Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE MAY 24, 2021 Page 1 of 30

INSIDE Olivia Rodrigo Scores Second • J. Cole Collects Sixth No. 1 Album Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 With on Billboard 200 Chart With ‘The Off-Season’ Debut of ‘Good 4 U’

• Universal Music’s BY GARY TRUST New Policy Presents a Speed Bump for livia Rodrigo notches her second No. 1 ficial audio and official video), radio airplay and sales Royalties Sales on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, data. All charts (dated May 29) will update on Bill- • Bruno Mars as “Good 4 U” soars in at the summit. board.com tomorrow (May 25). For all chart news, you Sells Part of Song It follows her smash “Drivers License,” can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Catalog to Warner Owhich reigned for eight weeks beginning upon Twitter and Instagram. Chappell Music its debut in January. “Good 4 U,” released on Geffen/Interscope Records, • Inside Track: UMG’s Both songs, as well as “Deja Vu,” which opened at is the 1,124th No. 1 in the Hot 100’s 62-year archives, Potential US Investor, its No. 8 Hot 100 high in April, are from Rodrigo’s and the 53rd to enter on top. Here’s a deeper dive FTC Knocks Back debut album Sour, (May 21) and due into its dominant debut. Ticketmaster Probe released Friday on next week’s Billboard 200 chart. Notably, the set is Streams, sales & airplay: Following its May 14 re- • Here Are All the first debut album with two No. 1 Hot 100 debuts. lease, “Good 4 U” drew 43.2 million U.S. streams and the Winners From Plus, J. Cole’s “my.life,” with 21 Savage and Morray, sold 12,000 downloads in the week ending May 20, the 2021 Billboard launches at No. 2 on the Hot 100, marking J. Cole’s according to MRC Data. It also attracted 3.8 million Music Awards highest career rank, as he posts a record-tying four radio airplay audience impressions in the week ending • The Weeknd, simultaneous top 10 debuts. All four tracks are from May 23. BTS & Other his album The Off-Season, which bounds in at No. The track debuts atop the Streaming Songs chart, Record-Setters on this week’s Billboard 200. where it’s Rodrigo’s second leader, after “Drivers at 2021 Billboard 1 Music Awards Notably, the five songs debuting in the Hot 100’s License” ruled for four weeks, and starts at No. 5 top 10 mark a new weekly high in the chart’s history, on Digital Song Sales. While it falls shy so far of the • Apple, Epic Grilled besting the mark of four in a single frame previously all-genre Radio Songs chart, the track opens at No. 33 by Antitrust Judge at accomplished three times. on the survey, which measures plays on App Store Trial Pop Airplay The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (of- (continued)

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On June 5th, Billboard will publish its 3rd annual CONTACTS Pride issue honoring culturally moving and Joe Maimone influential people who have contributed to the 201.301.5933 | [email protected] community’s history and its current landscape. Lee Ann Photoglo Year-round Billboard and Rolling Stone celebrate 615.376.7931 | [email protected] the LGBTQIA+ community through the lens of music, amplifying the culture of the proud Cynthia Mellow LGBTQIA+ community across our editorial 615.352,0265 | [email protected] channels, including Billboard Pride. Marcia Olival 786.586.4901 | [email protected] Building on this platform, Billboard and Rolling Stone will be joining together for the entire month Ryan O’Donnell +447843437176 | [email protected] of June to celebrate love, acceptance, diversity and what it means to be queer in music. All month long, Billboard and Rolling Stone will be the go-to destination for music and entertainment Pride content. Leveraging our iconic voices within music and culture, Billboard and Rolling Stone will curate a mix of engaging video and social content featuring thought-provoking panels, heartfelt performances, and glam tutorials – all fostering a community of consumers and influencers in celebration of LGBTQIA+.

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mainstream top 40 radio, where the song is their parent albums, Sour is the first debut earlier, the release’s “Interlude” debuted at being actively promoted (along with “Deja album by any act to generate two Hot 100 No. No. 8. Vu”; “Drivers License” led Pop Airplay for 1s before the set’s Billboard 200 entrance. J. Cole is the fourth artist to tally a record- five weeks, while “Deja Vu” this week hits a Albums with two songs to debut at tying four simultaneous top 10 debuts, new No. 16 high). No. 1: Billboard awards editor and Chart following Drake (July 14, 2018), Lil Wayne Two No. 1s from a debut album: Both Beat founder Paul Grein notes that (Oct. 13, 2018) and Juice WRLD (July 25, “Good 4 U” and “Drivers License” are from Rodrigo’s Sour makes history as the first 2020). Rodrigo’s debut album Sour, released May debut album to include two songs that Meanwhile, with “my.life,” 21 Savage 21. It’s the first debut studio set to spin off have entered the Hot 100 at No. 1, thanks to scores his fourth Hot 100 top 10 and Morray a pair of Hot 100 No. 1s since Macklemore “Drivers License” and now “Good 4 U.” The earns his first. Thanks to “pride.is.the.devil,” & Ryan Lewis’ 2012 LP The Heist yielded only previous albums to house two tracks Lil Baby logs his seventh top 10. “Thrift Shop,” featuring Wanz, and “Can’t that each premiered on top were by then- “my.life” opens at No. 1 on Hot R&B/ Hold Us,” featuring Ray Dalton, in 2013. well-established stars: Mariah Carey’s Day- Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs, both Among women, Sour is the first debut dream (“Fantasy” and “One Sweet Day,” with of which use the same methodology as the album to generate two Hot 100 No. 1s since Boyz II Men, in 1995-96); Drake’s Scorpi- Hot 100. It’s the first No. 1 on each genre Lady Gaga (Rodrigo’s Interscope label- on (“God’s Plan” and “Nice for What,” 2018); chart for J. Cole and Morray and the second mate) arrived with 2008’s The Fame, which and Grande’s Thank U, Next (“Thank U, on each list for 21 Savage, following his produced the leaders “Just Dance,” featuring Next” and “7 Rings,” 2018-19). Those were, featured turn on Post Malone’s “Rockstar” Colby O’Donis, and “Poker Face” (as well as in each case, those artists’ fifth proper LPs. in 2017-18. the top 10s “LoveGame” and “Paparazzi”). J. Cole’s “my.life,” with 21 Savage and Back on the Hot 100, Rodrigo’s No. 1 de- As Sour has yet to debut on the Billboard Morray, vaults in at No. 2 on the Hot 100, but with “Good 4 U” and J. Cole’s quartet of 200, where it will enter on next week’s, with 41.1 million streams, 1.3 million in new top 10s make for a new weekly-record June 5-dated chart, it’s the first album with airplay audience and 2,800 sold. five concurrent top 10 debuts. Previously, two Hot 100 No. 1s before its Billboard 200 J. Cole achieves his highest Hot 100 rank, as many as four songs entered in the top 10 debut since Drake’s Scorpion, which bowed besting the No. 4 peak of “Middle Child” in together three times, in the frames noted atop the July 14, 2018, chart after its tracks February 2019. He ups his count to 10 career above by Drake, Lil Wayne and Juice WRLD. “God’s Plan” and “Nice for What” had top 10s, as he also debuts with “amari” at Elsewhere in the Hot 100’s top 10, Dua already led the Hot 100. (Scorpion’s third No. 5, led by its 37.8 million streams; “pride. Lipa’s “Levitating,” featuring DaBaby, dips No. 1, “In My Feelings,” topped the Hot 100 is.the.devil,” with Lil Baby, at No. 7 (35.1 mil- to No. 3 from its No. 2 high and “Leave the beginning the week after the set started on lion); and “95.south” at No. 8 (34 million). J. Door Open” by Silk Sonic, the duo of Bruno the Billboard 200.) Cole’s four new Hot 100 top 10s are all from Mars and Anderson .Paak, falls to No. 4 a Meanwhile, in the digital era (since the ad- his new Billboard 200 No. 1 The Off-Season. week after adding its second week at No. vent of downloads and streaming), in which The set joins the ranks of albums with at 1. The latter logs a sixth week atop Radio multiple songs are regularly released before least five Hot 100 top 10s each as, a week Songs (89.9 million, up 3%), while rul-

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On June 5th, Billboard will publish CONTACTS its fourth annual Indie Label Power Joe Maimone Players List. This special feature in 201.301.5933 | [email protected] advance of Indie Week (6/14-6/17) and Lee Ann Photoglo the 10th Anniversary Libera Awards will 615.376.7931 | [email protected] profile leading executives at top independent record labels, publishing Cynthia Mellow companies and distribution companies. 615.352,0265 | [email protected] Positioning themselves as the driving force Marcia Olival behind the success of independent music, 786.586.4901 | [email protected] these executives contribute to the independent music sector and to the Ryan O’Donnell +447843437176 | [email protected] world of music at large.

Take this opportunity to advertise and congratulate this year’s 2020 Indie Label Power Players.

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BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE APRIL 13, 2020 | PAGE Page 4 5 OF of 1930

ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] IN BRIEF SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country ing AHotlbu R&B Songsms; for a ninthBrett week. Young ‘Catch’-es Fifthnew Airplay May 29, 2021-dated chart (where The Justin Bieber’s former Hot 100 lead- J. Cole Collects Off-Season debuts at No. 1) will be posted in er “Peaches,”Lea featuringder; Daniel CaesarTravis and Denning Makes Historyfull on Billboard’s website on May 25. For all Giveon, slides 3-6; The Weeknd and Ariana Sixth No. 1 Album chart news, follow @billboard and @bill- Grande’s “Save Your Tears” drops 4-9 af- boardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram. Samter two Hunt weeks’s second at No. studio 1; and full-length, Doja Cat’s and “Kiss first in overon five Billboardyears, Southside sales (up 200 21%) in the tracking week.Of The On Off-Season Country Airplay,’s 282,000 it hops equivalent 18-15 (11.9 mil - (MCAMe More,” Nashville/Universal featuring SZA, Music backtracks Group Nashville), to No. debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s lion audience impressions, albumup 16%). units earned in the tracking week Top10 from Country its No. Albums 5 high. chart dated April 18. In its first week (ending April 9), it ending May 20, SEA units comprise 243,000 earned 46,000 equivalent album units, including 16,000Chart in album sales, With ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITH YOUNG Brett Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cordingAgain, to forNielsen all chart Music/MRC news, you Data. can follow and total Country Airplay No.(equaling 1 as “Catch” 325.05 (Big millionMachine on-demand Label Group) streams ascends @billboardSouthside marksand @billboardcharts Hunt’s second No. on 1 on both the ‘The Off-Season’ of2-1, the increasing album’s tracks),13% to 36.6 album million sales impressions. comprise chartTwitter and and fourth Instagram top 10. It and follows all chartsfreshman (dated LP 37,000Young’s (making first itof thesix charttop-selling entries, album“Sleep ofWith - Montevallo, which arrived at the summit in No - out You,” reached No. 2 in December 2016. He May 29), including the Hot 100 in its en- BY KEITH CAULFIELD the week) and TEA units comprise 2,000. vembertirety, will 2014 refresh and reigned on Billboard.com tomor for nine weeks. To date,- followedIn terms with of totalthe multiweek units earned, No. 1s The“In Case Off- You Montevallo has earned 3.9 million units, with 1.4 Didn’t Know” (two weeks, June 2017), “Like I Loved millionrow (May in album 25). sales. . Cole’s The Off-Season barges in at SeasonYou” (three, has the January largest 2018), week “Mercy” of 2021 (two, for August a Montevallo has spent 267 weeks on the list, tying No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums hip-hop2018) and album, “Here andTonight” the second-biggest (two, April 2019). Luke Bryan’s Crash My Party as the sixth-longest- chart with 2021’s biggest week for a overall“Catch” to only completes the debut his longest frame journey of Taylor to No. 1, running titles in the chart’s 56-year history. hip-hop release, as the set launches Swifthaving’s Fearless taken 46 (Taylor’sweeks to reach Version) the apex. with It out- On the all-genre Billboard 200, Southside ar- Jwith 282,000 equivalent album units earned 291,000paces the units 30-week (April climb 24-dated of “Here chart). Tonight.” rives at No. 5, awarding Hunt his second top 10 On Hot Country Songs, “Catch” pushes 7-5 for HUNT YOUNG after the No. 3-peaking Montevallo. in the U.S. in the week ending May 20, ac- aThe new Off-Season high. starts with 243,000 SEA Hunt first released the EPX2C , which debuted cording to MRC Data. The Off-Season was units, totaling 325.05 million on-demand and peaked at No. 5 on Top Country Albums in Augustreleased 2014. via Following Dreamville/Roc COMBS Nation/Inter ‘DOES’ IT AGAIN- Lukestreams Combs of’ the “Does album’s to Me” 12 (River tracks House/Columbia — that sum Montevallo, Between the Pines: Acoustic Mixtape startedscope at itson No. May 7 high14 and in alsoNashville), scores the featuring year’s Eric Churchmarks, ascendsthe biggest 11-8 onstreaming Country Airplay,week for up an10% to November 2015. largest streaming week for24.7 any million album. in audience. Thealbum song in is Combs’2021. It eighth surpasses straight the career-opening previous Montevallo produced five singles, four of which hit the pinnacle of Country top 10, following a record run of seven consecutive out-of-the-gate, properly Airplay: “Leave the Night On,” “Take Your Time,” “HouseThe Party” Billboard and “Make 200 chartpromoted ranks No.the 1most singles. high-water mark for the year, when Morgan You Miss Me.” “Break Up in a Small Town” peaked at No.popular 2. albums of the weekChurch in the adds U.S. his based 15th CountryWallen Airplay’s Dangerous: top 10. The Double Album de- Hunt co-penned all 12 songs on Southside, includingon multi-metric “Body Like a Back consumption as measured buted with 240.18 million streams for Road,” which was released in 2017. The smash hit ruledin Countryequivalent Airplay album for units.THAT Units TOOK comprise QUITE ‘A FEW’its 30 songs MONTHS Travis in its Denning first week shatters (chart the recorddated for three weeks and the airplay-, streaming- and sales-basedalbum Hot sales,Country track Songs equivalent the most albums weeks (TEA) it has taken Jan. to penetrate 23). The the Off-Season Country Airplay keeps topup J.10 Cole’s as “After chart for a then-record 34 frames. It now ranks second only to Bebe Rexha and a Few” (Mercury Nashville) climbs 12-10 in its 57th week, up 4% to 21.4 mil - Florida Georgia Line’s “Meant to Be” (50 weeks atop theand latter streaming list in 2017-18). equivalentlion albums in radio (SEA). reach. hot streak on the chart, as all six of his stu- “Downtown’s Dead,” which is also on the new set, reachedEach unit Nos. equals 14 and one 15 albumThe sale, song or surpasses 10 indi- two tracksdio albums that took have 50 reachedweeks each No. to 1. enter the top 10: on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, respectively,vidual in June tracks 2018. sold “Kin from- anEaston album, Corbin or 3,750’s “A Girl Like You,”The Off-Season which reached follows No. 10 the in chart-January 2018 be- folks” led Country Airplay on Feb. 29, becoming Hunt’sad-supported seventh No. 1.or It 1,250 hit paid/subscriptionfore peaking at No. 6 that February,topping andKOD Aaron (2018), Watson4 Your’s “Outta Eyez Style,” which No. 3 on Hot Country Songs. on-demand official audioachieved and video its No. streams 10 high in DecemberOnly (2016), 2017.2014 Forest Hills Latest single “Hard to Forget” jumps 17-9 on Hot Country Songs. It’s his “After” is Denning’s second Country Airplay entry. “David Ashley Parker generated by songs from an album. The Drive (2014), Born Sinner (2013) and Cole eighth top 10, having corralled 8.2 million U.S. streams (up 96%) and 5,000 in From Powder Springs” traveled to No. 32 in September 2018. ETHAN MICHAEL YOUNG: VIA MARTIN/NHLI GETTY HUNT: IMAGES. IMAGES MILLER/GETTY 2021 GERARDO ORTIZ 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Gerardo Ortiz is one of Latin music’s most defining artists of CONTACTS the last decade, scoring a total of ten No. 1s on the Billboard Regional Mexican Airplay chart, over 22.3 Million followers on Marcia Olival social media, and an astounding ONE BILLION and counting 786.586.4901 | [email protected] views on VEVO. The two-time GRAMMY ® nominee and one- time Latin GRAMMY®, is one of the architects of the alternative Joe Maimone corrido movement and one of the most award-winning 201.301.5933 | [email protected] singers of Regional Mexican music in the past years. Lee Ann Photoglo 615.376.7931 | [email protected] In recent years, Ortiz has winning a number of awards including twenty seven Billboard Latin Music Awards, twelve Cynthia Mellow Premios Lo Nuestro, earning four Platinum records and five 615.352,0265 | [email protected] Gold records as certified by the RIAA, and selling out festivals, dance halls, and arenas across the United States and Mexico. Ryan O’Donnell +447843437176 | [email protected] He breaks schemes with each production, after his successful 9th studio album, "Más Caro Que Ayer" was released in February 2020 he placed at #1 on Apple Music’s "Mexican Music" chart. His first single titled popular charts followed by the hit single "Otra Borrachera", the band version that reached #1 on México's Monitor Latino “Popular” chart, and #1 on the Billboard’s "Regional Mexican Airplay" chart. Starting a new decade and commemorating his 10th career anniversary, Gerardo Ortiz celebrates with the debut of his production "Décimo Aniversario" (10th studio album.)

