Blossoms have scored the highest-selling debut album of 2016, beating the likes of Zayn and Jack Garrett, NME reports.

Released on August 5, NME described the album as leaping “from their chart-bound Trojan horse as modernist rock heroes,” adding that “it’s tuneful, romance-based radio pop with slivers of guitar for decoration.”

The self-titled LP currently sits on 65,123 sales. Zayn’s ‘Mind Of Mine’, released on March 25, is in second place on 64,211, while Jack Garratt’s ‘Phase’, which came out on February 19, has figures of 62,217.

Speaking to Music Week, managing director of Blossoms label Virgin EMI Clive Cawley puts their success down to various factors. “It was EPs, touring, merch bundles, album bundles… Fan engagement, I’d say,” he told Music Week. “They’re one of the few artists to have A-List at [BBC] Radio 1,2 and 6. It’s pretty niche to develop them that way.

“We came out in week 28, so it’s amazing to be up there against Zayn and Jack Garratt – who both released earlier – as a brand new band.” Meanwhile, Island marketing director Guillermo Ramos said that Garratt’s campaign – which kicked off with the BRITs Critics’ Choice award – revolved around “bringing the Jack Garratt world to life”.

He added: “Jack made a hugely exciting, genre-bending album which is hardly how you’d describe a lot of previous [Critics’ Choice] winners, if you look at Adele, Ellie Goulding or Tom Odell. If anything, what Jack did was show the BRITs attracts a more diverse range of artists.”

Earlier this month, The Courteeners spoke on why they chose Blossoms for their huge Manchester show. “They’re a real grassroots northern band – no leg-ups from anybody or anything like that,” frontman Liam Fray commented.

“They’ve grafted their balls off and toured extensively. Great pop songs, good lads, what’s not to love about it? It’s a proper old-school story – four lads meet at college and start a band,” he added.

“That’s what we want in this country, it should be celebrated. It gives me faith a little bit as well. None of their dads are loaded and gave them a million quid to set up a studio. They’re normal lads who wrote songs in their bedrooms like we did. Great, they should be celebrated. It doesn’t matter about anything else – you need the songs.”