Blur are outselling the rest of the U.K.’s Official Albums Top 10 combined at today’s halfway point. Over on singles, “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood) remains on top.

The Ballad of Darren (Parlophone) is set to become Blur’s seventh U.K. #1 on Friday.

Greta Van Fleet are on their way to a career-peak with Starcatcher (EMI) starting at #2. Join the Club (ADF) from Nottingham band As December Falls is expected to land at #3.

K-pop girl group NewJeans have another new entry in the midweek Top 10, their second EP, Get Up (ADOR), at #7.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” is set for an eighth week at #1.

With the release of the Barbie movie, the soundtrack’s lead single, “Dance the Night” (Warner Records) by Dua Lipa, looks set to rise 10 places to #5.

“Barbie World” (10K Projects/Capitol) by Ice Spice, Nicki Minaj and Aqua, also from the film, could reach a new peak of #11.

Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” (EMI) charges toward a rebound at #3, as Nathan Dawe, Joel Corry & Ella Henderson’s “0800 Heaven” (Warner Music U.K.) soars to a new peak of #6.

Bou’s breakout anthem, “Closer” (Island) f/Slay is looking to enter the Top 20 at #12, while Byron Messia’s “Talibans” (Ztekk Records) is also predicted to hit new heights at #14.

U.S. authorities have paused plans to hike the price of visas for British musicians. Trade body UK Music has welcomed the news.

Announced in January, the proposed increases would mean that petition fees for the P visa, required for acts to perform temporarily in the U.S., would increase to $1,615 (£1,352) from $460 (£385). The O visa, used for longer-term working visits, would climb by 260% to $1,655 (£1,375) from $460 (£385).

However, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of Homeland Security have now agreed to delay the implementation of the hike.

UK Music Chief Exec Tom Kiehl says the org is “pleased that damaging proposals to severely increase U.S. visa petition fees have been paused."

"The U.S. is a key market for U.K. acts and breaking America is as important now to artists’ careers as it was in the days of The Beatles. We will continue to work with music industry bodies from both the U.K. and overseas to ensure touring in the U.S. is affordable for all performers and their crew.”

The Musicians’ Union had warned that the change would “in one stroke, render the ability for artists to work in the United States unaffordable.”

Seventy per-cent of artists, managers and performing musicians who responded to a recent MMF/FAC survey said the increased costs associated with the visa changes meant they would no longer be able to tour the U.S. Data from LIVE shows that the proposals will put 50% of all U.K. tours of the U.S. under threat.

J Hus has his second U.K. Official Albums #1 with Beautiful and Brutal Yard (Black Butter). Over on singles, Jung Kook lands at #3 and sets a record in the process.

As Eras Tour tickets go on sale in the U.K., Taylor Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (EMI) stays strong at #2. The set is one of six Swift records in today’s Top 20: Midnights is #5; 1989 is #8; Lover lands on #9; Reputation sits at #15; and folklore is #16.

With You & I (BMG) at #6, Rita Ora has her second Top 10.

Further new entries come from Lauren Spencer Smith’s Mirror (Island/Republic) at #11 and Gerry Cinnamon’s Live at Hampden Park (Little Runaway) at #12.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles chart, “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood) by Dave and Central Cee lands a seventh consecutive week at #1. The track tallied 8.4m streams over the last seven days.

This week’s highest new entry, “Seven” (BIGHIT) by Jung Kook f/Latto, breaks a record as the highest debut for a K-Pop soloist in U.K. chart history.

Gunna has a second U.K. Top 10 single with “Fukumean” (300) rising five to #7, while “What Was I Made For” (Interscope) by Billie Eilish from the Barbie soundtrack bows at #10.

Frances Moore, who has led the global recorded music trade body IFPI as CEO for 13 years, will leave her post at the end of the year.

IFPI’s longest-serving leader, Moore joined the org in 1994 as regional director for Europe.

In a written statement, the IFPI Main Board called Moore’s tenure “arguably the most demanding and complex period of modern music’s history.”

“She has led us through music’s digital transition and the industry’s expansion worldwide, enabling a return to growth that mutually benefits artists, labels and the broader music ecosystem. Not only has she herself been an excellent and effective advocate for labels and creators, but Frances has built an incredible team of professionals to assure that her legacy will carry on.”

The IFPI will be engaged in a global search for a successor, aided by Moore before she leaves.

Moore said: “I have loved working for IFPI and the recording industry and feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve in this role. I am very proud and appreciative of the IFPI team, both now and over the years. Every achievement has been the result of a team effort.”

