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Stormzy is eying a hattrick on the U.K. albums chart with This Is What I Mean (via 0207/Merky), which leads at the midweek point.
The Croydon, England rapper is a perfect two-from-two, having led the Official U.K. Albums Chart with with his 2017 debut Gang Signs & Prayer and 2019’s Heavy Is The Head.
The Brit Award winner’s latest LP starts at No. 1 on the midweek chart, just ahead of pop veteran Cliff Richard’s festive collection, Christmas With Cliff (EastWest/Rhino).
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Richard’s first Christmas release in almost two decades is on track to become the iconic British artist’s 47th Top 10 solo album, a feat that includes seven leaders.
It’s nearly that time of year, which means a batch of Christmas-themed records are charging up the U.K. charts.
Andrea, Matteo and Virginia Bocelli’s A Family Christmas (Decca) lifts 11-5 on the midweek survey, and Michael Bublé’s Christmas (Reprise) is hovering just outside the top 10, up 35-11.
Further down the list, a Christmas edition of George Ezra’s former leader Gold Rush Kid (Columbia) bumps 33-15, while Aled Jones & Russell Watson’s Christmas With Aled & Russell (BMG) holds at No. 37.
It’s similar story on the midweek singles survey, with holiday classics from Mariah Carey and Wham surging into the top 10.
Elsewhere on the midweek albums survey, Rock And Roll Hall of Famers The Cure could mark a return to the top tier with the goth faves’ ninth album Wish (Polydor/UMR), thanks to a reissue. Wish reached No. 1 following its original release in 1992, and blasts to No. 4 on the Official Chart Update.
Finally, David Bowie could bag a 69th top 40 appearance on the U.K. albums survey with A Divine Symmetry (Parlophone), a four-disc package of rarities and demos that traces the year leading up to the release of his 1971 classic album, Hunky Dory.
Interest in the legendary late singer continues to run hot, thanks in part to the release of Brett Morgen’s feature-length documentary Moonage Daydream, the soundtrack to which opened at No. 20 on the Official U.K. Chart last Friday (Nov. 25). A Divine Symmetry could hit the same height; it’s new at No. 20 on the midweek chart.
Bowie died Jan. 10, 2016 at the age of 69, just days after the release of his Blackstar album.
The Official U.K. Albums Chart is published late Friday.
DJ Khaled turned 47 on Saturday and got quite the birthday gift from Drake in the form of multiple — yes, multiple — luxury toilets.
“@champagnepapi real talk – my Queen and I been wanting this for our house!! thank u my brother!!” the hitmaker wrote in an Instagram Reel showing off the hygienic gifts. “Nahhh this No regular toilet 🚽 this that TOTO! Same model as the ones in the embassy…I LIKE WHAT DRAKE LIKE!! Love brother!! Thank you for the gift.”
According to Khaled’s effusive commentary in the video, the Toto toilets come complete with heated seats, a UV light cleaning system, air-refreshing deodorizers, a night light, operation via remote control and a bidet function (“The water, too, that splats up!”).
“If you’ve ever been to Drake’s house, you know Drake’s house is worth, like, 500 million dollars. So yes, Toto. It’s not about the money, it’s just about, he went and got the best of the best so he gifted us a few of these Toto toilet bowls and I’m hearing…I ain’t try it yet but I’m hearing there’s some music involved too, might play some music. Nah, real talk!” he raved. “Shout-out to Toto, Drake, thank you for this gift. This is the most amazing toilet bowl I’ve ever seen in my life!”
Khaled and Drake most recently collaborated on God Did single “Staying Alive” with Lil Baby, which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also bounded its way to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Rhythmic Airplay, Hot Rap Songs and Streaming Songs charts in August.
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BRISBANE, Australia — With the 2022 ARIA Awards now done and dusted, organizers are looking ahead to next year’s edition — and a brand-new category.
The Australian recorded music industry’s 37th annual ceremony will debut an award that celebrates the best use of Australian music in the creative and advertising space.
The new trophy coincides with the launch of Our Soundtrack Our Ads, a call-out to the Australian advertising industry to invest their music budgets into homegrown artists to soundtrack their work.
Spearheaded by ARIA Award-nominated recording artist Holly Rankin, the singer, songwriter and entrepreneur otherwise known as Jack River, Our Soundtrack Our Ads is the platform through which brands and creatives can gain eligibility for the new award.
It’s “an exciting opportunity for brands, creatives and the music industry to unite with a common goal of championing local music and local storytelling,” comments Rankin, whose debut full-length album Sugar Mountain opened at No. 11 on the ARIA Album Chart in 2018, and earned three ARIA Award nominations.
“We have such amazing talent here in our backyard, so getting to hear new and upcoming voices across more commercials, social media campaigns and creative content is exciting for the next generation of artists, brands and music lovers alike.”
Rankin got the ball rolling when, during the Olympic Games in July 2021, she noticed so many of the Aussie triumphs in Tokyo were beamed back home to the soundtrack of popular tunes from abroad.
So she took a stand.
Local businesses and media should do more to champion Australian music through its outlets and on commercials, she wrote in a PSA. “We need you more than ever. We wanna be your soundtrack,” read a post on her socials.
