U.K. MIDWEEKS: STYLES' "SIGN" STRAIGHT TO #1

Harry Styles’ solo single debut “Sign of the Times” (Columbia) has sold 30k combined copies in the U.K. since Friday, and looks set to hit #1 on the Official Singles Chart as he leads nearest rival Ed Sheeran by 2:1. Styles is currently #12 on Spotify’s daily U.K. Top 50 with 855k streams in Blighty and #1 on iTunes.

Despite a glitch that rendered "Sign of the Times" hard to find on Spotify on release day, the problem has now been sorted and the track is enjoying full support from the Swedish streamery's top playlists. After an exclusive premiere on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show on Friday, Styles has gone straight onto the A List and has support from Capital FM, too. As a result, the track is top of Radiomonitor's airplay list this rolling week.

After 13 weeks at #1 on the Official Singles Chart, Sheeran’s “Shape of You” (Atlantic) is down to #4 at this week's halfway stage. “Galway Girl” is the biggest competition for Styles as it stays put at #2. Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson are #3 with “Symphony” and Chainsmokers & Coldplay are #5 with “Something Just Like This” (RCA).

On the Official Albums midweek update, The Chainsmokers are the highest new entry with Memories—Do Not Open (RCA) entering at #3. Deep Purple are one step behind at #4 with Infinite (Ear Music). Take That stay at #5 with Wonderland (Polydor).

Three more albums are on track for a Top 10 entry this week: Pure Comedy (Bella Union) by Father John Misty at #6, Mike & The Mechanics' Let Me Fly (BMG) at #7, and The Far Field (4AD) by Future Islands at #9.