BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE APRIL 13, 2020 | PAGE 4 OF 19 ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] Bulletin SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country YOURAlbu DAILYms; BrettENTERTAINMENT Young ‘Catc NEWSh UPDATE’-es Fifth AirplayFEBRUARY 16, 2021 Page 1 of 23 Leader; Travis Denning Makes History INSIDE Morgan Wallen’s ‘Dangerous’ Sam Hunt’s second studio full-length, and first in over five years, Southside sales (up 21%) in the tracking week. On Country Airplay, it hops 18-15 (11.9 mil- (MCA Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville), debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s lion audience impressions, up 16%). Top Country• Olivia AlbumsRodrigo’s chart dated April 18. In its first weekNo. (ending April1 9),for it Fifth Week on earned‘Drivers 46,000 License’ equivalent album units, including 16,000 in album sales, ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITH YOUNG Brett Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cordingTops to Hot Nielsen 100 for Music/MRC 5th Data.Billboard 200and While total Country Airplay No.‘If 1 as “Catch”I Know (Big Machine Label Me’ Group) ascends SouthsideWeek, Cardi marks B’s Hunt’s ‘Up’ second No. 1 on the 2-1, increasing 13% to 36.6 million impressions. chart andDebuts fourth at No.top 10.2 It follows freshman LP Young’s first of six chart entries, “Sleep With- Montevallo, which arrived at the summit in No - out You,” reached No. 2 in December 2016. He • Vivendi Planning to Hits Top 10 for First Time vemberMove 2014 Forward and reigned With for nine weeks. To date, followed with the multiweek No. 1s “In Case You MontevalloUMG IPO has This earned Year 3.9 million units, with 1.4 Didn’t Know” (two weeks, June 2017), “Like I Loved million in album sales. BY KEITH CAULFIELD You” (three, January 2018), “Mercy” (two, August Montevallo• Taylor Swift’s has spent ‘Love 267 weeks on the list, tying 2018) and “Here Tonight” (two, April 2019). LukeStory’ Bryan Re-Recording’s Crash My Party as theMorgan sixth-longest- Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album con- sold from an album,“Catch” or completes 3,750 ad-supported his longest journey or 1,250 to No. 1, runningRevs titles Up Streamers in the chart’s 56-yeartinues history. to rule the Billboard 200 chart for a fifth paid/subscriptionhaving takenon-demand 46 weeks official to reach theaudio apex. and It videoout- On the all-genre Billboard 200,straight Southside week, ar- while Wallen’s previous set, 2018’s If I streams generatedpaces the by 30-week songs fromclimb anof “Herealbum. Tonight.” The new rives• MSG at No. Entertainment 5, awarding Hunt his second top 10 On Hot Country Songs, “Catch” pushes 7-5 for HUNT YOUNG after theRevenue No. 3-peaking Down MontevalloKnow. Me, reaches the top 10 for the first time. Feb. 20, 2021-dateda new high. chart (where Dangerous is steady Hunt94%, first But releasedThings Arethe EPX2C , whichDangerous debuted earned 150,000 equivalent album units at No. 1) will be posted in full on Billboard’s website on Looking Up and peaked at No. 5 on Top Countryin the U.S.Albums in the in Augustweek ending 2014. FollowingFeb. 11 (up 1%),COMBS accord ‘DOES’- Feb.IT AGAIN 17 (one Luke day Combs later’ “Doesthan usual, to Me” owed(River toHouse/Columbia the Presi- Montevallo• Former, Between UMPG the Pines: ingAcoustic to MRC Mixtape Data. startedDangerous at its bowedNo. 7 high atop in theNashville), list four featuringdents’ Eric Day Church holiday, ascends in the 11-8 U.S. on on Country Feb. 15). Airplay, For allup 10%chart to NovemberChief Zach 2015. Horowitz weeks ago, on the chart dated Jan. 23. It’s just24.7 the million in audience.news, follow The song @billboard is Combs’ and eighth @billboardcharts straight career-opening on Montevallo produced five singles, four of which hit the pinnacle of Country top 10, following a record run of seven consecutive out-of-the-gate, properly Partners In Pitaya, third album to spend five weeks at No. 1 in the last both Twitter and Instagram. Airplay:New “Leave Latin-Focused the Night On,” “Take Your Time,” “House Party” and “Make promoted No. 1 singles. You MissPodcast Me.” Company “Break Up in a Small12 months, Town” peaked following at No. Taylor 2. Swift’s Folklore (eightChurch adds hisOf 15thDangerous Country Airplay’ 150,000 top 10.equivalent album units Hunt co-penned all 12 songsweeks) on Southside and Lil, including Baby’s My “Body Turn Like (five a Back weeks). My earned in the tracking week ending Feb. 11, SEA units Road,”• which Russ Thyret,was released in 2017.Turn The and smashFolklore hit ruled were Country also the Airplay two most for popularTHAT TOOK al- QUITEcomprise ‘A FEW’ 107,000 MONTHS (down Travis 9%, Denning equaling shatters 146.38 the million record for Former Warner Bros. three weeks and the airplay-, streaming-bums of and2020, sales-based according Hot to Country MRC Data. Songs the most weeks on-demandit has taken to streams penetrate of the the Country album’s Airplay songs), top album 10 as “After sales chartRecords for a then-record Chairman/ 34 frames. It now ranks second only to Bebe Rexha and a Few” (Mercury Nashville) climbs 12-10 in its 57th week, up 4% to 21.4 mil - FloridaCEO, Georgia Dies Lineat 76’s “Meant to Be”The (50 Billboard weeks atop 200 the chart latter rankslist in 2017-18). the most popularlion in radio reach.comprise 37,000 (up 49%) and TEA units comprise “Downtown’s Dead,” which isalbums also on of the the new week set, reachedin the U.S. Nos. based 14 and on multi-metric 15 The song surpasses5,000 two(down tracks 6%). that took 50 weeks each to enter the top 10: • Spotify