NEW U.K. RELEASES REVOLVE AROUND THIS

Island soulster John Newman is amongst those with noteworthy new music out on Friday from British-born talent, closely followed by the new solo album from former Mis-Teeq star Alesha Dixon. With Demi Lovato’s new album Confident (Island/Hollywood/Safehouse), the self-titled album from a capella popsters Pentatonix (RCA), an immediate follow up to The Game’s The Documentary 2 (eOne/Ca$h Machine), plus Columbia talent Raury's debut, will Blighty’s chart next week crown home-grown talent or your lovely lot from across the pond?

Managed by Paul MacDonald at Closer Artists, Newman has been one of the U.K.’s biggest breakout stars of the past few years. After rising to fame by featuring on two smash hits with Rudimental “Feel the Love” and “Not Giving In”, Newman signed to Darcus Beese’s Island and released his debut album Tribute in 2013, hitting #1 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart.

The release saw Newman simultaneously crack the Top 40 of the US singles and albums charts for the first time too. Tribute entered at #24 on the Billboard 200, while U.K. chart-topper “Love Me Again” made a 59-36 jump on the Hot 100.

It’s all eyes on the next story now, which is his second album, Revolve. Newman recently featured on Calvin Harris’ hit single “Blame,” which hit #1 in September, and will be included in the deluxe edition of Revolve. New track “Something Special” premiered on Greg James’ BBC Radio 1 show on 10/8, while “Tiring Game” feat. Charlie Wilson has had 1,300 plays across all U.K. radio this past chart week. First single “Come and Get It” reached #5 in July after premiering on Capital FM. Newman played “Tiring Game” with Wilson and “Come and Get It” on the Later…With Jools Holland show on 10/13.

Alesha Dixon has gone indie with fourth solo album after calling time on Warner with Friday’s Do It for Love out on her own Precious Stone Records via Henry Semmence’s Absolute Marketing & Distribution. Second single “Tallest Girl” has had 592 plays across all U.K. radio this past chart week. Its accompanying video tips 104k views on Vevo. Dixon is a TV personality in Blighty, having appeared as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing and Britain’s Got Talent. She’s also recently got behind the new streaming service the Electric Jukebox launched by Omnifone CEO Rob Lewis.

It will be interesting to see how Dixon’s campaign fares against that of disco diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who released her first solo LP Wanderlust in January last year via own label EBGB’s. Distributed by Cooking Vinyl’s Essential Music and Marketing, it hit #4.

Since winning Simon Cowell’s X Factor in 2014, Ben Haenow has been kept largely under wraps by SYCO. His debut single in December 2014—a cover of OneRepublic’s “Something I Need”—rode on the success of his win making the much-coveted Christmas #1 (that Cowell’s claimed seven times over the last 10 years).

The first single from Haenow’s self-titled album will reveal all on Friday. Featuring Kelly Clarkson and written with Julian Bunetta, only a short preview has been aired so far. It's out via RCA in the U.S and the album will follow on 11/13.

SYCO give the X Factor acts they have genuine ambition for time to develop, and Haenow and female favourite Fleur East are this year’s new priorities. East’s debut album, written with Wayne Hector, is out 11/27 and will be preceded by first single “Sax” on 10/23. Who will win the chance of an extended stay on SYCO? Our money’s on East.