U.K. CHARTS:
RAYE RISES TO #1

RAYE has her first U.K. Official Singles Chart topper with “Escapism.” f/070 Shake (Human Re Sources). Over on albums, Taylor Swift returns to #1.

RAYE—who split from Polydor in 2021 after a dispute—hits the top today on 5.6m streams. "Escapism." arrived nearly three months ago and has grown steadily thanks to a TikTok trend and streaming success.

Meanwhile, SZA’s “Kill Bill" (RCA/Top Dawg) rises 28 places and, at #4, becomes her first solo U.K. Top 10 hit.

In the post-Christmas period, several tracks re-enter the Top 10. These include Venbee & goddard.’s “Messy in Heaven” (Columbia) at #3, plus new peaks for Central Cee’s self-released “Let Go,” at #6, and Rema’s “Calm Down” (Jonzing Worldwide/ Mavin), at #8.

Tom Odell’s “Another Love” (Columbia), first released in 2012, re-peaks today at #10 after becoming popular on TikTok last year.

Bugzy Malone and TeeDee’s “Out of Nowhere” (B-Somebody) ascends 29 places to #9; it’s both artists’ first Top 10 single.

Swift's Midnights (EMI) has now remained at the Official U.K. Albums summit for four nonconsecutive weeks—a career best.

SZA’s SOS is back to its original peak of #2. The Weeknd’s The Highlights (Island) rebounds into the Top 5, at #3, following the release of his Avatar: The Way of the Water soundtrack single, “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength).”

Sam Ryder’s former #1, There’s Nothing But Space, Man! (Parlophone), is up three places to #7.

Eminem’s Curtain Call: The Hits (Interscope/Polydor) rebounds into the Top 10, at #8, as does ABBA’s Gold–Greatest Hits (Polar Music), at #10. Metro Boomin is lifted three to #13 with Heroes & Villains (Republic).

Whitney Houston’s posthumous 2012 collection, I Will Always Love You–The Best Of (RCA), is up 39 places to #15 following the release of the Kasi Lemmons-directed biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody.