Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE MARCH 24, 2020 Page 1 of 22

INSIDE Coronavirus Concert Cancellations

• BMG Revenues Expose Vulnerability of Touring Grow 10% as Owner Bertelsmann Says It’s Industry’s Gig Economy ‘Well Prepared’ to Survive Coronavirus BY ANDREA DOMANICK Crisis

• Spotify, Tidal, On March 13, Ta-Da! Catering owner Shelleylyn “It’s hard for us because of all the people that Pandora & More Brandler was out shopping in preparation for The depend on it — they work for us year after year, look Streaming Services Strokes’ highly-anticipated show the following night forward to and count on it,” Brandler tells Billboard of Donate to MusiCares’ COVID-19 Fund at the Forum in Inglewood, California. As the go-to the stacked spring-to-fall touring season at the heart backstage caterer for major venues, tours and festivals of her business. She has offered to help support her 50 • UTA Implements across the country, Brandler was concerned by the full-time and on-call staff members from her personal Pay Cuts Amid postponement of their gigs with Coachella and Stage- savings, but fears it won’t be enough. “The heart- Coronavirus coach earlier that week, but still had a robust slate break for me is the guys who stay with us all year and Pandemic, Leadership to Forgo of jobs scheduled to serve crews at The Forum, The count on the work to feed their families. They make 2020 Salaries Greek, Staples Center, Dodger Stadium and more in good money and work hard because rock and roll is the packed touring season ahead. Then the calls came consistent. But the work’s just not there right now. It’s • Tokyo Olympics flooding in. vanished. Stopped.” Postponed Due to Coronavirus “That’s when everything started really tanking and Behind every headlining act is a delicate ecosystem Outbreak shutting down,” Brandler tells Billboard. “Within 48 of freelance tour managers, front-of-house direc- hours, our calendar was wiped out.” tors, equipment techs, lighting designers, bus drivers, • Indie Country While artists and fans continue to findcreative cooks, photographers and more supporting the multi- Artists Make the to widespread tour and festival billion dollar global live music industry. Because of Best Of An Uncertain digital workarounds Coronavirus cancellations caused by the spreading coronavirus, the gig-based nature of their work, most operate with Shutdown the thousands of workers operating behind the scenes little, if any, employment protections, depending on of the live music industry — from construction and the increasingly busy spring and summer touring production to artist crews and hospitality — are left season that supports them year-to-year. But with live without recourse. (continued) Gotta Have It_07_032820.indd 1 3/23/20 11:45 AM Page 3 of 22

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events canceled or postponed for the fore- for a canceled event largely depends on the and restrictions for bailed out businesses. It seeable future, much of this workforce now artist they’re working for. While large head- remains unclear how far the new package faces months of uncertainty and financial lining acts may have insurance or contrac- will go to protect independent contractors hardship after losing work they depended tual clauses in place that could help provide and self-employed workers specifically. on in the wake of the industry’s winter off- partial compensation, the majority of artists The $100 billion coronavirus aid bill season. typically have verbal or emailed agreements signed into law March 18 may offer some “How am I gonna pay rent? I don’t have a with their crews, and must make a choice relief for gig workers. Those who are self- lot to fall back on,” says Austin Taylor, who to pay them out of pocket if work is nixed. employed are eligible for a tax credit in the runs merch for Los Angeles rock band Pa- For mid-sized or independent acts who rely amount of up to two weeks of paid sick leave laye Royale, which was suddenly forced to on tours and merch for income, many are at their average pay, or up to 12 weeks of cancel summer European and U.S. tours. As simply unable to pay their touring players paid family leave at 67% of their normal pay. the band spent the past six months record- and crew for work lost. The law offers a broad definition of “self- ing a new album, Taylor supported himself “When you have something canceled this employed on a regular basis”: If net earnings with savings and by running the group’s close to the tour dates, it really does affect from self-employment have totaled at least online merch shop. But he was counting you more because you block out that time $400 in at least two of the last three con- on the $7,000 he anticipated making on the for the work — a lot of us don’t have a Plan secutive taxable years, a worker falls within tours ahead to replenish his bank account B at that point,” says touring and session this category. and stay afloat. Though Taylor will continue guitarist Emily Rosenfield. “Stay-in-place is Just how much this may benefit gig work- to helm the band’s online shop, he expects the right move, but having to delete $12,000 ers in the live industry remains unclear, as sales won’t be enough to sustain him as the from my accounting spreadsheet — the many have had significantly more than two economy worsens and the general public next two-plus months of work — was pretty weeks of work canceled and pay can vary curbs spending in the face of the pandemic. crushing. from job to job. Further complicating mat- “I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to keep “We’re pretty much independent contrac- ters has been California’s AB5 freelancing my place,” Taylor says, noting his only im- tors for all these things. It’s not like we can law, which went into effect in January and mediate option to supplement his income is just get paid out if something goes wrong. which music industry professionals say has to sell his clothing through resale website There’s no real insurance on that. The vast made it harder to find steady work. They Depop. “And people aren’t going to be majority of artists can’t or don’t want to say the vague language of the law, which buying as many things because everyone is be liable in these situations, and we don’t is designed to ensure large companies like watching their money. Everyone is feeling it. qualify for many government protections Uber and Lyft provide employee benefits It’s the first thing I see on Instagram every- because we’re freelancers.” and other protections for their independent day — all my friends dealing with the same On Monday (March 23), Senate Demo- workers, doesn’t make sense for the live problems. It’s more than just a paycheck, it’s crats blocked action on a $1.8 trillion music industry — where an artist would be an emotional thing too.” economic stabilization package, citing the saddled with benefit and payroll costs for Whether or not a crew gets compensated need for stronger protections for workers crew members, even if they are only with

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them for one event. Rather than providing a obstacles as the industry scrambles to rejig- recorded for 2019). safety net in tough times, industry workers ger its calendar and compete with events The record label and publisher’s operat- say, the law has only made gigs more scarce. already scheduled for later in the year. ing earnings before interest, taxes, depre- “Work has already been slower because “Even if a gig is postponed, you still have ciation and amortization (EBITDA) were no one seems to know what to do with this to make it to October,” says Elmo Lovano, up 12.7% to €138 million ($155 million), ac- law, and then combined with what’s hap- a producer, musical director and drummer cording to Bertelsmann’s year-end financial pening with coronavirus, it makes more who is also the founder of the professional report. sense for agencies and artists to cancel tours musician gig social network Jammcard. “A BMG is the first label to announce earn- altogether,” says L.A. touring and session lot of those people who were gonna do that ings since the coronavirus outbreak shut- bassist Allee Futterer, who has lost all of already had their year lined up, and were down large parts of the music industry. her touring work and steadier in-town gigs planning on doing work with other artists. Reflecting on the pandemic,Thomas at corporate events, weddings and theme The postponement of that cycle means that Rabe, chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann, parks for the foreseeable future. Though she no matter what, you’re going to make half of said the Germany-based media company has savings to live off of for the immediate what you were.” had taken many measures to protect its em- future, Futtterer says she’s more concerned In the meantime, workers continue to ployees’ health and well-being and was well about what the reality for gig workers will band together for support and share re- prepared financially to weather the storm. look like three to four months down the line. sources in their communities to chart a path “We are profitable, have high liquidity, a “Right now is scary, but there’s no guar- forward. comfortable equity ratio, and ratings con- antee that everything will just turn around,” “This is unprecedented, so I think we’re tinue unchanged in the investment-grade she says. “In fact, I think the opposite is all waiting to see how it plays out while category. The broad setup of our businesses more likely. I don’t think work will come continuing to create purpose through art,” makes us less susceptible to economic fluc- back, or people will be able to pay the rates Rosenfield says. “There’s no handbook for tuations and allows us to continue investing that they used to. It’s not about weathering this kind of thing, regardless of what career in our future without compromising the the storm, it’s about finding a new normal. or field you’re in.” substance of our business,” said Rabe in a I’m asking myself things like, ‘Is music statement. something I should keep doing, or should I As well as BMG, Bertelsmann’s media do something that is more of a necessity and BMG Revenues holdings include RTL Group, Penguin is ‘recession proof’?’” Random House, magazine publisher Gruner Music industry institutions are continuing Grow 10% + Jahr and service provider Arvato. Rabe to advocate for protections that target the said its diverse portfolio had an even greater unique business of work in the field. Last as Owner societal relevance now that large parts of the week, the Recording Academy sent a letter world are on lockdown. to Congress in which chairman and interim Bertelsmann Says “We provide authoritative information CEO Harvey Mason Jr. asked policymakers and entertainment to millions of people, “to protect our nation’s musicians, perform- It’s ‘Well Prepared’ who now face unprecedented disruption to ers, songwriters, and studio professionals. their personal and professional lives,” said Just as many large industries will be seeking to Survive the CEO. support, you should not forget the small- Breaking down BMG’s year-end re- est of small businesses: individual music Coronavirus Crisis sults, looking first at it 138 million euros makers who will not benefit from employer- in EBITDA as a percentage of revenue, based relief.” BY RICHARD SMIRKE EBITDA margin now stands at 23%, up from The Music Artists Coalition also sent a the 22.4% in the prior year when EBITDA letter to Congress on March 18, writing, ONDON – BMG parent com- totaled 122 million euros ($137 million). “The music industry is facing an existential pany Bertelsmann says it is “well That EBITDA margin is higher than threat that is unprecedented — the tour- prepared to emerge safely” from those of the three majors, with whom BMG ing business as we know it has disappeared the current coronavirus crisis with is increasingly in competition with as the without warning and without a safety net Lgroup revenues rising to €18 billion ($20.2 company evolves back toward becoming a for hundreds of thousands of people.” billion) in 2019. major music company, a status it once had For now, gig workers in the live industry BMG contributed €600 million ($672 until it sold its music operation to Sony back continue to brace themselves for an uncer- million) to that total, a 10% rise on the in 2004. tain future. Many say they are counting on previous year when revenues totaled €545 Currently, BMG revenue breaks out too tours and festivals eventually being resched- million ($611 million at the exchange rates two-thirds music publishing and one-third uled, but that may come with its own set of of one euro for $1.1206 Bertelsmann said it for recorded music, which means its pub- PROMOTION