Join Billboard in congratulating Gerardo Ortiz on his remarkable career over the past 10 years.

ISSUE DATE 6/5 | AD CLOSE 5/26 | MATERIALS DUE 5/27 Page 7 of 30

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World: The Sideline Story (2011). (All earned (down 9%), while DJ Khaled’s revenue streams is at an all-time high. but Born Sinner also debuted at No. previous leader Khaled Khaled descends 4-8 UMG had historically “voluntarily ac- 1. Born bowed at No. 2, and then rose to with 32,000 units (down 30%). commodated” artists’ request to assign No. 1 a week later.) J. Cole’s only chart Alan Jackson captures his 15th top 10 rights, even though most of its agreements entry to miss the top slot was a live al- album on the Billboard 200 as his new prohibit doing so, according to a statement bum, 2016’s Forest Hills Drive: Live, which studio effort Where Have You Gone debuts provided to Billboard. “However,” the state- reached No. 71. at No. 9. The set earned just under 32,000 ment continues, “the acceptance of Letters Nick Minaj’s Beam Me Up Scotty mixtape equivalent album units. Of that sum, album of Direction for the sale of royalty streams, debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with sales comprise 27,000, SEA units comprise essentially re-assigning these payments to 80,000 equivalent album units earned. Of 4,000 (equaling 6.04 million on-demand entities with no legally recognized relation- that sum, SEA units comprise 63,000 (equal- streams of the album’s songs) and TEA units ship with the company, potentially posed ing 85.57 million on-demand streams of the comprise 1,000. significant tax and legal liability issues.” The album’s tracks), album sales comprise 11,000 Rounding out the new top 10 is Pop company did not elaborate on what those and TEA units comprise 6,000. Smoke’s former No. 1 Shoot for the Stars issues are and it’s initially unclear what they Beam Me Up Scotty is Minaj’s fifth album Aim for the Moon, falling 8-10 with 30,000 are specifically. to reach the top two on the Billboard 200 equivalent album units earned (down 4%). “Nothing is more important to us than our – the entirety of her charting efforts. Beam relationships with our artists and fulfilling Me Up Scotty was initially released for free the terms of our recording agreements,” the in 2009, but was not commercially issued Universal Music’s statement continues. or distributed to streaming services until The company says the policy does not May 14, 2021. The new version of the album New Policy prevent artists from independently transfer- houses most of the tracks from the 2009 ring UMG royalties to a third party, it just release and adds three new cuts: “Seeing Presents a means UMG will now only pay artists and Green,” with Drake and Lil Wayne, “Frac- their creative collaborators; and any inves- tions” and “Crocodile Teeth” (remix) with Speed Bump for tors buying the rights to a percentage of Skillibeng. that income will need to come to their own Moneybagg Yo’s A Gangsta’s Pain falls Royalties Sales arrangements with creators to receive the 1-3 in its fourth week on the chart, earning royalties. It is unclear whether the policy 55,000 equivalent album units (down 10%), BY GLENN PEOPLES will be enforced retroactively against earlier and Morgan Wallen’s former No. 1 Danger- AND ED CHRISTMAN letters of direction. ous: The Double Album dips 2-4 with 53,000 Over the past five years, royalty streams units (up 2%). niversal Music Group, the have become an increasingly popular invest- Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia is a non- world’s largest music company, ment for private equity firms and other large mover at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, but is no longer accepting letters of institutional investors that are outbid for posts a 14% gain in equivalent album units direction for the sale of royalty publishing and master recording ownership, earned to 41,000. Its surge is owed mostly to Ustreams, Billboard has learned. That means who instead turn to songwriter shares of vinyl LP sales, as of its nearly 7,000 total al- that — at a time when the market for vari- catalogs and artist royalties for master re- bums sold for the week (up 261%), vinyl LPs ous kinds of music royalties is exploding cordings. Investors can choose the royalties represent 5,000 of that sum (up 841%). (The — investors who have purchased some or of specific tracks, license, or income type or album’s expanded deluxe edition, dubbed all of an artist, producer, engineer or side across a creator’s repertoire. They also can The Moonlight Edition, was issued on vinyl performer’s revenue stream on a sound re- invest in the income stream of producers or on May 14.) cording or composition owned or controlled engineers who are due royalties on songs’ The Black Keys nab their fifth top by UMG will now need to coordinate that sales, streams and synch placements — all 10-charting album on the Billboard 200 as payment directly through the artist with of which are paid from the artist’s share of the duo’s new blues covers project Delta whom the label has a deal. royalties. These royalties are predictable Kream bows at No. 6 with 35,000 equivalent UMG will continue to honor creators’ from year to year based on past earnings album units earned. Of that sum, album letters of direction to pay out any of those and are generally passive investments that sales comprise 30,000, SEA units comprise royalties due to the producers, engineers require little expertise beyond collecting 5,000 (equaling 6.22 million on-demand and players who have “points” — a percent- and accounting for the payments. streams of the album’s tracks) and TEA age of revenue on a recording — but will no With the increase of such sales, the major units comprise a negligible number. longer redirect them to investors, in what labels don’t want to deal with the account- Justin Bieber’s former No. 1 Justice falls some view as an aggressive stance at a time ing and administration demands of these 4-7 with 34,000 equivalent album units when financial institutions’ interest in these financial institutions entering the music 2021 COUNTRY POWER PLAYERS

Billboard’s eighth annual Country Power Players CONTACTS issue will profile the people who have driven Joe Maimone another solid year for the country music industry, 201.301.5933 | [email protected] generating billions in sales, streaming and Lee Ann Photoglo publishing. This special feature will highlight the top 615.376.7931 | [email protected] executives, artists and changemakers who kept the music playing during an incredibly challenging Cynthia Mellow 615.352,0265 | [email protected] year, as well as coverage of the changing face of country music. Marcia Olival 786.586.4901 | [email protected]

Advertise in Billboard’s Country Power Players Ryan O’Donnell issue to congratulate this year’s honorees while +447843437176 | [email protected] reaching key decision-makers who are driving the music business.

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rights market, says one label source. And institutional investors coming into the mar- more aggressive, while long-term players some are using letters of direction to lever- ket. One lawyer concedes such a strategy in music asset market tend to see it as just a age a relationship that the majors are more would create an undue complexity to a sale new spin. But, they add, it’s just an evolution comfortable with. “They may approve the and other music asset investors worry the in the typically contentious wrangling seen letter of direction under strict conditions,” UMG’s stance could deflate value. in practically every music asset acquisition says attorney Scott Bradford of DLA Piper. One investor suggests the majors could be that require assignment consent — especial- These could include restricting audit rights trying to “contain value to bring multiples ly when the majors are involved. While in or approval rights for synchs, he says, “so it’s down,” as well as discourage new investors the past the majors were willing to accom- just a revenue participation.” from entering the music rights market. “It’s modate the occasional letter of direction for That’s why it behooves buyers to keep probably being done to scare off some finan- the sale of income stream, now that such creators involved in their copyrights after cial players,” says another executive who deals are becoming a frequent occurrence, an acquisition so that they can ensure audit thinks the majors appear aimed at cooling a they’re growing into an incredible account- rights, say finance executives. But what hap- market perceived to be overheating. But, the ing hassle — which is one reason why the pens after a creator dies? Currently, when a executive adds, “If you are a savvy player, discussion on this policy even began at the creator retains the income stream, the labels you can figure out a work around.” majors, according to some sources. honor those same rights to heirs. But it’s UMG is not the first music entity to come UMG, meanwhile, might face an optics unclear whether they will continue to do so out with policy on limiting letters of direc- issue as word of the new policy spreads and for heirs, if the artist had already sold the tion. SoundExchange has a policy of accept- the company could have a hard time pre- income streams to a third party. ing LODs only for people involved in the senting itself as being artist friendly, says the UMG’s policy has received criticisms from creative process, such as producers and en- institutional investor. “If you have an asset executives around the industry analyzing its gineers, but not for third parties, a spokes- that can be traded, that policy will be seen potential effects on an otherwise flourishing person tells Billboard. Sources suggest that as standing in the way, so they are basically aspect of music finance. (On the far end of for years at least one of the U.S. performance taking money out of the artist pocket.” Adds the spectrum, one executive with a company rights organization has a similar policy on the financial executive, “I think that policy that has been investing in music assets over letters of direction, but it’s unclear if those has the potential to harm an asset’s value.” the last few years says, “It’s a hostile gambit policies are fully enforced. Nevertheless, so It could even get in the way of future that appears to be aimed at stopping pure- far those policies don’t seem to have stymied deals, says another player in music assets. play financial investors from coming into the music asset market place. And the Music “Why would artists or songwriters sign the market.”) But it appears the other major Modernization Act gave artists the ability with UMG if they are going to get in the way labels are also being less accommodating to to provide letters of direction to SoundEx- of eventually realizing the value that they investors buying these royalty streams. change to directly pay producers, engineers created through the sale of their copyrights “It’s not just UMG,” says an executive and others who work on their records what and royalty income streams,” wonders that with a company that acquires music assets. those collaborators are due. trader, who’s seeing it from the buyers’ side. Sony Music and Warner Music Group in Opinions vary on how investors might be “If I was a songwriter, producer, and/or art- the last quarter have also been showing able to manage UMG’s new stance. In one ist, I would be asking, ‘Are you telling me I hesitancy in responding to letters of direc- scenario, a seller could set up a joint account can’t sell my catalog?’” tion on acquired music assets, some sources into which royalties would be paid, a source UPDATE: This story was updated at 12:40 say. Sources acknowledge that whether to says. But an institutional investor argues p.m. EST on May 24, 2021. It previously stat- honor letters of direction has been a topic that approach wouldn’t work because if the ed that UMG’s new letters of direction policy of discussion at some music companies but seller has access to the account, then the applies to publishing as well as label deals. thus far hasn’t yet transformed into action buyer couldn’t “perfect” the acquisition. The policy does not apply to publishing, ac- or policy, while others say Sony is refusing “That’s why deals usually have holdback on cording to a UMG spokesperson. to formally acknowledge letters of direction payments — to ensure the income stream in writing but will still reassign royalty pay- gets to where it’s supposed to go to,” says ments when an income stream is sold. that financial executive. (“You may not be Warner and Sony declined to comment able to perfect the acquisition of the income for this story. stream, but you can secure it through a If Warner or Sony follow UMG’s lead with contract with the [artist],” counters another similarly hardline approaches against letters financial executive.) of direction for royalties — the majors have Investor perspective on UMG’s new a history of adapting their competitor’s poli- policy seems to split depending on how cies if they perceive it might benefit them long they’ve been in the market. Newer as well — it could put a serious damper on players interpret the company’s stance as Page 10 of 30

