Noah Kahan is eyeing his first U.K. Official Singles #1 with “Stick Season” (Republic). Over on albums, Taylor Swift looks set for the top.

As the Christmas hits fall back down the chart, “Stick Season” has lifted nine places midweek. Should it reach the summit on Friday, it will do so in its 14th week on chart.

Jack Harlow’s former chart-topper, “Lovin On Me” (Atlantic), is up 25 places to #2. Tate McRae could see “greedy” (Ministry of Sound) return to its previous peak of #3.

Following the release of a limited edition vinyl, Dua Lipa’s “Houdini” (Warner Records) is on track for a return to the Top 5 this week at #4. “DNA (Loving You)” (Atlantic) by Billy Gillies f/Hannah Boleyn aims to break the Top 5 for the first time #5.

On the U.K.’s Official Albums midweeks, Swift looks set to return to #1 with 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (EMI).

ABBA’s Gold: Greatest Hits (Polydor) could climb to its highest position since 2008 at #3, while Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS (Geffen) looks set to rebound into the Top 5 at #5.

Kahan’s Stick Season could return to its #6 peak, while Fleetwood Mac’s 50 Years - Don’t Stop (Warner Records) is back in the Top 10 at #7.

A number of British musicians and execs have been honored in the King’s New Year Honors list, including UMG U.K.’s Selina Webb, Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis and Global's Ashley Tabor-King.

UMG U.K. EVP Webb received an MBE for her services to the music industry, neurodiversity and charity. Eavis has been given a knighthood for services to music and charity.

Global founder and President Tabor-King has been given a CBE for services to music and entertainment. Founder of management company Soho Artists, Paul Burger (formerly of Sony Music), has been awarded an OBE for services to music and charity.

Dame Shirley Bassey—who in 2020 became the first female artist to chart an album in the U.K. Top 40 in seven consecutive decades—can now add a Companion of Honour to her title for services to music. Lyricist Don Black, who has worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Quincy Jones and Meat Loaf, among others, has been given a CBE for services to music. Artist Leona Lewis is now an OBE for her services to music and charity.

Royal Albert Hall CEO James Ainscough, the former CEO of charity Help Musicians, got an OBE for his services to music and musicians. Girls I Rate founder and songwriter Carla Marie Williams was awarded an MBE for services to music.

The Rolling Stones could claim 2023’s Official Christmas #1 album in the U.K. Over on singles, Wham! are on track for the top.

Hackney Diamonds (Polydor) is set to return to the top of the Official Albums Chart on Friday, having debuted at #1 in October.

Michael Bublé currently poses the biggest competition, with Christmas (Reprise) at #2. Cher’s festival collection, Christmas (Warner Records), is set to lift ten to #5.

Jewels of Romance (UMG) by André Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchestra is up 13 to #6 midweek.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” (Epic) is currently in the lead for the Christmas #1.

However, there are just 42 sales behind that and Amazon Music Original, “You’re Christmas to Me” (East West/Rhino) by Sam Ryder, which has risen eight places to #2.

Each track is being supported with some mighty promo weight, with the Wham! entry accompanied by a limited edition vinyl, first-time CD release of the song, and a download promotion. Ryder, meanwhile, had a promo tour bus on the road in Manchester and London this weekend and appearances in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge and The One Show.

Other potential contenders include “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Sony) by Mariah Carey at #3; Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” (Atlantic) at #4; and “Fairytale of New York” (Warner Music U.K.) by The Pogues f/Kirsty MacColl at #5.

YouTube Music has expanded its support of the European Music Managers Alliance with a renewed partnership that will benefit more than 2k managers based across Europe.

The partnership will help support EMMA’s ongoing work to provide professional development services to managers across the continent, boost training and network building, and develop new research projects that will offer policy-makers insights of how to support Europe’s music industry.

It follows YouTube’s previously established partnership with EMMA to support its pan-European mentoring program.

EMMA Executive Director Jess Partridge said: “In a globalized music economy, the role of the manager is increasingly important, and yet frequently quite siloed. This is why national organizations and pan-European networks are so vital—enabling these entrepreneurial individuals to come together to develop new skills, share learnings and professionalize their work.”

“Being a music manager is a tough and often isolated job, so it's never been more important to provide the skills, training and mentorship that will enable managers to scale up their businesses, whilst providing a much-needed community and network,” said Christina Matteotti, head of Music & Culture, EMEA Partnerships at Google.

The Killers register their eighth U.K. Official Albums #1 with Rebel Diamonds (EMI) is. Over on singles, Wham! spend a second week at the top.

