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PHOTO GALLERY: PICS OF THE WEEK OF THE YEAR (PART TWO)
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TOP 50: A LITTLE SZA, A WHOLE LOTTA CHRISTMAS
The final album chart of the year (12/27a)
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NOW WHAT?
We have no fucking idea.
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AI IS ALREADY EATING YOUR LUNCH
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WHO'S BUYING THE DRINKS?
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5 Seconds of Summer has squeaked out a last-minute victory to claim the #1 slot on the U.K. Official Albums Chart while Sam Smith and Kim Petras ascend to #1 at singles.
5SOS5 (BMG), the fifth studio album from the Australian four-piece, saw 78% of its tally come from physical sales; it was the most physically purchased and downloaded record in the U.K. this week. It’s their third #1.
A mere 1.3k chart units behind at #2 is Lap 5, the self-released second studio album from London hip-hop collective D-Block Europe. It’s their third Top 5 collection.
Rounding out the all-new Top 3 is Sports Team’s second studio album Gulp! (Island). The set is #1 on the vinyl and record store charts.
Take That’s Mark Owens scores a career personal best at #5 with Land Of Dreams (BMG). ABBA’s Gold - Greatest Hits (Polydor) jumps five to #6 following the release of a special 30th anniversary edition; Editors’ EBM (Play It Again Sam) is #10, their seventh Top 10 record in the U.K. Beth Orton now has six Top 40 albums as Weather Alive (Partisan) dawns at #27.
At singles, Smith and Petras’ “Unholy” (EMI) racked up 5.9m streams to give Smith their eighth #1 single and Petras her first-ever U.K. chart topper. Smith’s last #1 was “Promises” with Calvin Harris in 2018.
“Unholy” was just 1.4k chart units ahead of David Guetta & Bebe Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” (Parlophone), the week’s most downloaded song.
Elsewhere in the Top 10, new peaks are hit by Chris Brown’s “Under The Influence” (RCA) at #7, Luude & Mattafix’s “Big City Life” (Warner) at #8 and Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit” (L-M/RCA) at #9.
At #12, Stormzy’s “Mel Made Me Do It” (Def Jam) becomes his 25th Top 40 single. D-Block Europe’s strong showing at albums resulted in three singles landing in the Top 40: “4 The Win” at #23, “She’s Not Anyone” f/Burna Boy at #30, and “Conor McGregor” at #39.