U.K. MIDWEEKS: FANS HONOUR CHESTER
Nine Linkin Park albums, all on Warner Bros., have entered the U.K.’s Official Album Top 100 at midweek stage as fans pay their respects to late frontman Chester Bennington. Hybrid Theory is the most popular at #3, followed by One More Light at #5. Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott—previously of The Beautiful South—are on course for their first #1 as a duo with third album, Crooked Calypso (Virgin EMI).
Linkin Park’s Meteora is at #7, followed by Minutes to Midnight at #12. Their Jay-Z collaboration Collision Course is at #30, A Thousand Suns at #37 and Living Things at #40. Outside the Top 40, Reanimation is at #69 and The Hunting Party is #77. On the Official Singles Chart, “In the End” is on course to re-enter the Top 10 at #9, while “Numb” is #13 and “Numb/Encore” is at #29.
Lana Del Rey is on course for her fourth Top 5 album with Lust For Life (Polydor) at #2, while Ed Sheeran’s ÷ (Atlantic) falls to #4.
Further down, the debut album from British singer-songwriter Declan McKenna, What Do You Think About The Car? (Columbia), starts at #7, Dizzee Rascal’s sixth record, Raskit (Island), is #8, and Tyler, The Creator is at #10 with Flower Boy (Columbia).
Despite falling victim to the new chart rules that downweight streams after three consecutive weeks of decline, and ending last week at #2 despite being the week’s most paid-for and streamed track, “Despacito” (Polydor) is back at #1 on the Official Singles Chart at halfway stage. That means Luis Fonsi looks set to reclaim the top spot for his 10th non-consecutive week, despite having an accelerated streaming to sales ratio of 300:1 versus the 150:1 of last week’s #1 and today’s #2, “Wild Thoughts” (Black Butter/We The Best) by DJ Khaled. It's all quite complicated, isn't it?
"Feels" (Columbia) from Calvin Harris f/Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean moves up a place to #3, “Unforgettable” (Black Butter) by French Montana f/Swae Lee moves down to #4 and “Power” (Syco) by Little Mix rises three places to #5. Louis Tomlinson is heading for a Top 10 debut with “Back To You” (Syco) f/Bebe Rexha and Digital Farm Animals starting at #8.