Adds White on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, respectively, in June 2018. “Kin- Easton Corbin’s “A Girl Like You,” which reached No. 10 in January 2018 be- House Veteran Mona consumption as measured in equivalent album units. During the new chart’s tracking week, on Feb. 10, folks”Sutphen led Country to Board Airplay of on Feb.Units 29, comprisebecoming Hunt’salbum seventhsales, track No. 1.equivalent It hit fore albums peaking at No.Wallen 6 thatissued February, a five-minute and Aaron Watson video’s via “Outta social Style,” media which No. 3 on Hot Country Songs. achieved its No. 10 high in December 2017. Directors (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each addressing the Feb. 2 emergence of an earlier video Latest single “Hard to Forget” jumps 17-9 on Hot Country Songs. It’s his “After” is Denning’s second Country Airplay entry. “David Ashley Parker unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks (continued) eighth top 10, having corralled 8.2 million U.S. streams (up 96%) and 5,000 in From Powder Springs” traveled to No. 32 in September 2018. ETHAN MICHAEL YOUNG: VIA MARTIN/NHLI GETTY HUNT: IMAGES. IMAGES MILLER/GETTY 20 21 5TH ANNIVERSARY Raleigh Music Group was founded in 2016 by industry veteran As Raleigh’s reputation has grown, the company has partners Peter Raleigh and Steven Storch. The company is steadily built a contemporary roster of songwriters, artists headquartered in the heart of Times Square, NYC with offices in and producers and now publishes songs performed by or Los Angeles. In its first five years has experienced remarkable global featuring superstar artists including: Ariana Grande, Chris growth and expansion. Brown, Kid Rock, Madonna, John Legend, Lil Uzi Vert, A$AP Ferg, Cardi B, A Boogie, Snoop Dogg, Trey Songz, Lil Durk, The boutique music publishing company attributes its success to its Busta Rhymes and film and tv composers Randy Edelman “client first” approach to music publishing – delivering a high touch, and Rick Marotta. high service experience to a select roster of music publishing clients it represents. The company has benefitted from the support of Please join Billboard in congratulating Raleigh Music Susan Aberbach, an owner of the Elvis Presley catalog and an early group’s 5th Anniversary. stage investor. CONTACTS Raleigh’s client services are provided by A&R staff in NY and LA, a synch licensing team with strong relationships in the film/tv, Joe Maimone 201.301.5933 | [email protected] advertising and gaming industries, and a first-class copyright and royalty administration department. Lee Ann Photoglo 615.376.7931 | [email protected] The company’s best in class global sub-publishing partner network includes Budde, Café Concerto, Peer Music, Native Tongue, Supreme Cynthia Mellow Songs, Schubert, Cloud 9, GL Music, Clippers, Som Livre, Nichion, 615.352,0265 | [email protected] Geoff Paynter Music, Fujipacific, IDM, Pelikan and others. Marcia Olival Raleigh represents numerous iconic catalogs and songs including 786.586.4901 | [email protected] Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, “A Little Less Conversation”, and “All Shook Up”, George Gershwin’s “Summertime”, “Let’s Call the Gene Smith Whole Thing Off” and “They Can’t Take that Away from Me”, The 973.452.3528 | [email protected] Tokens, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, Gregmark Music’s “Stormy Monday”, Anthony Newley’s “What Kind of Fool am I” and numerous Debra Fink other classics. The company also represents the classic catalogs of 213.448.5157 | [email protected] Bo Diddley, America, Anthony Newley, Willy (Mink) Deville, Lords of Ryan O’Donnell the Underground, Trax Records, and many others. +447843437176 | [email protected]

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showing him using the N-word. Reaction to ending Feb. 11 (up 33%) – which also marks assigned to the artist’s album with the most the Feb. 2 clip was swift – he was “sus- the album’s best weeks, in terms of units sales in a week. (After Hours sold 6,000 pended” from his recording contract with earned. copies in the latest tracking week, while The Big Loud Records, his music was removed Of If I Know Me’s 29,000-unit sum, 17,000 Highlights sold 10,000. Due to the track from dozens of high profile playlists on comprise SEA units (up 12%, equaling 24.95 reassignment, After Hours moves 4-37 on streamers such as Apple Music and Spotify, million on-demand streams of the songs), the Billboard 200, with 15,000 units earned and multiple radio groups dropped his 10,000 comprise album sales (up 101%, the – down 57%.) music. In the tracking week that captured album’s best sales week yet) and 2,000 com- In total, The Highlights is The Weeknd’s the initial fallout from the Feb. 2 video, Dan- prise TEA units (up 16%). seventh top 10 album, the entirety of his gerous spent a fourth week at No. 1 (with a Back up near the top of the chart, The charting efforts – and all of them have 14% gain in units earned in the week ending Weeknd’s new 18-song retrospective compi- reached the top five of the list. Feb. 4). lation The Highlights debuts at No. 2 (89,000 Foo Fighters fly in at No. 3 with the band’s Among albums that charted on both Top equivalent album units earned) — the high- new studio album Medicine at Midnight, Country Albums and the Billboard 200, est charting greatest hits set in over a year. marking the group’s ninth top 10. The set the last to notch five total weeks at No. 1 on The last best-of to see such great heights on launches with 70,000 equivalent album the Billboard 200 was Taylor Swift’s Red, the chart was Blake Shelton’s Fully