Beyoncé is fixin' to claim the #1 slot on the U.K.’s Official Albums and Singles Charts Friday, with COWBOY CARTER (Columbia/Parkwood) outselling the rest of the Top 5 combined at the halfway point.

Should it hold onto its midweek lead, COWBOY CARTER will become Bey’s fifth solo #1 in the U.K.

Oxford rock band Ride is looking at a career best with its seventh record, Interplay (Wichita Recordings), set to debut at #2.

Sum 41 could score its highest-charting album in 23 years with final release Heaven :x: Hell (Rise Records), at #10 today. The sixth album from While She Sleeps, SELF HELL (Spinefarm), is #18.

BTS member j-hope is eyeing his first solo Top 40 album, with HOPE ON THE STREET VOL. 1 (BIGHIT) at #20.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Beyoncé’s “TEXAS HOLD 'EM” has bounced back two places to #1. Friday would be its fifth nonconsecutive week at the top.

Two more tracks from COWBOY CARTER could also have an impact on the Top 10: a cover of the Dolly Parton classic “Jolene” is #5, while the Miley Cyrus duet “II MOST WANTED” is #8.

The self-released “i like the way you kiss me” by DJ Artemas is poised to ascend six places to #7. Irish DJ duo NewEra could fly into the Top 20; “Birds in the Sky” (Warner Records) is at #19.

Elbow have their fourth U.K. Official Albums #1 with AUDIO VERTIGO. Over on singles, Benson Boone spends a second week at the top.

Future and Metro Boomin’s WE DON’T TRUST YOU (Epic/Freebandz) is new at #2 on albums. In the absence of a physical release, the record secures its debut on streams and downloads alone.

Following the release of its deluxe GUTS (spilled) edition, Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS (Geffen) jumps 12 slots to #3. Glasgow Eyes (Fuzz Club) is The Jesus and Mary Chain’s highest-charting album in 37 years, landing at #7.

And Tyla has her first U.K. Top 20 entry as TYLA (FAX/Epic) debuts at #19.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart, Boone’s “Beautiful Things” (Warner Records) remains at #1. The track is the most-streamed song in the country, racking up 5.4m U.K. streams this week.

At #2, Teddy Swims’s “Lose Control” (Warner Records) returns to its previous peak.

This week’s highest new entry is “Like That” by Metro Boomin and Future, which debuts at #6. They have two more tracks in the Top 20: “Type Shit” at #18 and “Cinderella” at #20, both of which feature Travis Scott.

Hozier has his first Top 10 single in 10 years with “Too Sweet” (Rubyworks/UMG) landing at #8.

“Scared to Start” (Warner Records) by Michael Marcagi rises to #9, while Rodrigo’s latest single, “obsessed,” arrives at #10.

A new report provides further evidence that gender inequality remains a key issue in the U.K. music industry, with 51% of survey respondents experiencing gender discrimination and 33% sexual harassment while at work.

The Women Musicians Insight Report, put together by the Musicians’ Union and Women in CTRL, gathered responses from more than 2.5k women musicians. The data was taken from 2023’s Musicians Census.

Eighty-eight percent of women reported that their career had been restricted in at least one way, according to the findings. Experiencing or witnessing discrimination while working in music was reported by 87% of women, compared to 65% of men. While more than half of women reported experiencing gender discrimination, just 6% of men reported the same.

Disabled women are more likely to experience both disability and gender-based discrimination, while 38% of women from the Global Majority reported experiencing or witnessing racism.

Women reported an average annual income from music of £19.8k, compared to £21.7k for men. The gender pay gap is widest after £34k a year and in the highest income bracket, where women made up just 19% of those earning £70k a year or more from music.

Women are more likely to experience financial challenges than men, with 27% saying they don’t earn enough money to support themselves, compared to 21% of musicians overall.

In addition, while 47% of the census respondents were women aged 16-55, women’s representation drops significantly after the age of 54.

The findings echo those in the U.K. Government’s report, released in January, which described misogyny in music as “endemic.”

Bruce Springsteen is the first international songwriter to become a Fellow of the Ivors Academy in the British org's 80-year history. The award is the highest honor the academy bestows.

Springsteen has been recognized for his outstanding contribution to the craft of songwriting, across a career that spans 50 years, and his impact on the U.K.’s cultural landscape. He will receive the award at The Ivors ceremony in London on 5/23.

He is the 27th Fellow of the Academy, joining a roster of songwriter greats that includes Sir Paul McCartney, Kate Bush CBE, Joan Armatrading CBE and Sting, who received the award in 2023.

“In addition to recognizing my songwriting, the award stands as a tribute to the fans and friends who have supported me and my work for the last 50 years," said Springsteen. "This entire country has made me feel welcome every step of the way, and for this, I will always remain deeply appreciative.”

