Foo Fighters are storming towards their fifth UK Number 1 album with their new studio record Medicine at Midnight.
The Dave Grohl-fronted rock band are outselling the rest of the Top 10 combined in pursuit of the top spot on today’s Official Chart Update (Feb. 8) and have racked up the most physical and digital sales of the week so far.
Medicine at Midnight is on course to become Foo Fighters’ fifth chart-topper on the UK’s Official Albums Chart following One By One (2002), Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007), Wasting Light (2011) and Concrete & Gold (2017). See where all of Foo Fighters’ albums and singles have charted in the UK, and find out what are Foo Fighters’ biggest albums in the UK.
In the runner-up spot on today’s sales flash are Seattle folk band Fleet Foxes with Shore. Surprise-released in September 2020, the collection was released on physical formats this past Friday. Shore could mark Fleet Foxes’ third album to wash up in the Top 3, with their highest UK chart position to date being Number 2 logged by 2011’s Helplessness Blues.
London experimental rock group Black Country, New Road round out an all-new midweek Top 3 with their debut album For The First Time (3), while on track for the Top 5 is Canadian singer The Weeknd with his greatest hits The Highlights (5), released to coincide with his Super Bowl half-time performance. View Official Charts’ rundown of The Weeknd’s biggest hits in the UK.
Folk sister trio The Staves – who are guests on this week’s episode of The Record Club in association with Bowers Wilkins – are on course for their first UK Top 10 album with their fourth studio album Good Woman at 6, and Scottish pop/rock group Deacon Blue are heading for a seventh UK Top 10 album with Riding on the Tide of Love at 7.
Following her performance on The Graham Norton Show last Friday (Feb. 5) Jessie Ware’s Top 3 album from 2020 What’s Your Pleasure? is set for a re-entry at Number 11, prog rock band Transatlantic are in line for their first UK Top 40 album with The Absolute Universe at Number 14 midweek, and also set to make their Official Albums Chart debut are Canadian folk band The Weather Station with Ignorance at Number 22.
More new entries hoping to make it into Friday’s Top 40 include The Essential from Stockport group 10cc (27), alt-rockers Kid Kapachi’s debut album This Time Next Year (28), and Australian band Psychedelic Porn Crumpets with Shyga! The Sunlight Mound (33).
REPUBLIC RECORDS EVP/Promotion GARY SPANGLER has been upped to EVP of the label.
REPUBLIC RECORDS Founder & CEO MONTE LIPMAN commented, “Gary’s leadership and recent accomplishments has been nothing short of historic. His overall passion for music, support of the artist community, and pursuit of excellence remains key ingredients to his success.”
SPANGLER added, “It’s an honor to play a small part in the legacy of REPUBLIC that MONTE and AVERY have built from the ground up. I’m inspired to be on this team every single day I get up for work. Now more than ever, I’m excited for what the future holds at REPUBLIC.”
Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie believes her bandmates Stevie Nicks and John McVie wouldn’t sign up for another tour.
During an appearance on BBC Radio 2 show, Sounds of the 70s with Johnnie Walker, on Sunday, Christine was asked about a return to the road after the Covid-19 crisis is over, and she also admitted she feels that she’s too old for a big trek too.
““That’s an impossible question to even answer. If we do (tour again), it would be without John and without Stevie, I think,” she said. “I think I’m getting a bit too old for it now – especially having had a year off. I don’t know if I could get myself back into it again.
“I know Mick (Fleetwood) would do it in a lightning strike, but I couldn’t possibly say… We’re certainly not touring this year either.”
Asked to clarify her comments about former husband John, she added, “He’s feeling a little bit frail. He was ill. He’s fine but he just hasn’t got the heart for it anymore. He wants to get on his boat. You reach a certain age where you go, ‘Hey, I’m not gonna bust a gut doing this anymore’.
“It all looks very nice when you come and see the show, but the work that goes behind it to get to that point is unbelievable.”
Stevie has yet to confirm her Fleetwood Mac touring days are over.
iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (ALT 104.5)/PHILADELHIA is celebrating the new year with the “ALT 104.5 BREWERY TOUR” and a series of custom craft beer collaborations. The ALT 104.5 BREWERY TOUR aims to spotlight many of the great breweries in the PHILADELPHIA area that have experienced unprecedented challenges during the pandemic.
On THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11th from 7-9p the tour stops at LOVE CITY BREWING. ALT 104.5 is inviting listeners to come bundle up at LOVE CITY BREWING’s outdoor beer garden or enjoy a socially distanced beverage at their indoor taproom including a custom “UNCONDITIONAL-ALT LOVE IPA” created specifically for the ALT 104.5 BREWERY TOUR. In addition, the first 20 people at the event will receive a custom ALT 104.5-pint glass.