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the team who have supported me and grown Bruno Mars Sells with me,” Mars said in a statement supplied Inside Track: to Billboard by Warner Chappell. “This is me Part of Song doubling down with people I trust. We’re UMG’s Potential just at the beginning of the journey and Catalog to Warner there’s so much more to come.” US Investor, While terms of the acquisition are not Chappell Music known, sources say that Mars’ lawyer Scott FTC Knocks Back Felcher shopped the deal. Sources further BY ED CHRISTMAN suggest that Mars usually has about a 40% Ticketmaster share of songs that appear on his album; and runo Mars quietly sold off a anywhere from 15% to 30% for songs where Probe portion of his song catalog to he is the co-writer for others. Moreover, Warner Chappell Music more sources indicate Mars has a co-publishing BY BILLBOARD STAFF than six months ago, according deal with BMG, which means he prob- EDITED BY DAN RYS Bto sources and confirmed by the company. ably collects about 75% of the revenue Mars typically collaborates with other writ- on his share of the songs. Mars, as part of ho Will Buy a 10% Share ers, including The Smeezingtons, but only The Smeezingtons, probably also got some of Universal Music his portion of that team’s catalog was up for publishing points on songs they wrote and Group? sale. Sources indicate Mars didn’t sell 100% produced for other artists, but Billboard was When Vivendi an- of his share, retaining a minority stake in the unable to determine if Mars’ share of that nouncedW on Tuesday it may sell a 10% songs sold to WCM. income stream was also part of the deal. stake in Universal Music Group to a U.S. in- Mars’ catalog includes solo hits like “Just Since the release of music from Silk Sonic vestor, speculation began about who would The Way You Are,” “Grenade,” “Locked Out occurred after the Warner Chappell acquisi- spend a few billion on the world’s largest Of Heaven” and “The Lazy Song,” as well as tion, its unlikely that any music he writes for music company before it’s spun off from tracks he co-wrote and appeared on such that project is part of the deal. its parent conglomerate in September. The as B.o.B.’s “Nothin’ On You” and Travie Mc- While Mars has a sought-after song label-publisher is valued at 33 billion euros Coy’s “Billionaire.” His catalog also includes catalog, some potential suitors likely sat ($40 billion), making a 10% investment numerous co-writes for other artists, includ- out the bidding because as a current artist, worth at least $4 billion — perhaps more for ing CeeLo Green’s “Fuck You” and Far East the catalog probably has hit songs still go- a motivated buyer. Movement’s “Rocketeer,” among others. ing through the decay cycle, i.e. the stream Asking around, one name keeps popping According to ASCAP and BMI’s Songview totals have yet to flatten to catalog status. up: Liberty Media, the majority owner of system, Mars has a stake in 232 songs. Buyers prefer deals on songs that are in the satellite radio provider SiriusXM — itself “Bruno is a creative genius and it’s a huge catalog stage — thus no longer in the hit owner of music streamer Pandora — and honor to deepen our relationship with him,” stage of a song’s life cycle — because the 33% of concert promoter Live Nation. Lib- Warner Chappell CEO Guy Moot said in a income track record of catalog songs al- erty also owns 5% of terrestrial broadcaster statement. “At the heart of his immense tal- lows suitors to better predict what stream- iHeartMedia and tried to buy 40% while ents is his incredible songwriting, which he ing and other income-producing activity the iHeartMedia was in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. honed for years before he became a record- songs will produce every year. This allows And despite concerns a larger stake would ing superstar. Like only a true great can, he’s buyers to project realistic revenues that are result in anticompetitive behavior, the De- mastered and transcended multiple musical needed to assess the financial viability of partment of Justice approved Liberty’s genres with extraordinary originality and catalog acquisitions. request to increase its stake beyond 5% in versatility. The world will continue to fall in In deals involving hits, asset buyers July 2020. Liberty Media could take a piece love with his songs for generations to come.” generally don’t like paying high multiples of UMG and add intellectual property to According to the RIAA, Mars is the first on catalogs with a lot of current hit songs, a “full stack,” vertically-integrated media artist to secure five diamond certified sin- typically valuing such assets at a 12-15 time company. On paper at least, Universal could gles — 10 million equivalent song consump- multiple as opposed to the 17-20 times and woo artists by offering exposure on Liberty- tion units: “Grenade” “Just the Way Your even higher multiples that iconic hit songs owned broadcasters and with concerts on Are,” “That’s What I Like,” and “When I are selling for nowadays. Live Nation-run tours and festivals. Was A Young Man,” plus his featured perfor- It wouldn’t be the first time a broadcast mance on Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk.” company owned a record label: CBS owned “I began my career at Atlantic and it made a group of record labels, including Columbia sense to keep my business in the family, with Records, from 1938 until 1988, when it sold Page 11 of 30

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them to Sony. In the 2000s, Live Nation acquired EMI Music Publishing from Citi in “unfair, deceptive and anticompetitive prac- dabbled with a short-lived record label — it 2012 included Mubadala Capital, the UAE tices” as well as efforts to attempt to “choke signed Zac Brown Band in 2008, but closed sovereign wealth fund. One party to show off competition” during the pandemic. down soon after and Brown signed with At- interest in music in the past is Ron Burkle’s Slaughter’s response was not what lantic Records — and inked deals with Jay- Yucaipa Companies, which tried to buy many expected. While she acknowledged Z, Madonna, Shakira and Nickelback that Warner Music Group in 2011 and EMI Mu- Pascrell’s concerns and outlined steps the gave it a share of the artists’ revenue streams sic in 2011 (Universal Music Group had the agency had taken recently against illegal such as recorded music, merchandise and winning bid). Platinum Equity, led by Tom resale outfits, she had her own request licensing. But never has an entertainment Gores, and the Gores Group, also bid on for Pascrell: for Congress to act quickly to company stacked up a label, publisher, pro- WMG, which was ultimately acquired by increase the FTC’s budget and restore the moter and three broadcast formats (terres- current owner Access Industries. agency’s power after it was stripped away by trial, online and satellite) under one roof. Vivendi sold 20% of UMG to a consortium the Supreme Court. “In a lot of businesses where Malone led by Chinese tech giant Tencent last year “I would be remiss if I did not note two has exposure, vertical integration doesn’t and plans to keep 10% for at least two years, acute FTC-specific challenges in carrying really make sense,” says Citi analyst Jason the company said Tuesday. It will float 60% out the agency’s mission,” Slaughter wrote Bazinet. “But it does in the music space.” A of UMG shares on the Euronext Amsterdam in a letter dated May 13. The first challenge business model that provides a movie chan- stock exchange by Sept. 27. —Glenn Peoples, was that “FTC funding has not kept up with nel to one company’s cable customers isn’t Ed Christman the increasing demand on our competi- sensible, he argues. Liberty-owned Starz FTC Knocks Back Latest Call for Inves- tion and consumer protection work.” The Encore, a competitor to Showtime and HBO, tigation of Ticketmaster agency’s $330 million 2021 budget was wanted the widest distribution possible to It’s been more than a decade since Live about $800,000 less than 2020, according to reach the most potential subscribers. But Nation acquired Ticketmaster and became congressional records. with a stake in UMG, Liberty would own a the world’s largest concert company, but The second issue was much more seri- piece of intellectual property that can add Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) has ous: on April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court value to its entertainment properties. At the refused to veer from his publicly-stated goal unanimously ruled that the 40-year-old very least, Liberty would come away with of splitting the company up. Since the deal law that created the FTC did not give it the greater knowledge of the recording and was approved in 2010, Pascrell has made power to force companies to pay restitution publishing industries. five separate calls for the company and the to consumers for unfair or deceptive acts or Some sources say that since the music merger to be investigated by the Depart- practices. asset class has become attractive to in- ment of Justice and the Federal Trade Com- “I look forward to working with Con- stitutional investors, PIMCO — the huge mission, so far without success. gress to ensure that the Commission has the financial investment firm more formerly In 2020, the FTC responded by commis- resources and tools it needs to protect con- known as Pacific Investment Management sioning a report on the ticketing industry sumers and promote competition, including Co. — has been investigating ways to get a that called for more transparency from by pursuing appropriate enforcement action piece of the action; it joined with Liberty Ticketmaster, but ultimately found that the to address ongoing concerns in the event Media and Franklin Resource in the bid ticket resale industry was most to blame ticketing industry,” Slaughter wrote. for iHeartMedia. With well over $1 trillion for the majority of consumer complaints in While Pascrell’s letter was sent prior to under investment, it certainly has the deep ticketing. The report also did not endorse the April 22 ruling, a source at Live Nation pockets to invest in the UMG deal, even at a key provision of the BOSS Act, a ticketing who did not wish to be identified said Pas- $4 billion for a 10% piece. Meanwhile, other reform package Pascrell had been trying to crell’s constant calls for investigation ignore executives speculate that such investment pass since 2009. That provision would have the fact that Live Nation is operating under firms as Fidelity Investments or T. Rowe banned companies like Ticketmaster from a DOJ consent decree, which essentially is Price might be considering the UMG invest- forcing consumers to use digital tickets, a state of non-stop government monitor- ment because both are known for taking which Pascrell described as an attempt by ing and investigation. The consent decree, positions in companies that are planning to Ticketmaster to choke out competitors; instituted in 2010 and extended until 2025, or on the verge of going. conversely, the report indicated digital-only significantly limits what Live Nation can Other possible investors have been in the tickets could be useful for fighting scalpers be investigated for, namely violations of market for music in the past. Institutional on high demand shows. competitive ticketing practices, not scalping investors TPG, Dragoneer and Goldman Now, Pascrell is trying again. Hoping to or digital ticketing. Sachs bought $1 billion in Spotify’s convert- have better luck with the Biden administra- “Without a legislative overhaul of the ible debt just two years before its direct tion, he sent a letter on April 19 to acting ticketing business, Pascrell’s non-stop calls listing on the New York Stock Exchange in FTC chair Rebecca Slaughter calling for for investigations are pointless because the 2018. The Sony/ATV-led consortium that Live Nation to be investigated for potentially agencies he’s addressing don’t actually have Page 12 of 30

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the power to do what he is asking them to to the lawsuit. do,” the source tells Billboard. —Dave Brooks In January 2019, Hoversten received an Here Are All the LiveXLive’s Hedge Fund Problem annual statement on his investment showing LiveXLive chairman/CEO Rob Ellin, a a 13% loss for the quarter and a 3.5% gain for Winners From 30-year veteran of the investment and turn- the year. When he protested, Ellin sent pro- around industry, is no stranger to lawsuits. fanity-laced responses accusing Hoversten the 2021 Billboard But a recent legal dispute by a former execu- of stupidity and ungratefulness, according tive at his company has raised new ques- to court documents. When Hoversten tried Music Awards tions about the relationship between the to liquidate his position in Trinad in August hedge funds Ellin operates and LiveXLive. 2019, Ellin eventually admitted the fund was BY DENISE WARNER On its face, Schuyler Hoversten’s $2 “invested in many positions but LIVX heav- million lawsuit against the West Hollywood ily weighted.” Months later, he told Hover- ho are the big winners company isn’t that different from the half- sten to expect heavy losses in his investment at the Billboard Music dozen lawsuits Ellin already faces in Califor- if he pulled out; at the time, January 2020, Awards? nia and New York, for allegedly breaching Hoversten had already seen his investment The Weeknd took agreements to pay various former employ- lose $230,000. homeW 10 awards, including top artist. Pop ees and debtors with shares of LiveXLive Hoversten’s attorneys would go on to find Smoke won five, including top new artist that were never delivered. out that as much as 90% of Ellin’s invest- and BTS and Bad Bunny each earned four. But Hoversten’s suit is the first to take on ment was used to buy up LiveXLive stock, Hosted by Nick Jonas, the ceremony also Ellin’s Trinad Capital Master Fund, a Cay- according to the lawsuit. When Hoversten honored P!nk as the Icon, Drake as the art- man Islands hedge fund controlled by Ellin asked why his portfolio had lost money ist of the decade and Trae Tha Truth as the with the purpose of financing ventures like while its main asset, shares of LiveXLive, Change Maker. LiveXLive. Trinad is marketed to investors were up more than 300% since his initial See a full list of winners below. as a diversified fund that focuses on small investment, Ellin responded, “We don’t pro- Top Artist publicly-traded companies, according to its vide transparency to anyone!” and later told Drake prospectus, reporting $46 million in assets Hoversten to “lose my # forever.” Juice WRLD under management in 2021, according to Hoversten’s lawyers claim “Ellin benefit- Pop Smoke public filings. ted from the Fund’s heavily weighted asset Taylor Swift According to Hoversten’s complaint, concentration in LiveXLive,” and contend The Weeknd — WINNER investing in Trinad seemed like a good bet: his role as chairman and chief executive is Top New Artist Trinad’s financial prospectus showed a “in substantial part due to the Fund’s hold- Gabby Barrett 109% annualized return rate. And while El- ings of LiveXLive stock.” They’re asking for Doja Cat lin usually required a $1 million investment $2 million in damages and lost profits. Ellin Jack Harlow to buy into the exclusive fund, he allowed did not respond to a request for comment. Pop Smoke — WINNER Hoversten to buy in at $750,000, according —Dave Brooks Rod Wave to emails introduced as exhibits in the case. Top Male Artist But not long after wiring the money, Hov- Drake ersten claims he became concerned about Juice WRLD a lack of transparency at Trinad. On Oct. 2, Lil Baby Hoversten emailed Ellin asking, “How much Pop Smoke exposure does the fund have to LiveXLive?” The Weeknd — WINNER Ellin responded telling Schuyler his Top Female Artist invitation to join the fund should be viewed Billie Eilish as “a gift” and told Hoversten to focus Ariana Grande on “getting deals done” over the next six Dua Lipa months. While Trinad did own 20% of Megan Thee Stallion LiveXLive’s stock, Ellin promised Hoversten Taylor Swift — WINNER that the LiveXLive investment represented Top Duo/Group a small fraction of the fund’s holdings, and AC/DC said that all investments were capped at a AJR 15% position, Hoversten’s attorney Ethan BTS — WINNER Brown writes in the arbitration claim. This Dan + Shay would turn out to not be the case, according Maroon 5 Page 13 of 30

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Top Billboard 200 Artist Juice WRLD Top Dance/Electronic Artist Drake Lil Baby The Chainsmokers Juice WRLD Pop Smoke — WINNER Kygo Pop Smoke Top Rap Male Artist Lady Gaga — WINNER Post Malone Juice WRLD Marshmello Taylor Swift — WINNER Lil Baby Surf Mesa Top Hot 100 Artist Pop Smoke — WINNER Top Christian Artist DaBaby Top Rap Female Artist Casting Crowns Drake Cardi B Elevation Worship — WINNER Dua Lipa Megan Thee Stallion — WINNER for KING & COUNTRY Pop Smoke Saweetie Carrie Underwood The Weeknd — WINNER Top Country Artist Zach Williams Top Streaming Songs Artist Gabby Barrett Top Gospel Artist DaBaby Kane Brown Kirk Franklin Drake — WINNER Luke Combs Koryn Hawthorne Lil Baby Chris Stapleton Tasha Cobbs Leonard Pop Smoke Morgan Wallen — WINNER Maverick City Music The Weeknd Top Country Male Artist Kanye West — WINNER Top Song Sales Artist Luke Combs Top Billboard 200 Album Justin Bieber Chris Stapleton Juice WRLD, Legends Never Die BTS — WINNER Morgan Wallen — WINNER Lil Baby, My Turn Megan Thee Stallion Top Country Female Artist Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Morgan Wallen Gabby Barrett — WINNER Moon — WINNER The Weeknd Maren Morris Taylor Swift, folklore Top Radio Songs Artist Carrie Underwood The Weeknd, After Hours Justin Bieber Top Country Duo/Group Top R&B Album Lewis Capaldi Dan + Shay Jhené Aiko, Chilombo Dua Lipa Florida Georgia Line — WINNER Chris Brown & Young Thug, Slime & B Harry Styles Maddie & Tae Doja Cat, Hot Pink The Weeknd — WINNER Top Rock Artist Kehlani, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t Top Social Artist (Fan Voted) AC/DC The Weeknd, After Hours — WINNER BLACKPINK AJR Top Rap Album BTS — WINNER Five Finger Death Punch DaBaby, Blame It On Baby Ariana Grande Machine Gun Kelly — WINNER Juice WRLD, Legends Never Die SB19 twenty one pilots Lil Baby, My Turn Seventeen Top Latin Artist Lil Uzi Vert, Eternal Atake Top R&B Artist Anuel AA Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Jhené Aiko Bad Bunny — WINNER Moon — WINNER Justin Bieber J Balvin Top Country Album Chris Brown Maluma Gabby Barrett, Goldmine Doja Cat Ozuna Sam Hunt, Southside The Weeknd — WINNER Top Latin Male Artist Chris Stapleton, Starting Over Top R&B Male Artist Bad Bunny — WINNER Carrie Underwood, My Gift Justin Bieber J Balvin Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Chris Brown Ozuna Album — WINNER The Weeknd — WINNER Top Latin Female Artist Top Rock Album Top R&B Female Artist Becky G AC/DC, Power Up Jhené Aiko Karol G — WINNER Miley Cyrus, Plastic Hearts Doja Cat — WINNER Rosalía Glass Animals, Dreamland SZA Top Latin Duo/Group Machine Gun Kelly, Tickets to My Down- Top Rap Artist Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga fall — WINNER DaBaby Eslabón Armado — WINNER Bruce Springsteen, Letter to You Drake Los Dos Carnales Top Latin Album Page 14 of 30