Loaded: units earned. Of that sum, 64,000 comprise with seven nonconsecutive weeks atop God’s Country, which debuted and peaked at album sales (it’s the No. 1-selling album the list in 2012-13. The last country set to No. 2 on the Dec. 28, 2019-dated list. of the week), 6,000 comprise SEA units log its first five weeks at No. 1 was Shania The Highlights was released on Feb. 5, two (equaling 7.66 million on-demand streams Twain’s Up (Dec. 7, 2002 through Jan. 4, days before The Weeknd played the Super of the set’s songs) and a negligible number 2003). The last country album by a male Bowl halftime show on Feb. 7. comprise TEA units. artist to score five weeks at No. 1 on the Of The Highlights’ 89,000-unit sum, The third and final debut in the top 10 is Billboard 200 – and its first five weeks in the 70,000 comprise SEA units (equaling 101.94 Pooh Shiesty’s Shiesty Season, which bows lead – was Garth Brooks’ Double Live in million on-demand streams of the songs), at No. 4 with 62,000 equivalent album units late 1998 and early 1999, which spent its first 10,000 comprise album sales and 9,000 com- earned. It’s the rapper’s first album release, five (and total) weeks at No. 1 (Dec. 5, 1998 – prise TEA units. and was led by his first Hot 100 hit, the top Jan. 2, 1999). The Highlights boasts 11 of The Weeknd’s 40-charting “Back in Blood,” featuring Lil While Dangerous remains at No. 1, Wal- 12 top 10-charting hits on the Billboard Hot Durk. The 21-year-old Pooh Shiesty was len’s previous album, 2018’s If I Know Me, 100. Among the album’s songs are two that previously named as one of Billboard’s 2021 reaches the top 10 for the first time, as it are also on his most recent studio album, Artists to Watch, and also deemed Febru- climbs 17-10 – surpassing its previous high 2020’s After Hours: “Blinding Lights” and ary’s Hip-Hop and R&B Rookie of the of No. 13 (reached on the chart dated Aug. “Save Your Tears.” The TEA and SEA units Month. 20, 2020). If I Know Me rises with 29,000 for both songs contribute to The High- Lil Durk’s The Voice falls 2-5 with 49,000 equivalent album units earned in the week lights on the chart as a song’s activity is equivalent album units earned (down 43%),

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while Pop Smoke’s former leader Shoot for Jan. 23-dated Hot 100, marking Rodrigo’s 100 top 10, a sum that includes four No. 1s. the Stars Aim for the Moon dips 3-6 with first No. 1. The song from the singer-song- She has notched at least one top 10 in each 41,000 units (down 4%). Three more previ- writer and actress, who broke through with of the last five years, dating to her debut No. ous chart-toppers are next in the top 10, as roles on Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark and 1 “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” in 2017. Ariana Grande’s Positions climbs 9-7 with Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: “Up” opens at No. 1 on both Digital Song 32,000 units (up 14%), Juice WRLD’s Leg- The Series, totaled 27.6 million U.S. streams Sales and Streaming Songs, where it’s Cardi ends Never Die descends 5-8 with 30,000 (down 14%) and 16,000 downloads sold (up B’s fifth and fourth leader, respectively. It units (down 2%) and Luke Combs’ What You 29%) in the week ending Feb. 11, according enters Radio Songs at No. 50. See Is What You Get drops 6-9 with nearly to MRC Data. It also drew 54.3 million radio The track also premieres at No. 1 on both 30,000 units (down 1%). airplay audience impressions (up 16%) in the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap As previously noted, Wallen’s If I Know the week ending Feb. 14, as it wins the Hot Songs charts, which use the same method- Me closes out the top 10, jumping 17-10 with 100’s top Airplay Gainer award for a fourth ology as the Hot 100. Cardi B achieves her 29,000 units (up 33%). consecutive frame. sixth No. 1 on the former chart and fifth on The track slips to No. 2 after four weeks the latter list. atop the all-genre Streaming Songs chart After The Weeknd included portions of Olivia Rodrigo’s and 3-4 after three weeks atop Digital Song each song in his Super Bowl LV halftime Sales, while reaching the Radio Songs top performance Feb. 7, his “Blinding Lights” ‘Drivers License’ 10, pushing 11-7. (which closed the set) holds at No. 3 on the “License” is just the 10th single to have Hot 100 and “Save Your Tears” surges 8-4, Tops Hot 100 for debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 and spent at becoming his ninth top five hit. Both songs least its first five weeks on top. It’s the first are from his latest studio LP, 2020’s After 5th Week, Cardi to earn the distinction for a female artist’s Hours (which now sports three top five first No. 1 with a song on which she’s the hits, as “Heartless” hit No. 1 for a week in B’s ‘Up’ Debuts at sole billed act. December 2019) and appear on his new hits Singles to Spend First Five Weeks or collection The Highlights, which debuts at No. 2 More on Hot 100 at No. 1 No. 2 on the Billboard 200. 16 weeks, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & “Lights” tallied 58.7 million in airplay BY GARY TRUST Boyz II Men, 1995-96 audience (up 2%), 21.8 million streams (up 14 weeks, “Candle in the Wind 45%) and 30,000 sold (up 247%) in the livia Rodrigo’s “Drivers Li- 1997”/”Something About the Way You Look tracking week; “Tears” earned 32.1 million cense” dominates the Billboard Tonight,” Elton John, 1997-98 in radio reach (up 14%) and 21.7 million Hot 100 chart for a fifth week, 11 weeks, “God’s Plan,” Drake, 2018 streams (up 45%) and sold 14,000 (up 152%). after soaring in at the sum- 11 weeks, “I’ll Be Missing You,” Puff Daddy The former takes top Sales Gainer honors on Omit four weeks ago. & Faith Evans feat. 112, 1997 the Hot 100 and the latter is the chart’s top Plus, Cardi B’s “Up” blasts onto the Hot 10 weeks, “Hello,” Adele, 2015-16 Streaming Gainer. 