ALT 104.5 PD AMBER MILLER said, “Listeners have always depended on us for new music discovery, and now we are expanding our expertise to new beer discovery. We’ve scoured the PHILLY/JERSEY/DELAWARE beer scene and are excited to introduce listeners to some of our favorite breweries.”
Gabrielle is glad she was voted off the British version of The Masked Singer on Saturday, because she was suffering panic attacks in her costume.
The Dreams singer admitted she struggled as the Harlequin and is quietly relieved she didn’t make it to the final.
“I’m a very nervous performer and I thought by doing this maybe I can go out of my comfort zone,” she said after she was unmasked, revealing that giving birth was easier than appearing on the show.
“I got really scared, like a big baby,” she told The Mirror. “The mask is heavy. Nothing prepares you for the panic. I was getting panic attacks… I couldn’t breathe. You have to sing a song and your mouth is so dry.”
Gabrielle revealed she needed three fans in her costume to keep her cool.
“The panic attacks, the heat, the costume… it was all so hard, but it was also incredible,” she added.
On Monday, Gabrielle announced the release of her seventh studio album, Do It Again. It features the new lead single Stop Right Now, which dropped on Monday, one more original track, and the cover songs she performed on the show, which included Rihanna’s Diamonds, Billie Eilish’s Everything I Wanted, and Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car.
“I have loved putting my own stamp on the songs I sang on The Masked Singer along with some of my favourite covers and two new songs I wrote,” Gabrielle said in a statement.
COVID-19 (photo: Gemini Pro Studio – shutterstock)
AMERICA’s continued disregard for the impact of COVID-19’s potential dangers to people and their families was on full display as several well-know artists, 50 CENT, STEVE AOKI and DIPLO appeared at mostly unmasked SUPER BOWL parties with little to no social distancing safeguards in place.
The TAMPA BAY NEWS reported that MAYOR RICK KRISEMAN is upset with 50 CENT. The rapper-actor-entrepreneur was the headliner for a private SUPER BOWL 55 party in a hangar at ALBERT WHITTED AIRPORT on FRIDAY night (2/5). But photos posted the day after by TMZ show a crowded, mostly-maskless event held amid the CORONAVIRUS pandemic.
The mayor tweeted his displeasure SATURDAY and suggested that fines may be imminent. “This isn’t how we should be celebrating the SUPER BOWL,” he said. “It’s not safe or smart. It’s stupid. We’re going to take a very close look at this, and it may end up costing someone a lot more than 50 CENT.”
Super DJs DIPLO and AOKI both attracted a crowd of 2,000+ people to the GODFREY WATERFRONT HOTEL’s WTR TAMPA Pool on FRIDAY (2/5) and SATURDAY (2/6) and there were few masks and zero social distancing, according to WFLA-TV and TMZ.
TAMPA POLICE released a statement: “Scenes from WTR last night and a few other clubs were incredibly disappointing. The city spent the better part of a year educating residents on precautions due to the pandemic and have recently put a mask order in place for both the entertainment and event zones to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors to our great city. When the governor lifted the capacity restrictions and opened bars, we turned to the tight-knit hospitality community to reopen safe and sound, but there’s a level of personal responsibility that must be followed or risk getting shut down.”
The 51-year-old musician – who is best known as the bassist for the ‘Creep’ group – has penned a first-person piece, in which he detailed some of the costs British musicians planning to tour from the UK to Europe face, after they were left out of the Brexit trade deal, meaning they may have to acquire a visa for every European country they wish to perform in, a policy which could lead to artists being unable to afford playing in the EU.
Colin wrote in The Guardian newspaper: “I spoke to several old friends who’ve had years of experience planning Radiohead tours. Adrian, our touring accountant, said it will be more clunky and expensive.
“Before Brexit, a carnet (a list of goods going in and out of the country) was just needed for Norway and Switzerland. Now it would be more like playing South America, where each country has its systems for dealing with “third countries” like us. Adrian said a £10,000 guitar would need a carnet that would cost about £650 plus VAT. The costs of travel and accommodation are already high, and the extra paperwork and expenses would rise quickly for a touring orchestra.”
Colin has urged the government to admit they have failed the creative industries and pleaded with them to fight so that British musicians aren’t left deprived.
He added: “It is time for the UK government to admit it didn’t do enough for the creative industries during the Brexit negotiations and look to renegotiate on the provision for touring in Europe.