Elsewhere on albums, Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 (Island) is her highest charting in over a decade, landing at #3. Tate McRae’s Think Later (Ministry of Sound) is her first Top 5 at #5.

Jewels of Romance (UMG) from Andre Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchestra rises seven to #19.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart, “Last Christmas” (Epic) by Wham! remains at #1, putting them firmly in with a chance of scoring the coveted Christmas top spot next week for the first time ever.

The track will be boosted over the coming week with its debut arrival on CD today, alongside the release of a limited edition green vinyl.

Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” (Republic) is up three to #2, while Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia) is #3.

“Fairytale of New York” (Rhino) by The Pogues f/Kirsty MacCall is #5. Sam Ryder’s “You’re Christmas To Me” (East West/Rhino) is his second Top 10 at #10.

Discontent over streaming royalty payouts remains in the U.K., where a series of industry execs and artists, including Merck Mercuriadis and Nile Rodgers, offered evidence at a session in Parliament.

Offered as a progress update following 2021’s Economics of Music Streaming report, Tuesday’s session yet again focused on compensation for creators.

Mercuriadis criticized the decision to set up an industry working group to explore issues and develop actions surrounding fair pay for creators. He called it a “missed opportunity” to instead create policy interventions, Music Week reported.

Rodgers criticized the major label’s defense of streaming rates, which centers on their investment in A&R and level of risk-taking. “I really hate the fact that they keep using that argument that is completely archaic. I hate to use words like ‘lie’—but it’s a lie,” the Guardian quoted him as saying.

The days are “truly over” when an act like David Bowie would be given the amount of time to produce a hit record (his first Top 5 album in the U.K. was his fourth, Hunky Dory, in ’71), Rodgers added. Mercuriadis said that due to streaming data, labels don't ever take a gamble on artists who haven't yet proven their potential.

Others in the session included MPA CEO Paul Clements, who defended major publishers for not driving up publishing royalty rates. “The influence the majors have had has been a positive one,” he said, pointing out that they increased the rate to around 15% from 7-8% due to bilateral negotiations with platforms. “As the tide has risen, everybody else’s rates have increased—and there is a real misunderstanding about how that has worked.”

The Killers’ Rebel Diamonds (EMI) is set to debut at #1 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart. Over on singles, Sam Ryder is challenging Wham! for the top spot.

Rebel Diamonds is outselling its closest competition— Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 (Island)—by more than 2:1 while Tate McRae’s Think Later (Ministry of Sound) is less than 100 chart sales behind Minaj at #3.

Kylie Minogue’s Extension (The Extended Remixes) (BMG) is on track to debut at #8. Porcupine Tree could secure their second Top 10 this year with live LP Closure/Continuation.Live (Sony) at #9.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Ryder’s “You’re Christmas To Me” (East West/Rhino) is less than 800 sales away from knocking “Last Christmas” (Epic) from the top spot.

Ryder’s Amazon Music Original is expected to rise to #2 on Friday but the Top 3 is not yet a done deal—“Fairytale of New York” (Rhino) by The Pogues f/Kirsty MacCall isn’t fair behind at #3.

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia) is #4.

Another Amazon Music Original to keep an eye on is Jorja Smith’s cover of “Stay Another Day” (FAMM), which is up 18 midweek to #8.

Peter Gabriel has beaten ATEEZ to take the top slot on this week’s U.K. Official Albums Chart. Over on singles, Wham! returns to the top.

Gabriel’s i/o (Bright Side Mix) (Real World) has emerged victorious after a neck-and-neck race. It’s his first #1 in 37 years and his third solo chart-topper.

THE WORLD EP.FIN: WILL (KQ) by K-pop group ATEEZ ends the week at #2.

Elsewhere, Michael Bublé’s Christmas (Reprise) is up one to #3 and Cher’s Christmas (Warner Records) breaks the Top 10 for the first time at #8.

P!nk’s former #1, TRUSTFALL (RCA), returns to the Top 20 at #15 following the release of its Tour Deluxe Edition.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” (Epic) jumps four places to claim its fourth stint at #1. The track tallied 53k sales this week.

The track has helped set a new chart record today as one of 29 Christmas songs in the U.K. Top 40, the most ever.

“All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia) by Mariah Carey is up four to #2. On the day of Shane MacGowan’s funeral, “Fairytale of New York” (Rhino) by The Pogues f/Kirsty MacColl is #4.

Other Christmas songs in the Top 10 are: Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (MCA) at #6; Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” (Atlantic/EMI) at #7; Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (Reprise) at #8; Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” (Geffen) at #9; and Shakin’ Stevens’ “Merry Christmas Everyone” (Epic) at #10.