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lishing company has revenue of 400 million nership with Shelter Music Group, launch holds steady during the global economic euros (almost $450 million), while its record its first new label imprint since being downturn, BMG has increased its invest- label operations are 200 million euros (al- founded in 2008 (the jazz, classical and ment in digital marketing, according to the most $225 million. electronic focused Modern Recordings) and company. For the latter business segment, BMG has open an office in Hong Kong. The pandemic aside, the company said deliberately chosen a different path, con- Breaking down its revenues by market, that “growing market penetration of sub- centrating more on established artists than the U.S. contributed just over 50% of BMG’s scription-based music streaming services the riskier and less financially rewarding yearly sales, followed by the U.K. (16.6%), offers significant opportunities to expand business of trying to break hundreds of new Germany (7.7%) and France (5.7%), with the recorded-music and music-publishing artists in the same year, according to BMG Europe as a whole accounting for 40.9% and markets internationally.” CEO Hartwig Masuch. That helps insure a other territories, 8.9%. Risks to BMG’s future earnings growth stronger profit he says, along with keeping a The company said BMG averaged 883 em- mentioned in the earnings report include tight reign on the corporate cost structure. ployees during 2019, in 19 offices in 12 core the cost of extending contracts with artists/ “The corporate cost structure has to make music markets around the globe, including authors and distribution partners and secur- sense,” given that the growing digital seg- opening a branch in the past year in Hong ing the recouping of advances. ment of the business brings with it higher Kong. Those employees are now all current- artist royalties, he said. ly working remotely due to the COVID-19 Last year, digital made up 56% of the label pandemic, while two team members have Spotify, Tidal, and publisher’s total revenues, up from 52% been diagnosed as positive with the virus, in 2018. Within that, the catalog portion— the company reports. Pandora & More music 18 months or older—experienced a When the company re-started music 78% year-over-year increase. operations back in 2008, it initially began Streaming Hit albums by Kylie Minogue, Blanco growing through a series of acquisitions Brown, Keith Richards, Jason Aldean, including buying Cherry Lane, Chrysalis, Services Donate Dido, The Cranberries, Kontra K and Seeed Mute, Sanctuary, Bug, and Broken Bow helped drive growth in BMG’s recordings among other publishers and labels. In to MusiCares’ business, which outpaced the market’s its year-ending report, the company said growth in several key territories. “BMG’s focus is on organic growth through COVID-19 Fund One of those was the United Kingdom, the signing of additional artists and song- where album sales by BMG artists were writers,” but added, “there may also be BY TATIANA CIRISANO up 12% year-on-year. In the United States, opportunities for selective acquisitions of BMG’s music streaming business grew 62%, music catalogs. To date, the company says mazon Music, Facebook, although it did not provide comparable has invested 1.927 billion euros in building SiriusXM and Pandora, Spotify, figures about album sales. the BMG catalog. Tidal and YouTube Music have BMG’s publishing income also recorded The company pointed out that since BMG all donated to MusiCares’ relief organic growth in 2019, says the report, but was relaunched, the company last year fundA for music workers whose livelihoods does not provide a breakdown of sales by launched its first new label, Modern Record- have been impacted by the coronavirus division. Billboard understands that BMG ings, aimed at fans of jazz, new classical and crisis. revenues are currently split at around 65% electronic music. Elsewhere in the portfolio, MusiCares, the charitable arm of the Re- publishing and 35% records. BMG is expanding its presence in produc- cording Academy, launched the COVID-19 Songwriters signed to its publishing arm tion music, rebranding that division under Relief Fund last week. It kicked off with an include AC/DC, Mick Jagger and Keith the banner BMG Production Music; added initial $1 million donation each from Musi- Richards, Roger Waters, Steven Tyler, artist management to its services portfolio, Cares and the Recording Academy, totaling Johannes Oerding, 21 Savage, Bring Me The including entering into a partnership with $2 million. Horizon, Juice WRLD and Lewis Capaldi, Shelter Music Group. Thanks to the donations announced today who all made “significant contributions to Looking toward the future, Masuch says (March 24) from major streaming and tech revenues.” the company has increased its engagement companies, plus fundraising efforts from New publishing signings in 2019 included in South America, which he says is a going musicians like Alicia Keys and Better Than Neil Finn, Cage The Elephant and KSI, forward priority. That will include trying to Ezra’s Kevin Griffin, that total has more while Jagger and Richards extended their sign local artist down there but he adds that than doubled, according to a representative. existing contracts with BMG. the consumers there “have an enormous ap- The funds will go directly to music profes- Last year also saw the music company petite for Anglo-American repertoire.” sionals who lost income due to coronavirus- branch into artist management via a part- In order to insure that BMG revenue related gig cancellations, from artists to Page 8 of 22

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technicians and production crew members. The trio will forgo the remainder of their pandemic. “The music community is in great need, 2020 pay from now through the end of the The International Olympic Committee so The Recording Academy greatly appreci- year, and the rest of the staff will see pro- made the decision after speaking with Japa- ates the collective support and emergency portionate reductions to their salary, with nese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and local aid that this coalition of music industry and higher earners taking larger cuts. organizers. tech leaders has provided,” Recording Acad- “Like companies across the industry and The IOC said the games will be held “not emy interim president/CEO and chair of the our country, UTA is taking some immediate later than summer 2021” but they will still board Harvey Mason Jr. said. “We hope and painful steps to ensure we get through be called the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. these partnerships inspire other organiza- the current public health and economic “In the present circumstances and based tions to stand behind the music community crisis as strong as possible,” the agency said on the information provided by the WHO in this time of great uncertainty. We con- Monday in a statement. “In addition to ag- today, the IOC President and the Prime tinue to encourage our peers to embrace the gressive cost-cutting measures, this includes Minister of Japan have concluded that the collaborative power of music and to support asking our colleagues at every level to take Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo impacted industry professionals in both try- pay reductions, structured so our most must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 ing and good times.” senior colleagues make the largest financial but not later than summer 2021, to safe- Music professionals who have had at least sacrifice.” guard the health of the athletes, everybody five years of employment in the music in- The measures are being taken in hopes of involved in the Olympic Games and the dustry, or six commercially released singles avoiding layoffs as a result of the dramati- international community,” the IOC said in a or music videos, can apply for funds on the cally slowed economy as the novel corona- statement. MusiCares website, where they will be virus spreads across the U.S. and around the Before the official announcement, Abe required to show proof of gig cancellations world. Paradigm on Friday let go of about said Bach had agreed with his proposal for a due to coronavirus precautionary measures. one-sixth of its workforce as a result of the one-year postponement. The Recording Academy’s 12 local industry’s near-shutdown. “President Bach said he will agree ‘100%,’ chapters across the U.S. have also commit- “The understanding and support we’ve and we agreed to hold the Tokyo Olympics ted to fundraising in their local communi- received from our colleagues has been and Paralympics in the summer of 2021 ties. Meanwhile, the Recording Academy is incredibly gratifying, as is their recognition at the latest,” Abe said, saying holding the urging Congress to provide targeted aid to that these difficult steps are intended to games next year would be “proof of a victory music industry workers adversely impacted ensure the long-term strength and viabil- by human beings against the coronavirus by the pandemic. ity of our company,” the UTA statement infections.” continued. “While we do not know what On Sunday, Bach said a decision on post- the future holds, we are committed to being poning the games would be made in the next UTA Implements candid and transparent about where things four weeks. But pressure grew as national stand as we navigate these uncharted waters federations, sports governing bodies and Pay Cuts Amid together.” athletes spoke out against having the open- This article was originally published by ing ceremony as planned on July 24. Coronavirus The Hollywood Reporter. The decision came only a few hours after local organizers said the torch relay Pandemic, would start as planned on Thursday. It was Tokyo Olympics expected to start in northeastern Fukushima Leadership to prefecture, but with no torch, no torchbear- Postponed Due ers and no public. Those plans also changed. Forgo 2020 “For the time being, the flame will be to Coronavirus stored and displayed in Fukushima,” orga- Salaries nizing committee president Yoshiro Mori Outbreak said. BY REBECCA SUN The Olympics have never before been BY ASSOCIATED PRESS postponed, and have only ever previously TA CEO Jeremy Zimmer and been canceled in wartime. co-presidents David Kramer he Tokyo Olympics were post- Organizers will now have to figure out and Jay Sures have instituted poned until 2021 on Tuesday, how to keep things running for another year, companywide pay cuts to weath- ending weeks of speculation that while making sure venues are up to date for Uer the coronavirus pandemic — starting with the games could not go ahead possible another 12 months.”A lot can hap- themselves. Tas scheduled because of the coronavirus pen in one year, so we have to think about Page 9 of 22

