*Daniel Powter, whose "Bad Day" single has been one of the biggest-selling, most enduring of the year, plays his first U.K. tour this month, with five shows starting at the Birmingham Academy on December 18. He was also in the country to open for Sheryl Crow in early November. Powter’s self-titled debut album has now sold 700,000 copies worldwide, according to Warner Bros.

*Scottish chart regulars Texas will release "Sleep" as the third single from their Red Book album in the U.K. on January 9. It features lead singer Sharleen Spiteri’s first duet on record with Paul Buchanan of the Blue Nile. It also features a video written, directed and co-starring the hugely popular British comic Peter Kay (also known for re-popularising Tony Christie’s hit "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo" this year and helping to make it one of the year’s biggest singles).

*Eminem’s Curtain Call, which gets an unusual Friday (December 2) release in the U.K. this week, has been installed as the bookmakers’ joint favourite to be the best-selling album of the Christmas period in Britain. It’s quoted at 7/4 along with Robbie Williams’ Intensive Care, while Westlife’s Face To Face is at 7/2, Madonna’s Confessions On A Dance Floor at 7/1 and Take That’s Never Forget - The Ultimate Collection at 9/1.

*Meanwhile on this week’s chart, the Madonna album spends a second week on top, with Will Young’s third album Keep On new at No.2. Enya’s Amarantine opens at No.8 with System Of A Down’s Hypnotize at No.11. Madonna is also in a third week at No.1 with the single "Hung Up" on a chart in which the highest new entry was Gorillaz’ "Dirty Harry," the third single from their U.K. double platinum album Demon Days. The dance crossover "Your Body" by the German producer Tom Novy featuring Michael Marshall came in at No.10, 50 Cent’s "Window Shopper" at No.11 and "Rewind" by Stereophonics at No.17.