Who Will Win The Christmas Chart Battle?

The Christmas albums are beginning to rise to the top of the ARIA Albums Chart as we get deeper into December.

According to midweek figures Michael Buble’s Christmas is a strong chance to return to the number one spot but faces competition from Taylor Swift’s 1989, which is selling strongly again thanks to her tour announcement.

Buble’s festival record was originally release in November 2011 and has re-entered the chart every year since in the last week of November, like clockwork. Re-entering at 14 two weeks ago and at ten this week, the album has spent a total of 29 weeks in the chart. It has spent 12 weeks at number one since it was first released.

Currently sitting at number two, behind AC/DC’s Rock Or Bust, Swift’s 1989 is the biggest threat to another number one week for Buble.

The new releases have dried up for the year and only one new debut will trouble the scorers this week. Perennial Christmas favourite Andre Rieu’s Best Of Christmas is a top 40 hope at this stage.

Despite the lack of debuts there will be a number of movers this week and Sam Smith should push into the top ten with In The Lonely Hour. Other strong sellers include Barbra Steisand’s Parnters, the Guardians Of The Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol 1 soundtrack, Human Nature’s The Christmas Album, INXS’ The Very Best and Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga’s Cheek To Cheek.

Fuelled by momentum stemming from their Stereosonic appearance, Peking Duk featuring Safia’s Take Me Over is selling well this week – according to midweek charts – and should push into the top ten from 12. AronChupa’s I’m An Albatroz will be even higher in top five at least.

The highest debut will come from British metalcore act Bring Me The Horizon, whose Drown is currently tracking towards a top 20. Further down expect to see entries from Ed Sheeran’s Make It Rain, Yolanda Be Cool & DCup’s Sugar Man and Carmada’s Maybe.

Nicki Minaj and Skylar Grey’s Bed Of Lies and Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne’s Real Love are also experiencing strong sales.