Polydor Label Group's Ben Mortimer Reflects on Recent Successes

Polydor Label Group is experiencing a remarkable surge in success, as highlighted by President Ben Mortimer in a recent interview. The Universal Music subsidiary has celebrated significant achievements over the past months, particularly with its roster of both established and emerging artists, including Lewis Capaldi, Sam Fender, and Olivia Dean.

In a noteworthy development, Lewis Capaldi’s latest single, "Survive," which marks his comeback after a hiatus with a previous label, debuted at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. This achievement stems from an impressive consumption of 68,414 units, which notably includes 25,415 physical copies. Capaldi’s surprise performance at the Glastonbury Festival has been credited with propelling this release, making it his fastest-selling single to date. Furthermore, it has set a record for the largest opening week for any single released in 2025.

Simultaneously, Sam Fender’s album "People Watching" has also made headlines, achieving the biggest opening week for any album this year with 107,124 units sold, thus breaking the 100,000 units milestone. This album has seen a remarkable trajectory, currently standing as the best-selling album of 2025 with total consumption reaching 191,724 units. Fender’s recent record-breaking stadium shows in London and Newcastle have significantly contributed to this success, along with his Top 10 single, "Rein Me In," which features fellow Polydor artist Olivia Dean.

Dean, who is signed under Capitol Records, also has made notable strides, with her single "Nice To Each Other" climbing to position 15 on the charts, fueled by a 4.2% week-on-week increase. She is simultaneously enjoying success with her collaboration with Fender. Dean’s upcoming album, "The Art of Loving," is set for release on September 26, 2025, furthering her momentum in the industry.

In addition to these achievements, Capitol's Sammy Virji is redefining his career as well. His single, "Cops & Robbers," featuring Skepta, has become his first Top 40 hit. Virji's global presence is expanding rapidly, evidenced by his recent headline performance at Forest Hills Stadium in Brooklyn, where he sold out a 13,000-capacity venue.

Polydor’s dance label imprint, Chaos, is also thriving, having amassed over 1.5 billion streams in just two years since its establishment. It has produced multiple Top 5 singles, a Top 10 album, and has garnered significant recognition, including nominations for Best Label at the Radio 1 Dance Awards 2024. The label’s artists have also made appearances at major events such as Glastonbury 2025, which has solidified its reputation in the industry.

Internationally, Olivia Rodrigo’s participation at Glastonbury has resulted in a 60.2% increase in consumption for her album "Guts," which is now experiencing a resurgence in the charts. Concurrently, her debut album "Sour" has also seen a significant consumption increase, making her one of the standout artists of the festival.

Sabrina Carpenter's single "Manchild" has spent two consecutive weeks at No. 1, while her album "Short N’ Sweet" is the UK's top-selling album of the year thus far, with sales reaching 728,884. Carpenter is also breaking records with her album’s sustained performance, marking the longest Top 5 run ever for a solo artist.

As the Polydor Label Group continues its upward trajectory, Ben Mortimer expressed excitement about the current and future prospects of the label. He emphasized that this success is not merely a temporary phenomenon but rather a testament to genuine artist development across diverse genres. Mortimer stated, "We’re on an exhilarating run at Polydor Label Group. This isn’t just a case of one week at No. 1; it’s real, sticky artist development in action. Our international roster continues to go from strength to strength, and we are just getting started." The response from industry leaders suggests that Polydor Label Group is poised for continued growth and innovation in the rapidly evolving music landscape.