Overview
25 is Adele’s third studio album, released November 20, 2015. The album sold 3.38 million copies in its first week in the US (largest single-week sales ever) and 800,000 copies in three days in the UK (fastest-selling album of the decade there).
Cultural Phenomenon
Lead single “Hello” broke Vevo’s 24-hour viewing record with 27.7 million views. The song’s flip-phone music video became instantly iconic. Adele refused to stream the album on Spotify for seven months, demonstrating artists’ power over distribution. The album won Album of the Year at the 2017 Grammys (her second win).
Chart Dominance
25 debuted at #1 in 119 countries and sold over 22 million copies worldwide. It was the best-selling album of 2015, 2016, and the decade’s best-seller. Adele’s refusal to tour extensively made her live shows rare and highly coveted events.