In an extraordinary triumph, Vermont singer-songwriter Noah Kahan has claimed the coveted Official Chart Double, simultaneously dominating the UK Official Albums and Singles Charts with his latest release, “Stick Season”. As Kahan brings his arena tour to the UK, the artist secures his first-ever Number 1 album, showcasing the remarkable success of “Stick Season”.
Table of Contents
Stick Season Album Takes the Top Spot
Noah Kahan’s Stick Season album climbed to Number 1 on the UK Official Albums Chart, dethroning midweek leader Declan McKenna. The victory was further solidified with a week of in-store signings at Banquet Records, Kingston, where fans flocked to get their copies autographed. The success extended to “Stick Season” topping the Official Vinyl Albums Chart and charting at Number 2 on the Official Record Store Chart. The release of the deluxe edition, Stick Season (Forever), also contributed to the album’s triumph.
On top of the in-store signings at Banquet Records, he was set to appear at HMV Oxford Street on February 15, 2024, for an in-store signing, which was later cancelled 2 hours before the event, due to health concerns after being told he was on voice rest. His statement suggested that he thought it would be unfair to meet fans while on voice rest, and so unable to speak to them directly. That same day Banquet Records restocked their signed art cards, suggesting he spent time signing more art cards for Banquet Records instead and he later performed at the OVO Arena Wembley.
Before reaching Number 1, “Stick Season” spent an impressive 10 weeks in the UK Official Albums Chart Top 10. The album’s title track, “Stick Season”, has clinched the Official Singles Chart summit for seven consecutive weeks, showcasing Kahan’s dominance on both fronts.
The last artist to achieve the prestigious Official Chart Double was Taylor Swift in November 2023, underscoring the rarity and significance of Kahan’s accomplishment.
UK Official Chart Round-Up for Albums
While Noah Kahan takes the spotlight, other notable movements on the Official Albums Chart include Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s collaborative collection, “VULTURES 1”, securing the most-streamed album of the week. Declan McKenna, despite being overtaken by Kahan in the lead-up after the midweek charts, claims the UK’s best-selling album with “What Happened to the Beach?” and charts at Number 3.
The Weeknd sticks at Number 4 with his iconic album titled “The Highlights” which has not hit the top spot just yet, could a future week see him climb to that important Number 1? On top of that, last week’s Number 1 album, The Last Dinner Party’s “Prelude to Ecstacy” has dropped to Number 5.
A noteworthy debut comes from Zara Larsson with her fourth studio album, “VENUS”, which charts at 15, making it her third Top 20 album following 2017’s “So Good” which peaked at 7 and 2021’s “Poster Girl” which hit Number 11. Bob Marley & The Wailers’ “Legend” compilation jumped up seven places to Number 18 following the release of the biopic Bob Marley: One Love; the album has now spent an incredible 1121 weeks inside the UK Official Albums Chart.
Usher also makes a notable debut with “COMING HOME” which charts at Number 24, following on from his performance at the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show. His “Confessions” album also makes a return to the chart at Number 78. We also can’t forget that Dizzee Rascal has gone on to earn his eighth Top 40 album chart position with “Don’t Take It Personal” hitting Number 27.
As for the Top 100, Birmingham-based rapper Marnz Malone earns his debut on the chart with “Tina’s Boy” newly entering at Number 66; The 1975 re-enters at Number 86 with their self-titled album; while Somerset-based progressive rock band The Pineapple Thief gains their fifth chart number since the band was founded in 1999 with their latest album “It Leads To This” at Number 93, managing to top the UK Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart; then there are three re-entries rounding out the Top 100 who are: Stevie Wonder with “The Definitive Collection” at Number 95, Amy Winehouse with “Back To Black” at Number 96, and The 1975 with “Being Funny in a Foreign Language” at Number 98.
UK Official Chart Round-Up for Singles
Noah Kahan continues to dominate the UK Official Singles Chart with “Stick Season”, while Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” climbs to a new peak at Number 3, just behind Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s 20-year hit “Murder on the Dancefloor” which is at Number 2 with just 600 chart-sales in it. YG Marley—the Grandson of Bob Marley—breaks into the Top 5 with “Praise Jah in the Moonlight” at Number 5; while Teddy Swims continues to stick at Number 4 with “Lose Control”.
Beyoncé’s new single “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” makes a powerful entry at Number 9, marking her 22nd UK Top 10 single while the companion single in the double drop, “16 CARRIAGES” lands at Number 44. Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign, following the release of “VULTURES 1”, secured three entries in the Top 20 which are “Carnival” at Number 12, “Burn” at Number 17, and “Back To Me” at Number 18. There may well have been more new entries for this collaborative duo, however, the chart rules only allow three songs from the same artist to chart in a single week.
Dance music also takes a rise in this week’s chart as Ella Henderson and Rudimental’s “Alibi”—which samples Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” featuring L.V.—jumps to Number 15; while Kygo and Ava Max claims a new peak of Number 24 with “Whatever”.
Notable Top 40 entries include Noah Kahan’s “Forever” at Number 31 and Good Neighbours’ “Home” at Number 34. Wes Nelson and Craig David debut at Number 37 with “Abracadabra”, and Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” re-enters at Number 38 after her GRAMMY Awards performance.
Outside the Top 40 and just missing out is K-Trap with the awesome song “Heaven or Hell”. Others in the Top 100 include Madison Beer with the song “Make You Mine” at Number 50 making it her highest solo chart position to date, claiming a higher position than 2020’s “Selfish” which charted at Number 53; Newera climbs a huge 23 places with “Birds In The Sky” claiming the 55th position on the chart; and then there’s the iconic Australian collaboration between Sia and Kylie Minogue, titled “Dance Alone” which charts at Number 60.
Adding some R&B-pop flavour to the Top 100 is Muni Long, claiming Number 62 with “Made For Me” making it the second time she’s landed in this chart after 2022’s “Hrs and Hrs” which charted at Number 41; then Rich Amiri jumps 18 places to a new peak of Number 64 with “One Call”; while Giggs also claims a new peak with “Incredible Sauce” which features Dave at Number 65; and Dylan Gossett also jumps 7 places to Number 73 with “Coal”, claiming a brand new peak.
Another new peak in the Top 100 is Shy Smith’s “Soaked” which lands at Number 77; while Artemis climbs up four positions to Number 81 with “If U Think I’m Pretty”; and let’s not forget about British DJ Nathan Dawe who lands at Number 84 with his solo single “We Ain’t Here For Long”—we expect this to climb over the next few weeks. On top of them, Goddard and Cat Burns’ collaboration, titled “Wasted Youth”, climbs to Number 86.
Rounding out the Top 100, the Habzin Hotel soundtrack continues to be strong with “Stayed Gone” by Andrew Underberg, Sam Haft, Christian Borle, Amir Talai, and Joel Perez, enters at Number 92; SZA re-enters with “Snooze” at Number 96; and the final chart Number of 100 goes to DJO with “End of Beginning”.
The Official Chart Double is a testament to Noah Kahan’s growing influence and the undeniable appeal of “Stick Season”, solidifying his status as a rising star in the music industry. We just hope that the fans who travelled to London for the HMV signing weren’t too disappointed and were able to get refunded for their signed merch, at the very least. We can’t deny that announcing the cancellation roughly 2 hours before the event wasn’t the best idea.
