USA
Billboard Report (excerpt)
"Choosin' Texas" notches tenth week at No. 1
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
by Keith Caulfield & Gary Trust, Los Angeles

Ella Langley adds her latest week of chart history as “Choosin’ Texas” tallies a 10th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Only 4% of all leaders over the survey’s 67-year archives have

reached the milestone — and the achievement is even rarer among country hits. The song, is one of just four songs to have ruled the Hot 100 for 10 or more weeks and made the Hot Country Songs top five; notably, three have done so in the last three-plus years. Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” led the lists for 19 and 45 weeks, respectively, in 2024-25, following Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” (16 and 25 weeks in 2023). Debby Boone’s “You Light Up My Life” became the first song ever to dominate the Hot 100 for double-digit weeks (10) and hit No. 4 on Hot Country Songs in 1977. Langley sets another mark on the latest Hot 100: “Be Her” holds at its No. 2 high, making her the first artist known for primarily recording country music ever to claim chart’s the top two spots simultaneously for multiple weeks. Among all core-country acts, she passes Wallen, who doubled up for a week last year. “Choosin’ Texas,” on Sawgod/Columbia Records, with Triple Tigers

promoting it to country radio, totaled 27.8 million official streams (up 4% week over week), 48.1 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 1%) and 7,000 sold (down 11%) in the United States May 8-14. The single, which became Langley’s first Hot 100 No. 1 in mid-February, logs an 11th week atop the Streaming Songs chart; rises a spot to a new No. 5 best on Radio Songs; and holds for a seventh week atop Digital Song Sales. Olivia Dean charts her first two Hot 100 top 10s in the top five for the first time: “Man I Need” rebounds 4-3, after reaching No. 2, and “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” ascends a place to a new No. 5 high. Dean, from London, becomes the first British woman to place her first two top five Hot 100 hits in the bracket simultaneously. Among all Englishwomen at any career point, she’s the first to manage the accomplishment since Adele with “Easy on Me” and “Oh My God” (the most recent of her six top five hits) in December 2021. The only British acts overall to each chart their first two top five titles, or more, on the Hot 100 in that range simultaneously? Dean, Herman’s Hermits (for one week in 1965) and The Beatles (eight weeks, 1964). The Peter Noone-fronted Herman’s Hermits did so with “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat” and “Silhouettes” after the Fab Four initiated the stat with the iconic “I Want To Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You.” Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might” lifts 5-4 after three weeks atop the Hot 100 between January and March. It leads Radio Songs for a 13th week, with 72.6 million in audience (down 5%). Mars also returns to the Hot 100’s top 10 with “Risk It All” (15-8), which debuted at its No. 4 peak in March. Following the May 8 release of its Spanish version, it’s up 19% to 11.2 million streams, 11% to 38.8 million in radio reach and 70% to 2,000 sold. Alongside Langley, Dean and Mars each infusing the Hot 100’s top 10 with two hits, Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” rises 7-6 after 10 weeks at No. 1 last June-August. Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drop Dead” dips 3-7 on the Hot 100, three weeks after it debuted at No. 1. Kehlani’s “Folded” holds at No. 9 after reaching No. 6 on the Hot 100. Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Tame Impala and Jennie’s “Dracula” repeats at its No. 10 high. Noah Kahan’s The Great Divide scores a third week atop the Billboard 200 (dated May 23), making it the first rock album with three weeks at No. 1 in more than a decade. The last rock set with as many weeks at No. 1 was Mumford & Sons’ Babel, with five, nonconsecutively, in 2012-13. The Great Divide earned 132,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending May 14 (down 19%), according to Luminate. Of The Great Divide’s 132,000 equivalent album units earned in the latest tracking week, SEA units comprise 109,000 (down 20%, equaling 111.46 million on-demand official streams of the set’s tracks; it spends a third week at No. 1 on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 22,000 (down 85%; it holds at No. 2 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise the remainder (up 18%). Ella Langley’s former leader Dandelion is a non-mover at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 100,000 equivalent album units earned (down 3%). Cortis earns its first top 10 with the No. 3 debut of GreenGreen, starting with 87,000 equivalent album units, the group’s best week by units. Of that sum, album sales comprise 81,500 (the quintet’s best sales week; it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 5,500 (equaling 5.91 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. First-week album sales were bolstered by the set’s availability across more than 20 physical variants on CD and vinyl, all containing collectible items such as photocards and stickers, with some items randomized. Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping I’m the Problem is steady at No. 4 on the latest Billboard 200 with 85,000 equivalent album units earned (up 2%). Michael Jackson has the Nos. 5 and 6 albums, as his former No. 1 Thriller is steady at No. 5 (66,000 equivalent album units, up 6%) and Number Ones is also stationary at No. 6 (just more than 65,000, up 6%). Both titles continue to bask in the glow of the success of the Michael biopic film. Chris Brown’s new studio effort, Brown, bows at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, earning the singer-songwriter his 13th top 10-charted project. The new set launches with 65,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, SEA units comprise 60,000 (equaling 60.31 million on-demand official streams of the sets tracks; it debuts at No. 4 on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 5,000 (it debuts at No. 19 on Top Album Sales, and was only available to purchase as a digital download) and TEA units comprise the remainder. Rounding out the rest of the top 10 on the latest Billboard 200: BTS’s former leader Arirang (falling 7-8 with 44,000 equivalent album units, down 10%), Wallen’s chart-topping One Thing at a Time (holding at No. 9 with 41,000, up 3%) and Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving (8-10 with nearly 41,000, down 3%).

