U.K. CHARTS: EMINEM SCORES BIG WITH "HOUDINI"

Eminem has the biggest opening week for a U.K. single this year as “Houdini” (Interscope) tops the Official Singles Chart, while Becky Hill has the highest new entry on the albums roundup.

“Houdini” is Eminem’s 11th #1 single in the U.K. and first since 2020 (although it’s his first fully solo #1 single in 10 years). It reached the top by amassing 104.8k chart units, including 13.3m streams. With 4m video streams, the track has the biggest opening week total in that category since Adele’s “Easy on Me” (Columbia) achieved 4.58m in 2021.

There are more impressive stats: “Houdini” is Marshall Mathers’ biggest opening week since “Without Me” debuted at #1 in 2002, as well as the biggest opening week for any song in the U.K. since Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (NBR/Live Yours) topped the chart exactly one year ago.

Eminem performed "Houdini" for the first time last night (6/6) at a concert celebrating the reopening of Detroit’s refurbished Michigan Central Station. The rapper executive-produced the event, which also featured Diana Ross, Jack White and Jelly Roll, with manager Paul Rosenberg.

Following a five-week stint at the summit, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” (Island) slides down to #2.

“BAND4BAND” (Columbia/Capitol/Motown) by Central Cee and Lil Baby moves up one to #3, as does “Stargazing” (RCA) by Myles Smith, to #8.

On the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart, Hill's second set, Believe Me Now? (Polydor), debuts at #3, earning her a career-best position.

Taylor Swift maintains her reign at #1 for a fifth nonconsecutive week with THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT (EMI), while Billie Eilish’s former chart-topper, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT (Interscope), is lifted one to #2. ATEEZ, sitting at #1 midweek, has its third Top 10, with GOLDEN HOUR: Part.1 (KQ/RCA) landing at #4.

Richard Hawley has a fifth Top 10 solo album as In This City They Call You Love (BMG) alights at #5. Crowded House opens at #8 courtesy of Gravity Stairs (BMG), and the debut album by MC K-Trap, SMILE? (EGA), arrives at #10.