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what we have to do,” said Toshiro Muto, what’s around the corner.” their spirits up. the CEO of the organizing committee. “The That uncertainty exists for every Ameri- “They’re still listening to music right now decision came upon us all of a sudden.” can as an invisible enemy expands its ter- because they have nothing else to do,” she The IOC and Tokyo organizers said they ritory. It’s particularly acute in the music reasons. “So it’s at least comforting in that hope the decision to postpone will help the business, where freelancers are a large way to know, ‘OK, I can keep putting out world heal from the pandemic. percentage of the work force. For arena new music.’” “The leaders agreed that the Olympic headliners, even those who write their own Artists can keep creating new sounds, Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon songs, the cancellations are a problem. But too. Woodward is talking about recording of hope to the world during these troubled for indie acts whose business model is al- material in her downtime, King is pulling times and that the Olympic flame could most exclusively built upon concert income, out unfinished songs for completion, and become the light at the end of the tunnel the unpredictability of the virus-related Hackett has fielded requests for cowriting in which the world finds itself at present,” shutdown is brutal. sessions via Skype and FaceTime. She’s also the IOC statement said. “Therefore, it was Nearly every artist has had their live intent on writing songs on her own, the way agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in shows postponed or canceled through the that many country songwriters did back in Japan. It was also agreed that the Games end of April, and some have lost as much as the day. will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic six months’ worth of concert bookings. “Songwriters can do their jobs from any- Games Tokyo 2020.” “I can [deal] with the March and April where,” says Hackett. “They can do this by shows being pushed back or rescheduled,” themselves. If they don’t know how to write says John King. “But when you get into, like, by themselves or they run into the challenge Indie Country May — and is it going to go further into June of writing yourself into a corner, then use and July? I mean, I would say 80% of our in- that opportunity to send it off to somebody Artists Make come comes from May to September. That’s and say, ‘Can we cowrite in a new way?’” kind of the sweet spot for touring.” This should be a good time to find unique the Best Of But that doesn’t mean that artists are sources of inspiration. As people connect sitting in the house twiddling their thumbs from their isolated home with associates in An Uncertain and watching their checkbook balances separate isolated homes, they are likely to dwindle. Instead, they’re using the time to mine emotions and situations they have not Coronavirus improve their craft, bone up on their mar- previously experienced in quite the same keting and social media skills, write songs way. Shutdown and/or spend time with family that they “We have things to write about,” says cannot see when they’re on the road. Woodward. “We can use this time to our BY TOM ROLAND And in the most public retooling of their advantage, and I think it’s really going to schedules, many are releasing new music be a time for people, especially creatives, to ASHVILLE — When the CO- and performing online. King launched a Fri- reflect and sit back and be introspective and VID-19 coronavirus forced the day-night Facebook Live series, Tunes From kind of learn about their creative process. If shutdown of the concert indus- the Tub, on March 23, streaming from the there’s a blessing in disguise in this, maybe try, independent Nashville artist best-lit room in his Columbia, Tenn., home. it’s that.” NStevie Woodward got a double whammy. Kalie Shorr used the platform mykey.com Finding the silver lining is going to be key Not only did she lose the steady, six- for a cheekily titled March 22 livestream, as the days turn into weeks or, in a worst- nights-a-week bookings in the Music City The Social Distancing Tour Part 1. case scenario, months before the virus’ club scene that kept her afloat, she also “You never know how much money you’ll spread is reduced. Indie artists by nature faced the stark reality that one of her room- make,” she says, “but, like, $500 here and move toward hope, and the inventiveness mates, a nurse at Vanderbilt Medical Center, there, that can go a really long way when required of them as freelancers gives them a might well bring the bug home from work. you’re struggling to adapt to this new land- set of skills that other professionals may not Woodward decided to make lemonade out scape that we don’t know how long is going have had to develop. of lemons and drove to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to last.” “It’s such an irregular industry already,” for an unexpected two-week vacation at her Within days of the concert shutdown, observes King. “We’re kind of conditioned parents’ house. the earliest adapters scheduled a wave of for something like this. I can’t tell you the “When am I ever going to get this time livestream performances and released mu- amount of living room floors I’ve slept on again?” she asks rhetorically. “If anything is sic. Emily Hackett issued “My Version of a or in a van — you know, just things to get good out of this situation, it’s that. It’s nice Love Song” on March 23, taking advantage by, scraping pennies together after a show to just kind of be with family right now, es- of all those consumers who are self-isolat- that paid $50 in Athens, Ga. We’re kind pecially at this chaotic time. You don’t know ing and looking for entertainment to keep of conditioned to live in these really tight, Page 10 of 22

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scary situations. If there’s ever an industry Rank, Title that something crazy like this doesn’t scare, No. 13 (debut), “Myron” Lollapalooza I think it’s us because we’re so used to just No. 19 (debut), “Bean (Kobe),” feat. Chief being crazy all the time.” Keef Delays Lineup That’s easy to say at the outset. But if the No. 26 (debut), “Yessirskiii,” with 21 Sav- concert shutdown continues for an extend- age Reveal as 2020 ed time, many of the recent postponements No. 27, “Baby Pluto” could become outright cancellations. Addi- No. 37, “P2” Festival Remains tionally, some smaller clubs and venues may No. 41, “That Way” go under as the result of a prolonged reces- No. 42, “Lo Mein” in Limbo sion, reducing the chance to make up shows No. 45 (debut), “Lotus” even further. But for now, indie artists have No. 52, “Silly Watch” BY TAYLOR MIMS ways to stay busy, or even inspired. No. 54 (debut), “Wassup,” feat. Future “It’s so rare that everyone on the planet is No. 60 (debut), “Strawberry Peels,” feat. hicago festival Lollapalooza took feeling a similar emotion, so it’s kind of uni- Young Thug & Gunna to social media this morning to fying in a way,” says Shorr of the COVID-19 No. 62 (debut), “Moon Relate” announce that it is holding off pandemic. “But I don’t want to go too far No. 66 (debut), “I Can Show You” on revealing its 2020 lineup. The into the positive because it’s really kind of No. 68 (debut), “Trap This Way (This Clong-running festival is set to take place at heavy.” Way)” Grant Park from July 30 - Aug. 2, but its fate This article first appeared in the weekly No. 72 (debut), “Leaders” feat. NAV is uncertain as organizers continue to watch Billboard Country Update newsletter. Click No. 76 (debut), “No Auto” feat. Lil Durk the coronavirus crisis push events into the here to subscribe for free. No. 82, “Homecoming” fall or later. No. 83 (debut), “Come This Way” “Right around this time every year, we No. 87 (debut), “Got the Guap,” feat. come together to celebrate the announce- Lil Uzi Vert Lands Young Thug ment of another incredible Lollapalooza No. 89 (debut), “Money Spread,” feat. lineup. For now, we are at home, taking care 22 Songs on Hot Young Nudy of each other, listening to music, and dream- No. 94, “Futsal Shuffle 2020” ing of summertime in Chicago,” the festival 100, Including All No. 95, “Prices” said in a statement attached to a four-min- Uzi charted 20 songs on last week’s Hot ute sizzle reel of previous festival footage. New Tracks on 100 in the first charting week forEternal Around lat March every year, the Chicago Atake. In the 61-year history of the Hot 100, festival typically releases its lineup and ‘Eternal Atake’ only two other artists have charted at least allows fans to purchases passes for the four- 22 songs simultaneously. Drake has achieved day event. As of today, the lineup has yet to Deluxe Edition the feat three times, and holds the record be revealed and tickets have not gone on sale for the most concurrent entries, with 27 to the public. BY XANDER ZELLNER on the July 14, 2018 tally, when his album The statement continued: “While we stay Scorpion debuted atop the Billboard 200. Lil in close contact with local officials, we are il Uzi Vert scores another massive Wayne then landed 22 songs on the Hot 100 well underway with planning for Lolla to week on Billboard’s charts, as the at once as his LP Tha Carter V opened atop take place as soon as it’s safe for us all to be rapper lands 22 songs on the latest the Oct. 13, 2018-dated Billboard 200. together in Grant Park.” Billboard Hot 100 chart (dated With 14 debuts on the latest Hot 100, Lil The festival promised updates on the LMarch 28), including all 14 added to the Uzi Vert has now charted 62 songs on the festival’s future and possible lineup as soon deluxe edition of his new LP, Eternal Atake. chart in his career. as possible. Billboard reached out to repre- Sparked by the arrival of its expanded In 2020 alone, Lil Uzi Vert has charted sentatives for Lollapalooza, but have not yet version, Eternal Atake logs its second week 34 songs on the Hot 100, the most among heard back. at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 247,000 all artists. In 2019, DaBaby finished the year Lollapalooza organizers have already equivalent album units, according to Nielsen with the most entries, 22. Drake had the been forced to postpone its festivals in Music. most in 2018, with 35. Argentina, Chile and Brazil until later in the Here’s a look at all 22 of Lil Uzi Vert’s year due to the coronavirus. songs on the latest Hot 100, 14 of which debut, encompassing the set’s newly-added tracks. Page 11 of 22

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now added a fourth day to the event and will Metallica run Sept. 17-20. Fans who bought tickets to 2020 Rock and the festival will have access to the newly Reschedules & added dates. Roll Hall of “We are crushed to say that Epicenter, Cancels Tour Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple Fame Induction are being canceled due to the governmental Dates Due to restrictions on mass gatherings,” DWP said Ceremony about the festival cancellations in a release. Coronavirus, Adds “We respect these directives and recognize Has Been they are in the best interest of the greater Fall Festival Show good, as well as the health and safety of our Rescheduled: See fans, musicians, partners, and staff. Before BY TAYLOR MIMS accepting this fate, we worked really hard the New Date to try to reschedule the festivals. Unfortu- etallica is rescheduling their nately, scheduling conflicts, venue avail- BY GIL KAUFMAN April tour dates and will no abilities and a number of other factors out longer appear at the Danny of our control made postponing impossible. he 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Wimmer Presents spring Make no mistake, each of these festivals will Fame induction ceremony has Mfestivals, due to the spreading coronavirus, it return in May 2021 bigger and stronger than moved from spring to fall. was announced Monday (March 23). ever!” The event, which was post- The iconic rock band had been scheduled Ticketholders for the three cancelled Tponed due to the worries about the spread to perform at DWP’s Epicenter May 1-3 in festivals can seek a full refund from DWP, of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, will North Carolina, Welcome to Rockville May apply the ticket to the festival’s 2021 edition now take place on Nov. 7; it was originally 8-10 in Florida and Sonic Temple May 15-17 or exchange it for a pass to another DWP scheduled for May 2. in Ohio. festival still scheduled to take place this The annual ceremony will still take place “As many of you know, in our nearly forty year, including Louder Than Life, Bourbon in Cleveland and honor Nine Inch Nails, years of touring, we’ve had a few mishaps & Beyond, Hometown Rising and After- Depeche Mode, the Doobie Brothers, along the way; broken bones, trashed ap- shock. T-Rex, Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney pendixes, a pyro mishap, backs thrown out, “We have also arranged for many of the Houston. crazy weather, food poisoning (beware of bands from Sonic, Epicenter and Rockville The event will broadcast live from the the oysters!) and even one way next-level to play at Louder Than Life and will be city’s Public Auditorium at 8 p.m. ET on anxiety attack! None of it has ever stopped announcing that as soon as we feel appro- HBO, marking the first time the ceremony us, but this is obviously a very different time priate,” DWP added. “Because we were not will be broadcast in real time on the net- and leaving the house now literally means able to reschedule the Spring festivals, we work. taking your life in your hands,” the band said want Louder Than Life to be an inclusive in a release. “Unfortunately, in these surreal celebration of all of those festivals. It’s not times that means we have to stay away from a perfect solution, but these are imperfect New York each other for the foreseeable future before times. It is our sincere hope that we are all we can start thinking about ‘Tallica family able to heal together with massive celebra- Philharmonic reunions around the world.” tions this Fall.” Metallica was scheduled to perform in Due to uncertainty surrounding the Cancels Chile, Argentina and Brazil throughout the containment of coronavirus, for the time month of April, but has moved the six-date being, DWP said it will hold off on announc- Season Due to trek to December. Tour support Greta ing lineups or putting passes on sale for its Van Fleet has committed to attending the remaining festivals. Coronavirus December dates once they are rescheduled, though the venues may change. BY ASSOCIATED PRESS For fans in the United States, Metallica apologized for being unable to play the he New York Philharmonic can- DWP festivals due to their cancellation, celed the rest of its season and a but said that they are still scheduled to play 10-concert European tour due to Louder Than Life in Louisville, which has T the new coronavirus, estimating it Page 12 of 22

