U.K. MIDWEEKS: STRONG START FOR LEWIS CAPALDI

Lewis Capaldi's wildly successful debut album campaign looks set to continue with another win for Virgin EMI. The British artist is on course to claim the fastest-selling album of 2019 in the U.K. with Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent shifting nearly 56k combined sales at the halfway stage.

Capaldi leads an all-new Top 5, which includes releases from The National, Rammstein, Tyler, the Creator and DJ Khaled. Despite the competition, he is currently outselling the entire Official Albums U.K. Top 10 combined. Should his pace of sales continue to Friday, the Brit will claim 2019’s fastest-selling album title from Ariana Grande, who finished just 10k sales ahead of Capaldi’s current tally with thank u, next in February.

The National’s with I Am Easy to Find (4AD) is #2 on the midweek update, followed by Rammstein with their self-titled seventh LP (Spinefarm) at #3. Tyler, the Creator’s Igor (Columbia) starts at #4 and DJ Khaled is on track for his highest charting effort in Blighty with Father of Asahd (Black Butter) at #5.

Two more albums are eyeing Top 10 debuts: Slowthai’s debut, Nothing Great About Britain (Method), is #9, with Digga D’s new mixtape, Double Tap Diaries (CGM Records), close behind at #10.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber are eyeing a second week at #1 with “I Don’t Care” (Atlantic). Lil Nas X sits 6k combined sales behind with “Old Town Road” (Columbia) at #2.

Capaldi has three entries in the Top 10 with former #1 “Someone You Loved” up one place to #3, while “Hold Me While You Wait” rises three to #5 and “Grace” is up 19 places to a new peak of #9.

Tyler, the Creator’s “Earfquake” is set for this week's highest new entry, currently at #17, with two more tracks from Igor, “I Think” and “Igor’s Theme,” starting at #28 and #30, respectively.