Re-issues of The Beatles’ first greatest hits compilations look set to top the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart for the first time. Over on singles, there’s a three-way battle for #1.

Expanded editions of 1967-1970 (Apple Corps), which peaked at #2 in 1973, and 1962-1966 are heading for #1 and #2, respectively, at today’s midweek mark. The latter is just 1k sales behind at #2 today. A boxset of the two albums is looking to enter the U.K. Top 10 for the first time at #9.

Chase & Status’ 2 RUFF, Vol. 1 (EMI) is #3, while a 10th anniversary edition of Passenger’s All the Little Lights (Cooking Vinyl) is #5.

New Order’s 1987 comp, Substance (Warner Music U.K.), is set for a re-entry at #6 thanks to a multi-format reissue.

Two acts could claim their first U.K. Top 10s: The debut from Baby Queen, Quarter Life Crisis (Polydor), is #7, and Chris Stapleton’s Higher (UMG) is #10.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, “Now and Then” (Apple Corps) by The Beatles is still #1. However, with just 2k sales separating the Top 3, the Fab Four have strong competition from “Lovin’ on Me” (Atlantic) by Jack Harlow at #2 and “Houdini” (Warner Records) by Dua Lipa at #3.

Noah Kahan’s first U.K. Top 10 hit, “Stick Season” (Mercury/Republic), is expected to reach a new high of #7. He could earn a second Top 20 placement with new entry “Northern Attitude” at #14.

Olivia Rodrigo’s “Can't Catch Me Now” (Geffen), taken from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snake, is up five to #13 midweek.

Chase & Status are set for a third Top 20 single with “Selecta” f/Stefflon Don (UMG) at #19. PinkPantheress’s team-up with Central Cee, “Nice to Meet You” (Warner Records U.K.), is heading for #20.

The Beatles have made U.K. Official Chart history on multiple fronts with the success of “Now and Then" (Apple Corps). Taylor Swift has scored a second week at #1 at albums.

“Now and Then,” which shifted 78.2k sales to hit the top of the Official Singles Chart, is the fastest-selling single of the year with 48.6k physical and download sales. It also claims the biggest one-week physical sales in almost a decade (38k) and is the fastest-selling vinyl single of the century with 19.4k copies.

By returning to the top of the singles chart 60 years after their first #1, they claim the longest-ever gap between an act’s first and last chart-topping hit. The track is the group's 18th #1, extending their record as the British act with the most U.K. #1 singles in charts history. Only Elvis Presley, with 21, has more.

Celebrating the feat, Paul McCartney called the news “mind boggling.”

“It’s blown my socks off,” he said. “It’s also a very emotional moment for me. I love it.”

Elsewhere on singles, BTS member Jung Kook has his fourth solo Top 10 single of 2023 with “Standing Next to You” (BIGHIT) at #6.

Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” (Mercury/Republic) climbs two to #8, while Chase & Status, Hedex and ArrDee’s “Liquor & Cigarettes” (EMI) rises one to #17.

On the U.K.’s Official Albums chart, Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (EMI) spends a second consecutive week at #1.

A 25th anniversary reissue of The Masterplan (Big Brother) by Oasis renters the chart at #2, matching its original peak upon release in 1998. Jung Kook scores this week’s highest new entry with GOLDEN (Interscope) at #3—the highest-peaking album from a member of BTS and best overall for a Korean solo artist.

Cliff Richard’s Cliff With Strings—My Kinda Life (East West/Rhino) is #5 and Johnny Marr’s Spirit Power: The Best of Johnny Marr (BMG) is #7.

Two initiatives to bring the proven benefits of music to thousands of people living with dementia have been launched in the U.K. with support from Universal Music.

The Power of Music Fund and the Music Can digital platform were launched at UMG U.K.’s London offices Wednesday (11/8). The initiatives will provide support through music—a “social prescription” that evidence suggests could help improve the lives of the 944k people living with dementia in the U.K.

“I’m delighted to see the fund and Music Can platform launch today,” Universal Music U.K. Chairman & CEO David Joseph said. “Both initiatives are perfect examples of the power of music, bringing music and healthcare to together to support people’s wellbeing right across the country.”

The fund will allow grassroots dementia choirs and music groups to apply for small grants to cover basic costs such as room rental, travel and refreshments. There will also be one larger grant of £500k available for a new Centre of Excellence—a partnership between health and care providers, voluntary organizations, music providers and dementia support organizations. Applications open on 11/22.

The Centre will test new approaches to embedding music as part of dementia care, gather evidence of cost savings for the NHS, and design new models of care which could be scaled up and spread across England. The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) has established the fund, which has been kickstarted by a £1m contribution from the Utley Foundation, as well as support from Arts Council England, Music for All and others. NASP aims to raise £5m in total.

The Music Can online platform aims to help people living with dementia, their carers and musicians to feel confident about using music as part of their care. The website, spearheaded by Universal Music U.K. and developed by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), includes a directory of support, playlists, music activities and advice.

The projects build on two of the recommendations of last year’s Power of Music report, published by UK Music and Music for Dementia.

Lucy Dickins brings out her children at the MITs Award celebration in London.

WME super agent Lucy Dickins used her acceptance speech for the MITs Award in London on Monday night to shine a light on working mothers.

“Life in this industry, as you know, is extremely busy. But being a working mother is another beast altogether,” Dickins said with her two children onstage beside her. “I have so much respect for you mothers who are fighting the fight because it is not easy. We're constantly feeling that we're sacrificing one part of our life for another. So whatever way you look at it, you have guilt. And it's really, really hard to balance it all and often people say 'I don't know how you do it all'. But you absolutely can't do it all, all you can do is just do your best. That's what I tell everyone.”