“My country’s music is great because it scorns borders and boundaries; it is a great patriotic source, a force of confidence, joy and shared passions. I am proud of my country and all the music it has exchanged with the world, and I am sure that pride is felt across all ages and cultures in the UK. It is the antithesis of the culturally pinched nationalism that is Brexit, and its diminishment would deprive us all.”
Sir Elton John has also called for a “short-term fix” to make it easier for British musicians to tour in Europe.
The ‘Tiny Dancer’ hitmaker branded the current situation “ridiculous” in the same paper over the weekend.
He wrote: “Either the Brexit negotiators didn’t care about musicians, or didn’t think about them, or weren’t sufficiently prepared.
“They screwed up. It’s ultimately down to the British government to sort it out: they need to go back and renegotiate.”
The music legend called for a “support organisation” to help young artists navigate the new difficulties, particularly now when the coronavirus pandemic has provided a “window of opportunity” to get something in place while live music is still on hold.
And the 73-year-old icon felt it’s his own biggest critics who should support his campaign more than anyone else. He wrote: “if you hate every note I’ve recorded, because your tastes are edgier, weirder and more exploratory – if you think that the Parisian hotdog thrower had a good point – you need to support musicians’ ability to tour.
“Because if Brexit prevents many new musicians from touring, the only artists who are going to have any meaningful kind of live career are big, august, mainstream artists like me. And, trust me, I don’t want that any more than you do.”
The issue is due to be debated in parliament on Monday (08.02.21) after over 280,000 musicians and music fans signed a petition calling for new negotiations with the EU.
Industry insiders receive ALL ACCESS’ exclusive MEDIABASE chart recap analysis in their e-mail box every MONDAY morning. How about you? This week’s data from ANTHONY ACAMPORA, Partner MUSICRUNCH/RADIOCRUNCH and MEDIABASE Charts Consultant:
Top 40: Bieber/Blanco #1; Ariana #2/#3; Chris Brown Top 5; McRae Top 10; Machine Gun Kelly/Blackbear, Weeknd, Pop Smoke Top 15
* JUSTIN BIEBER & BENNY BLANCO take over the top spot with “Lonely,” moving 4*-1* and is up 1921 spins * ARIANA GRANDE has two of the top three as “34+35” moves 5*-2* and is +2110 spins * Meanwhile, after seven weeks at #1, “positions” is at #3 – and both songs exceeded 17000 spins this week * CHRIS BROWN scores his first top 5 at Top 40 since 2008 as “Go Crazy,” featuring YOUNG THUNG, moves 6*-4* and is up 982 spins * Another newcomer enters the top 10 as TATE MCRAE goes 12*-10* with “You Broke Me First,” up 1408 spins * Speaking of new artists, on the cusp of the top 10 is RITT MOMNEY, climbing 13*-11* with “Put Your Records On,” up 1701 spins * Three songs go top 15 this week – led by MACHINE GUN KELLY and BLACKBEAR, up 16*-12* with “My Ex’s Best Friend,” up 1035 spins * THE WEEKND vaults into the top 15, rising 19*-14* with “Save Your Tears,” at +949 spins * POP SMOKE goes top 20 with “What You Know Bout Love,” climbing 21*-15* and is +1092 spins * MEGAN THEE STALLION hits the top 20 with “Body,” up 23*-20* and +655 spins * AVA MAX surges 31*-22* in her second week on the chart with “My Head & My Heart” and is up 1916 spins * JASON DERULO & ADAM LEVINE climb 34*-27* with “Lifestyle” at +1394 spins * THE KID LAROI hits the top 30 with “Without You,” moving 33*-29* and gains 822 spins * The top debut belongs to SABRINA CARPENTER at 34* with “Skin,” up 616 spins * TIESTO enters at 36* with “The Business” while NELLY & FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE come aboard at 39* with “Lil Bit”
Rhythmic: Pop Smoke, Megan Hold Top 2; CJ Top 5; H.E.R. Top 10; Erica Banks Top 20; Fat Joe Surges; Cardi B Leads Debuts