Tom Gray, chair of The Ivors Academy, added: “There is no one more fitting than Bruce Springsteen to be the first international songwriter inducted into our Fellowship. Songwriters are powerful storytellers, who capture our lives, loves and hardships. Bruce has always told the greatest stories. The Fellowship marks the esteem in which he is held by all those who share his craft.”

To commemorate Springsteen being named an Academy Fellow, a limited-edition vinyl of Best of Bruce Springsteen in Jersey Devil Red can be purchased from Amazon starting 4/19.

The new Communion ONE is being led by, from left, Managing Directors Daniel Ealam, Mazin Tappuni, Scott O’Neill and Partner Carlo Scarampi.

Two U.K. live music promoters, Communion Presents and FKP Scorpio, have merged to form Communion ONE. They have promoted shows for acts such as Ed Sheeran, Sam Fender and Lewis Capaldi.

The two companies will operate under one roof starting immediately. A board that includes Managing Directors Daniel Ealam, Mazin Tappuni and Scott O’Neill will lead the company.

Communion ONE will plug into FKP Scorpio’s European touring network, with offices in 11 countries and one of the largest festival offerings across Europe. FKP Scorpio sold 4m tickets across the region in 2023.

“Bringing our two brilliant teams together and combining our shared experience, resources and perspectives, is the most natural thing in the world," the MDs said in a joint statement. “In doing so, we believe that Communion ONE is creating an even more compelling proposition for our existing and future clients. We’ve all had amazing success so far, but in many ways, we’re only just getting started.”

The newly formed company will be producing a new three-night event series at Bristol’s 15k-capacity Queen Square beginning in 2025. It will continue to book tvg hospitality’s U.K. portfolio and its affiliate venues Lafayette, Omeara, The Social, and their new partnerships with Village Underground and EartH. Communion ONE also plans to expand its outdoor portfolio over the coming year.

Elbow have taken an early lead in the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart race with AUDIO VERTIGO ahead of Future and Metro Boomin’s collab. Over on singles, Benson Boone is set for a second week at the top.

Should it hold onto its position by Friday, AUDIO VERTIGO (Polydor) will be Elbow’s fourth #1. Future and Metro Boomin’s WE DON’T TRUST YOU (Epic/Freebandz) is looking at a #2 debut. The Jesus and Mary Chain are on track for a career best with Glasgow Eyes (Fuzz Club) predicted to enter at #3.

Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS (Geffen) looks set to rise 11 spots back into the Top 5 at #4 following the release of a deluxe edition.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, “Beautiful Things” (Warner Records) by Boone remains at #1.

This week’s highest new entry could be “obsessed,” taken from Rodrigo’s deluxe edition of GUTS, which is aiming for a #6 debut.

Metro Boomin and Future have three tracks in today’s Top 20: “Like That” at #7; “Type Shit” at #11; and “We Don’t Trust You” at #14.

Hozier’s new song, “Too Sweet” (Rubyworks/UMG), is set to land at #16.

Benson Boone has his first U.K. Official Singles #1 with “Beautiful Things” (Warner Records). Over on albums, Ariana Grande secures a second week at the top.

“Beautiful Things” lifts one place to reach the summit in its ninth week on chart. It’s the most-streamed song of the past seven days, racking up 6.6m combined U.K. audio and video streams. The track ends Beyoncé’s five-week reign with “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” (Columbia/Parkwood), which moves down to #3 today.

Grande’s “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” climbs one to #2.

The highest new entry of the week is from BTS member V, who has his first solo U.K. Top 20 single with “FRI(END)S” (BIGHIT) at #13.

On the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart, Grande’s eternal sunshine (Republic) remains at #1.

Kacey Musgraves has a career best with Deeper Well (Interscope) debuting at #3.

Justin Timberlake’s Everything I Thought I Was (RCA) is his sixth solo Top 5 at #5, while BRITs Rising Star nominee Caity Baser has her first Top 10 with Still Learning (EMI) at #7.

Coldplay, RAYE, Chase & Status and Vampire Weekend are set to headline BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in the U.K. in May.

The festival takes place in Stockwood Park in the East England town of Luton on the weekend of 5/24-26.

It will be RAYE's debut festival headline slot. She’ll perform on the Radio 1 Main Stage on the Saturday, where Chase & Status play on Friday and Coldplay and Vampire Weekend on Sunday.

Beabadoobee, Charli XCX, Diplo and Eric Prydz are headliners on the New Music Stage. Other acts on the bill include Aitch, Becky Hill, Griff and Alfie Templeman.

As usual, BBC Radio 1 will broadcast live from the festival site across the weekend and performances and tracks will be available via the BBC’s iPlayer and on BBC Sounds.