Paul Heaton Secures His First Solo No. 1 Album With Jenius

August 28, 2026

Paul Heaton has reached a major milestone in his long career, clinching his first solo UK Number One album on 28 August 2026 with Jenius.

The former Housemartins and The Beautiful South frontman now claims his sixth chart-topping album overall. He previously scored three Number 1 albums with The Beautiful South and two alongside former bandmate Jacqui Abbott.

Beyond the main album chart, Jenius also landed at Number 1 on the Official Vinyl Albums Chart, selling more copies on wax than any other release over the past week.

In the Top 5 elsewhere, Brandon Flowers achieved his third straight solo Top 5 entry with THRASHER, which enters at Number 3. The Killers frontman previously topped the UK Albums Chart with Flamingo in 2010 and The Desired Effect in 2015.

Manchester four-piece Westside Cowboy made a strong entrance, with their debut studio album It Goes On landing straight into the Top 5 at Number 5. The release simultaneously topped the Official Record Store Chart, marking an impressive opening statement for Jimmy, Reuben, Aoife, and Paddy.

Australian trio DMA’S secured their third UK Top 10 release as their latest self-titled album debuted at Number 9. Joining their previous Top 10 entries—2020’s The Glow and 2023’s How Many Dreams?—band members Tommy O’Dell, Johnny Took, and Matt Mason expressed their gratitude to their UK fanbase for the unexpected milestone.

Further down the Top 40, Jorja Smith scored her fourth UK Top 40 album as What Are The Odds debuted at Number 17, while Sam Smith collected a fifth Top 40 entry with Hazel Eyes landing at Number 21. Manchester artist Antony Szmierek also celebrated a career milestone as his second album, Decoding Birdsong, debuted at Number 30 to give him his first-ever UK Top 40 placement.

Clara Weiss

I write about music as a cultural signal, following the artists, scenes, releases, and movements that shape how people listen today. My work focuses on discovery, context, and the stories behind the sounds that travel beyond borders.