Alex Turner’s band are in fact the first independently-released group to score five consecutive UK chart-topping albums while their latest set is also on fire internationally. Having reached pole position in Australia and many European territories, it has additionally given them their highest ever placing in the US, reaching number six.
During a particularly strong spell for British talent, rising stars London Grammar are attracting plenty of attention too. The trio’s debut album If You Wait recently stormed in at number two both at home and in Australia, quickly raising their profile and marking them out as one of this year’s major breakthrough acts.
Meanwhile, after topping the UK albums chart with their debut releases, British bands Bastille and The 1975 are now enjoying success stateside. Bastille’s Bad Blood recently entered the US chart at number 11 while The 1975, whose self-titled offering scaled the UK summit last month, broke into the top 30.
The unstoppable Elton John has been having album chart success for 43 years and his critically acclaimed new set, The Diving Board, shows no signs of abating. Sir Elton’s 31st studio album recently smashed into the top five both in the UK and across the pond.
However, this week’s UK album chart saw a showdown between global superstar Justin Timberlake and hotly tipped BBC Sound of 2013 sister act Haim. At one point just 28 copies separated the Californian trio’s debut set Days Are Gone from JT’s second album of the year The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2. However, Haim not only overtook Timberlake at the finish line but ended up 2,100 copies ahead of their chart rival.
In UK singles chart news, One Republic scored their first number one this week with international hit Counting Stars while the Official Charts Company has also confirmed two more singles as million sellers. Avicii’s Wake Me Up and Snow Patrol’s 2006 smash Chasing Cars both break the barrier pushing the total of UK million sellers up to 140.
Over on the American singles chart an outbreak of girl power has sparked a sequence of three female soloists topping the Billboard Hot 100. Katy Perry scored an eighth number one with Roar but was then replaced by current queen of controversy and twerking superfan Miley Cyrus with her first US chart-topper Wrecking Ball.
Ruling this week is 16 year old Kiwi sensation Lorde who has sold almost 1.9 million copies to date of her distinctive debut single Royals. The singer-songwriter is the youngest person to top the Hot 100 since shopping mall pop princess Tiffany scaled the summit in late 1987 with her smash hit I Think We’re Alone Now.
Words: Russell Iliffe , PRS for Music
During a particularly strong spell for British talent, rising stars London Grammar are attracting plenty of attention too. The trio’s debut album If You Wait recently stormed in at number two both at home and in Australia, quickly raising their profile and marking them out as one of this year’s major breakthrough acts.
Meanwhile, after topping the UK albums chart with their debut releases, British bands Bastille and The 1975 are now enjoying success stateside. Bastille’s Bad Blood recently entered the US chart at number 11 while The 1975, whose self-titled offering scaled the UK summit last month, broke into the top 30.
The unstoppable Elton John has been having album chart success for 43 years and his critically acclaimed new set, The Diving Board, shows no signs of abating. Sir Elton’s 31st studio album recently smashed into the top five both in the UK and across the pond.
However, this week’s UK album chart saw a showdown between global superstar Justin Timberlake and hotly tipped BBC Sound of 2013 sister act Haim. At one point just 28 copies separated the Californian trio’s debut set Days Are Gone from JT’s second album of the year The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2. However, Haim not only overtook Timberlake at the finish line but ended up 2,100 copies ahead of their chart rival.
In UK singles chart news, One Republic scored their first number one this week with international hit Counting Stars while the Official Charts Company has also confirmed two more singles as million sellers. Avicii’s Wake Me Up and Snow Patrol’s 2006 smash Chasing Cars both break the barrier pushing the total of UK million sellers up to 140.
Over on the American singles chart an outbreak of girl power has sparked a sequence of three female soloists topping the Billboard Hot 100. Katy Perry scored an eighth number one with Roar but was then replaced by current queen of controversy and twerking superfan Miley Cyrus with her first US chart-topper Wrecking Ball.
Ruling this week is 16 year old Kiwi sensation Lorde who has sold almost 1.9 million copies to date of her distinctive debut single Royals. The singer-songwriter is the youngest person to top the Hot 100 since shopping mall pop princess Tiffany scaled the summit in late 1987 with her smash hit I Think We’re Alone Now.
Words: Russell Iliffe , PRS for Music