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Anuel AA, Emmanuel The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” — WIN- Surf Mesa ft. Emilee, “ily (i love you baby)” Bad Bunny, El Último Tour Del Mundo NER Topic & A7S, “Breaking Me” Bad Bunny, Las que no iban a salir Top Collaboration (Fan Voted) Top Christian Song Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG — WINNER 24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood” Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake, J Balvin, Colores Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope” “Graves Into Gardens” — WINNER Top Dance/Electronic Album — WINNER for KING & COUNTRY, Kirk Franklin & DJ Snake, Carte Blanche Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy” Tori Kelly, “TOGETHER” Gryffin, Gravity DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR” Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, & Elevation Wor- Kygo, Golden Hour Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil ship, “The Blessing (Live)” Lady Gaga, Chromatica — WINNER Wayne, “WHATS POPPIN” Tauren Wells ft. Jenn Johnson, “Famous For Kylie Minogue, Disco Top R&B Song (I Believe)” Top Christian Album Jhené Aiko ft. H.E.R., “B.S.” Zach Williams & Dolly Parton, “There Was Bethel Music, Peace Justin Bieber ft. Quavo, “Intentions” Jesus” Elevation Worship, Grave Into Gardens Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy” Top Gospel Song Carrie Underwood, My Gift — WINNER Doja Cat, “Say So” Koryn Hawthorne, “Speak To Me” We The Kingdom, Holy Water The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” — WIN- Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music, Zach Williams, Rescue Story NER “Movin’ On” Top Gospel Album Top Rap Song Marvin Sapp, “Thank You For It All” Koryn Hawthorne, I AM 24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood” Tye Tribbett, “We Gon’ Be Alright” Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Royalty: Live at the Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP” Kanye West ft. Travis Scott, “Wash Us In Ryman DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR” — The Blood” — WINNER Maverick City Music, Maverick City Vol. 3 WINNER The 2021 Billboard Music Awards will Part 1 — WINNER Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Maverick City Music, Maverick City Vol. 3 Wayne, “WHATS POPPIN” Angeles May 23 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Part 2 Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé, “Savage” NBC. Kierra Sheard, Kierra Top Country Song Billboard Music Awards finalists and win- Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rock- Jason Aldean, “Got What I Got” ners are based on key fan interactions with star Gabby Barrett, “I Hope” — WINNER music, including album and digital song sales, 24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood” Lee Brice, “One of Them Girls” streaming, radio airplay, and social engage- Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope” Morgan Wallen, “Chasin’ You” ment, tracked by Billboard and its data part- Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy” Morgan Wallen, “More Than My Home- ners, including MRC Data. This year’s awards DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR” town” are based on the chart period of March 21, The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” — WIN- Top Rock Song 2020 through April 3, 2021. Fan-voted catego- NER AJR, “Bang!” — WINNER ries this year include top social artist and top Top Streaming Song All Time Low ft. blackbear, “Monsters” collaboration. Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP” Glass Animals, “Heat Waves” The Billboard Music Awards are pro- DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR” — Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear, “my ex’s duced by dick clark productions, which is WINNER best friend” owned by MRC. MRC and Penske Media are Future ft. Drake, “Life Is Good” twenty one pilots, “Level of Concern” co-parent companies of Billboard. Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Top Latin Song Wayne, “WHATS POPPIN” Bad Bunny, “Yo Perreo Sola” The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti” — Top Selling Song WINNER Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope” Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “RITMO (Bad BTS, “Dynamite” — WINNER Boys For Life)” Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP” Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái” Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé, “Savage” Ozuna x Karol G x Myke Towers, “Cara- The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” melo” Top Radio Song Top Dance/Electronic Song Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope” Lady Gaga, “Stupid Love” Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy” Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, “Rain on Me” Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now” SAINt JHN, “Roses (Imanbek Remix)” — Harry Styles, “Adore You” WINNER Page 15 of 30

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He’s the fourth artist to win back-to-back The Weeknd, awards in that category since the BBMAs Apple, Epic Grilled resumed in 2011. The first three were Sha- BTS & Other kira, Romeo Santos and Ozuna. Bad Bunny by Antitrust Judge swept the artist, album and song awards Record-Setters in Latin. That was the only genre outside at App Store Trial of R&B where one artist swept all three of at 2021 Billboard those awards. (The Weeknd swept in R&B.) BY ERIQ GARDNER Gabby Barrett won three awards, includ- Music Awards ing top country song for her solo version n Monday, near the conclusion of “I Hope” and top collaboration for her of an antitrust trial in Oakland, BY PAUL GREIN collab version of the song, which featured California that focuses on Ap- Charlie Puth. ple’s dominance over a thriv- he Weeknd was the top winner Drake won two awards: top streaming artist Oing app market, U.S. District Court Judge at the Billboard Music Awards, and a special award for artist of the decade. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers sharply questioned which were presented in the Swift won two awards: top female artist dueling attorneys. L.A.Live complex in Los Angeles and top Billboard 200 artist, each for the The suit comes from Epic Games, Ton Sunday (May 23). The pop and R&B star fourth time. That’s a new record for the producer of Fortnite, which was booted won 10 awards, which more than doubled most wins in both of those categories. from Apple’s App Store last year upon its his career total of BBMAs. He had won Lady Gaga won two awards: top dance/ attempt to bypass the 30 percent commis- nine awards prior to this year. With his 19 electronic artist and top dance/electronic sion that Apple takes on in-app purchases. awards, The Weeknd is now in fifth place album — each for the first time in nine years. As trial testimony has showcased, those on the all-time BBMA winners list, be- She won in those categories in 2011 and commissions are lucrative to Apple. The hind Drake (29), Taylor Swift (25), Justin 2012, before going on to make her mark in computer giant has reaped $100 million just Bieber (21) and Garth Brooks (20). many other worlds, including traditional from Fortnite (and an estimated $20 billion The Weeknd’s megahit “Blinding Lights” pop and film acting. overall from all app developers since 2017). took top Hot 100 song. It’s just the third Kanye West won two awards, includ- Epic alleges that Apple is abusing a monopo- non-collab single to win in this category ing top gospel artist for the second year in ly with anticompetitive rules and restrictive since the show resumed in 2011. The first a row. West has won six of his 11 BBMAs practices that benefit no one but Apple. Dur- two were Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite” (2011) in gospel or Christian categories. West and ing closing arguments today, Epic’s attorney and Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Travis Scott shared the award for top gospel took issue with Apple’s attempt to position Bass” (2015). song, “Wash Us in the Blood.” That’s Scott’s itself as the app world’s “benevolent over- But The Weeknd wasn’t the only artist to first BBMA. lord,” saying that only competition could make history on the night. Take a look: Carrie Underwood’s My Gift won top result in lower costs and greater innovation. Pop Smoke won five awards, including Christian album. This is Underwood’s In defending its “walled garden” ap- top Billboard 200 album for Shoot for the 12th BBMA. Fifteen years ago, her debut proach, Apple says it has delivered a Stars, Aim for the Moon. This is the fourth album, Some Hearts, won both album of the platform that’s safe, reliable, and vibrant. “I time in the past five years that a hip-hop year and country album of the year. Under- think it’s been an economic miracle,” said album has won that award. (The sole excep- wood won her first BBMA in a Christian Apple CEO Tim Cook about iOS apps during tion was Billie Eilish’s When We All Fall category six years ago when “Something in his testimony on Friday. Although not all de- Asleep, Where Do We Go? last year.) Pop the Water” took top Christian song. velopers would agree with Apple’s practices, Smoke, who died in February 2020, also Machine Gun Kelly won two awards, Cook added, “There’s a conflict between won top new artist. He’s the first artist to including top rock artist. MGK is the just what the developer may want and what the win that award posthumously. the second solo artist to win in that category consumer may want.” BTS won four awards, bringing their since the show resumed in 2011. Hozier won Much of the testimony from witnesses BBMA total to date to an impressive nine. in 2015. during this trial has focused on why Apple They won top duo/group for the second Morgan Wallen won three awards, does what it does — and its failings too. For time in three years. BTS also took top social including top country artist and top country example, in questioning top executives like artist for the fifth consecutive year. The album, awards won the last two years by Apple’s Phil Schiller, Epic has pointed to group is just one year behind Bieber’s six- Luke Combs. Wallen wasn’t part of the dating apps that seemingly have slipped past year hold on the award from 2011-16. show, a consequence of his caught-on-video Apple’s nudity monitors. Other executives Bad Bunny won four awards, including use of the N-word earlier this year. at the company were forced to touch upon top Latin artist for the second year in a row. everything from malware to the digital Page 16 of 30

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tracking of users. And when Cook was on torney representing Apple, didn’t so much the witness stand, Judge Rogers had him ad- as dispute the judge on this point as note WMG’s Social dress App Store profits that seemed “dispro- that a 30 percent commission was chosen portionate” to what Apple was contributing. by Steve Jobs about 15 years ago, that the Justice Fund The antitrust trial has also featured a commission was less than what formerly heavy dose of experts including MIT econo- existed within the gaming sphere (referring Unveils Next mist Richard Schmalensee, Global Econom- to a time when Nintendo and Sega con- ics Group chairman David Evans, Stanford trolled key platforms), and that the price has Round of Grant economist Susan Athey, and University of never gone up. “Epic’s expert said it wasn’t Michigan economist Francine Lafontaine a monopoly price; it’s a competitive price,” Recipients squaring off in an attempt to define a rel- said Swanson. evant market for antitrust purposes. Is the “I guess what you are saying is that BY TATIANA CIRISANO App Store a market in and of itself, as Epic qualitatively, the price has gone down, but contends, or should the frame be something it hasn’t gone down to justify supracompeti- arner Music Group’s social more specific like gaming transactions, tive profits,” responded Rogers. justice fund in partnership where the App Store is just one platform Swanson resisted here. Arguing that with the Blavatnik Family among many? The answer could go a long Apple’s broader costs to develop and im- Foundation announced its way in determining the forthcoming analy- prove its phones and software should count, secondW round of grant recipients on Monday sis from the judge with regards to alleged the attorney said, “To allocate or not to (May 24), choosing to support South Florida monopolization and abuse. allocate cost and treat it as a standalone rev- youth development program Overtown Today, Judge Rogers pressed Epic’s attor- enue number without taking into account Youth Center, New York-based institution ney about the issue of market substitutes. enormous costs of whole ecosystem is just The Africa Center and the New Orleans- Gary Bornstein, the Cravath attorney rep- not right.” based Ashé Cultural Arts Center, which resenting the gaming company, responded A decision from Rogers may take months, focuses on the African diaspora. by disputing Apple’s view that consumers and in the meantime, the judge is walking a The three organizations were chosen could easily access apps elsewhere. That middle line that may tip her thinking if not for their missions to “build more equitable never happens, he said, because of the high any ultimate conclusions. “If I decide rel- communities and create real change in the costs of switching between ecosystems — evant market is gaming but there are other lives of historically underserved and mar- from iOs to Android or vice versa. “There is factors showing anticompetitive conduct, ginalized populations — with heightened no substitute for getting the Fortnite App or how it would it impact your analysis?” she attention to Black communities,” according Starbucks app on your phone other than an asked of Apple at one point. to a press release. iOS distribution path,” he said, pushing the Swanson responded, “That would make “Over the past year, we’ve been develop- notion that the more appropriate substitute me very sad.” ing a targeted grant-making strategy focused might be other app stores or sideloading. This article was originally published on three key pillars — education, criminal “Your formulation seems to ignore the by The Hollywood Reporter. justice reform, and arts and culture — in reality that customers choose an ecosystem,” order to optimize our impact and reach,” said Judge Rogers. “There has been a lot of said Paul Henderson, a fund board member evidence at the trial that in the foremarket and executive director of the San Francisco of devices, it is Apple’s business strategy to Department of Police Accountability. “This create a particular kind of ecosystem that is next set of grants is all about the intersec- incredibly attractive to its consumers. So if tion of community, culture, and commerce, those consumers choose to enter into that and we’re very proud to support organiza- ecosystem, then your economic substitute tions at the forefront of addressing racial destroys the ecosystem in which which they disparities with robust programming tied to have chose to enter.” the arts and education.” Although such comments might indicate Overtown Youth Center currently serves a judge leaning Apple’s way, she was equally more than 1,700 youth and their families with tough when taking on its attorney. programs like summer camp and college and “If the relevant market here includes career services, with the mission to dismantle developer side competition, so far there systemic barriers and strengthen communi- doesn’t seem to be anything in the market it- ties one child and one family at a time. self that is pressuring Apple,” noted Rogers. The Africa Center provides a gateway for Daniel Swanson, the Gibson Dunn at- engagement with contemporary Africa, aim- Page 17 of 30