100 at No. 2; The Weeknd doubles up in the 8 weeks, “Fantasy,” Mariah Carey, 1995 “Lights” spent four weeks at No. 1 on the top five following his Super Bowl LV half- 6 weeks, “Born This Way,” Lady Gaga, 2011 Hot 100 last April-May (eventually finish- time show performance, with “Blinding 5 weeks, “Drivers License,” Olivia Rodrigo, ing as the chart’s top hit of all of 2020) and Lights” at No. 3 and “Save Your Tears” at 2021 logs its 62nd total week on the chart. It adds No. 4; and the late Pop Smoke’s “What You 5 weeks, “7 Rings,” Ariana Grande, 2019 a record-extending 49th week in the top 10 Know Bout Love” enters the top 10, rising 5 weeks, “Harlem Shake,” Baauer, 2013 and record-furthering 40th week in the top from No. 13 to No. 10. Cardi B’s “Up” roars onto the Hot 100 five. The track also posts a record-padding The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. stream- at No. 2, following its Feb. 5 release. It 46th frame atop the multi-metric Hot R&B ing (official audio and official video), radio launches with 31.2 million streams, 14.9 Songs survey. airplay and sales data. All charts (dated Feb. million in airplay audience and 37,000 sold Rounding out the Hot 100’s top five, 20) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (digital and physical singles combined; in 24kGoldn’s “Mood,” featuring Iann Dior, (Feb. 17, a day later than usual in observance addition to “explicit,” “clean” and “instru- dips 2-5, after eight nonconsecutive weeks of the Presidents Day holiday in the U.S. Feb mental” download options for $1.29 during at No. 1 in October through mid-January. 15). For all chart news, you can follow @bill- the tracking week, a “limited CD single” and It tops the multi-metric Hot Rock & board and @billboardcharts on both Twitter “alternative cover” CD single were available Alternative Songs and Hot Alternative and Instagram. for purchase in Cardi B’s official webstore Songs charts for a 24th week each. “License” was released Jan. 8 on Geffen/ for $9.99 each). Ariana Grande’s “34+35” descends 4-6 Interscope Records and debuted atop the The rapper/singer collects her ninth Hot on the Hot 100, after reaching No. 2 three 2 0 2 1 PRIMARY WAVE 15TH ANNIVERSARY

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weeks earlier; Chris Brown and Young subsequent listing before end 2021.” Thug’s “Go Crazy” slips 6-7, after hitting No. The plan, which calls for the company Taylor Swift’s 5, as it adds a fifth week atop Radio Songs to trade on the Euronext Amsterdam stock (81.1 million in audience, down 2%); Dua exchange, is subject to a Vivendi Extraor- ‘Love Story’ Lipa’s “Levitating,” featuring DaBaby, drops dinary Shareholders’ Meeting on March 29, to No. 8 from its No. 5 Hot 100 high; and 2021. Re-Recording Grande’s “Positions” falls 7-9, after spend- The idea is to avoid the so-called “con- ing its first week on the chart at No. 1 in glomerate discount,” under which a com- Revs Up November. pany could be valued by the market as less Closing the Hot 100’s top 10, Pop Smoke’s than the sum of its parts — especially by Streamers “What You Know Bout Love” rises 13-10, investors looking for more direct exposure with 43.7 million in airplay audience (up to the music sector at a time when stream- BY KEITH CAULFIELD 9%), 11 million streams (down 6%) and ing is fueling growth and optimism. 2,000 sold (down 5%). “This plan is the result of the joint efforts aylor Swift’s “Love Story (Tay- The rapper appears in the Hot 100’s top in recent years by the Vivendi and the Uni- lor’s Version)” garnered 5.8 mil- 10 with a second hit, after “For the Night,” versal Music Group, under the leadership of lion in on-demand streams (audio featuring Lil Baby and DaBaby, debuted at Sir Lucian Grainge, to further the company’s and video combined) in the U.S. on its No. 6 high last July. Both songs are from position as the music industry’s undisputed Tits day of release, Feb. 12, according to initial his album Shoot for the Stars Aim for the leader,” Vivendi said in a letter about the reports to MRC Data. Moon, released that month. The artist born move that was shared internally at Univer- On Feb. 11, Swift announced that she Bashar Barakah Jackson, from Brooklyn, sal by Grainge, the company’s chairman had re-recorded her 2008 album Fearless, was fatally shot at age 20 on Feb. 19, 2020, and CEO. “Recently the successful opening as Fearless (Taylor’s Version), and that the during a home invasion in Los Angeles. of UMG’s share capital to an international updated lead single, “Love Story (Taylor’s Again, for all chart news, you can follow consortium led by Tencent has confirmed its Version),” would be unveiled on Thursday @billboard and @billboardcharts on both attractiveness with strategic investors.” night (Feb. 11). Fearless became Swift’s first Twitter and Instagram and all charts (dated A consortium led by Tencent owns 20% No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, while Feb. 20), including the Hot 100 in its en- of Universal, and Vivendi now owns the “Love Story” was her second Billboard Hot tirety, will refresh on Billboard.com tomor- remaining 80%. Based on the last acquisi- 100 top 10 hit. Since then, Swift has tallied row (Feb. 17). tion of shares, by the Tencent consortium seven more No. 1 albums, and 27 more top 10 in December, Universal could be worth as Hot 100 hits. much as $37 billion. Meanwhile, the original version