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will have $10 million in operating losses to lines and protocols put forth by the public court. Funeral services were to be “held in its $87 million annual budget because of the health officials,” the festival said in a state- strict privacy” followed by a tribute “when pandemic. ment on social media. possible,” Tuesday’s announcement said. The Philharmonic said the salaries of Firefly 2020 was set to see performances Funerals in France have been limited to 20 106-unionized orchestra players will be from Rage Against the Machine, Billie Eil- people in the closest circle of the deceased cut to minimum scale for April and 75% of ish, Halsey, Khalid, Blink-182 and more. because of a lockdown to try to slow the minimum scale through May. “We are deeply disappointed by this dif- spread of COVID-19. Dibango is survived by Health benefits will be continued through ficult decision, one that impacts our fans four children. the current contract’s expiration on Sept. and our incredible team of performers, 20.Due to declines in the financial mar- crew, vendors and our community in Dover, kets, the Philharmonic said its endowment Delaware,” the statement continued. Texas’ Ubbi dropped from $210 million this year to less Firefly said it plans to return to the Wood- than $180 million last week. lands in June 2021 and that fans can seek Dubbi Dance Possible furloughs and pay cuts for its a full refund from festival ticketer Elevate. 113-person administrative staff are being Fans can slo hold on to their ticket to use Festival Has Been evaluated. for Firefly 2021. Check out the festival’s full The Philharmonic’s season at Lincoln statement below. Postponed Due to Center for the Performing Arts runs through Billboard has reached out to representa- June 13. tives for Firefly for further comment. Coronavirus The six-city tour was to have been from April 30 to May 12.As part of an agreement BY KATIE BAIN with local 802 of the American Federation African Jazz Great of Musicians, the philharmonic will be able he annual dance festival Ubbi to use its media archives on a free portal, NY Manu Dibango Dubbi, which was scheduled to Phil Plays On.No decision has been made on happen in Arlington, Texas, on June concerts in New York City parks and Dies in France at April 18-19, has been canceled due July concerts in China and Vail, Colorado. Tto coronavirus. The festival was scheduled 86 of Coronavirus to host a barrage of dance acts including Kaskade, Gryffin, Illenium and Camel- Firefly Festival BY ASSOCIATED PRESS Phat. “We looked at multiple options to pro- Cancels 2020 anu Dibango, who fused duce a safe event during the Summer, but African rhythms with funk thought it was best to concentrate on pro- Edition Due to to become one of the most viding a supersized event in the Fall,” reads influential musicians in world a statement from event organizers that was Coronavirus Mdance music, died Tuesday (March 24) with released today (March 23). the coronavirus, according to his music Instead of canceling completely, Ubbi BY TAYLOR MIMS publisher. He was 86. The Cameroon-born Dubbi is joining up with the October Texas saxophonist, who gained international fame festival Freaky Deaky for a show called Ubbi irefly Music Festival in Dover, with his 1972 song “Soul Makossa,” died in Dubbi Gets Freaky Deaky. This event is on Delaware has announced the can- a hospital in the Paris region, Thierry Dure- the calendar for October 30-31, 2020 at the cellation of its 2020 edition due to paire said. Houston Raceway Park. The lineup will be coronavirus. The four-day festival Dibango was hospitalized with an illness entirely new and not composed of artists Fwas set to take place at The Woodlands of “linked to COVID-19,” his official Facebook that had been set to play Ubbi Dubbi. Both Dover International Speedway from June page said last week. “Soul Makossa” was Ubbi Dubbi and Freaky Deaky are produced 18-21. one of the earliest hits in the nascent world by longstanding dance music promoter “At the direction of state and local au- music scene, including a catchy hook copied Disco Donnie Presents. thorities and federal guidelines amid the by some of the world’s biggest pop stars. Fans who purchased tickets for Ubbi COVID-19 pandemic, we are saddened to In 2009, Dibango filed a lawsuit against Dubbi are able to transfer them for the Oc- confirm the cancellation of Firefly Music Michael Jackson and Rihanna, claiming tober event, or receive a refund. Festival 2020. We take the safety and health they had stolen his music in “Wanna Be of our fans, staff and community seriously Startin’ Somethin’” and “Don’t Stop the and we urge everyone to follow the guide- Music,” respectively. Jackson settled out of Page 13 of 22

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the hell out of whatever project was coming Dolly Parton’s ‘It’s *NSYNC’s next). But while the scene was set for *NSYNC, Dollywood Delays World, We Just the new millennium marked a period of un- certainty for the group, as they were coming Opening Due to Live in It’: An Oral off of a highly publicized legal battle with their initial label, Trans Continental/RCA Coronavirus History of ‘No Records, and now-disgraced mogul Lou Pearlman. The fivesome — Lance Bass, JC BY HERAN MAMO Strings Attached’ Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and Justin Timberlake — sued Pearlman for n Tuesday (March 24), Dolly Selling a Historic defrauding, nearly losing their group name Parton’s Dollywood announced (and $150 million) before a judge ruled in it’s delaying the Pigeon Forge, 2.4 Million First- their favor in November 1999. The decision Tenn.-based theme park’s sea- allowed *NSYNC to sign with Jive Records, Osonal opening and suspending all operations Week Copies in an independent label that was home to at the DreamMore Resort and Spa indefi- Spears and, ironically, the Backstreet Boys. nitely due to the coronavirus crisis. Dol- 2000 Though the signing may have felt risky lywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins remain to fans, it was actually the smartest move open at this time. BY TAYLOR WEATHERBY *NSYNC could’ve made. They were now “The coronavirus crisis is unprecedented, with the label that knew exactly how to and based on the ever-changing develop- ollowing our Billboard staff-picked market a huge pop album in a landscape ments, we are constantly re-evaluating list of the 100 greatest songs of where the audience was clearly ready for our options and hoping to open in May,” 2000, we’re writing this week about more. The *NSYNC guys weren’t sure what Dollywood President Craig Ross said in a some of the stories and trends that their fan base was going to look like post- statement on the official website. “We are Fdefined the year for us. Here, we flash back legal battle and signing with their “rival” looking daily at all of our options to present to late March of that year, when one of the label, but those at Jive knew the magic they an exciting and entertaining 2020 season biggest groups in pop music released their had with No Strings Attached. that is a great experience for our guests, but much-anticipated sophomore album — and “It was a marketing dream come true,” our first priority is the safety of our hosts set a record-breaking mark for runaway suc- Barry Weiss, who was running Jive at the and guests.” cess that stood for 15 years to come. time (he’s now co-founder of independent Dollywood vows to continue consulting Twenty years ago, pop heartthrobs label RECORDS), says of NSA. “It set the their medical experts and abiding by the *NSYNC set an industry standard with their course for word-of-mouth, fan engagement, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sophomore album, No Strings Attached. The direct-to-fan [marketing]. It was sort of like (CDC) guidelines until. Guests with resort LP sold a whopping 2.4 million copies in a social media explosion without social me- reservations and tickets while Dollywood its first week in March 2000, doubling the dia, driven by mainstream news and brick- remains temporarily closed can contact record their boy band contemporaries the and-mortar publicity. It was the culmination 1-800-DOLLYWOOD to reschedule their Backstreet Boys had set the year before with of the pop explosion.” visits. their own blockbuster sophomore effort, No Strings Attached also marked the Millennium. beginning of the downward spiral of album For *NSYNC, the timing of their second sales, though, as MP3-sharing website Nap- full-length release couldn’t have seemed ster ignited the early days of file-sharing and more perfect: Big pop acts were beginning subsequently burst the big pop sales bubble. to take over the music industry, with the And while their fellow pop heavyweights prior few years seeing the rise of boy bands, came out strong in their first weeks over as well as teenage darlings Britney Spears the next year (Spears’ Oops… I Did It Again and Christina Aguilera. CD sales were at an sold 1.3 million; BSB’s Black & Blue earned all-time high, as artists of all genres (Dixie 1.59 mil; Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers Chicks, Kid Rock, Santana) were reaching LP bested both with 1.76 mil), *NSYNC’s 2.4 diamond status around the turn of the cen- million first-week feat proved untouchable, tury; meanwhile, MTV’s Total Request Live even by the group themselves — their third was at its peak, giving those young stars a LP, 2001’s Celebrity, couldn’t quite crack the platform to connect with fans (and promote 2 million mark in its first week, selling 1.88 Page 14 of 22