UMG has appointed Sally Davies as managing director of London's Abbey Road Studios. She joins from Vivendi Village, where she was CEO of U-Live.

Davies takes over the role from Isabel Garvey, who joined Warner Music U.K. as Chief Operating Officer earlier this year.

Reporting to Universal Music U.K. COO David Sharpe, Davies brings a wealth of leadership experience in venues, theatre, festivals and events to Abbey Road.

“I’ve known Sally for a long time so it was an easy decision to appoint her to one of the most important leadership positions in our industry, at the forefront of world class recordings, sound innovation and creative education,” Universal Music U.K. Chairman and CEO David Joseph said.

“Sally balances creativity and business strategy exceptionally well and I couldn’t be happier to welcome her back to the Universal Music family.”

Across 10 years at promoter, producer and entertainment company U-Live (which UMG previously owned), Davies curated and nurtured events celebrating music, lifestyle and culture.

Her festival portfolio included the jazz-focused Love Supreme and music and ideas event, Kite. She also had one foot in immersive theatre as the producer of Mamma Mia the Party!, alongside Björn Ulvaeus, and oversaw Vivendi’s investments in live entertainment.

Producer Giles Martin, Abbey Road’s head of Audio & Sound, said: “Sally’s wealth of experience dealing with artists around the world linked to her empathy and knowledge of music is the perfect fit for Abbey Road. She has a passion for innovation as well as understanding the extraordinary legacy of the world’s most famous recording studio.”

From left, Henry Semmence, Simon Wills, Mark Dowling and Debs Cutting are again the owners of Absolute Label Services.

Utopia Music has downsized again: U.K.-based Absolute Label Services is the latest company it acquired to be sold back to its original leadership team.

Absolute’s original shareholders—Henry Semmence, Simon Wills, Debs Cutting and Mark Dowling—have reacquired 100% of the company from Utopia Music.

It was acquired in February 2022 and has since maintained its team, infrastructure and client base. In a joint statement, the leadership team said: “The decision to revert the full ownership of the company, and to preserve its vision and direction, was fueled by our unwavering commitment to continue providing exceptional label services.

“We are committed to exploring new collaborations, forging strategic partnerships, and harnessing cutting-edge technologies to elevate our label services to even greater commercial growth and success. Our dedication to investment and expansion remains resolute.”

Absolute is one of three companies Utopia purchased that have since been divested; music industry directory ROSTR and publisher Sentric were the others. Based in Switzerland, Utopia is on a mission to provide “fair pay for every play” by providing “transparent and reliable” data-based solutions.

More than 14m music tourists attended live events in the U.K. in 2022, generating £6.6b in spending, according to a report from UK Music.

In the first full year of live music operation following the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 13.3m domestic and 1.1m foreign music tourists, according to the Here, There and Everywhere report.

Attendance at U.K. festivals and concerts reached 37.1m, with 6.5m music fans attending festivals and 30.6m attending concerts, UK Music. says The report says that total employment sustained by music tourism in 2022 was 56k.

London was by far the busiest city, attracting £2b in music tourist spend across 4.9m people.

The org says the £6.6b could increase significantly by 2030 with the right support from Government, local councils and others.

“While music generates huge benefits for our local areas, the infrastructure and talent pipeline that it relies on still faces huge challenges,” UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said. “With a venue closing every week, one in six festivals not returning since the pandemic, and many studios facing huge economic pressures, it’s vital that we protect the musical infrastructure that does so much for our towns and cities.”

J Hus, Taylor Swift and Rita Ora are in a three-way battle for the U.K.’s Official Albums #1, while BTS member Jung Kook could be heading for the top at singles.

At today’s halfway point, J Hus leads the pack on albums with Beautiful and Brutal Yard (Black Butter). Fewer than 2k sales separating the Top 3, putting the #1 spot in play.

Taylor Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (EMI) is #2, while Ora’s first album in nearly five years, You & I (BMG), is #3.

Gerry Cinnamon’s Live at Hampden Park (Little Runaway) is new at #4 followed by PVRIS’ Evergreen (Hopeless) at #5. Lauren Spencer Smith’s Mirror (Island/Republic) is #6, while Mahalia’s second set, IRL (Atlantic), is #9.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, “Seven” (BIGHIT) by Jung Kook f/Latto is #2 today. The track is less than 2k sales behind current #1, “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood), by Dave and Central Cee.

“What Was I Made For” (Interscope) by Billie Eilish from the Barbie soundtrack is predicted to bow at #9. J Hus has three tracks in the Top 40: “Who Told You” with Drake is #4; “Militerian” with Naira Marley is #18; and “Masculine” with Burna Boy is #22.