The essay went viral, commitments were made, and Our Soundtrack Our Stories was launched, to promote the use of Australian music across local businesses and media.
“We’ve been workshopping for the last 12 months, just feeling out how this would work, and making sure it would be super-authentic to both industries. And a true partnership,” explains Saynaree Oudomvilay, PR & Communications Senior Account Director at M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, a partner in the new initiative.
Our Soundtrack our Ads is “really an extension of the legacy Holly has created,” she continues.
The ARIA Award should create some healthy competition. “We wanted to make (the campaign) super-accessible, and not just put out a lofty claim but back it with something tangible. The award does that,” Oudomvilay tells Billboard. “It’s also good to hold everyone accountable and make sure everyone puts their money where their mouth is in making those campaigns and engaging artists and supporting local.”
Early next year, partners in the campaign expect to share more details on what the initiative looks like, how brands can get involved, and more. In the meantime, brands, creatives and agencies can view the “pledge” and sign up for more information at the official ARIA website.
“Advertising has such an important role in impacting change across society. It creates ideas and tells stories that leave an important mark on culture. Music is no different,” comments ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd.
“I’m thrilled to celebrate talent and creativity across the two industries with this first-of-its-kind award in 2023.”
With the support and influence of Australia’s ad industry, she continues, “we can continue to create opportunities for Australian music to be heard in all its forms, by all who create it.”
First, the album version, then the cut featuring Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers. Now, Taylor Swift’s acoustic cut of “Anti-Hero” is keeping the pop superstar’s Midnights hit on high rotation.
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Swift dropped “Anti-Hero (Acoustic Version)” last week, when Americans were tucking into their Thanksgiving turkey.
The impact can be felt across the Atlantic where, in the U.K., “Anti-Hero,” is on track for a sixth week at No. 1.
“Anti-Hero” completed a fifth week atop the Official Chart, published last Friday (Nov. 25), and it remains in pole position on the U.K.’s First Look chart, which ranks singles based on sales and streams from the first 48 hours.
“Anti-Hero” has led the chart every week since its release Oct. 21. A fresh version, featuring Bleachers, dropped on Nov. 7.
Meanwhile, Meghan Trainor’s “Made You Look” is showing strength and stamina in the U.K., where its challenging “Anti-Hero” for the chart crown.
Trainor’s doo-wop number is inching closer and lifts 3-2 on the chart blast, for what would be a chart peak.
If “Made You Look” unseats “Anti-Hero,” it would be Trainor’s third leader and first in seven years; her last was 2015’s Charlie Puth collaboration “Marvin Gaye.”
With England getting their World Cup campaign away to winning start, Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds’ “Three Lions” looks set to kick another goal. The former chart leader is rolling towards the top 10, up 20-12 on the chart blast, and should enjoy a lift in the leadup to England’s final Group B fixture against Wales on Tuesday (Nov. 29).
A holiday-themed version of the track, “Three Lions (It’s Coming Home For Christmas),” could keep the song in the chart for the weeks ahead.
“Three Lions” would have company, with several Christmas classics making their annual march up the chart. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (up 18-8 on the chart blast) and Wham’s “Last Christmas” (23-10) are set to return to the top 10. Not far behind is Ed Sheeran & Elton John’s “Merry Christmas,” which hit No. 1 last December and lifts 40-16 on the chart blast.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published Friday (Dec. 2).
Dermot Kennedy makes it two-from-two as Sonder (via Island) debuts at No. 1 on the U.K. albums survey.
The Irishman bows at the summit of the Official Albums Chart, published Nov. 25, and shifts a market-leading volume on vinyl.
Sonder equals the peak position of his 2019 debut, Without Fear, which saw the Dublin-born singer and songwriter became the first Irish act to top the U.K. chart with their debut album in over 20 years, the OCC reports.
The Christmas chimes are ringing in the top 5, as André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra enter at No. 4 with Silver Bells (Decca), a Christmas classics collection. It’s the Dutch classical crossover artist’s 13th U.K. top 10 album entry.
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Meanwhile, Queen enjoys a miracle return to the top 10. The legendary rock act’s 1989 LP The Miracle (Virgin) blasts to No. 6 on the latest list, thanks to an eight-disc reissue featuring previously-unreleased cuts, some with the late Freddie Mercury’s vocals. The Miracle led the U.K. chart following its original release in 1989.
Nickelback roll into the top 10 with Get Rollin’ (BMG), the Canadian rockers’ tenth studio album. It’s the band’s seventh top 10 appearance and first since 2017’s Feed The Machine went to No. 3.
Manchester rapper Meekz lands a career-best with his mixtape Respect The Come Up (Neighbourhood Recordings), new at No. 12, while U.S. heavy metal veterans Disturbed earn a fifth top 40 appearance with Divisive (Reprise), new at No. 17.
The late master David Bowie lands a 68th U.K. top 40 with the Moonage Dream OST, the companion to Brett Morgen’s feature length documentary film of the same name. The posthumous recording is new at No. 20.
Christmas is less that one month away, and that mean another burst of energy for Michael Bublé’s festive collection. The multi-platinum Christmas (Reprise) set soars 50-26, and will likely continue in that trajectory for the weeks ahead.