Sam Smith scores millions in UK/US music sales and plays at the 2015 BRITs

Sam Smith’s artistic juggernaut continues to roll even as 2014 draws to an end.

The young British soul star (pictured) is officially the only artist worldwide to have sold more than 1 million copies of the same album in both the UK and the US this year.

The UK’s Official Charts Company reported that Smith’s debut album In The Lonely Hour, which was released by Capitol Records in May, has passed the one-million sales landmark in the UK. It is the second album to reach that milestone in Britain, after Ed Sheeran’s X (“multiply”).

Nielsen Music data also shows Smith’s album has sold 1 million-plus units in the US.

He joins Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, two other recorded-music sensations from 2014, as the first artists confirmed to perform at the BRIT Awards 2015. The ceremony, taking place on 25 February at London’s most music-friendly venue The O2, will be broadcast live exclusively on commercial public broadcast network ITV.

To demonstrate that Smith’s rise and rise in UK recorded-music lore is not a fluke, don’t forget he was voted for the BRITs Critics’ Choice last year. This year’s Critics’ Choice winner James Bay will collect his award at the ‘The BRITs Are Coming’ nominations show on 15 January.

Swift also performed at the 2013 BRITs, while Sheeran played during the 2012 ceremony.

[Juliana Koranteng]