Q4 is already primed for new music from perhaps the biggest artists in the world today - Adele and Ed Sheeran.

But looking back over the last three months of Official Charts Company sales data, several familiar faces are still dominating consumption so far this year including Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa and Queen.

Here, Music Week picks out some of the highlights from the latest Q3 figures…

Together again

In the quarter when live music opened up after a year of Covid restrictions, there were also some blockbuster album releases.

Dave’s second studio album We’re All Alone In This Together (Dave Neighbourhood) was the biggest seller in Q3 (up to chart week 39) after an impressive week one tally of 74,191 - the biggest of the year to date and a streaming record for a UK rapper.

In the quarter, Dave’s album sales totalled 152,425, narrowly ahead of Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour (Polydor/Geffen), which moved a further 150,532 in Q3. 

Dave actually finished the quarter by besting some big US artists, both in first week sales and for the quarter. Drake’s Certified Lover Boy (Island/OVO/Republic) was Q3’s third biggest album (85,306), including two separate spells at the summit following a close battle with Lil Nas X. Billie Eilish was at No.4 with Happier Than Ever (Polydor/Interscope) after moving 84,780 copies in the quarter. 

Doja Cat’s digital-only Planet Her (Ministry Of Sound) finished in fifth place (80,600), almost 5,000 sales ahead of UK rapper KSI’s All Over The Place (BMG) on 75,689 sales.

Sour power

In the year-to-date figures, Olivia Rodrigo was unstoppable with the only platinum-certified album release of 2021. Released in May, Sour has moved 320,161 copies so far this year.  

As Music Week has reported, the shift from a payment to consumption model has boosted catalogue - both shallow and deep - with the year-to-date albums rundown dominated by classic repertoire and records released more than 18 months ago. Along with Sour, Dave’s album - at No.4 - is the only other 2021 studio LP in the Top 10 for the year to date.

Dua Lipa maintains her position in second place with Future Nostalgia (Warner Records) on 192,305 sales in 2021 (total sales are now at 457,347). In its 40th anniversary year, Queen’s Greatest Hits is at No.3 overall this year on 173,051. Other streaming perennials include Fleetwood Mac’s 50 Years - Don’t Stop (Rhino) at No.5 (147,684) and Elton John’s Diamonds (UMC) at No.9 (141,867).

Almost two years on from its release, Harry Styles’ Fine Line (Columbia) is still the eighth biggest album of 2021 with 141,945 sales. Its total sales stand at 505,023.

Habit forming

Even before his new album = on October 29, 2021 has already been a triumph for Ed Sheeran. As well as booking five nights at Wembley Stadium, Sheeran has had back-to-back No.1 singles with Bad Habits and Shivers (Asylum/Atlantic). 

Predictably, Bad Habits is the No.1 single of the quarter on 1,050,506 sales after 11 weeks at No.1. It is also the third biggest of the year to date, behind Olivia Rodrigo’s Drivers License (1,194,206) and Good 4 U (1,151,923). 

Ed Sheeran’s Shivers, which has spent three weeks at No.1, is at No.33 for the quarter (179,126).

Sheeran is also at No.51 (Perfect), No.68 (Visiting Hours) and No.70 (Shape Of You). Catalogue has been boosted by his current campaign, which helps Divide finish the quarter at No.9 (53,905) and No.5 for the year to date (149,004).

Deep breath

After some impressive debut breakthroughs in 2021 from UK artists Celeste, Mercury Prize winner Arlo Parks, Central Cee and The Snuts, Q3 was a little quieter for new talent.

UK-signed Irish band Inhaler did make their mark at the summit with debut LP It Won’t Always Be Like This (Polydor) at No.39 overall in Q3 (25,977).

There was also a No.1 for The Lathums’ How Beautiful Life Can Be (Island), which finished at No.88 in the quarter (16,344) based on a single week’s sales. Island president Louis Bloom hailed the chart-topping success as a “staggering achievement”.

We should also acknowledge the commercial breakthrough of UK rapper and former Music Week cover star Little Simz. After peaking at No.4, I Might Be Introvert (Age 101/AWAL) finished the quarter at No.91 (16,043 sales).

Central Cee is targeting a Top 50 breakthrough this year with his Wild West mixtape (Central Cee/ADA). For the year to date, it is currently at No.35 (80,853). Celeste is at No.54 (64,059) in 2021 with Not Your Muse (Polydor), while Arlo Parks’ Collapsed In Sunbeams (Transgressive) is just outside the Top 100 (No.102, 48,345).

For the half-year analysis, click here. Subscribers can click here for execs on the half-year results.

YEAR TO DATE SINGLES UP TO Q3 (OFFICIAL CHARTS COMPANY)

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