* POP SMOKE scores a 3rd week at #1 with “What You Know Bout Love” * MEGAN THEE STALLION is the runner up for a 2nd week with “Body,” and is +357 spins * CJ goes top 5 with “Whoopty,” moving 7*-4* and +420 spins * H.E.R. hits the top 10 with “Damage,” up 11*-9* and +179 spins * ERICA BANKS is top 20 in her third week with “Buss It,” rising 24*-18* and is +611 spins in her third week * FAT JOE, DJ KHALED & AMORPHOUS vault 38*-23* with “Sunshine (The Light,”) and is +688 spins * LIL BABY is up 32*-27* with “On Me,” growing 325 spins * CARDI B is back and debuts at 35* with “Up” with 819 spins * OLIVIA RODRIGO enters at 37* with “drivers license” * POOH SHIESTY debuts at 40* with “Back In Blood,” featuring LIL DURK, up 222 spins
Urban: Saweetie/Jhene Aiko New #1; BRS Kash Runner Up; Megan Top 5; Internet Money Surges; H.E.R. Top 10
* SAWEETIE takes over the top spot with “Back To The Streets,” featuring JHENE AIKO, moving 4*-1* and is +521 spins * BRS KASH is in the runner up spot, climbing 3*-2* with “Th***t Baby (Go Baby),” up 229 spins * MEGAN THEE STALLION has another top 5 with “Body,” moving 6*-5* and is up 338 spins * Inside the top 10, INTERNET MONEY surges 10*-6* with “Lemonade,” featuring GUNNA, DON TOLIVER and NAV, up 497 spins * H.E.R. hits the top 10 at Rhythmic and Urban as “Damage” moves 12*-9* and is +475 spins * YUNG BLEU goes top 15 as “You’re Mines Still,” featuring DRAKE is up 17*-13* and is +603 spins * LIL DURK is top 15 with “Stay Down,” featuring 6LACK & YOUNG THUG * MONEY MU hits the top 20 with “Hittin’,” featuring MONEYBAGG YO, rising 21*-18* and is +279 spins * Also top 20 is “You Got It” by VEDO, up 22*-20* and +214 spins * ERICA BANKS has a solid +579 spin gain and is nearing the top 20, leaping 27*-21* with “Buss It” * MEGAN THEE STALLION leaps 29*-23* with “Cry Baby,” featuring DABABY, up 528 spins * MORRAY goes 30*-24* with “Quicksand,” up 526 spins * POP SMOKE soars 39*-28* with his multiformat hit “What You Know Bout Love,” at +702 spins * FAT JOE, DJ KHALED & AMORPHOUS land the top debut at 34* with “Sunshine (The Light,”) and is +635 spins * CARDI B also has a good first week debut at Urban with “Up,” at 35* and 1046 spins * POOH SHEISTY, FOUSHEE, and SPOTTEMGOTTEM also debut
Hot AC: Ava Max Returns To #1; 24KGoldn/Iann Dior Top 3; Dua Spins Surge; Ariana Tpp 10
* AVA MAX regains the #1 slot with “Kings & Queens,” up 2*-1* * 24KGOLDN and IANN DIOR are top 3 with “Mood,” moving 4*-3* and is up 315 spins * DUA LIPA holds at 6* with “Levitating” but is +464 spins * ARIANA GRANDE is top 10 with “positions,” up 11*-10* and +223 spins * JUSTIN BIEBER & BENNY BLANCO go 15*-12* with “Lonely,” up 452 spins * OLIVIA RODRIGO soars into the top 15, up 20*-15* with “drivers license,” and is +888 spins * JASON DERULO and ADAM LEVINE soar 28*-21* with “Lifestyle,” at +641 spins * JP SAXE & MAREN MORRIS have the top debut at 33* with “Line By Line,” up 107 spins * BRYNN ELLIOTT, AVA MAX, and ANT CLEMONS (featuring JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE) also debut
Active Rock: Royal Blood New Chart Topper; Cleopatrick Top 5; Chevelle Top 10; From Ashes To New Top 15; Corey Taylor, Foo Fighters Top 20
* ROYAL BLOOD takes the top spot with “Trouble’s Coming,” moving 3*-1* and is +352 spins * CLEOPATRICK goes top 5 with “Hometown,” up 7*-5* and +165 spins * CHEVELLE enters the top 10 with “Self destructor,” moving 11*-8* and is +195 spins * FROM ASHES TO NEW go top 15 with “Scars That I’m Hiding” * COREY TAYLOR hits the top 20 in his third week as “Samantha’s Gone” climbs 22*-19* and is +160 spins * FOO FIGHTERS surge into the top 20 in just their second week as “Waiting On A War” soars 36*-20* and is +377 spins * LOVE AND DEATH have the top debut at 32* with “Down” and are +90 spins * A DAY TO REMEMBER enters at 34* with “Everything We Need,” up 142 spins * ESCAPE THE FATE come aboard at 38* with “Invincible,” featuring LINDSEY STIRLING
Alternative: Eilish Holds Top Spot; Cage Runner Up; Machine Gun Kelly/Blackbear Top 3; Clairo Top 10; Weezer, Foo Fighters Top 15
* BILLIE EILISH holds the top spot with “Therefore I Am” for a second week * CAGE THE ELEPHANT is now the runner up with “Skin And Bones (Mix 2020,)” up 3*-2* and +218 spins * MACHINE GUN KELLY & BLACKBEAR hit the top 3 with “My Ex’s Best Friend,” moving 4*-3* and is +206 spins * CLAIRO goes top 10 with “Sofia,” up 11*-10* and up 200 spins * WEEZER surges into the top 15, up 17*-12* with “All My Favorite Songs,” at +420 spins * FOO FIGHTERS vault 28*-15* with “Waiting On A War,” and are up 513 spins * THE KID LAROI surges into the top 20, rising 25*-17* with “Without You,” moving up 154 spins * THE KNOCKS go top 20, leaping 23*-19* with “All About You,” featuring FOSTER THE PEOPLE * Also top 20 is BACKSEAT LOVERS is “Kilby Girl,” moving 24*-20* * CAROLESDAUGHTER enters at 26* with “Violent,” up 337 spins * WEATHERS and PORTER ROBINSON also debut