of “Love Vivendi Planning “I couldn’t be prouder,” Grainge said in Story” logged 672,000 on-demand streams his letter to the company. “Not only is this on Feb. 12. On Feb. 11 it snared 504,000. In to Move Forward a validation of our strategy, our teams, and the days leading up to Feb. 11, the original our unprecedented record of success, it’s a “Love Story” would normally net between With UMG IPO natural evolution in the storied history of 270,000 and 325,000 daily streams. our company that will enable our entrepre- To put the Feb. 12 streaming figure for This Year neurial and creative culture to continue to “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” in perspec- soar.” tive, in the week ending Feb. 4, there were BY BILLBOARD STAFF only 55 songs that logged more streams that week than “Love” did in a single day. ivendi may move forward with Re-recordings of older songs or albums the Universal Music Group IPO are treated separately from their originals, before the end of 2021. with independent chart histories for each While the French media version. Thus, Fearless (Taylor’s Ver- conglomerateV has been planning an initial sion) and “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” public offering for Universal for years, it has will chart separately from Swift’s original been moving up the timeline: It first planned 2008 recordings of the album and song, the spinoff for no later than 2023; then, as respectively. recently as October, for 2022. On Saturday (Feb. 13), Vivendi announced its “intention to examine the distribution of 60% of the Universal Music Group share capital and its Page 8 of 23

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ments; the Madison Square Garden will host community at the time when we’re decades MSG the New York Knicks and Golden State War- behind every other major?” says Horowitz riors that evening. Events require approval today. Entertainment by the state’s Department of Health and will Horowitz, who spent 12 years as president be limited to 10% of capacity, a level that’s and COO of Universal and later was chair- Revenue Down “very difficult” to make concerts viable, man and CEO of Universal Music Publish- MSGE president Andy Lustgarten said ing Group, launched “alternative” lanes, 94%, But Things during the earnings call. going into rock en español with acclaimed Executive chairman and CEO James producer Gustavo Santaolalla, launching Are Looking Up Dolan said in a statement the state’s actions Latin urban label Machete and helming the are “another important step” to “a return to acquisition of Fonovisa and Disa, turning BY GLENN PEOPLES normal operations,” although he was vague Universal into a Latin powerhouse. enough to prevent investors from setting Fast forward to 2021, and he’s looking to adison Square Garden Enter- expectations. After all, promoters are still do it again, but in the podcast space. tainment’s (MSGE) revenue in cancelling events more than announcing Horowitz has partnered with longtime the three months ended Dec. them. And while there is certainly a “pent- friend and Fonovisa founder and former 31 — its fiscal second quar- up demand for live entertainment,” as Dolan president Guillermo Santiso, podcast Mter — was $23.1 million, down 94.1% from said, how and when that demand will be pioneer and Megaphone co-founder Andy the $394.1 million posted in the period a fulfilled is unknown. Bowers, Latina marketing and advertis- year earlier, the company announced Friday A factor in MSGE’s favor is a local foot- ing expert Diana Mejía-Jones of Campa- (Feb. 12). print that subjects it to fewer regulations nario Entertainment and former Univision The quarter was the live music business’s and road blocks than a promoter that must executive Jordi Oliveres to launch Pitaya third full quarter affected by shut-down route national tours through multiple, un- Entertainment. The new company, named orders that bought touring to a standstill. even state and city restrictions. Then again, after the succulent fruit indigenous to many MSGE had just $46.5 million of revenues such imbalances in entertainment can hurt a Latin countries, is focused on podcasts for from April 1 to Dec. 31, 2020, down 94.1% regional promoter that relies on artists that and about Latinos, including Spanish and year over year from $787 million. conduct national tours — without national non-Spanish speakers. Although MSGE’s share price fell as touring, the U.S. live music business will be Pitaya’s original six series programming much as 6.5% to $94.01 on Friday, investors hamstrung. slate ranges from Puerto Rican actress and have faith in live entertainment: Closing at TV host Giselle Blondet’s podcast on moth- $97.02, MSGE has lost little value since it erhood, “Ay, Mamá,” to comedians’ Joanna spun off from MSG’s sports division at $100 Former UMPG Hausmann, and Jenny Lorenzo’s Spang- on April 9, 2020. Its shares were trading lish “Hyphenated.” All have debuted on the below $70 as recently as Nov. 2 — the ben- Chief Zach Apple charts in the U.S. in their first week of eficiary of a bull market as well as positive release. news about vaccination rollouts. Horowitz Partners Horowitz, who most recently produced MSGE’s $1.45 billion of liquidity on Dec. and co-produced the Los Tigres del Norte 31 was helped by a debt sale of $650 mil- In Pitaya, New at Folsom Prison documentary and Latin lion in November and $20.6 million raised Grammy-winning album, spoke to Bill- from the sale of some its stake in fantasy Latin-Focused board about how he’s applied his Latin sports platform DraftKings.com. Its opera- music expertise to podcasting. tional cash burn was just $64 