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Aitch set to overtake Madonna in Official Albums Chart race
But it'll take a big effort from the Mancunian rapper to overtake current leaders Steps.
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In a special mid-week sales flash, the Official Charts Company can confirm that the Official Albums Chart race is heating up, as Mancunian rapper Aitch looks set to overtake Madonna by tomorrow with his debut album, Close To Home.
As it currently stands, just 300 chart units separate the undisputed Queen of Pop’s greatest hits collection Finally Enough Love (Number 2) and 22-year-old rapper Aitch at Number 3.
Out of the three acts vying for Number 1 this week, Aitch by far has the strongest streaming numbers, and with these units only set to rise between now and Friday, Aitch, real name Harrison Armstrong, is expected to nudge ahead of Madonna overnight once more streaming data arrives in. This would put Aitch on track for his highest-peaking project in the UK following EPs Aitch2O (3) and Polaris (7).
But if Aitch wants to clinch his first-ever UK chart-topper, he will have to put in work over the next 24 hours, as British pop icons Steps retain the lead overall with their Platinum Collection, celebrating 25 years of the band.
If Faye, H, Lisa, Claire and Lee hold on, they will achieve their fourth UK chart-topping record, and first in 11 years. Discover Steps’ biggest-ever singles in the UK here.
In an exclusive interview with OfficialCharts.com last night, on the possibility of The Platinum Collection hitting Number 1, Steps member H said, “It would be so, so lovely [and it’s] such a benchmark moment in our career that we’re celebrating. We’ve given you so many new formats, and exclusives and behind-the-scenes footage […]if I was a Steps fan I would literally be wetting my pants right now!”
Queen of Pop Madonna has acknowledged the chart race currently underway, but has yet to comment. Because, you know, she’s Madonna.
The cut-off point for this week’s chart is midnight Thursday 25 August, so whoever you’re backing in this week’s race get behind them before then. The Number 1 album will be unveiled on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart this Friday from 4pm, with the full Top 100 published on OfficialCharts.com from 5.45pm.
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Jack fitsy
Fact is Madonna's Remix album stayed longer on the top 100 album chart than either of those rival albums and ended up outselling & outstreaming both!
Few factors to consider also, just 7 variations of Madonna's remix package were available some in very limited numbers like the box set Vs the 20 variations, ltd editions and signed extravaganza from Steps. That was reflected in the following week when they vanished from the top 40. As for the other guy?! Anyone????? Madonna fell out of the top 10 then drifted back into it 2 weeks later. She lasted an impressive 6 weeks in the top 40. Not bad for an expensive, lengthy non stream friendly collection.
R
RyanT
where are the rich old madge fans...surely they have enough money to drop some quid on getting the physical of her new album.
de Sascha
Ouch!
Michael Seager
Thanks for that "skilled pop culture journalist".
MK
Mujahid Khan
Streaming should not be counted only physical sales should be the base of chart positions. Then we will know the real thing.
🧡 oliviasnoodles 🍜
…which is why there’s a SALES chart for your viewing pleasure.
Jack fitsy
Confusing really! Madonna's had a 16 track abridge version of this collection on streaming & digital download since July. Its physical copy came out the same day as the 50 track digital, streaming and physical album. My question is, what happens to the streaming figures & digital downloads for the 2 months worth of the 16track album?? Are they lumped in with the 50 track album this Thursday, or is it treated as a separate album?? The 16 track physical abridge album was released same day as the 50 track
Also Madonna's 50 track album is over 3 hours and 45 minutes long!!! Hardly stream friendly.
NN
Nu No
So based on midweek numbers Steps will be #01 for sure as they are at over 19k already (mostly pure sales).
Madonna is at 12.8k (95% pure sales) and Aitch is at 12.5k (will end with about 90% streams almost for sure).
2 more days of sales and streams...
🧡 oliviasnoodles 🍜
he’s projected to rise to number 2? oh this really bout to be H vs aitch now 😂