Triple A: Bakar Holds Top Spot; Kings Of Leon Runner Up; Bastille Top 5; Jade Bird Top 10
* BAKAR scores a second week at #1 with “1st Time” * KINGS OF LEON are the runner up with “The Bandit,” up 3*-2* and are +111 spins * BASTILLE go top 5 with “survivin’,” moving 6*-5* * JADE BIRD enters the top 10, rising 12*-10* with “Headstart” * FOO FIGHTERS surge 26*-13* with “Waiting On A War,” and is +188 spins * RAY LAMONTAGNE goes top 15 as “Roll Me Mama, Roll Me,” leaping 16*-14* * MY MORNING JACKET enters the top 20, rising 22*-20* with “Run It” * WEEZER has the top debut at 22* with “All My Favorite Songs” * JULIEN BAKER and NATAHANIEL RATELIFF also debut
The 27-year-old chart-topper made his debut on the Heat Rich List last year, with estimated earnings of $12 million over 12 months.
And the YouTuber-turned-rapper – who released his debut album ‘Dissimulation’ in 2020 – has insisted he would much rather donate his riches to charity than splash the cash on himself and does what he can to help those in need.
The ‘Really Love’ hitmaker told the Daily Star newspaper’s Wired column: “I have reached peak happiness with the money I have. I don’t need anymore, so I am just trying to do what I can, help who I can, support charities and have a good time man.”
KSI is set to embark on a 2021 tour in May and teased he will splurge a large chunk of his cash on an epic production.
He continued: “I would spend all that money I have been making and put it on production – it will be stupid, it will be ridiculous, it will be huge.”
The Sidemen co-founder also hinted that he may take a break or quit music and YouTube when he settles down and starts a family.
He added: “There isn’t really an end goal, I don’t know how long I will be in the music industry or doing the whole YouTube thing.
“When I want to settle down and have a kid and a family, I want to make sure I put all my focus on them. I have always wanted a family.
“It’s so weird and scary as so much has happened in the past five years of my life, so I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
However, the ‘Don’t Play’ hitmaker has vowed to live it up before he steps back.
He added: “I want to enjoy everything before I calm down.”
Marilyn Manson: Dropped By Manager (Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock.com)
The MARILYN MANSON scandal continues to rock the shock-rocker, who has been dropped by his record label (LOMA VISTA) (NET NEWS, FEBRUARY 1st), his talent agency (CAA) and now his manager of 25 years TONY CIULLA.
The move comes after several women, including actress and MANSON’s ex-fiancé EVAN RACHEL WOOD, accused the rocker of sexual and physical abuse.
CIULLA started managing MANSON in 1996, the same year he released his breakthrough album, “Antichrist Superstar.” He has supported his client, real name BRIAN WARNER, through several media controversies — including criticism that followed the COLUMBINE shooting — and a plethora of lawsuits.
Longtime friend TRENT REZNOR, who was implicated by MANSON in participating in sexual abuse in his autobiography, “The Long, Hard Road Out Of Hell,” has denied the chargers.
Said REZNOR, “I have been vocal over the years about my dislike of MANSON as a person and cut ties with him nearly 25 years ago. As I said at the time, the passage from MANSON’s memoir is a complete fabrication. I was infuriated and offended back when it came out and remain so today.”
MANSON issued a statement earlier this week denying the allegations against him. “Obviously, my art and life have long been magnets for controversy, but these recent claims about me are horrible distortions of reality,” he said. “My intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with like-minded partners. Regardless of how – and why – others are now choosing to misrepresent the past, that is the truth.”
