LM5 (2018)

LM5 is the fifth studio album released by British girl group Little Mix, on 16 November 2018 through Syco Music and Columbia Records. Described as a pop and R&B record, while incorporating elements of reggae pop, trap-pop, hip-hop, 90s, and reggaeton sounds. It features collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Sharaya J, and Kamille, while the deluxe edition of the album features a previously released single with Cheat Codes. It was also the group's last album to be recorded with Syco Music, after parting ways with the label days prior to its release.

LM5 marked the first time that Little Mix was listed as executive producers. It has been described as a feminist album, with lyrics that were focused around women's rights, the MeToo movement, sexism, feminism, sexuality, and body positivity. It received positive reviews from critics, with praise drawn towards the album's exploration of other genres, maturity in lyrics, and their vocal performance. It has since been hailed by fans as the group's best album. The albums lead single "Woman Like Me" with Minaj peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and reached the top ten in seven other countries. It won British Video of the Year, at the 39th Brit Awards. Its final single "Think About Us", with Ty Dolla Sign reached number twenty-two in the UK.

LM5 peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart, which made Little Mix the first girl group to have five consecutive top-five studio albums in the UK. It also reached the top ten in seven other music markets, and became their first album to appear on the charts in South Korea. To promote the album, the group aired exclusive performances from Apple Music Presents: Little Mix, Live From London, and performed at shows including, Strictly Come Dancing UK, MTV Europe Music Awards, and Brit Awards. They also embarked in their sixth concert tour, LM5: The Tour.

Background

In March 2018, Leigh-Anne Pinnock announced that the group's fifth studio album was set to be released later in the year, and would be followed up with a tour for 2019. On 15 October 2018, Little Mix announced that the album was scheduled to be released on 16 November 2018, with the announcement revealing the album's title, with three editions of the album. The group chose to name their album LM5 as a tribute to their fans, who had used it as the name for the album before it was announced. Two days later, the track listing for the album was revealed on social media.

Ahead of its release, Little Mix had shared photos and videos on their social media's celebrating female and LGBTQ+ activists. The album took inspiration from the group's own experiences with sexism and from the Me Too movement. The album was also largely co-written by Little Mix, who are listed as executive producers for the first time. Six days before the album's release date for 16 November, Little Mix left Syco Music. The decision came after problems had surfaced between Simon Cowell's label and Little Mix's management company, Modest, allegedly over disagreements with the record label over the making of "Woman Like Me", with the group not receiving a writing credit, their musical direction, and the creative control. The group was moved within Sony Music to the RCA UK label for future releases.