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million units — until a one-of-a-kind pop with Jive and we›re going to put an album direction — the question wasn’t, “Is it going phenom demolished it in 2015. out, people wanted to see, “What are they to be big?” The question was, “How big?” Below, Weiss and his former Jive col- going to do? What are they going to say? We Weiss: They premiered “Bye Bye Bye” on leagues Tom Carrabba (senior VP of sales already heard this ‘Bye Bye Bye’ record that the American Music Awards in early Janu- and marketing and general manager) and we can’t buy right now, but we want that.” ary. That was the fuse that lit [further antici- Janet Kleinbaum (VP of artist marketing), JC Chasez: We literally thought our [ca- pation for the album], because it was such *NSYNC’s former manager Johnny Wright, reer was] ending, and then all of a sudden it a smash hit single, which was exactly what then-MTV News editor-in-chief Michael wasn›t. We›d been given a second opportu- the audience was waiting for. The single Alex, then-Trans World Entertainment nity as a band. We were very enthusiastic, exploded on impact — it exploded at radio, buyer Mark Hudson and *NSYNC’s own but also under an incredible amount of pres- it exploded at retail, the video exploded, ev- JC Chasez break down how No Strings At- sure to get this thing out, because we were erything about it was firing on all cylinders. tached landed such a historic sales week — afraid we were going to be forgotten. I know There was so much pent-up demand, that one that only Adele could break. that sounds silly to some people, but at the everything just kept stoking the fire. “The marketing campaign was the law- time, when you’ve been told so many things Kleinbaum: [The American Music suit.” by people who had status and positions of Awards] showed maturity and growth as Johnny Wright: One year before this power — we were genuinely worried. performers and as a group. It wasn›t just an- album came out, we had recorded the song Wright: Our biggest fear was [that other pop boy band getting together to sing. “Bye Bye Bye”; it was one of two songs that *NSYNC was] out of sight, out of mind. This was legitimate. This was real. we had done with [Swedish pop superpro- And that if we won our name and we were Wright: We knew we had a hit record. ducer] Max Martin and his team. At that coming back, would they even care? Because And with the response from the video — point, Max and his team were kind of in a [fans] had the opportunity to flip to the [MTV’s] TRL had the countdown to the quagmire, because they didn’t know what Backstreet Boys, and the Backstreet Boys number one video in the country, and we was going to happen [with the lawsuit] and had just come off of selling a million records got that spot. So I think that we were very they really didn’t want to let us have songs in the first week. comfortable with knowing that we had a hit [they had written for us]. “‘Backstreet Boys sold a million records in single. But they’re competitive guys, and in We had an opportunity for a TV show the first week… how do we do that?’” the back of their minds it›s like, “Backstreet called the Radio Music Awards, so I plead- Janet Kleinbaum: There was a lot of wor- Boys sold a million records in the first week ed with Max and his team, like, “Look, this ry that there would be too much competi- — that was major. How do we do that? Can could be the final time that the fans see the tion between Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC, we do that?” group. If we lose this lawsuit, let us perform and we wouldn’t be able to handle it. But Kleinbaum: It was really just a matter of the song — no harm, no foul.” But in the in fact that wasn’t true — we knew exactly trying to stay focused on their audience and back of my mind, I knew if we performed it, what needed to get done, and we were able how to best get to them. MTV was one of it would be etched in the fans minds as our to identify the uniqueness in each group our prime partners for that, but it was a lot song. So over the course of this court battle, and, and work with them that way. of television and a lot of media opportuni- people were replaying the performance. Fan Tom Carrabba: We had history with the ties. It was magazine covers [of publica- base strength started growing, and this was Backstreet Boys, and we had our finger on tions] going to their core audience. Their kind of like the flagship song as everybody the pulse on the pop audience. We antici- promotional schedule was so hectic and so was getting news on the court battle from pated we’d probably be doing the same as cram-packed with work to do to support MTV. the Backstreet Boys’ [first week], like 1.2, 1.3 the album. And at the same time, they were Barry Weiss: [The album] was delayed million. Retail knew that there was pent-up preparing for the tour. They worked so hard, multiple times [because of the lawsuit]. The demand for a boy group, so it was a lot easier they were busy every hour of every day. It delays led to the build up of anticipation for to pitch the project than it was initially was nonstop and they were willing, ready the album. It was kind of gasoline on fire: with the Backstreet Boys. When it got to and able — and they always had a great at- They had come off a 10 million-selling al- *NSYNC, all those roads were kind of paved titude. bum [1998’s N’Sync], and they had bumped already for a teen sensation pop project, so Michael Alex: *NSYNC really knew how this album for six to nine months — the we were ahead of the game. to play it. They were media-friendly, and release date was publicized and moved back MTV embraced it, radio embraced it, they didn›t get precious about it. They numerous times, which actually heightened retail embraced it. The velocity was a lot certainly are responsible for all the earned the anticipation for the album. Ultimately, stronger going into *NSYNC’s No Strings, media they got. Their audience is rabid, and the marketing campaign was the lawsuit. It because the concept was proven with anoth- they made sure their audience had access. was the best publicity we could have had. er group, and they saw that it could work. Carrabba: We had fan lists — we accu- Wright: As soon as they won the rights to So our theory was, we had all the believers, mulated hundreds of thousands of names their name and we said that we are signing we had the whole team pulling in the same and addresses. We were documenting Page 15 of 22

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everything and utilizing it. So everytime we into Strauss Zelnick, who was the head of When the album dropped, it just sort of su- went back to the market, we had an army of BMG Music at the time, and I started extol- percharged everything that was already go- people we could contact. ling how amazing the sales orders were ing on. Everything was, “Okay, it›s NSYNC›s Kleinbaum: We sent snippet cassettes and coming in because he was our distributor world and we just live in it.” snippet CDs and other pieces of info [lead- — but I forgot that he was part of BMG, who “I felt like we re-ignited the music world ing up to the release]. had lost the group to us. I was like, “Strauss, a little bit.” Wright: We had a deal with Verizon Wire- you can’t believe it, the *NSYNC sales are Carrabba: Back in the day, you’d usually less, and one of the things that we wanted going crazy!” And he’s looking at me like, do 50% [sales] on your first day. So when to make sure of was the date of the album “You f—king a—hole.” we saw the 1.2 million after the first day of [March 21] would be locked in people’s Kleinbaum: It was just *NSYNC mania sales, I said, “This is gonna hit 2.” Unless minds. Whether there was a pop-up display that day. Every, every city, every town, every there was a product/inventory issue, which or a poster that was on the front of every fan went to their local place to get that I knew there wasn’t going to be one. After store front at Verizon, [we made sure] that album. I was getting calls and notes from ev- days two and three, there was already in- our date was locked in. And when the guys ery, all my colleagues at all different record dication that 2 million was gonna be in our did interviews, they constantly talked about labels. It was incredible. Nobody has seen grasp. The reorders kept coming in. the date. anything like that before. Mark Hudson: We were working around That became very key, because no mat- Weiss: What we came to find as well the clock. We’d be coming in around 6:00 in ter where you turned around, if you heard was people were buying multiple copies. the morning and staying until 8:00, 9:00 at anything or saw anything on *NSYNC, you Families were going and buying the CD in night, doing whatever to make sure and then saw the [release] date. We also had a big deal duplicate and triplicate. It was just a phe- consistently hassling the distribution to fill with Chili’s; we did the Baby Back Ribs nomenon. the orders. commercial and at the end of that com- Carrabba: Once we were looking at the Carrabba: Since we’d had the Backstreet mercial they tagged the date. That was our first day trends, everything escalated im- Boys experience, we kind of knew percent- big plan: We were going to drive this date in mediately. I was with Johnny with the boys ages of how much [certain retailers would] your head, for you to know that›s the date as they’re doing their MTV promotion, and take, so we were kind of ahead of the game you need to purchase our album. my phone’s ringing off the hook. Every- there. Whatever we initially built in for “It was just *NSYNC mania that day.” body’s calling me saying, “Tom, Target just physical copies, we made sure we had a lot Wright: Two days before the album ordered another 75,000. Walmart’s coming more at the depots in the right places and release, we started hearing [that] stans from in for another 60,000.” I said, “Johnny, I the right distribution centers. across the country were lining up outside don’t believe what’s going on here.” Johnny We also made sure we had enough paper, of their record stores — Times Square, Chi- always said this was going to be bigger than booklets, cases, CDs — so if we had to turn cago, LA — to buy the album. We started to the Backstreet Boys, and he was right. on a dime to a manufacturer, we could do get that feeling, “Oh wow, they still love us.” Wright: We were at the Virgin Megastore, that. We were prepared to get the product But still never to the effect of, “We›re going and I was telling the [*NSYNC] guys the out there when the buzz was there. The to sell a million records in a day.” numbers, and they were shaking their heads good news with the Jive team was that we In the first hour that we started [our ap- like, “Okay” — in the midst of that, they were independently owned, and we had our pearances on release day], Tom [Carrabba] had a thousand signatures they needed to own financial guidelines internally. Major says to me, “Hey, we’re at 150,000 records.” sign. So, it was like, “Oh cool, cool, yay, yay.” labels maybe would’ve had restrictions, Three hours later, we’d crossed the half a It probably wasn’t until the next morning because they didn’t want to over-invest [and million mark, and I’m like, “Oh my God, when everybody was eating breakfast, and make too many albums]. For us, there was maybe we’ll be able to match or beat the we reflected on the day before, that it all re- no hesitation. Backstreet Boys’ record.” Then at like 6 ally started to sink in. Hudson: Pop music wasn›t really our o’clock, he says to me, “We’re over a million Chasez: We were pushing hard to put this wheelhouse. We did much better with records in the first day.” So not only do we record together, and the day it came out it things like metal, hardcore rap, extreme tie Backstreet Boys for the week, we got that was a relief at first. Then it became a matter music. We ended up selling over 200,000 number in one day, and of course we had of every hour somebody saying, “Hey you units [of No Strings Attached] in that first the whole rest of the week to go. So no one guys have sold a hundred thousand [cop- week. That was a very healthy market share really knew where it was going to get. ies], amazing!” Then it was 200,000, and by of right around 9%. Normally we wouldn’t Weiss: I was with my family at Beaver the end of the day we hit a million. We just be that kind of market share on a pop record Creek [Resort in Colorado] when the album never expected anything like that. We were — we were usually about 4 or 5%. came out, and my phone was going crazy just blown away by the whole thing. Carrabba: There was a magical guy at Jive with what was going on back in New York Alex: You know the expression, “Don›t at the time, his name’s Gerry Kuster, he was with the album release. I remember running believe the hype?” The hype happened. head of production. Drop-shipping was one Page 16 of 22

