U.K. MIDWEEKS: BEYONCÉ ON TRACK FOR CHART DOUBLE

Beyoncé is fixin' to claim the #1 slot on the U.K.’s Official Albums and Singles Charts Friday, with COWBOY CARTER (Columbia/Parkwood) outselling the rest of the Top 5 combined at the halfway point.

Should it hold onto its midweek lead, COWBOY CARTER will become Bey’s fifth solo #1 in the U.K.

Oxford rock band Ride is looking at a career best with its seventh record, Interplay (Wichita Recordings), set to debut at #2.

Sum 41 could score its highest-charting album in 23 years with final release Heaven :x: Hell (Rise Records), at #10 today. The sixth album from While She Sleeps, SELF HELL (Spinefarm), is #18.

BTS member j-hope is eyeing his first solo Top 40 album, with HOPE ON THE STREET VOL. 1 (BIGHIT) at #20.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Beyoncé’s “TEXAS HOLD 'EM” has bounced back two places to #1. Friday would be its fifth nonconsecutive week at the top.

Two more tracks from COWBOY CARTER could also have an impact on the Top 10: a cover of the Dolly Parton classic “Jolene” is #5, while the Miley Cyrus duet “II MOST WANTED” is #8.

The self-released “i like the way you kiss me” by DJ Artemas is poised to ascend six places to #7. Irish DJ duo NewEra could fly into the Top 20; “Birds in the Sky” (Warner Records) is at #19.