U.K. MIDWEEKS: PILOTS TAKE FLIGHT

Twenty One Pilots are heading for their first U.K. Official Albums #1, with Trench (Atlantic) sitting at the top of the midweek charts—6k combined sales ahead of the A Star Is Born soundtrack (Polydor). Over on singles, there’s a new song rocketing straight in at #2.

Last week's #1 album, Blood Red Roses (Decca) from Sir Rod Stewart, slips to #3, ahead of The Greatest Showman soundtrack (Atlantic) at #4. Completing the Top 5 are British rock band You Me at Six with VI (Underdog) at #5.

Echo & the Bunnymen are on track for their highest-[charting album in 31 years with their 13th studio album, The Stars, the Oceans & the Moon (BMG) at #6. KT Tunstall is new at #10 with Wax (Virgin EMI).

On the Official Singles midweek chart, a collaboration between London rappers Dave (pictured) and Fredo, “Funky Friday” (Neighbourhood), has entered straight in at #2 thanks in part to 1.7m video views. It’s currently #4 on Spotify’s U.K. Top 50. For now, Calvin Harris and Sam Smith are still at #1 with “Promises” (Columbia) 2k combined sales ahead; the track has the lead on the strength of downloads.

Elsewhere in the Top 5, A Star Is Born stars Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper have risen to #5 from #13 with “Shallow” (Polydor). Halsey is on track for the next highest debut as “Without Me” (Virgin EMI) starts at #19.

This week's potential highest climber is MK, Jonas Blue & Becky Hill's “Back & Forth” (Columbia) up 17 to #20, while Jason Derulo's “Goodbye” (Warner Bros.) with David Guetta f/Nicki Minaj & Willy William is also making gains, up six to #26.