September Management founder Jonathan Dickins, Dickins’ brother, presented her with the award, calling her “a fierce negotiator, strategic, loyal, and most importantly, the greatest sister I could possibly ever have.”

He also praised the WME global head of Contemporary Music and Touring for her ability to juggle a high level career with parenting. "I'm really proud because I think I've learned one thing, and that is that I have a newfound respect for what it means to be a working mum. Anybody that holds a career, and especially the level that she does, and happens to be a present parent... I'm in awe of that. And that, to me, goes well beyond any achievements in music.”

Accepting her award, Dickins said: "May we continue to nurture, support and empower great talent and may we continue to live and love in music. I'm truly humbled to receive this award tonight and I hope that in some small way I've inspired the next generation of women in music, which translates into the live music business in the future.”

Other tributes on the night came from clients Adele, who recalled how she and Dickins first met, and Little Simz, while Hot Chip and Loyle Carner performed.

Photo credit: John Marshall, JM Enternational

More winners have been revealed ahead of this month’s Artist & Manager Awards in London, with Jorja Smith, Tinie Tempah and the band formerly known as Easy Life among the honorees.

Smith will receive Artist of the Year following the arrival of her second album, falling or flying (FAMM), which hit #3 in the U.K. earlier this year.

Tempah and his full-service creative agency, Imhotep, will be honored with Entrepreneur of the Year. The latter reps songwriters and producers who have worked with Drake, Dave, Central Cee, Alicia Keys and others.

The band formerly known as Easy Life (who’ve had to change their name after being sued for trademark infringement by the company easyGroup) will collect the inaugural Artists’ Voice Award. The award recognizes how they've taken to social platforms and the wider media to highlight everyday challenges faced by artists and music makers, including the impact of Brexit, the costs of touring and venue levies being imposed on artist merch sales.

Finally, Government body the Culture, Media & Sport Committee will receive the Industry Champions award for their work scrutinizing music streaming, as well as AI, Brexit and the live market.

Previously announced winners include Duran Duran and manager Wendy Laister and Central Cee manager Bello. The two awards for Breakthrough Artist and Breakthrough Manager will be announced on the night of the ceremony, 11/23.

U.K. music exports generated £4b (nearly $5b) in 2022, aided by growth in recording and publishing, as well as the return of international touring, according to a report from trade body UK Music.

Last year, the U.K. music industry reportedly contributed £6.7b to the U.K. economy in GVA. Total employment was 210k.

Changes in the way the data is collected means direct comparisons to previous years aren’t reliable. When taking into account the change in methodology, UK Music says 2022 “outperformed" the last pre-COVID year of 2019 by a "significant margin to produce its best year ever.”

“We know this from assessing various contributing metrics, including revenue figures.”

UK Music Interim Chief Exec Tom Kiehl praised the results but called for more Government support to ensure the U.K. remains competitive globally. “The competition for international markets is intensifying rapidly,” he said. “The U.K.’s competitors are increasingly well funded and can often count on far more support from their governments.

“South Korea, Australia and Canada have invested heavily in music and cultural export offices to help grow their overseas markets. We need far more support—otherwise we risk the U.K. being left behind in the global music race and that would be a bitter blow for music industry and a missed opportunity to grow our export market.”

The Beatles are set to claim their first U.K. Official Singles #1 in 54 years with “Now And Then” (Apple Corps). Over on albums, Oasis are heading for the top.

At the halfway mark, “Now And Then” is outselling the rest of the Top 5 singles chart combined. The song could become The Beatles’ 18th U.K. #1 single on Friday and first since “The Ballad of John and Yoko” in 1969.

The track debuted at #42 in the U.K. last week based on just 10 hours of sales but is expected to jump 41 places.

Elsewhere, BTS member Jung Kook could claim his highest solo peak with “Standing Next to You” (BIGHIT) on track to be this week’s highest new entry at #2.

Chase & Status, Hedex and ArrDee’s “Liquor & Cigarettes” (EMI) is up two places to #16, while Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves’ duet “I Remember Everything” (Interscope/Warner) is up five to #18.

On the U.K.’s Official Albums midweeks, a 25th anniversary reissue of The Masterplan (Big Brother) by Oasis could reach #1 for the first time.

Jung Kook looks set to claim the highest-charting solo album from a BTS member in the U.K. with GOLDEN (Interscope) starting at #3.

Cliff Richard’s Cliff With Strings—My Kinda Life (East West/Rhino) eyes #4, while Johnny Marr is #6 with Spirit Power: The Best of Johnny Marr (BMG).

Caroline Polachek’s Desire, I Want To Turn Into You (Perpetual Novice) is #7 and Van Morrison has the nine slot with Accentuate The Positive (Exile Productions).

Taylor Swift dominates the U.K.’s Official Singles and Albums Charts today, while claiming the biggest opening sales week of 2023 so far.

1989 (Taylor’s Version) (EMI) shifted 184k sales this week, which is more than double the original 1989’s opening week of 90k in 2014. The set is the year’s fastest-seller, surpassing the 95k tally racked up by the previous title holder, Lewis Capaldi’s Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent (EMI).

Today, Swift has her 11th chart-topping album in Blighty. The set also tops the vinyl chart with 62k copies sold.

Over on singles, Swift has her third #1 with “Is It Over Now (Taylor’s Version)” reaching the top on 4.9m streams. Two more Swift singles are in the Top 10: “Now That We Don’t Talk (Taylor’s Version)” and “Slut! (Taylor’s Version)” are at #2 and #5, respectively.

Elsewhere on albums, OMD’s Bauhaus Staircase (100 Percent Records) is #2, while Duran Duran’s Danse Macabre (BMG) bows at #4.

James Blunt’s Who We Used to Be (Atlantic) is new at #5 and grime MC CASisDEAD is #7 with his debut, Famous Last Words (XL).