U.K. MIDWEEKS: HARRY HEADS IN #1 DIRECTION 

Harry Styles is #1 on the U.K’s Official Albums midweek update with his Columbia self-titled debut sitting 24k combined sales ahead of Ed Sheeran. Styles’ “Sign of the Times” has risen seven places to reach #3 on the Official Singles Chart.

He's looking to become the second 1D member to reach #1 in Blighty following ZAYN whose RCA-issued Mind of Mine topped the chart in 2016.

Styles played a well-received intimate surprise show at 600-capacity The Garage in London on Saturday, where pop critics applauded his newfound rock style and solo showmanship.

There are two other new entries in today’s Top 5. Paramore are #3 with After Laughter (Atlantic), followed by Paul Weller at #4 with A Kind Revolution (Parlophone). British rapper J Hus is also on course for the Top 10 with debut album Common Sense (Black Butter) currently at #6.

On the singles update, last week’s #1, “Despacito” (Polydor) by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber, looks set to stay put for a second week—it has a 13k combined sales lead ahead of “I’m the One” (Black Butter/Def Jam) by DJ Khaled.

Alongside “Sign of the Times” at #3, all 10 of the tracks from Styles debut could chart within the Top 100. The second highest entry is “Sweet Creature” at #47. Finally, Miley Cyrus looks set for her highest U.K. charting single since “Wrecking Ball” hit #1 in 2013 as “Malibu” (RCA) enters at #7.