Two new albums that dropped on Friday (May 11) became immediate iTunes hits, with US singer/songwriter Charlie Puth’s second album, Voicenotes, soaring to the top of the rankings in 22 countries, while British rock band Arctic Monkeys’ sixth studio album, Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino, leads the way in 36. Puth’s power base is primarily North America and Asia, while Europe and South America are Arctic hotspots.
 
After debuting at No.1 in six countries last week, Post Malone’s second album Beerbongs & Bentleys now does likewise in another five - Australia, Denmark, Finland Slovakia and the USA, where it opens with the biggest single week consumption figure for any album in 2018. Also climbing 2-1 in Flanders, the album loses leadership of the chart in Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK – falling 1-2 in all of them – but spends a second week at the summit in New Zealand, Norway and Sweden. It also adds debuts at No.2 in Austria, Canada and the Czech Republic, No.3 in Switzerland, No.13 in France and No.33 in Portugal. It completes its portfolio with second week declines in Italy (6-8) and Germany (4-8) and a 10-9 advance in Wallonia.
 
Singer/songwriter Anne-Marie, from Essex, has become a regular feature of singles charts around the globe in the last couple of years, and her introductory album, Speak Your Mind, has made a good first showing. The album, which opened at No.3 in the UK last week, has achieved an impressive slate of first appearances, opening at No.3 in Flanders, No.4 in Ireland, No.16 in Austria, Canada and Finland, No.17 in the Netherlands, No.18 in Australia, No.24 in Germany, No.26 in Switzerland, No.27 in Spain, No.31 in New Zealand, the USA and Wallonia, No.40 in Spain, No.50 in Portugal, No.61 in the Czech Republic, No.78 in France and Italy and No.83 in South Korea.  
 
Hampshire singer/songwriter Frank Turner has always been a lot more successful in the UK than abroad, and his seventh studio album, Be More Kind, bears that out, though it does have a couple of debuts this week, and should have more a week from now. Opening at No.3 in the UK – where his last two albums went one better – it also debuts at No.12 in Germany and No.55 in Ireland,  

Finally, electronic music producer and musician Jon Hopkins has produced and performed a lot of albums over the years but is really beginning to make a name for himself. His new album, Singularity consists of rich instrumental soundscapes, and as well as making its UK debut at No.9 – 54 places higher than his only previous chart album, 2013’s Immunity – it is No.11 in Flanders, No.21 in Ireland, No.31 in Germany, No.48 in Wallonia, No.56 in The Netherlands and No.63 in Italy.

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