Official UK Chart
RAYE Scores First U.K. No. 1 With ‘Escapism,’ Feat. 070 Shake: See Her Tearful Reaction
RAYE landed her very first No. 1 hit in the U.K. on Friday (Jan. 6) with her latest single “Escapism,” featuring 070 Shake. “This is proof [you should] back yourself, no matter what,” the indie artist said through tears in a video posted to her socials of her accepting the award from the U.K.’s Official Charts Company. “Thank you, this is mad. These are happy tears!” The pop-rap collab with 070 Shake is just one of several singles the British singer-songwriter has dropped in recent months ahead of her upcoming debut album My 21st Century Blues, alongside “Hard Out Here,” “Black Mascara” and “The Thrill Is Gone.” In tandem with its chart-topping success in her native U.K., “Escapism” also became RAYE’s first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, so far peaking at No. 72 (chart dated Dec...
Disney’s ‘Encanto’ Sets U.K. Chart Record
Like magic, Disney’s Encanto soundtrack produces another U.K. chart crown and grabs a slice of chart history. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (via Walt Disney) enters a third week at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, while another two album tracks impact the Top 10: “Surface Pressure” by Jessica Darrow (holding at No. 4) and “The Family Madrigal” (up 11-7). With that result, Encanto is the first animated film soundtrack in U.K. chart history to simultaneously chart three songs in the Top 10. The collection already made history when “Bruno” became the first original Disney number to lead the chart. With “Bruno” extending its lead, Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran’s “Peru” (Island/YBNL Nation/Empire) holds at No. 2, and Gayle’s “abcdefu” (Atlantic) is unmoved at No. 3. Explore See latest video...
Don Broco Bags First U.K. Chart Crown With ‘Amazing Things’
Don Broco completes an unexpected win in the race to the U.K. No. 1 with Amazing Things (Sharptone), the English alternative rock outfit’s fourth studio album. Amazing Things was released in digital formats in October 2021, though it initially managed a best of just No. 91 before tumbling out of the Top 100. Now, following its overdue release on physical formats, the album sprints to the top of the Official U.K. Albums Chart, beating The Weeknd’s Dawn FM (Republic Records/XO) by almost 1,500 copies, the OCC reports. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Physical copies accounted for 98% of Amazing Things’ chart sales, to also lead the Official Vinyl Albums Chart and Record Store Chart. Following its run to No. 1, each of the band’s four albums has pe...
Years & Years Chasing U.K. No. 1 as Meat Loaf Albums Flood U.K. Midweek Chart
Olly Alexander is heading for a second U.K. No. 1. The British pop artist’s Years & Years project is leading the midweek chart with Night Call (Poydor), ahead of another new arrival, Yard Act’s The Overload (Island). Years & Years began life as the trio of Alexander, bass player Mikey Goldsworthy and keyboardist Emre Türkmen. Their first album 2015’s Communion spent a week at No. 1 in the U.K., and its followup Palo Santo peaked at No. 3 in 2018. Night Call is the first album release from Years & Years as a slimmed-down solo project. Close behind in the chart race is The Overlord, the debut LP from Yard Act, a post-punk band from Leeds, England. The Overlord leads the way on physical sales, the OCC reports. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts an...
Meat Loaf’s Hit Songs Soar on U.K. Chart Blast
Meat Loaf’s fans in the U.K. are remembering the rock legend by switching on to his music. The Grammy-winning American artist’s biggest hits are surging in the U.K. following his death last Thursday (Jan. 20) of undisclosed causes, at age 74. Based on sales and streaming data from the first 48 hours in the chart cycle, the title track from Bat Out Of Hell flies to No. 4, which would mark a new chart peak if it maintains its position. “Bat” was released in 1979 and has a U.K. chart best of No. 8, set in 1993. The late singer’s 1993 leader “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” is at No. 7 on the First Look chart, and “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” is poised to enter the Top 20 for the very first time at No. 15, having originally topped-out at No. 32 back in September 1978. Meat...
The Wombats Are Heading For U.K. No. 1 With ‘Fix Yourself’
The Wombats are rolling to a first-ever U.K. No. 1 with Fix Yourself, Not The World. Hailing from Liverpool, the independent rock outfit leads the Official Chart Update with their fifth and latest album, which has racked up the most physical sales in the first half of the week. Fix Yourself, Not The World should be the band’s fourth consecutive U.K. Top 5 album, a streak that started with 2011’s This Modern Glitch (No. 3), and continued with 2015’s Glitterbug (No. 5) and Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life (No. 3). The band’s 2007 debut A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation just missed out on a Top 10 appearance, peaking at No. 11. Coming in at No. 2 is Los Angeles-based British electronic producer’s Bonobo’s seventh full-length studio effort Fragments (Ninja Tune), the week’s most-down...