million in the Podcast Company Billboard: You left Universal Music quarter and $107 million went to capital Publishing Group in 2014. Why did you expenditures, mainly the construction of its BY LEILA COBO come back to music and to Latin music next-generation venue, the MSG Sphere in specifically? Las Vegas, that is planned to open in 2023. n the 1990s, when Zach Horow- Horowitz: Throughout my career at Uni- In New York, where tours were sus- itz was COO of MCA (which would versal I was always passionate about Latin pended last March, music venues and later become Universal Music Group), music, and I became immersed in the cul- concert promoters have reason for opti- Universal had no Latin companies and ture. And when I left, one of the things I did mism: On Wednesday, the state announced Ino presence in Latin America whatsoever. was keep the friendship with Los Tigres del that arenas with capacities over 10,000 will “I was looking at the demographic Norte. Getting Los Tigres del Norte at Fol- start to re-open to fans on Feb. 23, 2021 with changes in the country and thought: How do som Prison done was harder than pulling off limited capacities and strict safety require- we penetrate what was the fastest growing the Polygram deal. It took us two years. The Page 9 of 23

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California Department of Corrections hadn’t advertisers will come. Thyret passed away at his home sur- allowed a concert since Johnny Cash. Will you have music programming at rounded by family in the Valley Village During your Universal days, there was some point? neighborhood of Los Angeles. Further de- a lot of skepticism surrounding the vi- We may. What we’re trying to do ini- tails about his illness were not available. ability of the Latin market, wasn’t there? tially is come up with podcasts that we feel Thyret started his career in the music It became a major focus for me and I had creatively and culturally work. It feels like industry by managing an independent retail a lot of resistance along the way. I was called an extension of what I did at Universal. A store on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip. He into a few corporate meetings when I was lot of my deals were with people who were joined WEA Corporation in 1971 as a field trying to make the Univision deal and I had left of center; they were not Ricky Martin or sales representative in the company’s L.A. to explain why this was so culturally impor- Jennifer Lopez. They used to make fun of office, and by the mid ‘70s was serving as the tant. And ultimately, we sold so much music me at Universal for what they said was my label’s VP and director of national promo- that it was undeniable. But I was always focus on groups with hats and shiny suits. tion. looking for lanes the other majors weren’t And those groups sold millions and millions During his successful run at Warner Bros. in, because we were decades behind. of records. They were under represented Records, Thyret helped boost the careers And now, you’re going into Latin voices that need marketing, and then, the of artists such as Fleetwood Mac, James podcasting, which is just taking off. Why money flowed. The goal with Pitaya is to Taylor, R.E.M., Depeche Mode and Ma- foray there? give an opportunity to diverse voices and donna, among others. Perhaps his biggest Podcasts are exploding in popularity but bring a new entertainment media to Latino accomplishment at the label was help- the Latino side of podcasting is woefully culture. ing sign Prince in 1977. The major signing underdeveloped. What has been happen- came after Thyret was given a demo by the ing in the podcast word is the business has 18-year-old Minnesota artist’s then-manager doubled in the past five years But Latino Russ Thyret, Owen Husney. podcasts are seriously under-represented. “Artists loved Russ, because he under- If you look at the surveys, again and again Former Warner stood what made them tick, and the indus- they say there’s not enough content that try loved Russ, because his passion for the speaks to them; there’s not enough Spanish- Bros. Records music drove everything he did,” the Warner language content or enough content that Music spokesperson wrote. tells stories. There’s the same lack of aware- Chairman/CEO, Thyret was appointed chairman/CEO of ness of podcasts that existed in the Anglo Warner Bros. Records in 1995. His prede- side five to 10 years ago. So 100% of Pitaya’s Dies at 76 cessor Mo Ostin called him “a total record focus is Latino podcasting. man,” according to Warner Music’s state- Your podcasts are all hosted by celebri- BY MITCHELL PETERS ment. Thyret left the label in 2001 following ties. But celebrity is not enough to make the merger between Time Warner and AOL. a good podcast is it? Why do you think uss Thyret, a longtime executive “When Russ left the company nearly two these will work? at Warner Bros. Records who decades ago, he said, ‘My strongest ambition We have all sorts of formulas and algo- played a pivotal role in sign- has always been to serve our artists well, rithms we use before we make any decision. ing Prince to the label in the and I leave hoping I’ve accomplished that The five hosts we launched had over 25 mil- R1970s, died Friday (Feb. 12) after a long ill- ... It will forever be a magical memory,” the lion followers on social media. Before we do ness. He was 76. Warner Music spokesperson added. a podcast, we do a series of demo recordings During his 30-year stint with Warner Thyret is survived by his wife, Rebecca, to make sure there’s an exciting and compel- Bros. Records, the only label he ever worked and son, Russ Thyret Jr. ling program built around what their fans for, Thyret rose through the ranks of sales, love and are interested in. Their fans live marketing and promotions posts, eventually on the Internet. And because podcasts are becoming the Burbank, Calif.