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of Gerry’s tricks, [which] is pretty much go- I remember sending [Sony Music Group ing from the manufacturer right to the store. CEO] Rob Stringer a text saying, “Con- Spotlight: We were drop-shipping directly to stores gratulations” because it was amazing. Who and other distribution areas — so they could would’ve ever thought — it was even harder Darkroom move quicker on us, they didn’t have to wait. to do 3.4 million Adele albums than it was Alex: I mistakenly thought, “Here›s this to do 2.4 million *NSYNC, because nobody Founder Justin group, and they›re going to imitate and try was buying physical anymore. Maybe that to ride on the Backstreet Boys› coattails.” would’ve been 5 million back in the day, Lubliner on I had no expectation that they were going who the hell knows. to blow them away. It was a great wake Kleinbaum: [No Strings Attached] made Billie Eilish’s up call. It raised the numerical bar and everybody understand what was possible. It changed everyone›s opinions. Anyone who also proved that boy bands were not just boy Breakthrough & poo-pooed boy bands, forget it. They were bands — they were real, legitimate artists running the show. that could sing great songs and perform the What’s Next Carrabba: We didn’t go out to break a re- heck out of those songs. cord, we just wanted to do the best we could Hudson: It was just one of those indefin- BY TATIANA CIRISANO do. It made me feel like there’s a real market able things. They were talented, they were out there, and there was a real untapped personable — but there are lots of bands hen Darkroom Records audience out there that we could kind of go that are talented and personable that don’t founder/CEO Justin back to. I felt like we re-ignited the music sell records like that. They had a record Lubliner was trying to world a little bit. company that worked very hard; they had break into the industry in Kleinbaum: We had a champagne toast in a distributor that worked very hard; great collegeW — interning at Def Jam Records, of- our marketing meeting [after the 2.4 million publicity; they made great videos and great fering A&R consulting to Republic Records became official]. It lasted about five minutes, records. Everything came together for them, and running an electronic music blog in his and then we got back to business. and they certainly took advantage of it. spare time — seasoned executives tended to Weiss: We had to focus on getting “It’s Wright: The biggest thing we did is, we give him the same advice. Gonna Be Me,” the next single, prepared and beat Goliath. Goliath wasn›t just Lou — “I would get, ‘You need to focus. You can’t ready to go and the next video ready. I think [*NSYNC] fought against RCA Records and excel in a bunch of different roles in the we were just like, “Business as usual, keep Sony, which was the big Goliath. We all can music industry at once,’” says Lubliner as he our heads down and make sure we maxi- look back on those days and say “Man, this paces in the backyard of his West Holly- mize this.” is great.” wood home. “And I wholeheartedly disagree Chasez: Those [2.4] million albums come It’s a beautiful ride, and it’s not over. I with that advice.” with a responsibility. It’s like, now the pres- don’t know when the “to be continued” will Lubliner, 29, has since built a reputa- sure is really setting in. The pressure before be, but there’s just too much love for the tion for proving long-standing industry was “Would we ever get to sing again?” group out there for them not to fully give beliefs wrong. His second-ever signee to In a matter of seven days we’d created an the fans something in the future. If the five Darkroom, which he founded at age 24, was expectation — we did it, but now we have to of them decided to get back together and teenaged dark-pop superstar Billie Eilish — deliver on another level. It›s always work. announce a tour or a release of a record who scored the second-largest sales week [Laughs.] tomorrow, I can tell you with confidence for a 2019 album with her March debut, “We beat Goliath.” that it would be successful, and people are When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Wright: God bless Adele — she smashed ready and would want to see it happen — In an industry where streaming and singles our record with 3.4 million in the first week more confidence than I could tell you about are considered the golden ticket, Eilish has [with 25 in 2015]. I spoke to Justin and Joey what was going to happen with No Strings landed hits across multiple radio formats [after she broke the record], and Justin was Attached. and, along the way, defied every notion of like, “Yo, she’s the s—t. She deserves it.” It what a pop star should wear, sound like and was refreshing to know that there was still a sing about. fan base out there that would buy great mu- At the Grammy Awards in January, Eilish sic. But no one will ever be able to replace became just the second artist in Grammys the energy and how the whole thing went history (and the first woman) to take home the down with [No Strings Attached]. Big Four awards: album, record and song of Weiss: It’s kind of like a baseball player the year, plus best new artist. “I was that kid who tips his hat to the person who wins in the crowd who was going absolutely nuts the championship in career home runs. every time she was called,” Lubliner says. Page 17 of 22

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Even at his young age, Lubliner has been Cloud in late 2015, Lubliner felt he had Now, Lubliner is getting back into early- chasing this kind of success for more than found his future star. “Billie is one of the stage artist development with the Santa a decade. Growing up in New York City, he first artists in a long time to be incredibly Monica-based label’s newest signees: Swed- DJ’d at teen nights and retail stores to earn self-sufficient,” he says, noting that Eilish ish producer Oliver Malcolm, whose debut spending money for sneakers and vinyl writes and records most of her music with single “Switched Up” landed in the upper records, and soon began managing local DJs just one collaborator: Her brother, Finneas echelon of Spotify’s New Music Friday himself. He sparked a friendship with the O’Connell, who also produces her music. playlist last month and has now surpassed son of former Island Def Jam Music Group “Because of that, [her music is] so uniquely 1.5 million streams on the platform, and chairman/CEO L.A. Reid in high school, her, and people really connect to that.” songwriter-producer Max Leone, who and spent many afternoons hanging out at Lubliner says that every decision over released his second single “Cautious” last the Def Jam office, where he once witnessed the past four years was part of a meticu- month and is now working on a debut EP. Jay-Z and Kanye West stop by, and where lous strategy for “making sure that people Lubliner plans to keep his roster small. “I he later interned. identified her as a real artist with a unique really only like to do one or two artists at a “My interest in music, business and DJing identity, putting out a body of work.” Instead time, because I put my all behind it,” he says. all came together when I saw L.A. Reid in of prioritizing singles, the team focused How does he know when it’s time to sign? his office with these massive stars,” Lubliner on helping establish an identity for each “If I can’t stand on a megaphone on a roof- remembers. “I had this lightbulb moment of, individual track off her debut album, forging top and tell everybody in the world that an ‘That’s what I want to do.’” crucial relationships with Spotify, Apple artist is my favorite artist ever, I don’t want He headed west to attend the University Music and YouTube Music along the way. to work with them.” of Southern California’s music business For example, Spotify launched a Los Ange- In the meantime, he’s continuing to chase program and launched a dance music blog les pop-up for the album, which included a opportunities for Eilish with the same hun- called — “don’t make fun of me for the separate multi-sensory room for each song. ger as he did four years ago. On Feb. 13, she name,” he jokes — Chubby Beavers. As the That’s when Lubliner’s early impulse to released the brooding “No Time to Die,” blog took off, he built relationships with get involved in every facet of the music busi- which will serve as the theme song for the managers and agents, one of whom prom- ness, despite warnings from his peers, paid latest James Bond film of the same title. ised him a job after college and then offered off. “I had 10 years of experience failing every “I went through my musical renaissance the position to one of Lubliner’s best friends which way, getting money stolen from me at 14, where music had the biggest impact on instead. “I was super upset and depressed and trying five different businesses — learn- my life. I definitely saw a lot of that in Bil- about it,” Lubliner says, but it taught him a ing how to be a marketer, a publicist, how to lie,” Lubliner says. “I believed in her identity lesson: “I decided that I’m never going to oversee creative projects,” he says. “When I and vision. We’re both kids, at the end of the rely on anybody besides myself to be suc- started with Billie, it really clicked in.” day.” cessful.” It worked: Of the album’s 13 songs (plus SPOTLIGHT: He started by launching Darkroom from its 14-second intro track), 12 landed on the When you’re coming up don’t be afraid his college dorm, initially as a marketing and Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously. to reach out to someone to ask a question or public relations firm for EDM artists. At the The project moved 312,000 equivalent look for opportunities. The worst outcome time, he was consulting for Republic’s A&R album units in its debut week, helping Eilish is they say no and you move on. The best team led by Rob Stevenson and, eventu- become the first artist born in the 21st cen- result is they say yes. In life, you won’t get ally, his Universal Music Group industry tury to score a No. 1 on the Billboard 200 anything you want without asking for it. On contacts led him to Interscope Geffen A&M albums chart. another note, if you say you’re going to do Records chairman/CEO John Janick. Lubliner is eager to give credit to the rest something, you do it. People respect those Janick offered Lubliner the opportunity to of Eilish’s core team: Interscope Geffen who deliver on their promises. make Darkroom an Interscope label imprint A&M’s Nick Miller (international market- The best advice I’ve received is that and Lubliner signed their first client, DJ and ing and promotion), Chelsea Dodson and long-term success is much better than producer Gryffin. Michelle An (creative), Spencer Moya short-term success. You should make plans “I always wanted to work with a super- (digital marketing) and Hannah Gold for three to five years down the line and star,” Lubliner says, but not just for the glory. (marketing); publicist Alexandra Baker; base your decision-making on how it will “I thought that if I could focus on a small co-managers Danny Rukasin and Brandon affect your long-term future. roster, and talk about one or two things Goodman and day-to-day manager Laura Something most people don’t under- versus 20, I could do a really great job. And Ramsay. stand is it takes a long time to achieve your I wanted to work with an artist with a true “People make fun of us, because we show goals. Nothing of long-term value is built vision.” up to events [as] a huge group,” he says. “It’s overnight and patience is a valuable skill When Eilish’s ethereal, emotive break- just because so many people love and appre- you can develop (even though I’m terribly through “ocean eyes” took off on Sound- ciate the project, and want to be there.” impatient). However, being patient does not Page 18 of 22

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mean being reactive and waiting for things video conferencing app Zoom, featuring a Also, a new collection of David Bowie to come to you. Always be proactive. Carter-curated panel of industry luminar- rarities Is It Any Wonder? (Parlophone) It’s good to have mentors. If you don’t, ies. They include Erving; Motown Records starts at No. 4 on the midweek chart, just seek out someone who you admire and buy president Ethiopia Habtemariam; Live one position ahead of Slow Readers Club’s them a cup of coffee just to be able to ask Nation Urban president Shawn Gee; Capitol The Joy of the Return (Modern Sky), new at them questions. There’s always someone Records senior vp global creative Amber No. 5. who is willing to offer advice. Great advice Grimes; Warner Chappell A&R president, As fans remember the late Kenny Rogers, can be crucial to your growth and develop- U.S. Ryan Press; Q&A co-founder, president the country legend is on track for a return ment in whatever you do. and chief strategy officerSuzy Ryoo and to the albums chart. Rogers’ 1999 release A good idea is to identify your strengths director of digital platform strategy Maria All The Hits & All New Love Songs (EMI) and weaknesses. Once you’ve identified both Gironas; Beat House founder Tiffany is at No. 6 on the midweek chart and could sides, you should surround yourself with Kumar and Granderson Des Rochers LLP become Rogers’ first Top 10 record since people that can complement your strengths partner Damien Granderson. August 1985. Rogers passed away last Friday and help lift up your weaknesses. You can join the panel by clicking (March 20), aged 81. What’s tough is there will never come a here. The Zoom meeting ID number is Meanwhile, the race to the Official U.K. time where you have to stop pitching your 4214134928. Singles Chart crown is led once more by artists. No matter how big your artists get Saint Jhn’s “Roses” (B1/HitCo/Ministry Of or how small they start, you always need to Sound), the current title holder. “Roses” is be talking about them and convincing other The Weeknd’s No. 1 on the midweek chart, with a lead of people why they should work with them to nearly 4,000 chart sales over The Weeknd’s proactively get opportunities. ‘After Hours’ Is “Blinding Lights.” Spotlight is a Billboard Business series that The Official U.K. Singles and Albums aims to highlight those in the music business Heading to No. 1 Charts are published late Friday, local time. making innovative or creative moves, or who are succeeding in behind-the-scenes or under- In the U.K. the-radar roles. For submissions for the series, 3 Reasons Lil please contact [email protected]. BY LARS BRANDLE Uzi Vert Could he Weeknd is racing to the sum- Troy Carter’s Q&A mit of the U.K. albums chart with be Headed for After Hours (Republic Records/ to Host Virtual XO). Album of the TThe Canadian R&B singer leads the mid- Music Panels week survey with his new set, which earns Year Grammy more downloads and streaming equivalent All Week With sales than any other title. Nomination After Hours leads the Official U.K. Chart Top Industry Update, with a lead of almost 6,000 chart BY PAUL GREIN sales ahead of the second-placed set, Mor- Executives rissey’s latest I Am Not A Dog On a Chain here are three reasons to think (BMG). that Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake, BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN Featuring the U.K. chart-topping single which tops the Billboard 200 “Blinding Lights,” After Hours is on track for the second straight week, s the coronavirus pandemic con- to become The Weeknd’s (real name Abel Tcould wind up with a Grammy nomination tinues negatively impacting the Tesfaye) second chart leader in the U.K. fol- for album of the year. The first is its huge music industry, Troy Carter and lowing 2015’s Beauty Behind The Madness, commercial success. As my colleague Keith J. Erving’s music and technol- and his fourth consecutive top five. Caulfieldreported on Sunday, the album ogyA company Q&A will hold special virtual After Hours should get a boost with the earned 247,000 equivalent album units in panels all week to “discuss the state of music release this week of a “deluxe” edition, fea- the U.S. in its second week, down a mere and other industry insights,” it was an- turing four new remixes and a live version 14% compared to its debut week. nounced Monday (March 23). of “Scared to Live,” captured during his stint The album also has a high score (88) The virtual sessions will run from 4-5 on Saturday Night Live, and the release of a at Metacritic.com, a review aggregation p.m. PST Monday through Friday on the gory new video for “In Your Eyes.” site. Finally, there’s Lil Uzi Vert’s Grammy Page 19 of 22

