Sam Fender's People Watching storms ahead in race for Number 1 album

Sam Fender storms ahead in the race for this week’s Official Number 1 album with People Watching, already securing the biggest opening week of 2025 after just three days. 

The North Shields native is currently outselling the rest of the Top 10 combined with his third studio collection; having shifted over 80,000 units so far. It’s expected to join 2019 debut Hypersonic Missiles and 2021’s Seventeen Going Under in his hat-trick of chart-topping LPs. 2022 release Live From Finsbury Park peaked at Number 17. 

Should Sam manage to shift in excess of 100,000 units in his opening week, he’ll become the first British solo artist to do so since Harry Styles, with 2022’s Harry’s House. 

Catch Sam performing at the 2025 BRITs this Saturday March 1, where he’s also nominated in the Artist of the Year and Best Alternative/Rock Act categories.

MORE: See where every Sam Fender song and album has charted in the UK

Tate McRae tracks for her third Top 10, and a career-best, with third studio record So Close To What (2). Previously, the Canadian singer-songwriter saw success with 2022’s i used to think i could fly (7) and 2023 release Think Later (5). 

Dublin-formed rockers The Murder Capital also look to score a personal best with their third LP Blindness (7). The band – comprising James McGovern, Damien Tuit, Cathal Roper, Gabriel Paschal Blake and Diarmuid Brennan – already have two Top 20 records under their belts; 2019’s When I Have Fears (18) and 2023 album Gigi’s Recovery (16). 

Further down the chart, the release of brand-new single It’s Amazing To Be Young could see Fontaines D.C.’s Romance on the ascent, up nine midweek to Number 32. The album peaked at Number 2 on its release in September last year. 

As he brings his Party After Dark Tour to the UK, Pitbull’s Greatest Hits is expected to make its Top 40 debut, up 26 midweek (36), as is Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal, surging 37 places in today’s update (40).

See the Official Albums Chart Update Top 100 here from 5.45pm.