-based com- an Internet phenomena, our goal is, how do pany’s chairman/CEO from 1995 through you take fans who are passionate about the 2001. hosts and convert them to a podcast listener. “Russ Thyret was a pivotal figure in the What is the business model? history of the Warner Music family,” a War- Podcasts are an ad-supported business ner Music Group spokesperson wrote in a in the U.S. Many of our hosts are known statement. “He will be deeply missed by his outside the U.S., but our initial focus is the extended Warner family, his many friends in U.S. because that’s where there’s revenue. and out of the business, and all those artists If we’re able to generate the listenership, whose lives he touched so deeply.” Page 10 of 23

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gies. Before that, she served as a managing early 1980s, it boasted over 1,000 albums, Spotify Adds director at Swiss investment management 3,000 compositions (under Fania publish- firm UBS AG, where she developed new ing) and approximately 10,000 master White House tools to evaluate political risk impacting tracks, many written or recorded by Pa- capital markets. checo. Veteran Mona A congenial man known for his sense of humor, his limitless enthusiasm and an Sutphen to Board Johnny Pacheco, abundance of talent, Pacheco was a gener- ous artist who happily endorsed a genera- of Directors Fania Records tion of artists –his more than 10 albums alongside Celia Cruz are legendary—and BY TATIANA CIRISANO Cofounder, was fearless in his willingness to experiment with all genres of music. potify will add Mona Sutphen to Dies at 85 “Maestro of maestros and my good its Board of Directors in April, sub- friend,” wrote Marc Anthony via Insta- ject to shareholder approval, the BY LEILA COBO gram following the news of Pacheco’s death. streaming giant announced today “You were there for me from Day 1, and I S(Feb. 16). ohnny Pacheco, the legendary am forever grateful for your support, for the Sutphen is currently a senior advi- bandleader who cofounded Fania Re- opportunity to be in your presence and for sor at Chicago-based private equity firm cords in the 1960s and became one of your amazing legacy.” The Vistria Group as well as a co-founder the leading architects of the music that In concert, Pacheco was a dynamo, clad and advisor of several technology start- Jwould come to be known as salsa, has died. in bell bottoms and tight shirts – often ups. From 2009 to 2011, Sutphen served as He was 85 years old. rhinestone-studded – that would be soaked White House deputy chief of staff for policy The Dominican-born, New York-raised in sweat by the end of night after his tireless for President Barack Obama, who struck Pacheco, who lived in New Jersey, died at movement as bandleader and owner of his an exclusive multi-year partnership with Holy Name Medical Center, according to stage. Spotify in 2019 to produce podcasts through published reports. Sources say he had been “What I most remember about Pacheco his and Michelle Obama’s production com- hospitalized for complications stemming is his enthusiasm, his happiness,” says José pany, Higher Ground. Sutphen also served from pneumonia. Alberto “El Canario,” who collaborated on the Obama’s Intelligence Advisory Board Pacheco, a Juilliard-trained multi-in- numerous times with Pacheco and Cruz. from 2013 to 2016. strumentalist who’d found success record- His last show alongside Pacheco was five “Mona has built a career in both the ing with his band, Pacheco y Su Charanga, years ago in the Dominican Republic, when private and public sectors advising leaders sparked a musical revolution when, in 1964, Pacheco turned 80, and many of Fania’s on international and U.S. domestic policy, he met Jerry Masucci and together, they alumni showed up to sing “Happy Birthday” technology, macroeconomics and trade, and founded Fania Records. The two started the to him. “He always said that when he died, human rights...and that’s just the tip of the label with $5,000, selling albums in Spanish his tombstone would read: ‘Here lies Johnny iceberg,” Spotify founder/CEO and chair- Harlem from the trunks of their cars. Pacheco, against his will,’” El Canario man of the board Daniel Ek said in a state- Fania soon became known as the Latin told Billboard. ment. “Mona will bring a new and highly Motown, home to superstars like Celia Born Juan Azarías Pacheco Knipping in valuable perspective to the Board as we Cruz, Cheo Feliciano and Héctor Lavoe, and the Dominican Republic, Pacheco and his focus on driving our strategy forward during the breeding ground for seminal artists in family moved to New York when he was 11 this time of exceptional change around the the genre of music that would come to be years old. A precocious talent, he studied world.” known as “salsa,” a collision of traditional percussion at Juilliard and was already Added Sutphen: “Spotify has been a revo- Cuban song and pan-Latin rhythms with successful with his group when he met lutionary force and impressive innovator in American jazz and funk. Masucci, a former New York City cop who the audio industry, transforming the content Fania’s musical scope was breathtaking. had fallen in love with Cuban music while landscape globally. I’m excited to be a part Its roster included Willie Colón, Ruben stationed at Guantanamo Bay during the of its continued evolution and expansion.” Blades, Larry Harlow, Hector Lavoe, Ray Korean War. Sutphen was previously a partner at Barretto and Bobby Valentín among many, When Pacheco’s first marriage fell apart, Macro Advisory Partners (MAP), where she many others. The Fania sound would rule he turned to Masucci, who had studied advised global corporate companies on risks the ‘70s in New York City, where the Fania business and law, to handle the divorce. and opportunities in areas like technology All Stars headlined Yankee Stadium in 1973. Together, they had an idea: a Latin music la- platform regulation and market entry strate- When the label closed production in the bel. Each of them invested $2,500 and their Page 11 of 23

