Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé dropped the “Perfect Duet” to dethrone Post Malone and 21 Savage’s “rockstar” on the Hot 100. Their collaboration tops the Billboard chart in its first full week of availability.
Streaming for both versions of the song — the “original” and the Beyoncé remix — account for the No. 1, with the “Duet” version making up 63 percent of the week’s total sales.
It’s Ed’s second Hot 100 No. 1 after ÷’s lead single “Shape of You,” which makes him the only artist to have two Hot 100 No. 1s as a lead artist this year. Justin Bieber has two as a featured act.
Meanwhile, it’s Queen Bey’s sixth No. 1 as a solo star and 10th overall, counting songs with Destiny’s Child. It’s also been nearly nine years since her last Hot 100 No. 1 (“Single Ladies”), making it the longest break between chart-toppers since Sean Paul, who went 10 years and four months between “Temperature” and his Sia collaboration, “Cheap Thrills.”
“Perfect Duet” is also a smash overseas, where it topped the U.K. charts nine months after it entered at No. 4. “Thanks to Beyoncé for featuring on this new version,” said Ed. “I’m very excited to be ending the year the way it started.”