Record Of The Month
'Fever Dream' by Alex Warren is his new smash and the first sign of a new album?

United Kingdom
Music Week Report (excerpt)
'Rein Me In' rules an eleventh week
Monday, May 18, 2026
by Alan Jones, London
 
In a week when half of the songs in the Top 10 are more than 10 years old, and only three songs from 2026 are in the top tier, there is no change at the summit, where Rein Me In by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean is No.1 for the third week in a row, and eleventh week in total on consumption of 50,182 units

(10 vinyl singles, 658 digital downloads and 49,514 sales-equivalent streams). On its 30th week in the Top 10 and 47th consecutive week in the Top 40, the 2025 release is nevertheless showing signs of fatigue at long last – its consumption is down for the second week in a row, falling 11.24% to its lowest level for 11 weeks. Only eight singles in chart history have spent longer at No.1, none by a male/female duo – making it a new chart record. With fellow 2025 cut Dracula holding at No.2 (34,140 sales, 38 more than last week) for Tame Impala and 2026 tracks Drop Dead (3-4, 28,007 sales) by Olivia Rodrigo, Fever Dream (5-8, 26,442 sales) by Alex Warren and Homewrecker (8-9, 25,405 sales) by Sombr in retreat, it is left to oldies to take up the chase. Primarily, oldies by Michael Jackson, whose fortunes are on the rise again, nearly 17 years after his death, thanks to the runaway box office success of the Jacko biopic, Michael. Leading the charge, Billie Jean –