The Weeknd Reigns Over U.K. Albums Chart With ‘Dawn FM’
The Weeknd earns a third U.K. chart crown as Dawn FM (Republic Records/XO) debuts at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart. Dawn FM accumulates 20,000-plus chart sales on week one, and is the first album released in 2022 to lead the U.K. chart. With no physical version of the album available, 94% of its weekly total is made up of streams, the Official Charts Company reports. The Canadian R&B singer previously led the survey with Beauty Behind The Madness (from 2015) and After Hours (2020), while his 2021 hits set The Highlights holds at No. 9 on the current chart. Also new to the weekly survey is Gunna’s third album DS4ever (300 Entertainment), starting at No. 4. It’s the Atlanta rapper’s career-best chart position, besting the No. 5 peak for its predecessor, 2020’s Wunna, and his fo...
Ed Sheeran’s ‘Equals’ Returns to No. 1 on U.K. Albums Chart
Ed Sheeran regains top spot on the Official U.K. Albums Chart with = (Equals), in what turned out to be a nail-biting race. Fewer than 500 chart sales separate Sheeran’s latest Asylum set from Adele’s 30 (Columbia), the No. 2 album on the latest survey, published Dec. 31. Meanwhile, Michael Buble’s festive classic Christmas (Reprise) lifts 4-3, its highest peak of the year, while Little Mix’s career retrospective Between Us (RCA) is up 9-5. The Christmas spirit is coursing through the final albums chart of 2021, including Frank Sinatra’s Ultimate Christmas (UMC), the biggest climber on the current frame up 64 places to No. 33, a new best. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Also, Mariah Carey reenters the Top 40 with Merry Christmas (Sony Music CG)...
LadBaby Cooks-up U.K. Christmas No. 1 With ‘Sausage Rolls’
LadBaby lands the coveted U.K. Christmas No. 1 with “Sausage Rolls For Everyone” (FRTYFVE) featuring Ed Sheeran and Elton John, setting a new chart record in the process. “Sausage Rolls” accumulates 136,000 chart sales, the OCC reports, and is LadBaby’s fourth consecutive Christmas leader, an effort that surpasses the previous record of three, jointly held by The Beatles and Spice Girls. Of its one-week total, 85% of the “Sausage Rolls” total is made up of digital downloads, with proceeds benefiting foodbank charity The Trussell Trust. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Before now, LadBaby (the YouTuber husband-and-wife duo of Mark Hoyle and his wife Roxanne) has had top spot at Christmas with “We Built This City” (in 2018), “I Love Sausage Rolls”...
Adele Unwraps U.K.’s Christmas No. 1 With ’30’
Adele’s 2021 Christmas present is a No. 1 in her homeland. The pop superstar’s latest album 30 retains top spot to rule the Official U.K. Albums Chart over Christmas, her second festival leader after 25 took the trophy in 2015. For its fifth straight frame at No. 1, 30 rakes in 70,800 full-week chart sales including 62,000 physical copies, the OCC reports. With that achievement, 30 draws level with Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour as the longest-running No. 1 album of the year, though Sour’s reign was completed in several stints. Adele’s fourth album holds off former leaders from Ed Sheeran (equals via Asylum), ABBA (Voyage via Polar) and Michael Buble (Christmas via Reprise), respectively, while Andre Rieu & his Johann Strauss Orchestra’s Happy Together (Decca) lifts 6-5, for a new peak. Explore...
Adele’s Retains U.K. Chart Crown With ‘30’
Adele is still the queen of the U.K. albums chart, as 30 (Columbia) clocks up a third week at No. 1. According to the Official Charts Company, 30 shifts more than 73,000 chart sales over the seven-day cycle, with sales (physical and digital downloads) accounting for 81% of the tally. Adele’s fourth studio album holds off a pair of former leaders, Ed Sheeran’s = (equals, up 3-2 via Asylum) and ABBA’s Voyage (up 4-3, via Polar), while veteran boyband JLS bow at No. 4 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart with 2.0 (BMG), their first album of original material in eight years. It’s the week’s highest debut for The X Factor alum’s sixth consecutive U.K. Top 10 collection. Meanwhile, Michael Buble’s Christmas (Reprise) continues its annual climb up the chart, lifting 6-5; while Andre Rieu and his Joh...
Adele’s ‘30’ Leads U.K. Chart Race
Adele’s blockbuster album 30 (Columbia) is on the way to a third consecutive U.K. chart title. But it won’t have an easy ride. Based on midweek sales and streaming data published by the OCC, 30 is on course for the crown, though it’s facing a challenge from JLS’s 2.0 (BMG), the X Factor alum’s first album of original material since Evolution, which hit No. 3 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart in 2012. JLS’s latest is on target for a No. 2 debut, for what would be the outfit’s sixth U.K. Top 10 album, continuing an unbroken streak which began with their eponymously-titled debut, in 2009. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Despite finishing runner-up on The X Factor in 2008, JLS has crossed the finish line first on the U.K. charts, including five No....