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track record: He was a double nominee of the year in the same year. Rap albums first rapper nominated for four of his own three years ago: for best new artist and best nominated in the intervening years were albums. rap performance (for his featured role on Kanye West’s The College Dropout (2004), Two other rap albums by past nominees Migos’ “Bad and Boujee,” a No. 1 hit on the Late Registration (2005) and Graduation in this category — Eminem’s Music to Be Billboard Hot 100). (2007), Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III (2008) Murdered By and Lil Wayne’s Funeral — have Grammy voters were resistant to rap and and Eminem’s Recovery (2010). reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in this hip-hop for many years, just as they were In 2013, both Kendrick Lamar’s Good eligibility period (Sept. 1, 2019 through, resistant to rock in the ‘50s and ‘60s. It’s the Kid, m.A.A.d City and Macklemore & Ryan presumably, Aug. 31, 2020). Reaching No. 1 nature of the establishment to be wary of Lewis’ The Heist were nominated. Lamar is not a requirement for an album of the year new sounds that are threatening to upset was nominated again two years later for To nod, but it never hurts. that established order. Pimp a Butterfly. Drake received his first Other rap releases that have topped the In the years before 1995, when the Gram- album of the year nomination in 2016 for Billboard 200 in this eligibility period are mys instituted a nominations review com- Views. DaBaby’s Kirk, YoungBoy Never Broke mittee to determine the final nominees in In 2017, there were again two rap albums Again’s AI YoungBoy 2, Trippie Redd’s A the Big Four categories (album, record and in the running for album of the year: La- Love Letter to You 4, JackBoys’ JackBoys and song of the year, plus best new artist), just mar’s DAMN. and Jay-Z’s 4:44. The two Lil Baby’s My Turn. one rap album was nominated for album of rappers competed head-to-head in a whop- Note: Post Malone’s Hollywood’s Bleed- the year: M.C. Hammer’s 1990 blockbuster ping seven categories that night. Lamar won ing, which has logged four non-consecutive Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em. That album five of those showdowns;Bruno Mars won weeks atop the Billboard 200, is a very logged 21 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard the other two. Jay-Z went home empty- strong candidate for an album of the year 200, which is, to this day, the longest run handed, despite eight total nominations. Un- nomination, but many see the artist as on top for a hip-hop album. That probably derstandably, he wasn’t pleased. He vented more pop than rap these days. His previous wasn’t the only reason Grammy voters em- his frustration in “Apeshit,” a track on The album, beerbongs and bentleys, was nomi- braced the album. Hammer had an enter- Carters’ 2018 album Everything Is Love, in nated for album of the year and was entered taining (read: non-threatening) persona. which he exclaimed, “Tell the Grammy’s f—- for best pop vocal album, though, like 7, it And the album’s key hit, “U Can’t Touch that 0-for-8 sh—.” wound up not getting a nomination in that This,” was based on a familiar hit, Rick Lamar, meanwhile, became only the third category. That may well change this year. James’ “Super Freak.” rapper (following West and Eminem) to Fugees’ The Score (1996) was the second land three album of the year nominations as rap album to be nominated for album of the a lead artist. In 2018, the first year that there Drag Community year. Its key hit, “Killing Me Softly,” was also were eight nominees for album of the year, familiar to Grammy voters. Roberta Flack’s rap accounted for a record three nominees: Mourns the classic version of that song was the 1973 Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy, Drake’s Scor- winner for both record and song of the year. pion and the Black Panther soundtrack (for Death of Nashom Lauryn Hill, Fugees’ sole female member, which Lamar was nominated as a featured had the third hip-hop album to be nomi- artist, co-producer and co-writer). Wooden After nated for album of the year — and the first Last year, the only hip-hop release nomi- to win the award: her 1998 solo debut, The nated for album of the year was Lil Nas X’s Reported Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. 7, an eight-song EP with a brief 18:44 play- The next two rap albums nominated ing time. Incidentally, the Grammys classi- Coronavirus for album of the year were Eminem’s The fied it as pop (it competed for a nomination Marshall Mathers LP (2000) and OutKast’s for best pop vocal album, though it was Diagnosis Stankonia (2001). passed over for a nod in that category). In 2002, for the first time, two rap albums Eternal Atake isn’t the only rap album BY STEPHEN DAW were nominated for album of the year in the with a good shot at an album of the year same year: Eminem’s The Eminem Show and nomination this year. Roddy Ricch’s Please ccording to a number of posts Nelly’s Nellyville. Two rap albums were also Excuse Me for Being Antisocial, which has from friends and peers on social nominated the following year: OutKast’s amassed four non-consecutive weeks at No. media, Nashom Wooden — who Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (which won, 1 on the Billboard 200, is also a strong can- was well-known in New York the most recent hip-hop album to do so) and didate. West’s gospel album Jesus Is Love, City’sA queer nightlife scene as drag queen Missy Elliott’s Under Construction. which also debuted at No. 1, could get extra Mona Foot — has died. While the cause of It took a full decade before two rap consideration for being a passion project. death has not been officially confirmed, albums were again nominated for album If it is nominated, West would become the many have claimed that the star had tested Page 20 of 22

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positive for the coronavirus, including the usual luncheon rollout. A performance by star’s longtime friend, Project Runway de- Detroit Jazz Bridgewater scheduled for Monday night signer Geoffrey Mac. was also canceled. “Everything is very much “I lost my best friend today from the Festival Moves based on the history and language of jazz coronavirus, Nashom Wooden,” Mac said and the community sensibilities of sophisti- through tears in a video posted via Insta- Forward ‘Full cated improvisation. gram on Monday (March 23). “I just want to “But it’s also about evolution, which is a make sure everyone out there stays healthy Steam Ahead’ for tenant of jazz music itself. It’s an ever evolv- and takes care of each other because the ing, living, breathing art form. Every year we virus is really real. I’m just so sorry.” 2020 try to reflect that in the programming.” Club king Mario Diaz also shared a post in Collins added that DJF organizers are honor of Wooden, remembering their time BY GARY GRAFF “keeping a very close eye on and reacting to” together in the nightlife scene. “A beautiful developments in the pandemic but feel the gorgeous creature, an amazing artist and a hings are proceeding “full steam best course of action is to proceed on pace. friend for 25+ years,” Diaz wrote. “When I ahead” for the 41st annual Detroit No artists, he said, have canceled their ap- think of you I will always see that beauti- Jazz Festival despite the novel pearances, and he raised the possibility that ful smile. When I think of you I will always coronavirus pandemic that’s the DJF may add performers who lost gigs remember the powerhouse that was Mona Tforced the postponement and cancellation at European and North American festivals Foot!” of so many other music events. that have been affected by the pandemic. Wooden became well-known in the New Herbie Hancock, Robert Glasper, Pharoah “I’m looking forward to this as a shining York queer nightlife scene as Mona Foot Sanders, Bob James, the Manhattan Trans- light at the end of the summer and a chal- starting in 1989, according to a 2017 inter- fer, Take 6 and artist-in-residence Dee Dee lenging time, and one where we all gather view with Paper Magazine. Wooden said he Bridgewater are among the big names that around together to celebrate the beauty learned his makeup skills from none other will play at the world’s largest free (as in of the music, the city, the artistry. I think than RuPaul herself and performed for years no-charge) jazz festival during Labor Day joyous information needs to get out there — around various gay clubs in New York be- weekend, Sept. 4-7, in downtown Detroit. especially after some challenging informa- fore ultimately retiring his character — only Bridgewater will perform each day includ- tion.” to bring Mona back for a performance at ing sets with the Woodshed Network Ladies In addition to the DJF lineup, Collins Wigstock 2018 as Wonder Woman. and Bill Charlap. Bridgewater will also be added that the Detroit Jazz Festival Live app Along with being known for his Mona part of Kurt Elling’s “Big Blind,” a narrative will begin webcasting performances start- Foot character, Wooden also achieved some two-hour piece that will also feature Ben ing this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and success in the music business as one-third Vereen and others, and she’ll close the festi- Thursday, at least this week and possibly of The Ones, an early 2000s dance trio that val leading an all-female big band. beyond. Check here for more info. saw once of their singles, “Flawless,” peak Other DJF highlights include: Keyon The full announced DJF lineup includes: at No. 4 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs Harrold presents Jazz and the Birth of Friday, Sept. 4 chart. Hip-Hop with Elzi, Georgia Anne Muld- 2020 Artist-in-Residence Dee Dee Bridge- Stars from all across the New York City row and Chris “Daddy” Dave on Sept. 5; A water and the Woodshed Network Ladies scene shared messages of love following the Dave Brubeck 100th Anniversary Tribute Herbie Hancock news. See what they had to say below: with the Brubeck Brothers, Jerry Bergonzi Saturday, Sept. 5 and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra and Matthew Whitaker Quartet Choir, Sept. 6; Fly Higher: Charlie Parker @ Kenny Barron Trio 100 with Rudresh Manhathappa and Terri Alicia Olatuja – “Intuition: Songs From Lynne Carrington, Sept. 6; a pairing of Eddie The Minds of Women” Daniels and Bob James, “Exploring New Etienne Charles – Creole Soul Worlds,” Sept. 7; and two performances by David Binney Angeleno Quartet Abdullah Ibrahim with the Detroit Jazz Keyon Harrold presents Jazz and the Festival Orchestra on Sept. 6 and with Ekaya Birth of Hip Hop with special guests “Elzi”, on Sept. 7. Georgia Anne Muldrow and Chris “Daddy” “We ARE a jazz festival; Everything falls Dave from the jazz tree, from the jazz perspec- Pharoah Sanders: Icon tive,” DJF president and artistic director The Summit: The Manhattan Transfer Chris Collins told Billboard in making the Meets Take 6 announcement, online rather than at its Kurt Elling’s Big Blind; featuring Kurt Page 21 of 22

