MIDWEEK CHART PREDICTIONS: JULY 19

Overseas under the microscope

Another one indeed. DJ Khaled’s Grateful has become the second-fastest album to earn RIAA Gold status this year. The star-studded record moved 149,000 equivalent album units in its first week, 50,000 of which were traditional album sales.

After a false start last week after Tidal did not report their streaming numbers to Nielsen Music, JAY-Z has finally reached #1 album status for 4:44 – the fourteenth time he has done so with a studio album. The hip hop mogul and father of newborn twins also re-entered at #1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart, shattering his previous peak of #91.

Meanwhile, British pop group The Vamps could overtake Game Of Thrones’ resident bard Ed Sheehan on the UK charts, with midweek predictions putting their third album Night & Day ahead of Sheeran, whose album is placed at #2.

In terms of singles, Kesha is making an appearance on the charts for the first time in more than four years, with ‘Praying’ one of the big movers this week. It debuted at #25 on the Billboard charts, and is ranked second on Spotify’s Viral 50 global list.

The home front

It’s been a slow year in terms of the ARIA singles chart, with only five songs managing to crack the top spot so far. *yawn*

Could this be the week we see a disruption to the status quo? Probably not, if streaming numbers have anything to do with it. But One Directioner Liam Payne’s track with Quavo, ‘Strip That Down’, will make a good run at trying to take the number one position, cosying up to fellow 1D member Niall Horan with a Top 3 spot certain for both this week.

New singles from Coldplay, Demi Lovato, Vance Joy and Selena Gomez received a lukewarm response this week, and with none of them likely to reach higher than the ’teens this week.

Imagine Dragons’ ‘Thunder’ will continue to creep up the charts, slipping into the Top 5 despite the track being released back in April. The track is currently sitting at #21 on the Hot 100 (a new peak for the track), up from #27.

The Hot 100 indicates good things are coming for the previously mentioned Kesha, with ’Praying’ debuted at #55 this week and it is predicted to jump substantially.

Judah Kelly continues to slip down the charts, with The Voice winner swiftly succumbing to gravity after his debut at #19 – the highest-charting single from a Voice champ in four years.

But it’s the album charts where things will get interesting this week. Homegrown hero Meg Mac finally released a debut album and Australia has welcomed it with open arms, with Low Blows likely to be in the Top 3. Katy Perry’s Witness will move into the Top 5, along with the Baby Driver soundtrack.

The albums charts will also have a hint of pop punk about it, with The Vamps and the latest Pop Goes Punk compilation rounding out the Top 10.

Crystal ball predictions

TOP PICK: Meg Mac’s Low Blows to replace JAY-Z’s 4:44 in the #3 spot on the ARIA album charts 

DARK HORSE: A One Directioner to take out the top spot on the ARIA singles chart, stealing the crown off ‘Despacito’