iTunes UK

YE JOLLY OLDE iTUNES U.K. CHARTS: We take a look inside the U.K. store every Friday, by which time the short-term occupants of the album chart typically have dropped off, just like in the States, giving us a more accurate picture of the legit Brit hits. And this week, having just been given a primer on the U.K. label topography by I.B. Bad in his latest column, we’re eager to see who’s got what. As of 4pm London time, seven of the Top 10 singles artists are U.K.-signed, led by UMG’s Rixton, with WMG notching four and Sony two. The latter’s George Ezra stands apart stylistically in that “Budapest” sounds like a slice of mid-’60s folk rock, of all things. The Brits love their hits compilations, which presently comprise four of the Top 10. Ed Sheeran and Coldplay give Warner two of the remaining album slots, Universal has a pair with Ellie Goulding and Sam Smith, and Sony is represented by the aforementioned George Ezra, while the mysterious duo Jungle are on XL/Beggars. So there you have it, boys and girls. (7/18a)