U.K. MIDWEEKS: RHCP, HARRY MAKE RUNS TO #1

Harry Styles is heading for the top of the U.K. Official Singles Chart. Red Hot Chili Peppers, meanwhile, are on course to claim their fifth U.K. Official Albums #1.

At the halfway point, RHCP’s Unlimited Love (Warner Records) is outselling its closest competition by almost 8:1, flying far ahead on physical formats. If it holds on, it will become RHCP’s first U.K. #1 album in more than a decade.

Swedish metal group Meshuggah are also new in the Top 5 today, with ninth set Immutable (Atomic Fire) at #5. The rest of the Top 5 is Ed Sheeran’s = (Asylum) at #2, Michael Bublé’s Higher (Reprise) at #3 and Pier Pressure (Island) from Arrdee at #4.

Styles’ Fine Line (Columbia) has risen 22 places to #6 following the release of his new single, while his self-titled debut is also back in the Top 40, at #35.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Styles’ “As It Was” has more than double the sales of its closest competitor—“Starlight” (NBR) by Dave—and looks set to award him his second solo #1 single in his home country.

Lil Tjay is heading for his fourth U.K. Top 40 entry, with “In My Head” (Columbia) eyeing up a #14 debut, while Becky Hill and Galantis’ “Run” (Polydor) continues to rise, up three to a new peak of #19.