U.K. MIDWEEKS: DUA LIPA, P!NK DUKE IT OUT

Dua Lipa and P!nk are battling it out for the #1 spot on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart this week as Elvis returns to #1 on albums with Sony Music CG’s third release by the King in three years, The 50 Greatest Hits. It's another close call, however, as Ed Sheeran sits less than 200 combined sales behind at midway stage.

P!nk is the highest riser on singles with “What About Us” (RCA) entering at #2 after charting at #83 on Friday during its first 24 hours on sale. Dua Lipa is just 512 combined sales ahead at #1 with “New Rules” (Warner Bros.), which has been scaling the Top 100 for five weeks. Should either of them emerge victor by Friday, they'll be the first female solo act to top the Official Chart in the U.K. in almost two years—the last was Adele with “Hello” in 2015. Calvin Harris is down to #3 with “Feels” (Columbia) at 1.3k sales behind Lipa; he could also reclaim the top spot.

Over on the album midweeks, Elvis is back at #1 after hitting the top spot last year with his Philharmonic Orchestra album, The Wonder of You, which became one of the biggest sellers of 2016. That release followed fellow Philharmonic collaboration, If I Can Dream, which was the second biggest selling album of 2015. Can Sony score a hat trick?

The second highest new entry looks set to be Kesha at #4 with Rainbow (RCA)—a massive increase on the #60 position its predecessor, Warrior, peaked at in 2012. Her first album, Animal, charted at #8 in Blighty.

Elsewhere, indie artist Dodie, who has cultivated a huge YouTube following thanks to her diary channel, enters at #4 with self-released EP, You.

Further down, The Cribs could be set for their highest charting album ever as 24-7 Rock Star S**t (Sonic Blew) lands at #6 today. Rat Boy's debut, Scum (Parlophone), follows at #9, while former Mansun lead singer Paul Draper is eyeing #10 with his debut solo release, Spooky Action (Kscope).