JLS, the British boy band who were runners-up to Alexandra Burke in the fifth series of talent series "The X Factor" last December, scored a No. 1 U.K. single yesterday (19) with their first release, "Beat Again" (Epic/Sony Music Entertainment). "The Essential Michael Jackson," also on Epic, got a third week atop the album chart.

In a break with the norm for prominent "X Factor" contestants, JLS were signed not to Simon Cowell's Syco Music but elsewhere within SME to Epic, and then supported British R&B singer Lemar on his spring tour. "Beat Again" sold 100,000 units last week, the highest total for a debut single in the U.K. this year, per Official Charts Company data. The track is the tenth No. 1 by an "X Factor" act and is currently second only to Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" (Interscope/Universal) in U.K. airplay, according to Nielsen.

Cascada's No. 1 single of the last two weeks, "Evacuate The Dancefloor" (All Around The World/Universal), fell to No. 2, as Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" (Interscope/Universal) jumped 10-3. British dance act Chicane entered at No. 7 with "Poppiholla" (Modena). Extending the group's run of U.K. hits to some 12 and a half years, the track is an adaptation of Icelandic act Sigur Rós' 2005 recording "Hoppípolla."

Pitbull's "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" (Positiva/Virgin/EMI) climbed 13-9 and there was a 52-13 leap for Beyoncé's "Sweet Dreams" (Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment). Jackson's share of the singles top 40 dropped again from 11 to five, although he still has 15 titles in the top 75. The highest-placed, "Man In The Mirror," fell 3-8.

The King of Pop also still has six albums in the top 20, down from nine last week. "The Essential" was followed by "Thriller," up again 3-4, and "The Motown Years" (Motown/Universal) with the Jackson 5, up 5-4. "Off The Wall" fell 3-7, "Number Ones" 7-10 and "King of Pop" 14-20. Jackson has sold 1.75 million singles and albums in the United Kingdom since his death, says the OCC.

Florence and the Machine's "Lungs" (Universal Island) maintained last week's No. 2 debut ranking, as Lady Gaga moved back 10-5 with "The Fame." Another former No. 1, Paolo Nutini's "Sunny Side Up" (Atlantic/Warner Music), climbed back 12-6 and there was a No. 14 debut for Dead Weather's "Horehound" (Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment). A 40th anniversary collection of hits and new recordings by 1970s favorites the New Seekers, "It's Been Too Long - Greatest Hits and More" (UMTV/Universal) arrived at No. 17, the act's first chart album since 1974.

On Billboard's European Top 100 Albums, Michael Jackson holds down a spectacular eight of the top ten titles. "When Love Takes Over" (Positiva/EMI) by David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland is in a second week atop Eurochart Hot 100 Singles.