BMG has secured a second number one album in less than a month, as Blink-182’s California debuts at the top spot in today’s official UK albums chart.
California follows Rick Astley’s 50 to become BMG’s second UK No. 1 album in under a month. It is also BMG’s first multi-territory No. 1 album, topping the charts in both the UK and Australia.
The band’s seventh album to date in a career spanning 21 years, California debuted at the top of the charts with sales of 23,529 copies (including 2,521 from streams).
Alistair Norbury, EVP international repertoire, BMG, said: “This result is first and foremost a testament to Blink-182 who have made an exceptional album, which we are confident has a long way still to go. But to deliver the band’s first UK No. 1 just three weeks after we helped Rick Astley score his first UK No. 1 in 30 years is also a great vindication of BMG’s international infrastructure and our UK marketing team.
“If you are an established artist who feels the traditional labels are no longer relevant to you, then I think we are demonstrating there is a frontline label committed to taking just as much care of established acts as the latest A&R sensation.”
In other BMG news, BMG US appointed Zach Katz as its new president. His appointment comes just four months after he was promoted to the role of president of music publishing, BMG US, following a run of chart success that boosted the company’s market share to double digits.