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ing to transform the world’s understanding Week in the U.S. “For the past 14 months, in- of the continent and its diaspora. It will use Independent dependent venues and promoters have col- its grant money to help plan and produce lectively fought for their very survival and a multidisciplinary, multi-year cultural Venue Week this feels like the turning point that we’ve exhibition, “Movements in the Modern Di- all been working for. We were happy and aspora,” exploring the contributions African Pairs With proud to grow Independent Venue Week immigrants have made across art, science, last year—to even have it, under the circum- technology, politics and more. NIVA, Reveals stances. This year, we hope and believe that Finally, the Ashé Cultural Arts Center fans will return with a renewed apprecia- focuses on creating and preserving op- 200-Plus Venues tion for these uniquely important spaces.” portunities for folk art and fine art of the The venue-curated programming will be African diaspora, with 5,000 square feet of BY TAYLOR MIMS combined with the return of #IVWTalks, a gallery space. virtual conference series that discusses cur- The fund was formed last June, and in ore than 200 venues have rent live music industry issues and includes February, it announced its first six grant re- already signed on to participate Get Schooled, a full day dedicated to student cipients: Black Cultural Archives, Black Fu- in Independent Venue Week participants interested in a career in live tures Lab, Florida Rights Restoration Coali- 2021. The record number of music to take place on July 15. tion (FRRC), Howard University, REFORM Mparticipating venues come from 39 states “Independent venues are incredibly Alliance and Rhythm & Blues Foundation. across the United States and will host a series important to our musical history, and they As with the initial round of grant recipients, of shows and programming in celebration of are incredibly important to our future,” said the fund will not only make a monetary the spirit of independence from July 12-18. Alison Mosshart of The Kills who served as donation to each chosen organization, but Venues already signed on in- artist ambassador for Independent Venue will also support yet-to-be-announced new clude The 9:30 Club in D.C., First Avenue Week 2020. “So much great art is born on projects for them. in Minneapolis, Exit/In in Nashville, The those stages, 99% of the bands you love For example, the fund has already created Crocodile in Seattle and hundreds more. would not have crossed your radar had a first-of-its-kind mentorship program with This year’s Independent Venue Week will independent venues not been a vital part of Howard University, which will pair WMG also partner with the National Indepen- their journey.” executives with the university’s business dent Venue Association. NIVA’s emergence To see a full list of participating venues or school students starting this fall, and part- was sparked last year by an Independent to sign up to be part of Independent Venue nered with the FRRC to sponsor a series of Venue Week call following mass gathering Week 2021, head here. activation booths at concerts, festivals and bans due to the pandemic. other events encouraging voter registration. “Independent Venue Week brought us The fund has also chosen the Black wom- together in good times and then connected Key Launches an-owned financial and tax services firm us when we had to fight to Save Our Stages,” Richburg Enterprises for accounting and tax said board member and communications Data Tool to compliance, and is in the final stage of hiring director of NIVA Audrey Fix Schaefer in an executive director, who will manage the a release. “Without Independent Venue Help Artists vetting process of potential grantees and Week’s years of bringing awareness to the make recommendations to the Board. contributions that independent venues Understand — “We’re committed to making an impact provide in terms of creating a communal beyond just giving money, by using our space for music, connecting people, art, and And Monetize — creativity, influence, and global reach to commerce, it’s impossible to imagine how support our grantees through meaning- this industry could have survived.” Their Fans ful partnerships,” said fund board mem- Due to the pandemic, last year’s IVW ber Temi Adeniji, who is Warner Music went virtual. For 2021, the events will return BY TATIANA CIRISANO South Africa managing director and SVP of to indie venues. Venues across the country strategy, Sub-Saharan Africa. “Our DEI and are getting the go-ahead to reopen as cases hicago-based livestreaming start- philanthropy teams at WMG are actively drop and the number of vaccinated adults up Key is getting into the music engaged with our grantee partners. We’re continues to rise. data business with the launch of trying to be as thoughtful as possible in our “Getting ready for this year’s event feels its new Fan Relationship Manager approach, including in how we work with particularly meaningful,” said Cecilie C(FRM), a data management platform that partner organizations and who we select as Nielsen, director of special projects at lets artists and other celebrities capture, third-party experts to support our efforts.” Marauder, which runs Independent Venue own and monetize first-party data about Page 18 of 30

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their fans. demographics and location to brand prefer- The platform launched Friday (May 21) ences and lifestyles. They can then use that Madison Square following a testing phase with partners data to better understand fans, activate like Randy Travis, Quincy Jones, Penta- email and text message campaigns, secure Garden to tonix, Creative Artists Agency, Red Light brand partnerships and more. Management, Elite World Group and For example, “Grillz” rapper Paul Host 15k Fans MLB Players, Inc. Key is also announcing Wall collected more than 5,000 registered $3 million in funding, with a list of inves- fan emails within the first 24 hours of creat- After Cuomo tors and advisors including Amazon global ing a custom grillz giveaway on Keychain. head of media and marketer strategy Matt Over five days, he ended up collecting OKs Vaccinated Corbin and PMG Digital Agency founder/ more than 7,600 total unique emails — a CEO George Popstefanov. conversion rate of 69% — and 5,500 phone Sections “Key set out to democratize data collec- numbers, prompting him to launch a “Paul tion and activation after finding few in the Wall Wednesdays” campaign of weekly BY DAVE BROOKS space have the same resources or access to giveaways. So far, the data has helped him data as brands,” Key co-founder/CEO Evan discover that his fans are likely to drink Fuji hen the New York Knicks Wayne said in a statement. “With Key’s water and watch the television show Shark take on the Atlanta Hawks Fan Relationship Manager, talent has more Tank, among other insights. this Sunday for the first data-rich ownership and tools to better At launch, FRM will cost $250 per month round of the NBA play- understand and connect with their fans. It’s to use the tool for a single artist account, offs,W Madison Square Garden will welcome time for talent to own their audience that is according to a spokesperson. The company 15,000 fans into the arena to watch the game currently being hoarded by the social media may introduce deals for bulk company ac- live, making it the largest indoor gathering behemoths.” counts in the future, as well as a potential for New York State since the start of the The FRM aims to solve a common data revenue share setup for the brand deals Key pandemic. dilemma for today’s artists (and other celeb- helps artists secure. Earlier in the week, Gov. Andrew rities), who typically must go through plat- Wayne and co-founder Stephanie Bie- Cuomo announced that starting May 22, forms like Instagram and Spotify to retrieve gel first launched Key at the end of 2019 as a the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets data about their fans. Those platforms get to pay-per-view livestreaming company, working would have fully vaccinated fan sections, decide what and how much data to provide, with artists like Calboy and Tyla Yaweh. Key increasing the capacity of both Madison as well as what the artist is allowed to do will still power livestreams going forward, but Square Garden and Barclays Center. The with it, often charging the artist to advertise with the FRM, the company is rebranding as a Nets playoff series against the Boston Celt- against their own audiences. Complicating “fan relationship platform.” ics kicks off tomorrow. things further, data is only accessible within Key launches its FRM as user data is be- More that over 50% of each arena will be each individual source, making it difficult coming harder for marketers to reach. Google used for fully vaccinated fan sections at the for artists to get a unified understanding of announced in March that it will no longer playoff games. Individuals seated in the vac- their fanbases. allow the “cookies” relied upon by advertisers, cinated sections will have to show proof of By contrast, using the FRM, artists can which collect data on individual users’ brows- full COVID-19 immunization status, which independently pull and monetize anony- ing habits. And Apple’s iOS 14 privacy update can be provided through paper form, digital mized data about their fans. First, artists last month requires that apps ask users for application or the State’s Excelsior Pass. upload any first-party data they currently permission to track their habits. “I hope everyone in sports and entertain- have, or use Key’s new tool Keychain to The FRM isn’t alone in the music data ment is listening because the public has spo- capture it. Similar to Linktree, Keychain management space. It is joined by compa- ken – they are fine with getting vaccinated allows artists to set up link-hosting websites nies like Audigent, the data management and want to get back to the experiences they for their social media bios, where they can platform for entertainment, sports and life- love,” James Dolan, executive chairman of add links to exclusive content, sweepstakes style brands backed by music-tech invest- MSG sports and executive chairman and and more. Fans who click those links will ment firm Raised in Space, and Unitea, an chief executive of MSG Entertainment said be prompted to register — sharing names, app that lets artists monetize the data gener- in a recent statement. “This overwhelming email addresses, phone numbers and other ated by their superfans’ listening habits. response by Knicks fans – almost 90% of data in the process. whom are vaccinated – should silence any Importantly, all fan data is anonymized. doubters. It’s time to start booking events Once it is pulled into the FRM, the artist and filling up our schedules, so stay tuned. can segment fans into different categories We want to thank Governor Cuomo for this and generate insights about those fans, from leap forward; he knew we could do this – Page 19 of 30

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not just for us, but for New York.” for Tokyo and three other areas amid a Knicks president Leon Rose said the team fourth wave of coronavirus cases, which are Taylor Swift was “simply blown away by the passionate hitting Tokyo and Osaka particularly hard. support of our loyal Knicks fans this season Japan, where more than 12,100 people have to Receive – and there’s no question their excitement died from COVID-19, recorded 216 deaths this week speaks as much about New York’s on May 18, the most since early January, ac- NMPA Songwriter return as our return to the playoffs.” cording to Johns Hopkins University. The members of the new IPAJ are Avex Icon Award Entertainment Inc., Creativeman Produc- Japan’s tion Co., Hanshin Contents Link Co. (Bill- BY TATIANA CIRISANO board Japan), Hayashi International Promo- Top Concert tions Ltd., Kyodo Tokyo, Inc., Live Nation aylor Swift will receive the Song- Japan G.K., M & I Company Ltd., Promax writer Icon Award at the National Promoters Inc., Smash Co., and Udo Artists, Inc. Music Publishers’ Association’s After the 10 IPAJ promoters made an ap- (NMPA) virtual annual meet- Form Alliance peal to the Japanese government earlier this Ting on June 9, marking a year in which the year, concerts by foreign artists were finally singer-songwriter took control of her career to Bring Back included in the J-LODlive (Japan Content in more ways than ever. Localization and Distribution Live Enter- Swift recently became the first woman to International Acts tainment) grant after nearly a year of not release three new Billboard 200 No. 1 albums being eligible. in less than a year, thanks to the success BY ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO AND But while large-scale concerts and of Folklore, Evermore and Fearless (Taylor’s BILLBOARD JAPAN festivals have gradually begun to resume Version). The latter album, released in April, in the U.S. and U.K., where vaccinations is a re-recorded version of her 2008 album apan’s leading concert promoters have are progressing at a faster rate, concerts by and the first of six re-recorded albums Swift joined forces to create a new alliance international artists in Japan aren’t even plans to release as a means to regain owner- to help accelerate the reopening of live on the drawing board yet. Just over 3% of ship of her back catalog. Folklore received concerts by international artists in the Japan’s population has been vaccinated. The the Grammy Award for album of the year in Jcountry. country isbanning foreigners from most March, making her the first female artist to The new initiative, called the Interna- countries to enter Japan, including from the have won the category three times. tional Promoters Alliance Japan (IPAJ), will United States, Canada and Europe. “Taylor Swift has had an unprecedented include 10 of Japan’s leading promoters, The recent virus spike is imperiling the year of success. She gave the world incred- who are members of the All Japan Concert Tokyo Olympics yet again, which were ible songwriting when they needed it most & Live Entertainment Promoters Confer- planned for last year and are currently and she continues to rewrite the rulebook ence (ACPC). scheduled to kick off July 23. Japan is not when it comes to her career,” NMPA The IPAJ was created to establish unified granting visas for tourists to attend the president and CEO David Israelite said. guidelines for the safe resumption of events games. And organizers have yet to an- “She has always identified as a songwriter and concerts involving overseas artists, nounce the music lineups for the opening first, and in doing so inspired and elevated “based on thorough preventative measures,” and closing ceremonies. (Japanese boy countless other creators. Her advocacy has the new group says in a press release. The band Arashi was scheduled to perform at lifted the entire creative community, and initiative intends to “work closely with the the opening ceremonies in 2020.) she has done it at great cost and risk to her Japanese government and administration to Despite health experts and public opinion own career,” Israelite continued. “The risks help achieve this goal,” with the cooperation strongly calling for the games to be canceled, paid off, not just for her but for our entire of international embassies and consulates in the International Olympic Committee has industry, and there is no one more deserving Japan. continued to insist the games will take place of our Icon award.” Promoters in Japan are currently in dire as scheduled. Last week, Prime Minister Yo - The invite-only NMPA meeting, which straits due to the prolonged COVID-19 pan- shihide Suga for the first time appeared celebrates the music publishing and song- demic. Ticket sales lost because of cancella- to bow to the pressure of public opinion, writing industry, will also honor Country tions and postponements from the pandem- saying the government would “not put the Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern with ic totaled approximately $333 million (36.3 Olympics first.” But he added that ultimately, the Industry Legacy Award, while Congress- billion yen) in 2020. the IOC would make the final call. man Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), who helped Earlier this month, Japan extended shepherd the Music Modernization Act, will a state of emergency until the end of May receive the President’s Award. Page 20 of 30

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The event will also feature a keynote artist categories (entertainer and male vo- The Billboard Music Awards, which air Q&A with The Ringer founder Bill Sim- calist of the year). on Sunday night, is allowing Wallen to com- mons, who is producing an upcoming HBO In Wallen’s case, those collaborators pete, on the theory that the nominations are docu-series about the music industry, and include Joey Moi, Jacob Durrett, Char- based entirely on chart performance. Wallen performances from Luke Bryan, Sara Ba- lie Handsome, Matt Dragstrem and Dave is a finalist for six awards in five categories, reilles and Priscilla Block. Other program Cohen, the producers of his blockbuster but he won’t appear on the NBC telecast. components include a Meet the (Music) album Dangerous: The Double Album, dick clark productions, which produces Press roundtable and annual State of the and Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally, the BBMAs, released a statement on April Industry speech. co-writers (with Wallen) of the smash single 29 to explain why Wallen is a BBMA finalist, “Millions of people read his columns and “7 Summers.” and also why he won’t appear on the show listen to his podcasts because Bill Simmons is Wallen’s representative had no comment this year. an amazing storyteller. We are greatly look- on the CMA’s decision. “Unique among awards shows, Bill- ing forward to hearing about his upcoming Wallen is the CMA’s reigning new artist of board Music Awards (BBMA) finalists are series and the new media landscape from his the year. He won in that category at the 54th determined by performance on the Bill- perspective,” Israelite added. “[Trahern] is annual CMA Awards on Nov. 11. On Feb. 2, board charts, and are not chosen by a voting a true supporter of country music, and she TMZ released a video recorded two days committee or membership organization. has made it bigger and better. And of all the earlier in which Morgan used the N-word, ... Morgan Wallen is a finalist this year based competing priorities in Congress, Chairman an action that has thrown his high-flying on charting. As his recent conduct does not Nadler has never let songwriters down. We career into chaos. align with our core values, we will not be are honored to thank him for his dedication Wallen’s sophomore album, Dangerous: including him on the show in any capac- to creators and his commitment to creating a The Double Album, headed the all-genre Bill- ity (performing, presenting, accepting). It better economy for making music.” board 200 chart for 10 consecutive weeks. It is heartening and encouraging to hear that The NMPA held the first virtual version of is currently in its 15th week at No. 1 on Top Morgan is taking steps in his anti-racist its annual meeting last June, where it hon- Country Albums. At the same time, many journey and starting to do some meaning- ored Garth Brooks with the Songwriter Icon radio chains have stopped playing his music, ful work. We plan to evaluate his progress Award. Past recipients include Billy Joel, Ali- and his own record label has suspended his and will consider his participation in future cia Keys, Ryan Tedder, Jon Bon Jovi, Pharrell, contract. shows.” Steven Tyler, Diane Warren and Sting. Awards shows have struggled with how to The CMA also announced its 2021 ballot deal with the situation. schedule on Friday (May 21). On Feb. 3, the Academy of Country Music The 55th annual CMA Awards will take Is Morgan Wallen announced that Wallen would be ineligible place in November in Nashville. The three- for the 56th annual ACM Awards, which hour ceremony will broadcast live on ABC. Eligible for 2021 were presented on April 18. It also barred The eligibility period for this year’s him from appearing on the ACM Awards for awards is July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. All CMA Awards? one year. “The Academy does not condone voting will be conducted online. All ballot- or support intolerance or behavior that ing is officiated by the professional services Here’s What the doesn’t align with our commitment and firm Deloitte. dedication to diversity and inclusion,” the The nomination ballot and instructions CMA Decided ACM said in a statement. will be Tuesday, July 6, to CMA members in Wallen was likely to receive several major good standing who are eligible to vote. Vot- BY PAUL GREIN nominations at the ACM Awards, includ- ing closes Thursday, July 15, at 4 p.m. CT. ing male artist of the year, single of the year The second ballot will be emailed to CMA he Country Music Association’s and song of the year. Dangerous: The Double members on Monday, Aug. 2. Voting closes board of directors has announced Album would not have been eligible: It was Thursday, Aug. 12, at 6 p.m. CT. a nuanced approach to a sensitive released on Jan. 8, too late to meet the ACM The final nominees in each of the 12 cat- issue: Morgan Wallen’s eligibility Awards’ Dec. 31 eligibility cutoff. egories will be announced in late summer. Tfor the 55th annual CMA Awards. Soon after the ACM announced its ruling, The third and final ballot will be emailed Wallen will be eligible in categories that the CMA Awards announced that it was to CMA members on Friday, Oct. 1. Voting honor artistic works (single, song, album, removing Wallen’s digital content from its closes Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. CT. musical event, and music video of the year), platforms. “We support our Country Music To vote in all three rounds of the 55th “so as not to limit opportunity for other partners for taking swift action,” the CMA annual CMA Awards, prospective CMA credited collaborators,” in the words of the said, adding that it would consider addi- members must apply for membership by CMA. But he won’t be eligible in individual tional measures. Tuesday, June 1. Visit CMAworld.com/ Page 21 of 30

