Capitol Records UK GM Murray Rose has told Music Week the label has ambitions to go “beyond” the multi-million sales of Sam Smith’s debut album with No.1 follow-up The Thrill Of It All.

With first week sales of 97,375, according to the Official Charts Company, Smith’s sophomore record came close to the opening tally of 101,752 for In The Lonely Hour in May 2014. Streams accounted for 14% of the comeback’s first-week total.

Rose stressed the importance of its early ...