OLIVIA RODRIGO DOMINATES 2021 U.K. CHARTS

Olivia Rodrigo has the biggest album and song of 2021 at the half-year mark in the U.K.; SOUR (Polydor) sits atop the H1 Official Albums Chart as “drivers license” tops singles. UMG releases rule both Top 10 lists.

A mere six weeks since its release, SOUR has racked up 170k in chart sales in the U.K. with 79% of that figure coming from streams; “drivers license” has now topped the 1m sales mark (1.03m), including 123m streams.

The two releases help make up a majority tally for Universal Music Group, which claims four singles and six albums in the Top 10s. Warner has three in each; Sony has three albums and one single.

There are four singles from U.K. acts in the Top 10, three of which were released this year (“Wellerman,” “Friday” and “Body”). New albums from British acts don’t fare as well: Of the five (and a half, counting Fleetwood Mac) homegrown releases in the Top 10, none came out this year.

Chart data extends through 6/30.

Official Singles Chart 2021 H1

  1. “drivers license": Olivia Rodrigo (Polydor)
  2. “Wellerman": Nathan Evans, 220 Kid, Billen Ted (Polydor)
  3. “The Business": Tiesto (Atlantic)
  4. “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)": Lil Nas X (RCA)
  5. “Save Your Tears": The Weeknd (Island)
  6. “Levitating": Dua Lipa (Warner Records)
  7. “Friday": Riton, Nightcrawlers & Mufasa (Ministry of Sound)
  8. “Body": Tion Wayne & Russ Millions (Atlantic)
  9. “Without You": The Kid LAROI (RCA)
  10. “good 4 u": Olivia Rodrigo (Polydor)

Official Albums Chart 2021 H1

  1. SOUR, Olivia Rodrigo (Polydor)
  2. Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa (Warner Records)
  3. Fine Line, Harry Styles (Columbia)
  4. Greatest Hits, Queen (EMI)
  5. Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon, Pop Smoke (Polydor)
  6. 50 Years: Don’t Stop, Fleetwood Mac (Rhino)
  7. The Highlights, The Weeknd (Island)
  8. Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, Lewis Capaldi (EMI)
  9. Diamonds, Elton John (UMC)
  10. Divide, Ed Sheeran (Atlantic)

THE HITS LIST TURKEY TROT
...with all the trimmings (11/22a)
AN AWARD-WINNING CMA GALLERY
Cowboy hats and funny caps (11/21a)
NEAR TRUTHS: WITCHING HOUR
It's not easy being green. (11/21a)
NEAR TRUTHS: REALIGNMENT AND RECOGNITION
Underscoring the year's biggest stories (11/19a)
NEAR TRUTHS: THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Nervous time in the music biz and beyond. (11/16a)
NOW WHAT?
We have no fucking idea.
COUNTRY'S NEWEST DISRUPTOR
Three chords and some truth you may not be ready for.
AI IS ALREADY EATING YOUR LUNCH
The kids can tell the difference... for now.
WHO'S BUYING THE DRINKS?
That's what we'd like to know.
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