business
Coldplay and BTS’ ‘My Universe’ Shines Bright on U.K. Chart
It’s the biggest seller across both digital downloads and CD in the current frame, clocking up 27,000 pure sales over the seven-day cycle. According to the OCC, digital downloads account for 21,400 of the sum, marking the biggest single week of downloads for a song in 2021. “My Universe” draws level with the chart peaks for BTS’ “Dynamite” and “Butter,” for the K-pop superstars’ fourth U.K. Top 10. It’s Coldplay’s 19th appearance in the Top 10. Lifting into fourth spot is Nigerian singer and songwriter CKay, with his viral hit “Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)” (Parlophone). It’s up five places for his first stint in the U.K. Top 5. Wigan guitar band The Lathums enjoy the best possible start with their debut album How Beautiful Life Can Be (Island), which starts at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Album...
Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shivers’ Set for Fourth Week at No. 1 In U.K.
“Cold Heart” is remixed by the Sydney electronic act Pnau, who teamed up with Elton on the U.K. chart topping album from 2012, Good Morning to the Night. According to the OCC, “Cold Heart” is Elton’s highest-charting single as a lead artist since his re-release of “Are You Ready For Love” hit No. 1 in 2003, following its appearance in a Sky Sports football campaign. “Cold Heart” is lifted from Elton’s forthcoming album The Lockdown Sessions, which includes collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks. Further down the list, Oxford band Glass Animals could see a new peak with “Heat Waves,” which lifts to No. 5 on the chart blast.“Heat Waves” was deemed the most popular song in 2020 by listeners of Australia’s triple j, who voted the song to No. 1 in t...
Electronic Livestream Mainstay Boiler Room Acquired by Ticketing Platform Dice
The company plans to work with Boiler Room on enhancing its programming and creating additional revenue for artists, rights holders, collectives, festivals and clubs. U.K.-based ticketing platform Dice has acquired the long-running electronic livestream series Boiler Room. According to a statement from Dice, the company plans to work with Boiler Room on enhancing its programming and creating additional revenue for artists, rights holders, collectives, festivals and clubs. The news comes just a week after Dice announced that it would use its newly-acquired $122 million in Series C funding to grow its team, reach new artists and venues and expand its livestream offerings. Founded in 2014, Dice is a discovery and events app that works with over 3,600 venues, festivals and promoters ...
‘Squid Game’ Drives Netflix Stock to All-Time High
Netflix’s popular survival K-drama Squid Game has catapulted the streaming platform’s stock to new highs, Forbes reported. The stock closed at $610.34 USD as of yesterday. Executives at the streaming service predicted that the Korean-language series will be Netflix’s most popular show ever, already ranking at #1 in several countries, including the United States, since it made its debut on September 17. Earlier this year, Netflix launched a plan to channel $700 million USD into building its Korean content and it appears that the investment is already paying off. Following Squid Game’s release, Netflix’s user growth “is most evident in the Asia-Pacific region,” according to Bloomberg, although “downloads jumped globally” as well. The platform has been angling to expand its subscriber base in...
Billy Strings Is Top Winner at 2021 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards
Appalachian Road Show, Dale Ann Bradley and Sierra Hull were also two-time winners. Appalachian Road Show took instrumental group of the year and new artist of the year. Bradley took female vocalist of the year for the sixth time and tied for gospel recording of the year. Sierra Hull took mandolin player of the year and was among the featured artists on the winner for collaborative recording of the year: Bobby Osborne‘s “White Line Fever.” Other repeat winners in marquee categories included Sister Sadie, which won vocal group of the year for the third consecutive year; and Danny Paisley and Del McCoury, who tied for male vocalist of the year. This was Paisley’s second straight win in that category (and his third overall). It was McCoury’s fifth win in the category, ...
SXSW Releases Statement Decrying ‘Discriminatory Laws’ in Texas
Both laws were met with widespread outrage and condemnation by artists as well as the general public, as well as calls for boycotts of the state. In its statement released today, SXSW said it would not abandon Austin, saying that leaving “would economically damage the city much more than it would the state. Much of the economic impact derived from our event benefits the city’s small business and creative communities. Austin is part of SXSW’s DNA, and we are committed to staying and fighting alongside the people who have made us who we are. We will continue to use our platform to further the progression of human rights at home and across the globe.” The statement was also released ahead of this weekend’s National Women’s March in support of reproductive rights, set to take place...
Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel Says ‘No’ to Buying UTA
He also said that the deal “validated” Endeavor’s strategy when it merged with WMA. “They are just coming to it 13 years later … Mazel tov,” he added. He also defended Endeavor’s representation business, pushing back against the notion that the company is ignoring it in favor of UFC or its other ventures. “I would say to you, we are the largest agency,” Emanuel said. “Our representation business, for the last 10 or 11 years, has grown double digits every year for 10 years. It is a very significant part of our business, and it is the core feeder for how our business grows.” He also argued that Endeavor continues to be important to its clients, particularly as the number of streaming services continue to grow, and as the power of ce...
2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards Deliver Record-Breaking Ratings Across Telemundo Platforms
The 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards, broadcast live on Telemundo on Thursday, delivered record-breaking results for Spanish-language prime time, generating a total of 57 million engagements across television, digital and social platforms, Billboard has learned. Reaching a cumulative audience of more than 3.6 million total viewers in prime time, Telemundo delivered 1.66 million total viewers and 713,000 adults 18-49 on linear, as reported by Nielsen. The red carpet special, Alfombra de los Premios Billboard, averaged 1.35 million total viewers and 507,000 adults 18-49. On the Telemundo app, the awards ceremony generated 1.2 million user minutes during the live linear simulcast, increasing 31 percent versus last year. In addition to the #Billboards2021 hashtag trending on Twitter and TikTo...
Chart Rewind: In 1991, Garth Brooks Lassoed History With ‘Ropin’ the Wind’
After moving 300,000 in its first week, Ropin’ the Wind has sold 9.6 million to date. Remarkably, Brooks, then 29, achieved these feats without the benefit of pop crossover airplay. Rather, it was his electric live concerts and a string of modern country classics from his first two albums, Garth Brooks and No Fences, that helped rocket his third album to a No. 1 launch and propel country radio to new ratings highs in the early ’90s. Ropin’ the Wind, which yielded five Hot Country Songs top 10 singles, including the No. 1s “Shameless” (written by Billy Joel), “What She’s Doing Now” and “The River,” became the first of nine No. 1 albums that Brooks has landed on the Billboard 200. With 73.2 million albums sold in the U.S. since 1991...
Cadence Weapon Wins 2021 Polaris Music Prize in Canada
Cadence Weapon’s fifth studio album Parallel World was announced as the winner of the 2021 Polaris Music Prize on Monday (Sept. 27). The prize is awarded to the “best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales or record label,” according to the organization. Cadence Weapon, a Canadian-American rapper (real name Roland “Rollie” Pemberton), hails from Edmonton, Alberta. His win was announced during an event that was streamed live from CBC Toronto’s Studio 211. This is the 16th year of the Polaris Prize, which is presented by CBC Music. Past winners include Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs (2011) which also won a Grammy as album of the year, and three albums by acts that subsequently went on to collect Grammy nominations – Caribou (2008), Kay...
The Lathums Set to Oust Drake From U.K. Chart Throne
Drake’s Certified Lover Boy (OVO/Republic Recordings) beat Lil Nas X’s Montero (Columbia) by the tightest of margins on last Friday’s chart, but don’t bet on either winning the current race. Drizzy’s latest drops to No. 3 and Lil Nas X’s debut album dips to No. 6. Meanwhile, Australian pop singer Natalie Imbruglia is on track for her first U.K. Top 10 album in 14 years with Firebird (BMG), new at No. 4, while Tom DeLonge’s Angels & Airwaves are flying high with Lifeforms (Rise Records), new at No. 7. If it keeps its altitude, Lifeforms will give the U.S. alternative rock outfit their first Top 10 in 15 years. Also aiming for Top 20 debuts this week are sets by Sleep Token (This Place Will Become Your Tomb at No. 11 via Spinefarm), Nao (And Then Life Was Beautiful at No. 16 via RCA), Tr...
Round Hill Acquires The O’Jays’ Recorded Catalog
Round Hill Music Royalty Fund Ltd. has acquired the recorded catalog of classic R&B group The O’Jays, it was announced today. The purchase encompasses 100% of the master royalty income from 532 total recordings, including such hits as “Love Train,” “Forever Mine” and “For the Love of Money.” Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. According to catalog royalty statements from calendar years 2018-2020, 64% of the revenue generated by the group’s catalog is derived from streaming, followed by 17% sync, 10% downloads, 6% other and 3% physical. Eighty-eight percent of that revenue is generated in the U.S. The top songs ranked by revenue are “Love Train,” “Forever Mine,” “For The Love of Money,” “Back Stabbers,” “Use Ta Be My Girl,” “Cry Together,” “Stairway To Heaven”...