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membership to learn more. Assistance in preparing this story provided “This will be an extraordinary night Eligible CMA members may now submit by Melinda Newman. celebrating Illenium’s remarkable music applications for the 2021 CMA Broadcast and Las Vegas’ return to full volume,” said Awards for broadcast personality, station Life Is Beautiful partner Justin Weniger in and national broadcast personality of the Illenium Will a release. “This spectacular production will year online at broadcast.CMAawards.com. announce to the world that the Entertain- CMA Broadcast Awards are presented for Perform the ment Capital of the World is back.” personality and station of the year in four Tickets for Illenium’s Trilogy perfor- categories that are determined by market First-Ever Concert mance start at $59.50 and go on sale Thurs- size (major, large, medium and small) as day at 10 a.m. PT. well as CMA national broadcast personality at Las Vegas’ of the year, which, for the first time, will be awarded for a daily and weekly broadcast Allegiant Stadium Here Are the personality. To submit an entry, CMA member radio BY TAYLOR MIMS Winners of Latin stations and broadcast personalities in the U.S. and Canada can log on to broadcast. llenium is breaking new ground. The Categories at the CMAawards.com, where guidelines and EDM star is set to perform the first- instructions for entries are posted. The site ever show at Allegiant Stadium in Las 2021 Billboard will continue to accept submissions until Vegas on July 3. Wednesday, June 30, at 5 p.m. CT. IThe DJ will perform Trilogy, a three-set Music Awards CMA Broadcast Awards winners will be concert commemorating his previous three notified in early October and recognized albums: Ashes, Awake and Ascend. The show BY GRISELDA FLORES at the 55th annual CMA Awards. For more will arrive days before his fourth album Fall- information about CMA Broadcast Awards en Embers, due out July 16. s one of only nine artists with entries, contact Brenden Oliver, CMA senior “The Trilogy idea for me has always been seven or more Billboard Music manager, awards & strategic initiatives, the celebration of the end of this chap- Awards this year, Bad Bun- at [email protected]. ter,” Illenium said in a release. “My plans ny won big at the 2021 BBMAs Founded in 1958, the Country Music were to take it on tour last year but the onA Sunday (May 23) where he collected Association bills itself as the first trade pandemic wouldn’t allow it. So we’re going top Latin artist, top Latin male artist, top organization formed to promote a genre to do it in one huge show, three sets, and it Latin Song (“Dákiti”) and top Latin album of music. The first (non-televised) CMA will be the biggest show I’ve ever done. I’m (YHLQMDLG). Awards banquet and show, hosted by Bob- beyond excited to be able to do this in Las Bunny, who performed “Te Deseo Lo bie Gentry and Sonny James, was held in Vegas. It will be insane.” Mejor” after accepting his top Latin artist 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards Allegiant Stadium is home to the NFL’s award, presented by Lena Waithe, holds the was broadcast for the first time— mak- Raiders and the University of Nevada, Las record for the most top 40 hits on Billboard’s ing it the longest-running annual music Vegas football team. The stadium is fully en- Hot Latin Songs chart with 104. He also awards program on network television. The closed and climate-controlled with a capac- holds the record for the most hits in total on Grammy Awards became a live broadcast in ity of up to 65,000. Illenium at Allegiant is that chart: 111. The Puerto Rican superstar’s 1971. The ACM Awards were first televised being produced by AEG Presents, Life Is chart-topping YHLQMDLG won him his in 1972. Beautiful, Another Planet Entertainment first Grammy on March 14, when it was Cowboy film royalty Roy Rogers and and ASM Global. named best Latin pop or urban album. Dale Evans hosted the first televised show, “If there was ever a venue and a city In the top Latin artist category at the which aired on NBC. The show moved to perfectly matched for this one-night-only BBMAs, Bunny was up against Anuel AA, CBS in 1972 and to ABC in 2006. performance by this incredible artist, it’s J Balvin, Maluma and Ozuna. “I share this ABC is also the network home of CMA’s Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas,” said AEG [award] with all of my colleagues nominated other two television properties: CMA Presents svp Bobby Reynolds. “This will be who are doing big things for the genre,” he Fest and CMA Country Christmas. a performance for the ages.” said in Spanish during his speech. The ACM Awards and the Billboard Music Garth Brooks was originally slated to play El Conejo Malo wasn’t the only one Awards, referenced in this story, are both the stadium’s first concert on Aug. 22, 2020, representing Latin music at the BBMAs. produced by dick clark productions, which is but has been forced to postpone twice due Colombian hitmaker Karol G also took owned by MRC. MRC and Penske Media are to the pandemic. Brooks is now set to per- center stage performing “Bichota” and “El co-parent companies of Billboard. form on July 10 — one week after Illenium. Makinon” after being announced winner of Page 22 of 30

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the top Latin female artist award, beating in the lead up to the full project. out Becky G and Rosalía. CircoLoco Rockstar Games, the maker of myriad Karol G, whose most recent al- games including the revered Grand Theft bum KG0516 debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Partners With Auto, is a longtime advocate of under- Top Latin Albums, becoming her first No. 1 ground dance music, with artists includ- on that chart, has amassed 25 hits on Bill- Rockstar Games ing The Blessed Madonna, Moodymann board’s Hot Latin Songs chart, including and more making appearances in various three No. 1s. She has had 10 No. 1s on Bill- For New Dance versions of GTA. This same game has also board’s Latin Airplay chart. featured in-game radio stations hosted by She performed a medley of her hits Label Featuring artists and creators including Frank Ocean “Bichota” and “El Makinon,” both from and Karl Lagerfeld. her latest album KG0516. She also flaunted an Elite Group of “Music is fundamental to Rockstar her “next level” dance moves that she Games – it’s part of everything we do,” rehearsed “very hard” for, as she told Bill- Artists Rockstar Games Founder, Sam Houser is board’s Leila Cobo. quoted in a press release. “Partnering with “I’m happy and I’m nervous,” she BY KATIE BAIN our friends at CircoLoco is part of our on- said ahead of her big night. “A lot of power... going efforts to find new ways to bring the with this performance, I want to express ircoLoco” is essentially very best underground music to the widest that I feel like a woman and a business girl. a hallowed term in the audience possible.” I feel so happy and grateful for everything world of dance music, with that’s happening in my career and my life, the Monday night party and to have the opportunity to inspire girls “Cbirthed out of Ibiza’s techno mecca DC-10 Billboard all over the world.” gaining influence and prestige during its Finally, representing the regional Mexican more than 20 year run. Music Awards realm, Eslabon Armado took home the top But now, you don’t have to actually go Latin duo/group award. The teenage trio to CircoLoco in order to actually hear the Reveals Change was up against Banda MS de Sergio Lizár- sounds of CircoLoco. (Which is especially raga and Los Dos Carnales in that category. useful as the club is currently still closed Maker NFT Known for their sierreño ballads, Esla- due to COVID-19.) bon Armado – comprised of brothers CircoLoco and Rockstars Games an- BY DENISE WARNER Pedro (lead vocalist) and Brian Tovar (bass nounced a collaborative label, CircoLoco and bajoloche), along with friend Gabriel Records, on Monday (May 24). The im- onight (May 24), Trae tha Truth Hidalgo (harmony and background vocals) print’s first release will be a compilation al- will receive the Change Maker – scored three consecutive chart-topping bum, due July 9, featuring new tracks by the award at the 2021 Billboard Mu- albums in 2020: Tu Veneno Mortal, Vibras de who’s who of the dance world underground, sic Awards. Noche and Corta Venas. including longstanding DC-10 resident Seth TTo honor the occasion, the Billboard Mu- “Always grateful to God, our parents, our Troxler, Moodymann, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Da- sic Awards partnered with the rapper and label and our fans,” Eslabon Armado posted mian Lazarus, DJ Tennis, Red Axes, Jamie The Most Famous Artist to create the first on their social media after they won the Jones, Bedouin and more. ever award show NFT. award. “This award is for all of you.” “CircoLoco has always been about the Proceeds from the sale will ben- The Billboard Music Awards are pro- passion for finding the best music, support- efit Trae’s Angel by Nature non-profit, a duced by dick clark productions, which is ing artists and bringing them to the people Houston-based organization that “suppl[ies] owned by MRC. MRC and Penske Media are in the purest way possible,” CircoLoco the Houston community with relief efforts co-parent companies of Billboard. Founder Antonio Carbonaro says in a state- ranging from living conditions, education, to ment. “CircoLoco Records is a natural next personal health and motivation.” step for us, giving us a chance to bring the The NFTs are available to purchase here, music we love to people everywhere.” with three tiers of options — open edition, CircoLoco Records’ first release — Trox- limited edition and one-of-one edition. ler’s hypnotic “Lumartes (Extended)” — is “I don’t look to take the title of an activ- out now. Listen to the track below. Follow- ist. I just look to be Trae. That’s just me,” ing this release will be the Monday Dreamin’ he told Billboard in an interview about Blue EP, which will drop June 4 and be the Change Maker award. “I’m the type of followed by another EP coming every week person that don’t stop. I can go for years at Page 23 of 30

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a time nonstop. And a lot of people feel like formula incorporating official-only streams the May 14-20 tracking week. it can wear me down and take me out. But I on both subscription and ad-supported Justin Bieber’s “Peaches,” featuring feel like I’m built for it, because I’m so used tiers of audio and video music services, as Daniel Caesar and Giveon, holds at No. 2 on to it. So when everybody else is tapped out well as download sales, the latter of which the Global Excl. U.S. chart, after five weeks or stressed, it’s normal to me because I have reflect purchases from full-service digital at No. 1; Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” featuring become that rock. I just don’t know how to music retailers from around the world, with DaBaby, rebounds to its No. 3 high from No. tap out. And maybe that’s why it shocks a lot sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites 4; and The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s of people because they look, like, ‘Hey, you excluded from the charts’ calculations. “Save Your Tears” retreats 3-4, after reach- was just here today. Now you somewhere ‘Good 4’ Her: Rodrigo Launches Atop ing No. 2. else tomorrow.’ It’s not in me to stop. I just Global 200 Closing out the Global Excl. U.S. top five, do what I do.” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” soars in atop Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” starts at No. 5 See the NFTs below: the Billboard Global 200 with 88.5 million with 46.1 million streams and 4,000 sold The Billboard Music Awards are pro- streams, the week’s top total, and 16,000 outside the U.S. She earns her second top 10 duced by dick clark productions, which is sold worldwide in the May 14-20 tracking on the tally, after “Drivers License” led for owned by MRC. MRC and Penske Media are week, following its May 14 release. nine weeks. co-parent companies of Billboard. Rodrigo achieves her second Global 200 The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard No. 1, after “Drivers License” dominated Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated May 29) will for eight weeks beginning in January. She update on Billboard.com tomorrow (May Olivia Rodrigo’s has also hit the top 10 with “Deja Vu” (No. 25). For both charts, the top 100 titles are 8 debut and peak in April), with all three available to all readers on Billboard.com, ‘Good 4 U’ & Lil songs from her debut album Sour, released while the complete 200-title rankings are Friday (May 21). visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s sub- Nas X’s ‘Montero’ Rodrigo is the first woman with two scription-based service. For all chart news, Global 200 No. 1s over the chart’s first eight you can follow @billboard and @billboard- Rule Billboard months, and joins BTS, with three, as the charts on both Twitter and Instagram. only acts overall with multiple leaders. Global Charts Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” featuring DaBaby, hits a new No. 2 Global 200 high, up from Here’s Why K-Pop BY GARY TRUST No. 3, and Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More,” fea- turing SZA, likewise lifts to a new best rank Probably Won’t livia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” blasts (5-3). in at No. 1 on the Billboard J. Cole debuts three songs in the Global Have Its Own Global 200 chart, marking 200’s top 10: “my.life,” with 21 Savage and her second leader on the list, Morray, at No. 4 (56.1 million streams, 3,500 Grammy Category Oafter “Drivers License” reigned for eight sold worldwide); “amari” at No. 8 (53.2 mil- weeks beginning in January. lion streams, 1,400 sold); and “pride.is.the. Anytime Soon Meanwhile, Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call devil,” with Lil Baby, at No. 9 (48.2 million Me by Your Name)” notches its sixth week streams, 2,800 sold). The songs follow J. BY HANNAH LEE at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. Cole’s “Interlude,” which opened at No. 8 U.S. survey. on the Global 200 a week earlier, with all he past two years have been Plus, J. Cole debuts three songs in the four tracks from his new Billboard 200 No. filled with milestones for K-pop Global 200’s top 10, led by “my.life,” with 21 1 album The Off-Season; they also mark his recognition in the U.S. In April Savage and Morray, at No. 4. first four Global 200 top 10s. 2019, BlackPink became the first Billboard’s two global charts (the latest Rounding out the Global 200’s top five, Lil Tall-female K-pop group to perform at the of which are dated May 29) began last Sep- Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” Coachella music festival. In November 2020, tember and rank songs based on streaming falls to No. 5, after five weeks at No. 1. three of the five nominees for favorite social and sales activity culled from more than 200 ‘Montero’ Logs Fourth Week at No. 1 artist at the American Music Awards were territories around the world, as compiled by Outside U.S. K-pop groups (BTS, Exo and NCT 127). MRC Data. The Billboard Global 200 is in- Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me by Your That same month, BTS received their first clusive of worldwide data and the Billboard Name)” adds its fourth week at No. 1 on the Grammy nomination in the best pop duo/ Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 54.5 group performance category for “Dyna- territories excluding the U.S. million streams (down 6%) and 2,400 sold mite,” their first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Chart rankings are based on a weighted (down 4%) in territories outside the U.S. in Hot 100. And just last night, BTS won four Page 24 of 30

