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Blossoms are blooming on the midweek U.K. chart with Gary.
Hailing from Stockport, England, the indie-rock act leads the Official Chart Update with Gary (via Odd Sk Recordings), their fifth full-length album.
If it holds its course, Gary will give the band a fourth leader following their self-titled debut from 2016, Foolish Loving Spaces (from 2020) and Ribbon Around The Bomb (2022), while 2018’s Cool Like You peaked at No. 4.
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The strongest challenge comes from Chappell Roan and her former chart-leading debut album The Rise And Fall of a Midwest Princess (Island). Based on midweek sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company, Midwest Princess is a little over 2,000 chart units behind Gary in second place.
Scottish singer and songwriter Tom Walker could complete the podium with I Am (Relentless), his sophomore album. It’s new at No. 3 on the chart blast. Previously, the Brit Award-winning artist led by chart in 2019 with his debut What A Time To Be Alive.
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Also eyeing a top 10 debut is Katy Perry with her sixth LP 143 (EMI). It’s set to start at No. 4 on the national tally, for what would be the U.S. pop star’s fifth top 10 title and highest-charting effort in the U.K. since Prism led the chart in 2013.
Meanwhile, the xx’s Jamie xx could nab a second solo top 10 with In Waves (Young). The followup to In Colour, which peaked at No. 3, the British producer’s latest is set to start at No. 6. As a member of the xx alongside Romy and Oliver Sim, Jamie has snared two U.K. No. 1s with Coexist (in 2012) and I See You (2017).
Further down the midweek chart, West Yorkshire rock act Terrorvision could nab a career high with We Are Not Robots (Total Vegas), set to bow at No. 7; Future could score a fifth U.K. top 10 with Mixtape Pluto (RCA), on track for a No. 9 bow; and post-punk Manchester outfit Ist Ist could land a first-ever top 10 appearance with Light A Bigger Fire (Kind Violence), new at No. 10 on the chart blast.
Over on the midweek singles chart, Sabrina Carpenter looks likely to extend her reign with “Taste” (via Island). Carpenter’s latest hit is heading for a fifth week at No. 1, which would extend her record as the solo female artist with the most combined weeks at No. 1 in a calendar year. Currently, her three leaders have notched a combined 16 weeks at No. 1. Chappell Roan could have something to say about it. The U.S. pop phenom is “closer than ever to her first UK No. 1 single,” the OCC reports, as “Good Luck, Babe!” sits at No. 2, fewer than 2,000 chart units from the leader.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles and Albums Charts are published late Friday, Feb. 27.
The long drought is over for Snow Patrol, as the alternative rock act nabs the U.K. No. 1 with The Forest Is The Path (via Polydor).
The Northern Irish-Scottish band, comprised of Gary Lightbody, Johnny McDaid and Nathan Connolly, previously led the Official Chart with 2006’s Eyes Open – almost two decades ago.
The leader at the midweek stage, The Forest Is The Path is Snow Patrol’s eighth studio album, and eighth top 10 appearance.
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“We are absolutely over the moon, it’s our first Number 1 album in 18 years and we’re overjoyed,” reads a statement from Snow Patrol to the Official Charts Company. “Thank you so much to everybody who bought it and streamed it, and everybody that helped us make it, and everybody that’s helped us over these last 30 years.”
Also arriving on the chart is London Grammar’s fourth studio album The Greatest Love (Ministry of Sound), new at No. 3. It’s the best-seller on wax this week. The Greatest Love is London Grammar’s fourth top 10 appearance, a tally that includes two leaders (2017’s Truth Is a Beautiful Thing and 2021’s Californian Soil).
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Meanwhile, Eminem’s former leader The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace) roars back into the top 5 following the release of an “Expanded Mourner’s Edition.”
Over on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Friday, Sept. 20, Sabrina Carpenter completes a fourth week at No. 1 with “Taste” (Island).
It’s the third U.K. chart leader this year for Carpenter, lifting her total weeks at No. 1 in 2024 to 16, the OCC reports. With that effort, she becomes the solo female artist with most combined weeks at No. 1 in a calendar year.
Olivia Newton-John also clocked up 16 weeks in 1978, by way of Grease duets with John Travolta on “You’re The One That I Want” (nine weeks) and “Summer Nights” (six weeks).