which topped the chart when first released in 1983 – secures its highest placing since then, rising 4-3 (33,621 sales). Beat It – which reached No.3 in 1983 – is just two notches off its top placing, surging 10-5 (27,666 sales). Jackson was also No.15 last week, with 1979 No.3 hit Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough. Although that track increased consumption by 10.01% week-on-week to 25,838 units, it is now one of 12 Jackson solo cuts ‘starred-out’ under primary artist rules which allow for only three concurrent chart entries. In its stead, Human Nature – a track from Thriller, which wasn’t even released as a single here, and which previously peaked at No.62, following his death in 2009 – makes its first ever appearance in the Top 40, surging to No.6 (27,604 sales). As The Jackson 5 are considered a separate entity to Michael Jackson, even though he sings lead on I Want You Back, that 1970 No.2 hit progresses 33-27 (12,979 sales). There’s more film-related fun and combusting catalogue with The Chemical Brothers’ 2015 No.46 hit Go – as featured in Netflix streaming hit Apex – catapulting 22-7 (26,443 sales) to become the dance duo’s eighth Top 10 hit in all, and first since 2005. It spends a second week at No.1 on the Top 200 Download Singles chart, with a 45.24% increase in consumption to 2,802 units. Justin Bieber’s 2012 song Beauty And A Beat (feat. Nicki Minaj, 6-10, 25,284 sales) completes the Top 10. Overall singles consumption is down 0.39% week-on-week to 32,132,541 units, 1.92% below same week 2025 sales of 32,760,619 units. Paid-for sales are down 5.31% week-on-week at 259,510, 1.26% above same week 2025 sales of 256,273. In pursuit of their ninth No.1 album, Westlife established a huge lead in early sales flashes with 25: The Ultimate Collection but ultimately have to settle for their fourth No.2 album (26,783 sales), with Michael Jackson’s 2005 compilation, The Essential, coming through at the death to secure its ninth week at No.1 in all, and its second in a row. 25: The Ultimate Collection adds four new Westlife recordings to different selections of hits and fan favourites across multiple editions, and held a lead in excess of 10,000 units in the first three of the week’s sales flashes. It remained ahead throughout the week, only falling behind in the final chart. It’s not much consolation but it has the highest consumption for a No.2 album for 28 weeks. Its physically-skewed consumption profile – 19,248 CDs, 2,025 vinyl albums, 3,095 cassettes, 710 digital downloads and 1,705 sales-equivalent streams - is very different to The Essential. The continuing box office allure of the biopic Michael helped Jackson’s entire catalogue to register gains week-on-week yet again. The Essential – which continues to cannibalise all streams from Number Ones and Michael – increased consumption 7.38% week-on-week to 31,628 units (404 CDs, 104 digital downloads and 31,120 sales-equivalent streams). Jackson’s studio albums also continue to prosper with 1982 No.1 Thriller (6-5, 11,482 sales), 1987 No.1 Bad (8-6, 9,307 sales) and 1979 No.3 album Off The Wall (47-39, 3,311 sales) all climbing on increased consumption, and being joined in the Top 75 by his 1991 No.1 album, Dangerous (80-74, 2,388 sales), Sheffield rock quintet Reverend & The Makers secure back-to-back Top 10 albums for the first time in their career, as eighth studio set, Is This How Heaven Feels?, opens at No.7 (8,977 sales), three years after its immediate predecessor, Heatwave In The Cold North debuted at No.6 on lower consumption of 7,810 units. It also earns the band its first ever No.1 (3,057 sales) on the vinyl albums chart. R&TM co-founder, lead singer and guitarist, 44-year-old Jon ‘Reverend’ McClure is the only band member to have a writing credit on every track on Is This How Heaven Feels?, which includes collaborations with Robbie Williams and actress Vicky McClure (unrelated). All of R&TM’s albums have made the Top 20, and three have made the Top 10, with 2007 debut, The State Of Things, remaining their highest-charting set, having debuted at No.5. Also spawning their only three chart singles – Heavyweight Champion Of The World (No.8), He Said He Loved Me (No.15) and Open Your Window (No.65). The State Of Things’ consumption of 181,197 units is six times that of any other album by the group, and higher than the rest of their output together. Heavyweight Champion Of The World is similarly commanding in their list of top tracks, with to-date consumption of 575,454 units. The rest of the Top 10: The Great Divide (4-3, 13,263 sales) by Noah Kahan, The Art Of Loving (5-4, 12,380 sales) by Olivia Dean, 50 Years: Don’t Stop (9-8, 7,762 sales) by Fleetwood Mac, Kiss All The Time: Disco, Occasionally (14-9, 6,720 sales) by Harry Styles and You’ll Be Alright, Kid (10-10, 6,645 sales) by Alex Warren. Overall album sales are down 0.98% week-on-week to 2,566,934 units, 1.55% below same week 2025 sales of 2,607,414. Physical product accounts for 284,994 sales, 11.10% of the total.