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awards at the Billboard Music Awards, a proposal to have a strong chance of being Chayce Beckham from Apple Valley, Calif. as including top duo/group for the second time added. This past year’s 14 K-pop submis- the 19th “American Idol”. in three years and top social artist for the sions fell far short of that mark. After the show ended with Beckham fifth year in a row. When asking K-pop fans about their opin- performing his debut single, “23,” the new With BTS’ first Grammy nomination this ion on adding a K-pop award category, they winner told Billboard how his journey past year, many fans of the group (and of K- were enthusiastic about the idea. on Idol has changed him. “I used to react pop in general) wonder whether a separate “The [BTS] Grammy nomination, alone, to everything,” said the 24-year-old who K-pop category in the Grammy Awards is is such a milestone for K-pop artists and had talked frankly about his newly sober plausible. fans,” expressed Catherine Jiga, a BTS fan. life during the season. “I used to freak out The Grammys add categories from time “For the Grammys to have its own category whenever anything would go wrong because to time. In fact, on April 30, the Recording for K-pop would be an amazing opportunity I had to be in control. Academy announced that it will add two for Asian artists, in general, to make it into “This shows me that is not the way to new categories for the 64th annual Grammy mainstream domestically.” process my life and you’ve got to roll with Awards: best global music performance and “I think it’s a great idea,” voiced Devin the punches. Life has given me lemons many best música urbana album. This will bring Flanagan, a fan of BlackPink. “It would times along this road and I smiled right the number of Grammy categories to 86. allow recognition — not just for the super- back and made lemonade. I’m very grateful “The way I see it, modern K-pop really groups, but for the lesser-known artists. for the things I’ve gone through because started in the ‘90s,” says Bill Freimuth, chief I think for old K-pop fans, it would bring that shaped me for this experience and this awards officer at the Recording Academy. a sense of pride as it would bring formal journey made me a better man.” “They took what was popular during that recognition that a lot of K-pop artists are not Beckham is the 12th male winner era [such as R&B and bubblegum pop] and seeing right now. I think it would also cre- of American Idol, following in the footsteps made it their own.” ate new fans due to the exposure it would of Ruben Studdard (season 2), Taylor Hicks This past year, the Academy received just create. I just hope they won’t put it as a pre- (season 5), David Cook (season 7), Kris 14 K-pop submissions, which constituted less show award!” Allen (season 8), Lee DeWyze (season 9), than 1.5% of the submissions in the pop field. “[What I can say is that] we’d love to see Scotty McCreery (season 10), Phillip Phillips “What we’ve heard from the community more,” says Freimuth. “We appreciate that (season 11), Caleb Johnson (season 13), Nick is that they consider what they are creat- the Grammys are so important to them.” Fradiani (season 14), Trent Harmon (season ing to be pop music,” says Freimuth. “Some While the Recording Academy values and 15) and Laine Hardy (season 17). argue that it’s pop music from Korea.” honors K-pop artists, it appears that there’s There have been seven female winners to Korean music is vast and diverse, and not enough demand for its own category date, starting with Kelly Clarkson (season 1) there doesn’t seem to be a noticeable fac- quite yet. Until then, K-pop will continue to and followed by Fantasia (season 3), Carrie tor in these K-pop songs that truly defines fall under the pop field, and the most fans Underwood (season 4), Jordin Sparks (sea- Korean music. For example, although can hope for is more K-pop representa- son 6), Candice Glover (season 12), Maddie “Dynamite” is by a K-pop boy band, it is tion within the Grammys’ pop and general Poppe (season 16) and Just Sam (season 18). completely sung in English. This likely categories. This is the only the sixth season that the top played a big part in making the song a hit in two finalists have both been male contes- America. In addition, the song features pop tants, after season 2 (Studdard and Clay Ai- attributes, which justifies it being slotted in ‘American Idol’ ken), season 7 (Cook and David Archuleta), the pop field. season 8 (Allen and Adam Lambert), season “The general process [of adding a cat- Crowns 2021 14 (Fradiani and Clark Beckham) and season egory] is quite formal,” says Freimuth. Every 17 (Hardy and Alejandro Aranda). year, by a deadline of March 1, the Academy Champion After the show, Billboard also spoke to receives proposals from the music commu- judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke nity. Those proposals — which often include BY FRED BRONSON Bryan about how their fourth season on adding a category, rewording/defining a cur- the series differed from their first three. “I rent category and changing current awards nother American Idol season would say it was kooky,” Perry offered. “It processes — are presented to the awards and finale meant another night of wasn’t so much like last season where half nominations committee. If the “A&N” com- celebration, collaboration and of it was on Zoom. It was kooky but it got mittee passes a proposal, it is presented to coronation as the Sunday, May cool. We had the opportunity to have in- the board of trustees, which will discuss and 23A episode celebrated season 19; featured credible mentors like Coldplay and Finneas. ratify the proposed change or not. collaborations with established artists like I love all the contestants but Chayce is a As a general rule, the Academy looks to Chaka Khan, Lindsey Buckingham and true singer-songwriter. He wrote his song see a potential field of 100 submissions for Luke Combs and crowned forklift operator and it’s on the charts and so it makes us feel Page 25 of 30

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good that Idol is heading in a more authentic over four days in the arena by a team led by place every season.” Twenty One Pilots production manager Rodney Johnson “I totally agree,” Richie chimed in. “If I Height of projection wall with additional had to use one word, credibility. There are ‘Scaled and Icy’ street facade: 60 x 50 a lot of singing shows and a lot of danc- Total days in the Schott for set-up, re- ing shows and talent shows. When you get Livestream: hearsal and show: 13 Coldplay to launch their new record on your Cameras used on the shoot: 12 platform, artists are coming to the table By-The-Numbers Costume changes, according to stylist/ because they respect what we’re deliver- wardrobe director Laura Proepper and ing. They don’t feel like it’s a gimmick. It’s a BY GIL KAUFMAN wardrobe assistant Colleen Naughton: 68 destination for seasoned talent to hang out Number of dancers: 9 with the new kids.” wenty One Pilots spent more Rehearsal hours: 130+ Speaking with runner-up Willie Spence than seven months planning, Sessions on livestream experience page and third-place Grace Kinstler after the rehearsing and building the elabo- since April 7: 3.6 million (as of 1 p.m. on show, Billboard asked what was going rate livestream that beamed out on Thursday); that includes 3.48 million through their minds at the moment of their TFriday night (May 21). The hour-long event hours of watch time and log-ins from 202 in- elimination. showcasing most of their new album, Scaled ternational territories on one million unique “I wasn’t even really thinking,” Spence and Icy, incorporated more than half a devices, with more than half of the visits confessed. “At that point I was standing dozen Broadway-style sets arrayed on the (56%) coming from outside the U.S. there with my eyes closed wondering whose floor of their hometown Columbus, Ohio, name Ryan was going to call. I was living in arena — the Schottenstein Center — as well the moment – anxious.” Kinstler added, “I as roping in a full band to augment their Megadeth Is felt relief. I wasn’t worried because I was in usual two-man set-up, a troupe of dancers, the top three. So many people auditioned for a retro 1970s storyline and some fancy foot- ‘Officially Parting this and here I am, standing with two of the work from singer Tyler Joseph. most talented people I’ve ever met, so I was The show was a massive undertak- Ways’ With at peace with whatever way it went.” ing that included an interactive web experi- The three-hour season finale was filled ence featuring a live Q&A with the band Bassist David with returning contestants and perfor- — anchored by drummer Josh Dun — as well mances that paired them with established as a spot to upload fan art, exclusive, never- Ellefson After stars. There was also one major surprise, as before-seen footage of the duo, a 3D maze season 18 “comeback” winner Arthur Gunn filled with Joseph’s hand-written Icy lyrics Reports of Leaked made a very last-minute decision not to and dozens of other rabbit holes for The perform with Sheryl Crow. Scrambling to Skeleton Clique to go down in the weeks Graphic Videos find a replacement, Idol producers spot- leading up to the event. ted eliminated top 24 contestant Graham Check out our by-the-numbers below BY ANNA CHAN DeFranco in the audience and asked him to (figures provided by 21P management): be a last-minute duet partner with Crow on Number of production and support staff egadeth and bassist Da- “If It Makes You Happy” and “Everyday Is a involved in the production: 150 vid Ellefson are going their Winding Road.” Fortunately, DeFranco was Number of people hours from the separate ways. Frontman game and the show went on. first Zoom call in July 2020 until show- Dave Mustane explained the American Idol has been renewed for a fifth time: 50,000+ Mdecision in a statement posted to the band’s season on ABC, returning in early 2022. It Square feet of floor space taken up by the Twitter and Instagram accounts on Monday will be the show’s 20th season overall. The show’s set on the floor of the arena: almost (May 24). latest season of American Idol is available to 30,000 “We are informing our fans that David watch on Hulu. Height of “Mulberry Street” set: 40 x 40; Ellefson is no longer playing with Megadeth the facade based on the street in New York’s and that we are officially parting ways with Little Italy where the band had dinner him. We do not take this decision lightly,” the before they signed their record deal in 2012 statement begins. “While we do not know ev- was assembled in Nashville and shipped to ery detail of what occurred, with an already Columbus in 25 pieces for the brick por- strained relationship, what has already been tions and another 50 for the support struc- revealed is enough to make working together ture. It was shipped in six trucks and built impossible moving forward.” Page 26 of 30

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“We look forward to seeing our fans ute to De Angelis’ home country. The band, on the road this summer, and we cannot Rock Band which honed its musical style busking in wait to share our brand new music with Rome, won with a total of 529 points from the world,” the statement continued. “It’s Maneskin Wins second-placed France. Switzerland, which almost complete.” led after national juries had voted, finished Megadeth first issued a statement re- Eurovision Song third. garding Ellefson on May 10 after reports of United Kingdom singer James Newman’s sexually explicit videos featuring the bassist Contest for Italy song, “Embers,” failed to ignite any love at with a woman who was not his wife surfaced. all and did not score a single point, finish- “We are aware of the recent statements BY ASSOCIATED PRESS ing last, just as the U.K. did at the previous regarding David Ellefson, and are watching Eurovision two years ago. developments closely,” said the band at the four-piece band of Italian rockers U.S. rapper Flo Rida didn’t manage to time. “As it relates to creativity and busi- won the Eurovision Song Contest translate his star power into points for tiny ness, we are all familiar with one another. in the early hours of Sunday, giv- San Marino’s entry that was sung by Senhit. However, there are clearly aspects of David’s ing one of the countries hit hard- They finished with just 50 points. private life that he has kept to himself. As estA in Europe by the coronavirus pandemic For lovers of kitsch, German singer Jen- this situation unfolds, it is important that all reason to cheer. drik played a sparkling ukulele and danced voices be heard clearly and respectfully. We Maneskin’s win was only Italy’s third vic- with a woman dressed in a giant hand look forward to the truth coming to light.” tory in the immensely popular contest and costume optimistically showing the victory Ellefson also addressed the reports on his the first since Toto Cutugno took the honor sign. He finished close to last. Instagram account at the time, which he has in 1990. Lithuanian band The Roop danced in since made private. The bassist reportedly The music festival was cancelled last year bright yellow costumes in a tongue-in-cheek denied reports that he had groomed a minor, amid the pandemic but this year’s event in homage to 1980s synth pop. and called the videos “private, adult interac- Rotterdam’s Ahoy arena with its regime of Pravi’s song. “Voilà,” was a restrained tions that were taken out of context and testing and strict hygiene protocols was seen ballad that built to a swirling crescendo on manipulated to inflict maximum damage to as a step toward a post-COVID-19 return to a largely darkened stage, but there was still my reputation, my career and my family.” live entertainment. plenty of the over-the-top spectacle that has He also shared a statement he said was “We think that the whole event was a become Eurovision’s trademark. from the unnamed woman, in which she relief. We think that we were really thankful Norwegian singer Andreas Haukeland, reportedly said, “I was always a consenting ... to have had the chance to be part of this whose stage name TIX is a reference to adult. Nothing inappropriate ever happened huge event,” Maneskin lead singer Damiano growing up with Tourette syndrome, sang before that ... I’m not a victim and I have not David said. “Fallen Angel” in a pair of giant white wings been groomed in the slightest as I was the “This Eurovision means a lot, I think, while chained to four prancing devils. one to initiate it.” to the whole of Europe. It’s going to be a At the other end of the spectrum — Fin- According to the bassist’s statement, the lighthouse. So thank you, everybody. Really,” land’s hard-rocking Blind Channel played “private and personal conversations and he added. their song “Dark Side” amid bursts of interactions” were “released with ill inten- Italy, the bookmakers’ favorite, trailed pyrotechnics and Ukraine’s Go_A performed tion by a third party who was not authorized Switzerland, France and Malta after the surrounded by skeletal white trees. to share them.” national juries delivered their votes but Ahead of the show, crowds gathered In February, Megadeth announced that were propelled to victory by votes from the outside the arena in the Dutch city of Rot- they are hitting the road this summer for a viewing public. terdam. Drag queens mingled with families tour across North America with co-headlin- “The audience is the most important as a man in a gold suit waited to get into the ers Lamb of God. The tour begins June 12, thing, of course,” said bassist Victoria De venue. and ends Aug. 1. Angelis. Milo Mateo and Carlo Sossa, wearing See Megadeth’s latest statement about “So the fact that so many people vote for matching sequin-covered hats and draped Ellefson below. us, it’s the most meaningful, because that in Italian flags, came from Italy for the show means that those people are coming to our and were hoping for a Maneskin victory gigs, they are listening to our music. And since that would bring next year’s contest this has much more value than a jury” to Italy. A crowd of 3,500 fans, who all tested “If we win, it will be very, very nice, negative for the coronavirus, watched the because the next year will be in Italy. That’s finalists perform live. very good. Let’s hope. Fingers crossed,” Ma- Maneskin is Danish for moonlight, a trib- teo said as he waited to get into the arena. Page 27 of 30

