U.K. MIDWEEKS: BTS' MAP UNFOLDING AS A #1

BTS are set to become the first Korean act to chart at #1 on the U.K.'s Official Albums Chart with Map of the Soul: Persona (BigHit) leading the way by more than 10k combined sales midweek. Over on singles, Lil Nas X has overtaken Lewis Capaldi with “Old Town Road” (RCA) moving up to claim first place.

The midweek sales for the EP Map of the Soul are already more than the first week sales of BTS’ previous three albums combined, which all reached Top 20.

The Chemical Brothers sit behind at #2 with ninth studio album, No Geography (Virgin), while Dogrel (Partisan) from Irish post-punk group Fontaines D.C. is the third highest new entry at #4.

Meanwhile, Spice Girl Emma Bunton is on course to claim her first Top 5 album in 18 years with My Happy Place (BMG) at #5.

On the U.K.'s Official Singles midweeks, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” (Columbia) has overtaken long-running #1, Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved” (Virgin EMI), which moves down to #2.

Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” (Polydor) stays at #3, Meduza f/Goodboys’ “Piece of Your Heart” (Polydor) rises one place to #4, and Tom Walker returns to the Top 5 with “Just You and I” (Relentless).

Russ & Tion Wayne’s single “Keisha & Becky” (Virgin EMI) is heading for a new peak of #7 after flying 23 places following the release of a remix featuring fellow rappers Aitch, JAY1, Sav’O and Swarmz.

BTS & Halsey are on course to claim the week’s highest new entry with “Boy With Luv” at #8, while Avicii’s first posthumous single, “SOS” f/Aloe Blacc(Virgin EMI), could become the DJ’s 10th Top 10 single. It’s at #10.