Finally, after her performance at last week’s VMAs, Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” (Island) rebounds 3-2, its equal peak position. Also, the U.S. pop artist’s “HOT TO GO!” improves 11-9, a new peak, and “Pink Pony Club” makes its Official Chart debut at No. 21, for Roan’s fourth U.K. top 40 appearance (“Red Wine Supernova” hit No. 31).
Taylor Swift is in the neighborhood and back at No. 1 on the U.K. albums chart.
Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department (via EMI) returns to No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published Friday, May 17, as the European leg of her The Eras Tour kicks off in Paris, France.
That’s a third non-consecutive week at No. 1 for Swift’s latest studio album. Swift will visit the U.K. in June for stadium shows in Scotland, northern England, Cardiff and at London’s Wembley Stadium.
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The top new entry on the current frame belongs to Kings of Leon, as Can We Please Have Fun (Polydor) bows at No. 2. The week’s best-seller on vinyl, Can We Please Have Fun is the U.S. rock outfit’s ninth top 10 appearance, a tally that includes six No. 1s.
KoL, comprising brothers Caleb, Nathan, and Jared Followill plus cousin Matthew Followill, had led the midweek U.K. chart with Fun, their Kid Harpoon-produced ninth studio album.
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Meanwhile, Dua Lipa’s latest, Radical Optimism (Warner Records), dips 1-3.
Gunna shoots for an equal career best on the U.K. chart with One Of Wun (300 Entertainment) this week. It’s new at No. 4, matching the peak position of the U.S. rapper, singer and songwriter’s 2022’s release DS4EVER.
Further down the list, Keane’s debut Hopes And Fears (Island/UMR) returns to the top 10 for the first time in almost two decades, thanks to a 20th anniversary deluxe reissue. The 2004 LP enjoyed five non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 following its release, and returns to the national chart at No. 7.
Finally, Manchester, England rapper Bugzy Malone lands his sixth U.K. top 40 album with The Great British Dream (BSomebody), new at No. 13. Malone previously landed top 10s with 2015’s Walk With Me (No. 8), 2016’s Facing Time (No. 6), 2017’s King Of The North (No. 4), 2018’s B.Inspired (No. 6) and 2021’s The Resurrection (No. 7).
Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism will be hard to catch in the U.K. chart race.
Based on midweek sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company, the British pop singer’s third studio album has a healthy lead.
Radical Optimism is outselling the next-best-placed LP, Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, by 2 to 1, and should storm home for Lipa’s second leader.
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Assuming it continues on its path, Radical Optimism will become Lipa’s first album to debut at No. 1. Her self-titled 2017 debut Dua Lipa peaked at No. 3 and has logged 354 weeks on the frame, while her sophomore effort from 2020, Future Nostalgia, climbed to No. 1 in its second week. Future Nostalgia logged four weeks at No. 1, and has now clocked 203 weeks on the Official Chart – and counting.
Radical Optimism is already a U.K. hit, yielding three top 10 singles chart entries: “Houdini (No. 2 peak), “Training Season” (No. 4) and “Illusion” (No. 9).
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With Dua Lipa’s latest effort flying high, Swift’s Tortured Poets looks set to dip 1-2 after two weeks at the chart penthouse. It’s TayTay’s 12th U.K. No. 1 album.
Meanwhile, Hampshire, England rock artist Frank Turner is on track for a podium finish with Undefeated. It’s new at No. 3 on the Official Chart Update, and is set to become Turner’s sixth U.K. top 10 appearance.
Kelly Jones, frontman of Welsh indie-rock favorites Stereophonics, could nab his solo career best with Inevitable Incredible, his second LP. Inevitable Incredible is on course for a No. 4 start, well ahead of the No. 8 best for his debut solo effort Don’t Let The Devil Take Another Day from 2020. As a member of Stereophonics, Jones has eight U.K. No. 1s.
Finally, Scottish indie-pop act Camera Obscura is peering in on a first-ever U.K. top 10 appearance with Look To The East, Look To The West, their first studio album in over a decade. It bows at No. 10 on the chart blast, and should give Camera Obscura a third U.K. top 40.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published late Friday, May 10.
