary rolls around, but amazingly, "Shape" has been growing on the Hot 100. Last week, it was still doing well at No. 19, and the frame before that, it was down to No. 24. It is unlikely that another turn inside the top 10 is coming, though with only three positions separating it and the highest tier, anything is possible.
While it is still performing well on the chart, “Shape” might not last much longer on the Hot 100 due to a rule set down by Billboard a few years back. In an effort to make sure the listing doesn’t become overrun by hits that simply won’t disappear, any track that dips below No. 25 after it has already been living on the ranking for a full year is automatically removed. That happened in mid-2017 with The Chainsmokers and Halsey’s smash “Closer,” which was still living inside the Top 40 when it was taken off the chart.
Sheeran’s biggest hit thus far in his career might collect a few more turns on the important tally, but it will likely vanish sooner, rather than later. A year on the Hot 100 is the sort of success any artist would dream of, and it remains an incredibly rare feat that even most stars will never accomplish. If left alone, there’s no telling how long the track could continue to find a space on the Hot 100, and it could very well be present for months, if not another full year, and had Billboard not established the rule that will end its run, it likely would have ended up as one of the longest-running songs of all time.
The British superstar probably isn’t too concerned about the fact that “Shape of You” is gone, as his current single “Perfect” remains at No. 1 on the Hot 100, where it has now been comfortable for five weeks.
