Sunday, October 7, 2018

‘A great look for all independent labels’: Freya Ridings breaks into UK chart Top 10 | Music Business Worldwide

Freya Ridings – with her hit single, Lost Without You – is becoming one of the UK music industry’s stories of the year.

The fast-emerging singer/songwriter’s popularity continues to rise – and raise eyebrows.

Interestingly, this is happening amid (and despite) a few murmurs of concern at UK labels over the lack of new artists emerging in the market who can sell also big in the United States.

Nearly 12 months after Lost Without You was originally released, the track has this week entered the Top 10 of the UK’s latest Official Singles Chart at No.9, moving up eleven places.

That means the song, released via Good Soldier Records, is the UK’s highest charting independently-released single since Stormzy’s Blinded By Your Grace (Pt.2) which hit No.7 in November last year. (That track was issued on Stormzy’s own #Merky label, but distributed by Warner’s ADA. Stormzy has since signed a global deal with Atlantic.)

Ridings is also the first female singer/songwriter to 100% write a Top 10 UK hit in over six years: the last time it happened, Kate Bush went to No.6 on the Official Chart with a re-release of Running Up That Hill in August 2012.



Good Soldier, which has also signed Ridings for publishing, is the London-based company run by ex-Warner Music UK boss Christian Tattersfield since he exited the major in 2013.

GS has a distribution partnership on records with Kobalt/AWAL, and an admin deal with Kobalt on publishing.

The success of Lost Without You sends a strong message in an era of scarce chart success for independent companies on the Official UK Singles Chart, says Tattersfield.

“Freya entering the Top 10 is a great look for all independent labels,” Tattersfield told MBW. “The UK music industry has always been a combination of great indies and majors and hopefully this alleviates some of the anxieties about the new streaming ecosystem harming that balance.”

“I think Freya could be the first UK act to crack America since Sam Smith.”

Christian Tattersfield, Good Soldier

He added: “Freya is setting up to be the major UK star for 2019. She hasn’t released an album yet and this month she’s announcing a 14,000 ticket UK tour for March including the Roundhouse in London.

“I think she could be the first UK act to crack America since Sam Smith.”

In addition to Ridings, Good Soldier is also home to The 1975 (publishing) and Irish singer/songwriter Gavin James.

Christian Tattersfield has previously enjoyed worldwide success with the likes of David Gray, Damien Rice, Biffy Clyro, Birdy and the Wombats.


Current UK Official Singles Chart (as of October 5)
  1. Promises – Calvin Harris & Sam Smith
  2. Happier – Marshmello ft. Bastille
  3. I Love It – Kanye West & Lil Pump
  4. Electricity – Silk City Feat Dua Lipa
  5. In My Mind – Dynoro & Gigi D’Agostino
  6. Let You Love Me – Rita Ora
  7. All I Am – Jess Glynne
  8. Eastside – Benny Blanco
  9. Lost Without You – Freya Ridings
  10. Shotgun – George Ezra

Music Business Worldwide

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