The Swift Sweep, the Taylor Takeover. Call it what you will, just expect Taylor Swift to dominate the U.K. charts with The Tortured Poets Department.
When the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published Friday, April 26, Swift will add to her tally of 26 U.K. top 10 singles, and is forecast to nab a fourth No. 1, after “Look What You Made Me Do” (from 2017), “cardigan” (2020) and “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version)” (2023).
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Based on early sales and streaming data crunched by the Official Charts Company, Swift’s collaboration with Post Malone, “Fortnight,” the opening track and first official single from Tortured Poets, is in pole position, ahead of the title track and “So Long, London,” respectively.
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Swift’s 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department is already a global record-beater.
As previously reported, the pop superstar’s latest effort on Friday (April 19) became the first album in the streaming service’s history to accumulate more than 300 million streams in a single day.
Earlier, in less than 12 hours after its release, Tortured Poets, became Spotify’s most streamed album in a single day in 2024 so far. The 31-track double album bested the previous record-holder, Beyoncé’s Billboard 200-topping Cowboy Carter, which ultimately earned 300.41 million on-demand official streams in its first full week of release.
Also, “Fortnight,” co-written by Swift, Malone and Jack Antonoff, and co-produced by Swift and Antonoff. became Spotify’s most streamed song in a single day.
In the U.K., Tortured Poets will be expected to set the pace in the chart race. Swift currently has 11 No. 1 albums there. She’s the first and only artist this century to rack up 10 U.K. No. 1 albums, the Official Charts Company reports, and only the second female artist ever to do so, following Madonna. If Tortured Poets debuts at No. 1 later this week, Swift will draw level with Madonna on 12 U.K. leaders.
It’s another sweet week for Hozier on the U.K. singles chart, while Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa and Perrie Edwards all nab top 10 debuts.
As predicted, Hozier reigns over the Official U.K. Chart for a second consecutive week with “Too Sweet” (Island). Last week, “Too Sweet” became Andrew John Hozier-Byrne’s first U.K. No. 1, and saw him become the first Irish solo artist to top the national chart since Ronan Keating in 2002, according to the Official Charts Company.
“Too Sweet” rakes in 72,000 chart units, a 17% week-on-week gain, the OCC reports, and it’s the most-streamed track in the U.K. over the latest cycle, with 7.9 million streams.
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Meanwhile, British producer and artist Artemas’ “i like the way you kiss me” (Parlophone) gains 5-3 for a new career high.
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The top debut this week belongs to U.S. singer and actor Sabrina Carpenter with “Espresso” (Island), which shoots to No. 6 on debut. It’s her first U.K. top 10 appearance, and fourth top 40 after “feather” (No. 19), “Skin” (No. 28) and “nonsense” (No. 32).
Country continues to swing in the U.K. as Dasha’s “Austin” (Warner Records) lassos a new chart peak, up 8-7.
Dua Lipa achieves her 16th U.K. top 10 single with “Illusion” (Warner Records), new at No. 9. “Illusion” is the third straight top tier single from her forthcoming third album Radical Optimism, following “Houdini” (No. 2) and “Training Season” (No. 4).
Little Mix star Perrie gets her solo career underway with a top 10 start, as “Forget About Us” (Columbia) bows at No. 10.
Natasha Bedingfield returns to the chart, this time through a collaboration with producer Badger for a remix of “These Words” (Cheeky), new at No. 35. “These Words” topped the Official Singles Chart for two weeks in 2004. The British singer returned to the top 20 earlier this year with her 2004 single “Unwritten,” which enjoyed a bump from its sync to the romcom Anyone But You.
And finally, Grammy Award-winning South African artist Tyla earns a second U.K. top 40 with “Jump” (Since 93/RCA) featuring Gunna and Skillibeng. It’s new at No. 38. It follows Tyla’s “Water,” which peaked at No. 4 on the U.K. chart and went on to win best African music performance — a new category — at the 2024 Grammys.
Hozier looks set to hold onto the U.K. singles chart title for another week, at least, while Perrie Edwards, Dua Lipa and Sabrina Carpenter are predicted to crash the top 10.
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Last Friday, April 12, Hozier topped the chart for the first time in his career with “Too Sweet” (Island), going one better than the No. 2 peak for his signature song “Get Me to the Church” from a decade ago.
