Yes and no. UK is way more chart obsessed in my opinion. It has slowed down some now that the singles chart isn't sales based. Even 5 years ago, it was all about getting a "top ten" even among the GP. In the UK most people get two albums max and second album usually flops when radio stops playing you. Leona had like one flop single and the UK basically tossed her aside. It's harder to be an indie artist there.
Also a lot of the UK system is more factory oriented than the US. In the US you have to already have a fanbase for a label to sign you, while UK still "grooms" stars picked from stage school. So they have to make a return on investment and be less willing to drop someone.