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The popular Icelandic band Dadi og Gag- Sunday night’s (May 23) 2021 Billboard Mu- Get all the details on how to watch this namagnid, known for its kitsch dance moves sic Awards for a very special run through of year’s BBMAs here. and green leisurewear costumes, could not their second English-language hit, “Butter.” perform live because one member tested Like its predecessor, “Dynamite,” it came positive for the virus earlier in the week. out of the gate galloping, racking up more ‘RuPaul’s Drag Instead, viewers saw a recording of one of than 20.9 million global streams on its first the band’s dress rehearsals. day, setting a record for the biggest single Race’ Alum “The point was to go and actually expe- day of streaming in Spotify history, accord- rience how it was to compete in Eurovi- ing to the statement. Shea Coulee sion, and that’s just really not happening,” The colorful video for the song also broke lead singer Dadi Freyr said from isolation the band’s own record and set a new all-time Signs to UTA in Rotterdam. 24-hour record of 108.2 million views and Maneskin lead singer David said the vic- reached a record for the biggest music video BY MIA GALUPPO tory was a vindication of the band’s career premiere on YouTube with 3.9 million con- trajectory that started with them busking on currents. BTS had a big night at Sunday’s TA has signed Shea Couleé, Ru- the streets of Rome. BBMAs, winning all four awards they were Paul’s Drag Race alum and All- “We feel like everything we did since the up for: top selling song, top duo/group, top Stars winner. day we met and since the day we started song sales and top social artist. The agency will work with playing and playing on the streets is really See the poster below. Uthem across areas that include music and making sense and it’s worth it,” he said. touring — a tour is planned for 2022 — as well as endorsements, scripted and un- BTS’ ‘Butter’ scripted projects. BTS Are Couleé was first seen as a contestant on the Breaks Spotify ninth season of Drag Race, where they were Celebrating a finalist. They later went on to win the fifth Single-Day season of the franchise’s All-Star competition. Their Eight-Year They recently appeared in Rihanna’s Sav- Streaming Record age X Fenty Fashion Show and debuted the Anniversary & podcast Wanna Be On Top? about reality TV BY ASHLEY IASIMONE series America’s Next Top Model. Past proj- ARMY With a ects include stage show Couleé with A C at utter,” the brand-new the Laurie Beechman Theatre in New York Two-Day ‘Muster single from BTS, is off to City and Shea Coul-Alé, a beer developed in a smooth start. partnership with Goose Island Beer Co., in Sowoozoo’ With more than 20.9 which a portion of all profits were donated “Bmillion global streams, “Butter” recorded to non-profit TransTech. Livestream the largest single-day streams for a song in Couleé has released several singles includ- the streaming service’s history, a Spotify rep ing “Rewind” and “Crème Brûlée.” Their BY GIL KAUFMAN confirmed to Billboard on Sunday (May 23). recent release “Collide,” featuring Mykki Spotify, which currently reaches 356 Blanco, debuting during an episode of All TS announced the two-day million monthly active users, calculates Stars. They are currently working on new “Muster Sowoozoo” livestream first-day streams to account for multiple music, which they are producing with their event on Monday (May 24), time zones. label HausDown Records, founded in 2017. which will celebrate the K-pop In an interview with Billboard, BTS Following the release, there will be a 2022 Bsuperstars’ eighth anniversary and ARMY said “Butter,” the group’s second English- tour described as an “elaborate, immersive on June 13-14. More information about tick- language single that just dropped on Friday, experience” for which the album will act as ets for the digital party for the seven-man is a “summer anthem.” As RM explained, the soundtrack. South Korean boy band and their fans will the track is “just all the positive vibes and Couleé will continue to be managed by be released soon, according to a statement. upbeat energy.” Adèllyn Polomski and Thiron Colon, Coak- The second night of the Sowoozoo will BTS are set to give the debut television ley Public Relations, Walker Drawas and feature a “world tour” version of the show performance of “Butter” Sunday night re- Matthew W. Buser, PL. with some of the group’s foreign language motely for the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, This story was originally published on The songs. Speaking of which, BTS beamed into airing at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC. Hollywood Reporter. Page 28 of 30

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at $1M in cash. VersusGame It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to put Saweetie’s ‘Fast your music and pop culture knowledge to the Gives Fans a test. Predicting the artists walking home with (Motion)’ Is First a trophy from the Billboard Music Awards Shot at $1M has always been about bragging rights. Now Top Triller U.S. During the BBMAs those bragging rights come with cash. No. 1 Debut of 2021

BY BILLBOARD STAFF BTS’ ‘Butter’ BY KEVIN RUTHERFORD

he competition at this year’s Churns Out Two aweetie roars to her second Billboard Music Awards is fierce, No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Triller with artists from around the Impressive New U.S. chart, as “Fast (Motion)” bows globe competing for the coveted atop the tally dated May 22. Tgolden mic. Predicting what artists will YouTube Records SThe Top Triller U.S. and Top Triller take home marquee awards like Top New Global charts highlight the biggest songs Artist and Top Group takes a combination BY GIL KAUFMAN on Triller based on a formula blending the of skill, knowledge, and a little bit of luck, amount of views of videos containing a three ingredients that can win you bragging he premiere of the video for BTS’ respective songs, the level of engagement rights as the ultimate arbiter of the music “Butter” has shattered a number with those videos and the raw total of videos scene. VersusGame wants to reward you of records at YouTube in its first uploaded featuring each song, according to with something even better if you can guess weekend. According to data pro- Triller. Data for the charts is represented on the winners on May 23rd: Money. Tvided by YouTube, the “Butter” video set a a Friday-Thursday tracking week, with the VersusGame is a mobile gaming app that new all-time 24-hour record of 108.2 million latest period running May 7-13. rewards you for your knowledge of every- views, which, of course, breaks the band’s Saweetie last ruled Top Triller U.S. with thing from pop culture to sports to entertain- own previous record of 101.1 million views for the three-week No. 1 “Tap In” in summer ment and food. Playing is simple: You down- their first English-language hit, “Dynamite.” 2020. She becomes just the fourth artist load the app to your phone, buy some In addition to holding the No. 1 and No. with more than one Top Triller U.S. rulers credits, find a game, and start predicting to 2 all-time top 24-hour music video debut since the chart’s inception in 2020; Car- win. There are categories to fit anyone’s inter- spots, the group also beat another one of di B and Young Thug also have two, est, from guessing who a celebrity’s favorite their records, with the biggest YouTube while Megan Thee Stallion boasts three. rapper is to guessing when a surprise album music video premiere after “Butter” racked “Fast (Motion)” is the first song to debut will drop. Calling something correctly will net up more than 3.9 million peak concurrents. at No. 1 on Top Triller U.S. since Liam you VersusGame coins that you can cash out “Dynamite” set the record last August with Payne and Dixie D’Amelio’s “Naughty List” for real money. The mobile gaming company more than three million peak concurrents. in November 2020. has already given away $16M to players over BTS also had a big night at Sunday’s Bill- According to Triller, the top upload fea- the last two years, and are giving one lucky board Music Awards, winning all four turing “Fast (Motion)” came from Saweetie fan $1M during the Billboard Music Awards awards they were up for: top selling song, herself, a May 7 video that has 611,000 views on May 23rd. top duo/group, top song sales and top social to date. To do that, VersusGame is partnering artist. They also delivered the debut perfor- Concurrently, “Fast (Motion)” is bubbling with influencers and artists like Cameron mance of “Butter” for the event, which was under the Billboard Hot 100 dated May 22 Dallas, Josh Richards, Taylor Caniff, Jack performed remotely from South Korea. and starts at No. 35 on Rhythmic Airplay. J (JVCK), and Ktlyn. Each of them will On Monday morning (May 24), BTS an- be posting their own game for fans in the nounced their two-day “Muster Sowoozoo” days leading up to the BMAs, and include livestream event, which will celebrate the questions like “Who will be the Top Male K-pop superstars’ eighth anniversary and Artist?” and “Who will be the Top Rap Art- ARMY on June 13-14. More information ist?” On Sunday morning, Josh Richards will about tickets for the digital party for the randomly pick three finalists from the pool seven-man South Korean boy band and of VersusGame players who will be given their fans will be released soon, according a set of 10 award predictions. Guess all of to a statement. them right, and one winner will have a shot Watch “Butter” below. Page 29 of 30

IN BRIEF

Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” (Geffen). Nodal’s 12th win arrives less than a month Paul Weller Rodrigo misses out on top spot, but her lat- after he last captured a No. 1: “Duele,” his est track is the week’s highest charting new collaborative effort with Alejandro Fernán- Scores Sixth Solo release. “Good 4 U” appears on Rodrigo’s dez, reigned for one week on the chart dated new album Sour, which dropped Friday and April 24. Here’s a look at the updated board U.K. No. 1 features the No. 1 hit “Drivers License.” of soloist winners on Regional Mexican Airplay: With ‘Fat Pop’ 12, Nodal Los Pebles del 10, Gerardo Ortiz BY LARS BRANDLE 7, Marco Antonio Solis Rancho del Ariel 7, Vicente Fernández he Modfather has clinched an- 4, Alejandro Fernández other U.K. chart title. Camacho & 4, Joan Sebastian Paul Weller earns a sixth solo Among all acts, Calibre 50 continues to No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Christian Nodal rule with 19 No. 1s. TChart with Fat Pop (Polydor), which bows Elsewhere in the radio landscape, “2 at the top spot with 26,005 chart sales, the Team Up Atop Veces” shoots up Latin Airplay with a 17-8 OCC reports. climb. It’s Nodal’s 12th top 10 and seventh Of that first week sum, physical copies ac- Regional Mexican consecutive. Los Plebes secure their second. counted for more than 90%. Beyond the radio wins, “2 Veces” sees With his latest feat, Weller extends his Airplay Chart progress on the all-metric Hot Latin streak of leaders across five decades, start- Songs chart, a blend of airplay, digital sales ing with his first No. 1 in 1982 with The BY PAMELA BUSTIOS and streaming data, as the song soars 10 Jam’s The Gift. Weller now joins the likes of rankings (39-29). Pink Floyd, Blur, Phil Collins and The Kill- os Plebes del Rancho de Ariel ers with six No. 1s. Camacho and Christian Nod- Also enjoying a fast start is J. Cole’s The al unite atop the Regional Mexi- Olivia Rodrigo Off-Season (Interscope), new at No. 2. can Airplay chart, as “2 Veces” The Off-Season clocks up the most album Llifts 5-1 on the May 22-dated survey. Their Heading For streams in a single week of 2021, and gives second collaboration earns Los Plebes del the U.S. rapper his third Top 10 album in Rancho their second No. 1. Nodal extends U.K. Chart Crown the U.K., equaling the peak of his previous his No. 1 record as a solo act with 12 leaders. album, 2018’s KOD. Three tracks from The “2 Veces” pushes up the chart with 6.7 With ‘Good 4 U’ Off-Season this week enter the Top 20 on million in audience impressions, up 44%, the national singles chart. earned in the week ending May 16, accord- BY LARS BRANDLE Meanwhile, Rag’n’Bone Man’s Life ing to MRC Data. That’s a 2 million gain By Misadventure (Columbia) dips 1-3 on from the previous week. livia Rodrigo is on track for a the albums survey, while alternative pop “2 Veces” is a fusion of mariacheño and si- second U.K. No. 1 as “Good 4 U” hero St Vincent starts at No. 4 with Daddy’s erreño banda genres, the latter a subgenre takes pole position in the chart Home (Loma Vista), for her highest-peaking of regional Mexican music with mainly race. LP in the U.K. stringed instruments. It was written by Nod- O“Good 4 U” leads the First Look chart, The Top 5 is rounded out by the Black al, Edgar Barrera and Horacio Palencia and which ranks singles based on sales and Keys’ Delta Kream (Nonesuch). It’s new is the first single from their joint upcoming streaming activity after the first 48 hours. at No. 5, for the blues-rockers’ fourth U.K. album — a tribute to the late Ariel Camacho The teenage Californian singer, songwrit- Top 10. — a 10-track set with reworks from Cama- er and actress saw her new track open at No. Over on the Official U.K. Singles cho’s early recordings alongside his band 2 on the chart proper last Friday (May 21), Chart, Tion Wayne & Russ Millions’ Los Plebes del Rancho. for the week’s highest debut. “Body” (Atlantic) enters a third week at No. The song’s coronation gives Los Plebes It’s now set to replace Tion Wayne & Russ 1. “Body” is showing no signs of slowing. their second Regional Mexican Airplay Millions’ “Body” at the summit. “Body,” It racks up 71,000 chart sales in the most No. 1. They first visited the summit with which logged three weeks at No. 1 and is the recent seven-day span, including 10.4 mil- “Te Metiste,” the two-week champ, which first drill leader in the U.K., dips to No. 3. lion streams, finishing almost 15,000 chart landed atop the tally almost six months after “Good 4 U” is one of three tracks from sales ahead of the No. 2-ranked track, Olivia Camacho’s death (August 2015). Rodrigo’s newly-released debut album, Sour, Page 30 of 30

IN BRIEF

that impact the chart blast after the week- single “Mou sukoshi dake” (“A little bit end. Previous single “Déjà Vu” is currently more”) launches at No. 4 on the Japan Hot at No. 5 and “Brutal” is at No. 10. 100 with 45,931 first-week downloads (No. Sour also features Rodrigo’s global hit 1). The song currently being featured as this “Drivers License,” which locked-in top spot year’s theme of the morning show Meza- for nine weeks earlier this year and is the mashi TV also racked up 7,022,437 streams biggest single of 2021, the OCC reports. The to come in at No. 4 for the metric, while also rising star performed the song May 11 at the starting off at No. 6 for radio airplay, No. 18 Brit Awards in London. for video views, and No. 42 for Twitter. Like Meanwhile, K-pop superstars BTS is set their previous hits “Kaibutsu” and “Yoru ni for the U.K.’s top debut with “Butter,” which kakeru,” the pair’s ninth digital single still opens at No. 2 on the First Look survey. BTS has room for growth in the video metric, is in winning form. “Butter” creamed the and it looks like they’ve added another title 24-hour streaming records on YouTube and to their stash of long-running hits in the up- Spotify following its release last Friday, and per ranks of the Japan Hot 100. the septet won four categories Sunday (May The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines 23) at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. physical and digital sales, audio streams, The Official U.K. Singles Chart is pub- radio airplay, Twitter mentions, YouTube lished late Friday, local time. and GYAO! video views, Gracenote look-ups and karaoke data. Check out the full Billboard Japan Hot Hey! Say! JUMP 100 chart, dated May 10 to 16, here. Debuts at No. 1, HKT48 at No. 2 on Japan Hot 100

BY BILLBOARD JAPAN

ey! Say! JUMP’s “Negative Fighter” rules as three songs debut in the top 10 on this week’s Billboard Japan Hot H100, dated May 10 to 16. The eight-member boy band’s 29th single debuts at No. 1 with 215,704 CDs sold in its first week, leading physical sales, look-ups, and Twitter men- tions. The Johnny’s group’s previous single, “Your Song,” sold about the same number of copies in its first week (215,442), demon- strating the strength of its solid fanbase. Bowing at No. 2 is HKT48’s “Kimi to dokoka e ikitai” (“I want to go somewhere with you”), the girl group’s 14th single. Sell- ing 193,066 copies in its first week — about 20,000 more than the previous single, “3-2” (172,981) — the song comes in at No. 2 for sales, which mainly powered the song to its debut position. The track also comes in at No. 20 for look-ups and No. 89 for Twitter. Breakout duo YOASOBI’s new digital