According to the Official Charts Company, “Too Sweet” leads the midweek chart, ahead of Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” (Warner Records) and Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” (Columbia/Parkwood Ent), respectively, and is expected to nab a second straight week at No. 1.
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Meanwhile, Little Mix’s Perrie has got her solo career off to a strong start with “Forget About Us” (Columbia). It’s new at No. 6 on the Official Chart Update, and could give the British pop artist the top debut for the week. As a member of Little Mix, Perrie has five U.K. No. 1 singles, 19 top 10s and 32 top 40 appearances.
Another chart superstar is close behind, Dua Lipa. The pop singer’s “Illusion” (Warner Records) starts at No. 7 on the Official Chart Update, and should give Lipa a third consecutive top 10 single from her forthcoming album Radical Optimism, due out May 3, and 16th across her career.
U.S. pop singer and actor Sabrina Carpenter could ride a caffeine rush to her first-ever top 10 appearance with “Espresso” (Island). It pours into the chart blast at No. 10. Carpenter has three career top 40 appearances in the U.K., with a best of No. 19 for 2023’s “Feather.”
Finally, Manchester chart heavyweights Oasis could return to the top 40 with “Supersonic” (Big Brother). The Rock Hall nominated group’s debut single this year celebrates its 30th anniversary, and currently sits at No. 14. That’s well up on its peak position of No. 31 following its release back in 1994.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published Friday, April 19.
James takes the lead in the U.K. albums chart race with Yummy, though Mark Knopfler might have a say in the result.
Based on midweek sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company, James is on track for their second U.K. leader and 12th top 10 appearance with Yummy (via Nothing But Love Music), their 18th studio LP. The Manchester indie-rock veterans previously led the national chart back in 1998 with the career retrospective, The Best of James.
Close behind at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update is ex-Dire Straits frontman and guitarist Mark Knopfler’s One Deep River (EMI), currently fewer than 3,000 chart units behind James’ Yummy.
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If it continues its flow, One Deep River would become the Englishman’s highest-charting solo album in the U.K., and his ninth solo top 10 LP. As a member of Dire Straits, Knopfler bagged four No. 1 albums.
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The guitar great returned to the top 40 on the U.K. singles chart last month with his all-star, charity-fundraising rerecording of “Going Home (Theme from Local Hero)”, which opened at No. 18, besting its original peak position of No. 56 back in 1983.
Beyoncé’s former leader Cowboy Carter (Columbia/Parkwood Ent) is riding to a No. 3 spot.
Meanwhile, British rock act Kris Barras Band is aiming high with Halo Effect (Earache). It’s new at No. 4 on the chart blast, and should it stay put, will become the band’s first top 10 appearance.
Nu-metal favorites Linkin Park is lining up a ninth U.K. top 10 appearance with Papercuts – Singles Collection (2000-2023) (via Warner Records), new at No. 5 on the chart blast.
The new arrivals keep coming with Leeds foursome English Teacher, set to arrive at No. 6 with This Could Be Texas (Island); Scottish rock act Gun with Hombres (Cooking Vinyl), on track for a No. 7 bow; U.S. indie-folk singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers’ Don’t Forget Me (Polydor), targeting a No. 8 arrival; and Future and Metro Boomin’s second collaborative LP We Still Don’t Trust You (Epic/Freebandz/Republic), expected to open its account at No. 10. It’s the followup to the U.S. hip-hop artists’ first collaborative work, We Don’t Trust You, which peaked at No. 2 earlier this month.
Further down the list, fresh releasees from Nia Archives (Silence Is Loud at No. 13 via Island), Girl in Red (I’m Doing It Again Baby! at No. 23 via Columbia), and the Feeling (San Vito at No. 36 via Little World) are eying top 40 berths.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published Friday, April 19.
Benson Boone’s bounce-back is in full effect, as “Beautiful Things” leads the U.K. chart race.
Following the release last Friday (April 5) of his debut full-length album Fireworks & Rollerblades (via Warner Records), Boone’s global hit “Beautiful Things” rebounds 3-1 on the midweek U.K. chart and is closing in on its third non-consecutive week at the summit.
