THE BIG #1 RADIO BATTLE

There’s big action at the top of the Mediabase Top 40 radio chart, as Mike Chester and his Warner Records promo team defend Dua Lipa’s outstanding run at #1 with “Don’t Start Now” against hard-charging hits by Columbia’s Harry Styles (“Adore You,” promo’d by Peter Gray’s hot squad) and Republic’s The Weeknd (“Blinding Lights,” worked by Gary Spangler’s world-class crew).

Chester and team have held off some very strong records in the course of prolonging Dua’s reign, including the indefatigable “Roxanne” by Arizona Zervas (also in Gray’s quiver) and “Hot Girl Bummer” by Beartrap/Alamo/Interscope’s blackbear. “Don’t Start Now” will be in its sixth week at #1 as of this weekend; Dua’s prior smash, “New Rules,” spent five weeks in the top spot—ably maneuvered by then-Warner promo domo Peter Gray.

The quest for a Mediabase Pop #1 is the greatest battle of all in promo-land; we’ll be watching carefully as these gladiators go at it, with the big contest between Harry and The Weeknd beginning this Sunday.