Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS (Geffen) is outselling the rest of the U.K. Official Albums Top 10 at today’s midweek point. Over on singles, Rodrigo is battling with Doja Cat for #1.

GUTS is set to become Rodrigo’s second U.K. #1 album on Friday after shifting more than 33k sales so far. It leads a Top 6 of all new releases.

At #2 is Roisin Murphy’s sixth set, Hit Parade (Ninja Tune). The Coral’s Sea of Mirrors (Modern Sky/Run On) is also new, at #3; the group’s accompanying release, Holy Joe’s Coral Island Medicine Show, is #13).

The Chemical Brothers’ For That Beautiful Feeling (EMI) is predicted to land at #4 as BTS member V starts at #5 with Layover (Interscope).

The first solo record from The xx member Romy, Mid-Air (Young), is #6 today.

Last week’s Mercury Music Prize winners, Ezra Collective, look set to score a new peak for their winning album, Where I’m Meant To Be (Partisan), re-entering at #18.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, “Paint the Town Red” (Ministry of Sound) by Doja Cat is still #1. Rodrigo’s “vampire,” however, could overtake it by the end of the week: It’s currently just over 1k sales away from the summit.

“vampire” is one of three tracks from Rodrigo in today’s Top 5: “bad idea right” is up nine places to #3, while “all-american bitch” is the highest new entry at #4.

Cassö, RAYE and D-Block Europe’s “Prada” (Ministry of Sound) is expected to jump two to #5 and “adore u” (Atlantic) by Fred again.. and Obongjayar could also lift to a new high at #6.

Little Mix member Leigh-Anne could score a second Top 20 solo single with “My Love” (Warner Music U.K.) f/Ayra Starr at #12.

The average annual income of U.K. musicians from music work is £20.7k ($26k), although nearly half earn less than £14k, according to research from the Musicians’ Union and Help Musicians.

Nearly a quarter (23%) of 6k U.K. musicians surveyed by the orgs said they don’t earn enough to support themselves or their families, while nearly half (44%) said a lack of sustainable income is a barrier to their music career.

Over half of respondents (53%) sustain their career by sourcing other forms of income outside of music. Nearly two thirds (62%) of these generate additional funds from alternative employment, but other sources of financial support include support from family and friends (14%) and Universal Credit or other benefits (12%).

The average income of those making 100% of their earnings from music is around £30k ($37.5k)—slightly less than the average median income in the U.K. of £33,280.

The majority of musicians (80%) reported at least one or more career-restricting barrier. Forty-six percent report cost-related challenges, with cost of equipment (30%), transport (27%) and training (18%) limiting their careers. Other barriers include no clear route for career progression (36%), not knowing anyone in the industry (25%) and unsociable working hours (22%).

The findings come from the first ever U.K. Musicians’ Census, which can be found in full here.

Royal Blood goes four for four in hitting #1 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart while Doja Cat earns her first-ever #1 U.K. single.

Back to the Water Below (Warner), the fourth studio set from the Worthing-formed rock duo, follows Royal Blood (2014), How Did We Get So Dark (2017) and Typhoons (2021) in hitting the top of the album chart. Back to the Water Below was the top seller on vinyl and at record stores; physical sales accounted for more than 85% of the album’s opening week total.

The 10^th anniversary of The 1975’s eponymous Dirty Hit/Polydor debut returns to the Top 5 for the first time since 2013, coming in at # 3. Slowdive registers a career high #6 debut with their first U.K. Top 10 LP, Everything is Alive (Dead Oceans). Sigur Ros’ ÁTTA (BMG) opens at #30 following its release on CD and vinyl, hitting #2 on the Official Record Store Chart.

At singles, Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” (Ministry of Sound) rises one slot to #1; it’s her 15th Top 40 single in the U.K.

Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” (EMI) rises to a new peak of #2 while Fred again.. claims his first Top 10 single as a solo artist with “adore u” (Atlantic) featuring Nigerian vocalist Obongjayar at # 9. Kyle Minogue’s “Baby” (BMG ) is this week’s highest new entry, debuting at #19.

The London-based Ezra Collective has won the 2023 Mercury Prize for its album Where I’m Meant To Be. (Partisan).

The win, announced by judging-panel spokesperson DJ Jamz Supernova during the awards ceremony at London's Eventim Apollo on Thursday evening (9/7), marks the first victory for a jazz act and first win for independent label Partisan.

The Ezra Collective joins previous winners like Skepta, Dave, Pulp, Portishead and PJ Harvey.

Where I’m Meant To Be debuted at the top of the U.K. Jazz & Blues Albums Chart and hit #24 on the U.K. Albums Chart. Said Supernova, "It's an uplifting and timely record that represents the very best of where we are in 2023.”

The nominees also included Arctic Monkeys’ The Car (Domino)—the band’s fifth Mercury nod—Fred again..'s Actual Life 3 (January 1–September 9 2022) (Atlantic), J Hus' Beautiful and Brutal Yard (Black Butter), RAYE’s debut album, My 21st Century Blues (Human Re Sources) and Shygirl's Nymph (Because Music)

Royal Blood, the rock duo of Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher, is aiming to lock in their fourth consecutive U.K. #1 album this week, while Doja Cat is eyeing her first #1 at singles.

