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RETURNING BRITISH ACTS 2018

Which British acts are returning with new music this year? We’re glad you asked, because we’ve got a list here that deserves to be perused, and includes new music from Lily Allen, Muse, Jess Glynne, The Arctic Monkeys, James Bay and The 1975. Look out for the second part of this article profiling new priority acts the majors are backing to break in 2018.


Over at UMG U.K., Virgin EMI has the second album from James Bay on the way, the first of which hit #1 in 2015 and has since been certified 2xPlatinum. The Libertines are also making a comeback following the release of their third album which hit #3 in 2015. Producer Naughty Boy will follow up his #2 charting 2013 debut and Bastille will return following two #1 albums to date. In addition, boy band The Vamps are working to release the follow-up to their third album which hit #1 last year and Chvrches, who hit #4 in 2015 with their second album, also have a third on the way.

Polydor
will release new music from Ellie Goulding, whose third album hit #3 in 2015, and Lana Del Rey, who charted at #1 last year with Lust for Life. The 1975, who are licensed from Dirty Hit, have teased 6/1 as a noteworthy date for their third album campaign. The band hit #1 with the two predecessors in 2013 and 2016.

At Capitol, Five Seconds of Summer will return with a third album after hitting #1 in 2015 with their second. Jessie J’s fourth album is on the way at Island (her last hit #5 in 2014) and rapper Giggs will make his major label debut after charting at #2 with his fourth set in 2016.

Over at Sony U.K., Columbia has a second album from George Ezra on the cards—his debut hit #1 in 2014— and The Vaccines will return with a fourth album after charting at #2 in 2015. The thirteenth album from alt rock band Manic Street Preachers, Resistance is Futile, is due in April. The band’s back catalogue includes eight Top 5 albums.

At RCA, rockers Bring Me the Horizon will release their third major label album and sixth overall after hitting #2 in 2015. A second album from developing act Nao is also on the cards. At Syco, expect the long-awaited return of Labrinth, who released his #2 debut in 2012, and a fifth album from Little Mix, who had their first #1 in 2016 with Glory Days.

For Warner Music U.K., Atlantic has a heavy 2018 release schedule with the follow up to Jess Glynne’s #1 debut and a second album from Clean Bandit, who hit #3 with their debut in 2014. Rita Ora’s first album for WMG is on the way, following her 2012 Sony-released #1 debut. Rudimental, who have two #1 albums to date, will release a third and Plan B, whose second record was also a #1 in 2010, is expected to release his third in April. Albums from Charli XCX and Vance Joy (in February) are also on the way. Parlophone has one of the most highly anticipated comebacks thanks to a fourth album from Lily Allen, whose last two charted at #1 in 2009 and 2014. Finally, Warner Bros. will release an eighth album from Muse, who have consistently hit #1 with their last five, and the major label debut from electronic band Crystal Fighters is on the way at the end of the year.

In the independent sector, look out for a sixth album from Domino band The Arctic Monkeys, who boast five #1s to date, and a seventh album from The Prodigy, who self-release via Cooking Vinyl and also have five #1 albums to their name.

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