Frank Turner says it would be “pretty funny and cool” if he won this week’s chart battle

Ed Sheeran is a musical “genius” but also a musical “magpie” who borrows from other people’s work when he’s writing his pop songs. Sometimes he borrows from the work of superstars, who get their credits.

Mark Sutherland February in the U.K. music industry is traditionally dominated by the BRIT Awards, and this year the ceremony returned to its customary slot, having been forced to move to May in 2021 by the pandemic.But, despite resuming its rightful place in the calendar with a star-studded line-up including Adele, Ed Sheeran and Liam Gallagher, the event posted its lowest-ever TV ratings with 2.7 million tuning in, down from 2.9m last year.However, bosses won’t be too concerned because, as in the U.S., TV ratings only tell part of the story: The ceremony also reported record digital engagement under chairman Tom March’s multi-platform plan.

In a close week which saw new entries from Bad Boy Chiller Crew and Sea Power vying for Number 1, Ed Sheeran reclaims the top spot with = (Equals), as Bad Boy Chiller Crew boast this week’s highest new entry with Disrespectful. 

Sea Power could be heading for their first Number 1 album with Everything Was Forever, as they lead a very close Top 5 on the Official Albums Chart Update.

Frank Turner has scored his first ever UK Number One album with ‘FTHC’, his ninth studio LP.The singer/songwriter’s record claimed the top spot with almost 90 per cent of physical sales, topping the UK Official Record Store Chart and the Official Vinyl Albums Chart.It is his highest ever charting position after his last album, ‘No Man’s Land’ went in at Number Three in 2019 and his 2015 album ‘Positive Songs For Negative People’ peaked at Number Two.“Getting a Number One album is crazy, it’s not a thing I ever thought would happen to me and it’s happened on my ninth album,” Turner told the Official Charts Company.“That feels particularly crazy and awesome, and I’m proud of it. It feels quite fitting that, of all the records I’ve put out, this is the one that got the Number 1 trophy.

Ed Sheeran claims the highest new entry on this week’s Official Singles Chart with The Joker and the Queen at Number 2.

Frank Turner secures his first ever Number 1 album this week, as FTHC reigns on the Official Albums Chart. 

Disney's Encanto soundtrack continues its massive chart success in the UK, netting a seventh consecutive week at Number 1 on the Official Compilations chart.

Lost Frequencies & Calum Scott climb to Number 1 on the Official Irish Singles Chart with Where Are You Now.

Frank Pesce has died at the age of 75 following a battle with dementia. His girlfriend Tammy Scher shared the heartbreaking news to Deadline as she explained he passed away on 6 February in Burbank, California, following complications with the condition.

Frank Turner is on course to achieve his first Number One album this week.According to The Official Charts Company, ‘FTHC’, which stands for Frank Turner Hardcore – is currently leading the charts with more than double the sales of his closest competition, Alt-J’s ‘The Dream‘.It would be Turner’s highest-charting album to date following on from ‘Tape Deck Heart‘, which recached Number Two in 2013.Others looking to claim their highest UK albums chart entry include Slash and Myles Kennedy.Their latest collaboration ‘4’ is set to chart at Number Three, while James Morrison’s ‘Greatest Hits’ collection is on track to enter the charts at Number Five.Elsewhere in the charts, Viola Beach’s self-titled debut album is set to re-enter the chart at Number Seven, following a special vinyl release.The posthumously-released album debuted at Number One in August 2016 after the group suffered a fatal incident alongside their manager in February of that year. Last month, Turner shared his new single ‘A Wave Across A Bay’, written as a tribute to the late Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison.The track has been released with the blessing of Scott’s younger brother Grant, and was first performed by Turner back in 2020 during a set of Frightened Rabbit covers.“I still miss my friend Scott every day,” Turner said about the single.

Frank Turner has opened up about how losing Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison and the theme of “acceptance” shaped his new album ‘FTHC’.Hutchison, who died by suicide in 2018, was recently immortalised by his friend Turner on the single ‘A Wave Across The Bay‘ from his ninth album ‘FTHC’ – released last week (Friday February 11). The song addresses Turner’s relationship with the late singer, as well as coming to terms with Hutchison’s final days and his decision to take his own life.“I try to write in an unforced way, and that was an extreme example of that,” Turner told NME.

FTHC could become Frank Turner’s first ever UK Number 1 album this week, as it leads a barrage of new entries in the midweek Top 10. 

Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift look set to claim this week’s highest new entry at Number 2 with The Joker and the Queen; following Ed’s show-stopping BRIT Awards performance of the track. The single could out-peak the pair’s last collaboration Everything Has Changed, which managed Number 7 in 2012.