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Elling, 2020 Artist-in-Residence Dee Dee the couple recently moved in to a new home for the past decade.” Bridgewater, Broadway Legend Ben Vereen together. Here is a recap of Owen’s seven prior and others “Claudia and I have been talking about Country Airplay leaders: “Barefoot Blue Sunday, Sept. 6 doing this for MONTHS and we’re so Jean Night” (two weeks at No. 1, September Michael Mayo Quartet excited to launch ‘We Bought a House,’” 2011); “Alone With You” (two, April 2012); Roberto Fonseca (100%) – YESUN (70%) Finneas shared on Instagram, adding that “The One That Got Away” (one week, De- Alfredo Rodriguez & Richard Bona Sextet the duo will be releasing new episodes every cember 2012); “Anywhere With You” (one, 2020 Artist-in-Residence Dee Dee Bridge- Monday. From the teaser shared, Finneas July 2013); “Beachin’ “ (one, July 2014); water and Bill Charlap and Claudia will be touching on every topic “American Country Love Song” (one, Sep- Abdullah Ibrahim and the Detroit Jazz from the worst thing about living together tember 2016); and “I Was Jack (You Were Festival Orchestra to Olive Garden’s breadsticks. Diane),” his nod to John Mellencamp’s four- Anat Cohen Tentet/Musical Director, See their announcement below, and check week 1982 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Jack & Oded Lev-Ari out the first episode, “We bought a house Diane” (one, August 2018). Sean Jones: “Dizzy Spellz” and we can’t leave it,” here. “Homemade” completes Owen’s longest The Dave Brubeck 100th Anniversary trip to No. 1, 42 weeks, passing the 29-week Tribute; featuring the Brubeck Brothers, trek to the top for “The One That Got Away.” Jerry Bergonzi, the Detroit Jazz Festival Jake Owen Tops “Homemade” was penned by Ben Gold- Orchestra and Choir, and others smith, Jared Mullins, Drew Parker and Bob- Fly Higher: Charlie Parker@100 Co Mu- Country Airplay by Pinson and released as the third single sic directors: Rudresh Mahanthappa & Terri from Greetings From… Jake Owen, which Lyne Carrington With ‘Homemade,’ debuted and peaked at No. 8 on Top Country Gregory Porter Albums in April 2019, becoming Owen’s Monday, Sept. 7 Celebrating the seventh top 10. The LP’s second single (fol- Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya lowing “Jack”), “Down to the Honky Tonk,” Joey Alexander Trio ‘Most Important hit No. 7 on Country Airplay, also last April, Jimmy Greene Quintet marking his 10th of 11 top 10s. Eddie Daniels and Bob James; Exploring Thing in Life’ New Worlds Omar Sosa & Marialy Pacheco Piano Duo BY JIM ASKER Powfu & Robert Glasper 2020 Artist-in-Residence Dee Dee Bridge- ake Owen earns his eighth No. 1 on Beabadoobee water and her all-female big band Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “Homemade” lifts 2-1 on the list dated Each Earn First March 28, increasing by 7% to 36.1 mil- Finneas Launches Jlion audience impressions in the week end- Hot 100 Entry ing March 22, according to Nielsen Music/ New Podcast With MRC Data. With ‘Death Bed’ “There is so much going on in the world Girlfriend Claudia right now and I don’t take any of this for BY XANDER ZELLNER granted,” Owen says of his eighth Country Sulewski Airplay leader. “’Homemade’ has such a new owfu and Beabadoobee make level of meaning to me. I think we all can their first career visits to the BY RANIA ANIFTOS relate right now to taking the time to focus Billboard Hot 100, as their collab on the people and small, daily moments that “Death Bed” debuts at No. 71 on n Finneas’ words, “If you spend long really matter, the ones that make your home, Pthe chart dated March 28. enough social distancing, you start a at the core, the most important thing in life. The song opens with 10 million U.S. podcast.” “Owen continues, “I know a lot of my streams, 2.1 million in radio audience im- That’s right, the 22-year-old croon- team and fans are celebrating this moment pressions and 2,000 downloads sold accord- Ier and his girlfriend, YouTube star Claudia from home with me right now, and I’d like to ing to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. Sulewski, are keeping themselves (and their thank Big Loud Records and the rest of the The track was produced by Otterpop fans) entertained amid the coronavirus people that work so hard every day to get and co-written by Powfu (real name Isaiah crisis by starting their own podcast. The my music out to the fans. And, thank you to Faber), Beabadoobee (real name Beatrice series, titled We Bought a House, is fitting, as the fans for embracing me the way you have Laus) and Oscar Lang. Page 22 of 22

IN BRIEF

“Death Bed” concurrently debuts at No. play, Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop, Modern 36 on Rock Airplay with 1.7 million audi- AC, Pop Songs, Rap Airplay and Rhythmic Kelis’ New Netflix ence impressions (up 319%) and No. 39 on Songs. She also boasts a robust chart history Alternative Songs. fronting No Doubt. Show ‘Cooked The tune, released on Robots and Hu- Meanwhile, Shelton and Stefani add their mans/Columbia Records, samples Beaba- second top 10 on an airplay chart: “You With Cannabis’ doobee’s 2017 song “Coffee” (released on Make It Feel Like Christmas” hit No. 9 on Dirty Hit). Adult Contemporary in 2018. Debuts on 4/20, As previously reported, Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” tops the Hot 100 for an 11th Obviously week, The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” Benee & Gus lifts to No. 2 and Harry Styles’ “Adore You” BY GIL KAUFMAN ascends to the top 10. Dapperton Hit Hot elis long ago proved to be as 100 For First Time good a chef in the kitchen as she Blake Shelton & is in the studio. But next month, With ‘Supalonely’ she’s bringing her culinary skills Gwen Stefani Hit Kto a higher level with the debut of her weed- BY XANDER ZELLNER infused Netflix seriesCooked With Cannabis. Country Airplay The series, co-hosted by the “Milkshake” enee and Gus Dapperton earn singer and Portland chef Leather Storrs, will Top 10 With their first career entry on the feature professional chefs working against Billboard Hot 100, as “Su- the clock to whip up a tasty themed three- ‘Nobody But You’ palonely” (on which Dapperton course meal with sticky icky as the special Bis featured), debuts at No. 88 on the chart ingredient. BY JIM ASKER dated March 28. And it debuts on April 20, of course. The track opens with 9.3 million U.S. “Anyone that knows me, knows how much lake Shelton and Gwen Stefani’s streams (up 13%) and 2,000 downloads I love my Netflix, so this is a dream come “Nobody but You” pushes 12-10 sold (up 20%) in the tracking week ending true,” the singer wrote in an announcement on Billboard’s Country Airplay March 19, according to Nielsen Music/MRC post. “Interestingly, this was one of those chart (dated March 28), gaining Data. things that I didn’t go looking for, it kind of Bby 14% to 22.6 million in audience in the It also drew 1.3 million in radio reach in came to me. As a chef, I was intrigued by the week ending March 22, according to Nielsen the week ending March 22, as it nears the food and as an everyday person, I was inter- Music/MRC Data. Pop Songs airplay chart. ested in how powerful this topic is in today’s Shelton scores his 34th Country Airplay The song was produced by Josh Fountain society. In this country, many things have top 10, a run that started in 2001 with his and co-written by Fountain, Benee, Dapper- been used systematically to oppress groups launch track “Austin,” which dominated for ton and Jenna Andrews. of people, but this is so culturally important five weeks, becoming his first of 26 No. 1s. Benee (real name Stella Rose Bennett), for us to learn and grow together. I hope you Shelton ties Brad Paisley for the 10th- 20, hails from Auckland, New Zealand, and all will tune in, it’s definitely going to be a most top 10s in the Country Airplay chart’s signed to Republic Records last spring. good time!” history, which dates to 1990; George Strait Her EP Stella & Steve, which houses “Su- The singer, who has not released an al- leads with 61. “Nobody” follows Shelton’s palonely,” debuted on last week’s Billboard bum since 2014’s Food, recently appeared on prior top 10, his Garth Brooks duet “Dive 200 at No. 160 and rises to No. 138 on the the UK version of The Masked Singer. This is Bar,” which peaked at No. 6 on the chart latest ranking with 7,000 equivalent album not her first foray into food TV, either, com- date March 7. units. It concurrently pushes 10-7 on Alter- ing on the heels of her 2014 Cooking Chan- Stefani, Shelton’s real-life love, hits the native Albums. nel series Saucy and Sweet and the release top 10 in her first visit to the Country Air- “Supalonely” also earns Dapperton (real the next year of her first cookbookMy Life play, expanding upon her already versatile name Brendan Rice), 23, his first chart entry. on a Plate. chart history. The New York native (and AWAL Records As a soloist, Stefani reaches the top 10 of a signee) previously appeared on the 13 Rea- 10th format-focused airplay chart, follow- sons Why Season 2 soundtrack with his song ing Adult Contemporary, Adult Pop Songs, “Of Lacking Spectacle.” The set reached No. Alternative Songs, Dance/Mix Show Air- 26 on the Billboard 200 in June 2018.