Columbia’s Dipesh Parmar toasts ‘authentic artist’ Skye Newman as Sony leads the way with UK talent | Labels

Columbia Records president Dipesh Parmar has hailed the chart result for UK rising star Skye Newman, who has achieved the rare feat of securing Top 20 placings for her first two singles.

At a time when UK talent has faced increasing competition on the domestic charts from US superstars, there are now signs of a resurgence for British acts – with Sony Music leading the way so far this year.

Sony Music UK has released half of the new domestic tracks in the Top 200 streaming chart so far this year, including tracks from Myles Smith, Central Cee, Skye Newman, Calvin Harris, Rudimental, Denon Reed, Shallipopi and Jade. 

The Sony streaming results for the year to date cover UK-signed artists benefiting from investment from the major. If you included US-signed chart stars such as British metal band Sleep Token, who have made a Top 10 impact, the Sony market share would be even bigger.

Despite pressure from global hits on the domestic charts, Sony Music has managed to increase their number of domestic entries in the Top 200 streaming chart. The numbers were up in 2024 compared to 2023. So far in 2025, year-to-date domestic entries are in growth for a second consecutive year. 

Crucially, the results represent a growth in market share based on an actual increase in the number of tracks entering the Top 200. In other words, Sony Music is improving its results for new UK music rather than just achieving a gain in share based on a favourable comparison with other majors.

According to Sony Music, 41% of UK representation in the Top 40 is signed to the major (including The Orchard), which puts Sony ahead of both Universal Music UK and Warner Music UK.

South London singer-songwriter Skye Newman has secured a significant breakthrough with a Top 20 double in the latest chart. As well as a new peak for debut hit Hairdresser at No.16 (18,717 units – up 38.6% week-on-week), Newman secured her first Top 10 single with a new entry for Family Matters at No.8 (25,305 units). Family Matters was streamed 3.2 million times in the UK in the past week, according to the Official Charts Company.

Skye Newman is the first UK female solo artist to reach the Top 20 with her debut single and follow-up since Ella Henderson in 2014. It’s a rare chart achievement for a new artist to chart in the Top 20 with their first two singles – Jessie J did it in 2011, as did Ruby Murray way back in 1955.

Newman is one of several domestic success stories in the UK chart for Sony Music – the major has four British tracks in the Top 20, three of them signed to Columbia.

Calvin Harris has secured his 31st Top 10 single with Clementine Douglas collaboration Blessings climbing to a new peak of No.7 (28,055, up 14.5% week-on-week ). The track is charting in more than 15 markets worldwide on Spotify. 

Artist development is the heartbeat of what we do

Dipesh Parmar

Dipesh Parmar, president, Columbia Records, said: “Skye is a truly authentic artist and an incredible songwriter. I can’t remember a time where we’ve seen a British artist have two debut singles chart in the Top 20 at the same time, and this is only the beginning for her. 

“Artist development is the heartbeat of what we do and to see Skye have her first taste of chart success alongside a British superstar like Calvin Harris, who has achieved 31 Top 10 singles, demonstrates the breadth of talent we are working with at Columbia, and proves that great music and exceptional talent can cut through.”

Columbia has also seen the highest entry to date for Wolf Alice with Bloom Baby Bloom – the band’s first single on the Sony label – cracking the Top 75.

Meanwhile, BRITs Rising star winner Myles Smith is at No.13 with his latest Top 10 single, Nice To Meet You (525,191 units to date), while his global hit Stargazing remains in the Top 50 (1,399,028 units to date). He is now chasing a third Top 20 hit with new single Gold.

Having secured the biggest global breakthrough for a UK artist last year, Myles Smith continues to perform well in global markets. Stargazing remains on Spotify’s Top 100 Global chart (No.73) with 12 million streams in the past week (and approaching 800m to date on Spotify alone). 

On the albums chart, Sony Music has achieved four No.1s from UK artists so far this year – Robbie Williams, Central Cee, Sleep Token and Pink Floyd, following the rock legends’ move to the major.

Central Cee became the first UK rapper in over a year to have a No.1 album domestically. With the release of Can’t Rush Greatness, he had the biggest streaming day of all time for a UK rapper globally on Spotify.

RCA-signed Jade won her first BRIT award as solo artist and saw a subsequent chart boost for debut single Angel Of My Dreams, which she performed at the ceremony.

Subscribers can read our recent cover story with Myles Smith and Sony Music execs here.

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