There’s not much in it. Based on early sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company, “Beautiful Things” holds a lead over its closest rivals of fewer than 1,000 chart units.
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That competition includes Hozier’s “Too Sweet” (Island), which flies 9-2 on the Official Chart Update. If it holds its course, “Too Sweet” would give the Irish singer and songwriter his equal career best chart position, drawing level with his signature song “Take Me to the Church,” which peaked at No. 2 in 2013.
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Beyoncé bagged the chart double last week, though she’s set to lose both crowns. “Texas Hold ‘Em” drops 1-3 on the midweek singles tally, and Cowboy Carter (via Columbia/Parkwood Ent) looks likely to be bumped from the albums chart, with the Libertines’ latest, All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade, all set for the title.
Meanwhile, Artemas’s “i like the way you kiss me” (Parlophone) cracked the top 10 for the first time last week. The British producer and artist’s viral track continues to climb, lifting 7-5 on the midweek singles survey.
Country came to the U.K. charts in a big way last week, thanks to Bey and her Cowboy Carter LP, which landed three singles in the top 10, including the leader with “Texas Hold ‘Em”. There’s another U.S. country song heading towards the top 10, Dasha’s “Austin” (Warner Records). It’s up 15-8 on the midweek tally, for what would be a new peak position.
The top new debut should belong to J. Cole with “H.Y.B.” featuring Bas and Central Cee. Lifted from Cole’s surprise-release mixtape Might Delete Later (Interscope), it’s predicted to arrive at No. 24 on the chart. Might Delete Later also houses the Kendrick Lamar diss track “7 Minute Drill,” which Cole has subsequently expressed regret for. “7 Minute Drill” is expected to bow at No. 28, while “Crocodile Tearz” could drop in at No. 36. If all three tracks holds their ground, Cole’s career tally of U.K. top 40 hits will lift to 14.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, April 12.
The Libertines are on target for the U.K. albums chart title, their first in 20 years.
Based on midweek sales and streaming data tallied by the Official Charts Company, the critically adored indie-rock outfit takes the lead with All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade (via EMI), their fourth studio album.
The British act, comprising Carl Barât, Pete Doherty, John Hassall and Gary Powell, opened their chart account with their celebrated 2002 debut Up The Bracket (peaking at No. 35), then, following a tide of glowing features in the music press, hit No. 1 with their eponymously-titled sophomore album from 2004. Their 2015 comeback album, Anthems For Doomed Youth, also cracked the top 10, peaking at No. 3.
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All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade leads an all-new top 4 on the chart blast.
Coming in at No. 2 on the midweek tally is British band The K’s debut LP I Wonder If The World Knows? (LAB), while U.S. singer and songwriter Conan Gray is predicted to complete the podium with Found Heaven (Island), which features production from Swedish maestro Max Martin. It’s new at No. 3 on the Official Chart Update.
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Meanwhile, British indie rock veterans Feeder is targeting an 11th top 10 appearance with Black/Red (Big Teeth), new at No. 4 on the chart blast, while U.S. blues-rockers the Black Keys’ could snag a sixth U.K. top 10 with their 12th record Ohio Players (Nonesuch), new at No. 6 on the chart blast.
J. Cole has been in the headlines of late. The U.S. rapper and songwriter surprise-dropped Might Delete Later (Interscope) last week, which included a Kendrick Lamar diss track, “7 Minute Drill,” a track he promptly apologized for. Might Delete Later might start at No. 7, based on midweek data, and should collect a third top 10 for Cole following 2018’s KOD (No. 2) and 2021’s The Off-Season (No. 2).
Finally, a string of recording are poised for top 40 berths. Among them, releases from Khruangbin (A LA SALA at No. 8 via Dead Oceans), Vampire Weekend (Only God Was Above Us at No. 9 via Columbia), Bob Vylan (Humble As The Sun at No. 11), Benson Boone (Fireworks & Rollerblades at No. 16 via Warner Records), Hawkwind (Stories From Time And Space at No. 20 via Cherry Red), Palace (Ultrasound at No. 22 via Fiction), Bryson Tiller (Bryson Tiller at No. 28 via Relentless), and Cock Sparrer (Hand On Heart at No. 33 via Cherry Red).
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published late Friday, April 12.