At midweek, Royal Blood’s Back to the Water Below (Warner) is outselling its closest competition, a 10th anniversary edition of The 1975’s self-titled debut from Dirty Hit/Polydor, by more than 2:1.

At #3, is Slowdive’s Everything is Alive (Dead Oceans), which would be their first-ever U.K. Top 10 placement. Their 2017 comeback Slowdive registered a career-best #17.

Rounding out the all-new Top 4 is Sigur Ros’s Atta (BMG), which was released on vinyl on Friday.

A 40th anniversary edition of Jethro Tull’s 14th studio album, The Broadsword and the Beast (Rhino), is currently #6 followed by Rivers of Heresy (Roadrunner) by Empire State Bastard, the duo of Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neal and former Oceansize frontman Mike Vennart, at #7.

Deacon Blue’s greatest hits collection All The 45s: The Very Best of Deacon Blue (Cooking Vinyl), released to coincide with a new U.K. tour, is #8.

At Singles Doja Cat’s “Paint The Town Red” (Ministry of Sound) is predicted to leapfrog Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” (Geffen) to claim the top slot.

Calvin Harris & Sam Smith’s “Desire” (Columbia) could climb into the Top 5 for the first time—it’s #4 at midweek—while Fred again..’s “adore u” (Atlantic) is looking to become his first Top 10 single as a solo artist.

Kylie Minogue's “Tension” (BMG) is on course to be the week’s highest new entry, opening at #14.

Burna Boy’s seventh LP, I Told Them… (Atlantic), is on track to become the Afrobeats star’s first Official Albums #1. At singles, Doja Cat is also looking to score her first U.K. #1, although the competition is tight.

Behind Burna Boy at #2 is the second solo album from Steps singer Claire Richards, Euphoria (Edsel). Alice Cooper could secure his highest-charting album since 1989 with Road (earMUSIC) at #3 while the debut from alt-pop star Ashnikko, Weedkiller (Parlophone), is eyeing a #4 entry. Digga D’s Back to Square One (Black Money) is expected to bow at #6.

Zach Bryan’s self-titled fourth album (Warner) could become his first to chart in the U.K., currently sitting at #15.

At singles, Doja Cat’s “Paint The Town Red” (RCA) sits at #1 at the midway mark with less than 1K chart separating the Top 5: Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” (Geffen); Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer’ (EMI); Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” (Interscope); and Peggy Gou’s “(It Goes Like) Nanana” (XL).

Miley Cyrus’s “Used To Be Young” (Columbia) is on course for a #9 debut, while Selena Gomez’s “Single Soon” (Interscope) is predicted to enter at #17.

Hozier has his first U.K. Official Albums #1 with Unreal Unearth (Island). Over on singles, Dua Lipa claims a fourth.

Elsewhere on albums, Exorcism of Youth (Cooking Vinyl) by Scottish band The View is new at #6. Reneé Rapp makes her U.K. chart debut with Snow Angel (Interscope), at #7.

Birdy’s Portraits (Warner Music U.K.) lands at #13. Lady Gaga’s The Fame (Interscope) returns to the Top 40 for the first time since 2017, at #40, thanks to a special 15th anniversary edition.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles, Lipa has her fourth #1 with her contribution to the Barbie soundtrack, “Dance the Night” (Warner Records).

Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” (Kemosabe/RCA) is up 11 places to #4.

“Disconnect” (Polydor) by Becky Hill and Chase & Status moves up one to #7, as “Desire” (Columbia) by Calvin Harris and Sam Smith does the same, to #8.

Chase & Status, Bou and Flowdan’s “Baddadan” (EMI) reaches a new peak, climbing six to #14. Casso’s “Prada” (Ministry of Sound), a remix of D-Block Europe and RAYE’s “Ferrari Horses,” enters the Top 20 for the first time, jumping 12 to #20.

U.K.-based independent ticketing platform DICE has raised $65m in a funding round led by Matt Pincus’ MUSIC. Other investors include Kobalt founder and Chairman Willard Ahdritz.

The funding will be used for expansion across the U.S. and globally and a range of new products, set to arrive this year. New partnerships will be announced soon that will see DICE land in Austin. Recent deals include London venues Alexandra Palace, the Institute of Contemporary Arts and Troxy.

As a result of the investment, Pincus will join DICE’s board of directors. Ahdritz has invested via his Ahdritz Holding LLC, alongside Structural Capital, Exor Ventures and Mirabaud Lifestyle Fund.

“The live music industry is adopting DICE faster than ever and proves our thesis that if you treat fans well, they buy more tickets, and go out more often,” DICE CEO Phil Hutcheon said. “We’re investing heavily in building even more technology and this year alone we released over 60 new features for fans, venues and artists. I’m excited that Matt (Pincus) has joined the board and we’re more focused than ever on our mission to get fans out more.”

DICE says that this year, more than 55k artists and 10k+ venues, festivals and promoters have used its platform to sell tickets in 30 cities. Its app aims to offer an alternative to the secondary ticketing market by locking tickets to smartphones, keeping tickets in the hands of fans while ensuring fair and transparent pricing.

Pincus said: "DICE did the impossible: They made buying a ticket fun. And by doing that, they became much more than a transaction provider for sellers. DICE is about the fans. And people who love to go to shows are the most important consumers in music.”

In addition to the financing, Ali Byrd has joined DICE as chief financial officer. Byrd, who will be based in New York, was most recently at AI healthcare technology company Olive.