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album, from Pacheco, included an old Cuban Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sci- Titans, Hang Your Hat Music and Easy Eye song by Reinaldo Bolanos, “Fanía Funché.” ences. Pacheco is survived by his wife, María Sound — will continue to extend their phil- “Between [Jerry and I] we couldn’t come Elena Pacheco, In addition to this wife, Mr. anthropic efforts to underwrite potential up with a lot of money,” Pacheco told Bill- Pacheco’s survivors include two daughters, workshops on A&R, songwriting and music board in 2014, when Fania turned 50. “So I Norma and Joanne; and two sons, Elis and tech, remote internship programs and an said, ‘Let’s do the recording and see if we Phillip. annual trip to its Nashville headquarters. sell it.’ The Fania name came from a Cuban With additional previous reporting by Judy In a joint statement announcing the song called “Fanía Funché” on that album. Cantor Navas. scholarships, Concord’s chairman Steve The word Fania was catchy. It sounded Smith and CEO Scott Pascucci commented good. Fania Records.” in part, “It’s been 60 years since Estelle Ax- Fania took off. The money made from re- Concord ton and Jim Stewart named their fledgling cord sales, Pacheco and Masucci reinvested music company Stax Records. The Soulsville in the label. Their first signing was a Jewish Establishes Foundation was inspired to create the Stax pianist, Larry Harlow. Acts like flutist Bobby Music Academy some 40 years later. The Valentín and a teenager trombonist and ar- $1 Million legacy of Stax goes well beyond the music ranger named Willie Colón followed. and its extraordinary artists. The Stax Music It was Pacheco who suggested to Colón Scholarship Fund Academy gives its students a unique ground- that he change the singer in his band and ing in the Stax musical heritage while hire a young Hector Lavoe. “It was a great for Stax Music supporting their development as the next combination,” Colón told Billboard. “It was generation of leaders in the music industry. total New York. I barely spoke Spanish. And Academy Concord is proud to invest in the future Hector spoke zero English. Hector had a of these young people, ensuring that the repertoire of all that [Puerto Rican] stuff. BY GAIL MITCHELL cultural ideals of the original Stax remain a He was also a very funny guy. I would write beacon in the global music business and the songs that were almost like parodies, satires. o commemorate the 20th anni- Memphis community where it all began.” It was really something fresh from what was versary of Stax Music Academy Parker, also the founding/retired presi- going on. We were doing what rappers are (SMA), Stax Records owner dent and CEO of the Soulsville Foundation, doing now.” Concord is pledging $1 million to said, “The architects of Stax music, along Everything Fania did seemed to be Tfund scholarships to attend the Memphis with those of us that contributed to the soul groundbreaking, and often, historic. In 1968, institute, Billboard has learned. company’s prophetic history and unique Pacheco had the idea for a superband of the Over the next five school years, the Con- culture, are grateful to Concord for their label’s top talent: the Fania All Stars. Live al- cord Stax Scholarships will cover full tuition generous financial commitment. Concord’s bums and a concert documentary, Our Latin for at least 20 students each year. support of SMA mirrors that of Stax’s in- Thing, followed. In August 23, 1973, Musucci Awarded by the Stax Music Academy vestment in us when Booker T. Jones, Carla rented Yankee Stadium for $280,00 and the based on financial need and merit, the Thomas, Steve Cropper and Otis Redding Fania All Stars performed for nearly 50,000 scholarships presented to each student will were just budding artists. Concord Stax people. More than 40 years would pass bear the name of a legendary Stax Records Scholarships ensure that SMA will continue before another Latin act, Romeo Santos, artist or executive. The list thus far includes to give us more, great Stax-like music to would play to that size of a crowd at Yankee Stax founder Jim Stewart, former owner Al expand our catalog of memorable songs in Stadium. Bell and former director of publicity Deanie the key of Memphis Soul music.” The boom years continued with a concert Parker as well as signature artists Otis Soulsville Foundation president/CEO for over 100,000 people in Zaire 1974, Redding, William Bell and members of the Richard Greenwald noted, “We’re so deeply helmed by Cuban superstar Celia Cruz, as iconic solo and house band Booker T. and grateful to our friends at Concord for shar- well as history-making albums by Ruben the MG’s. Additional names will be revealed ing our passion to not only preserve and Blades and Colón. at a later date. promote the legacy of Stax Records, but also Masucci passed away at 63 in 1997, and In the months leading up to the COV- to embrace the present and help guide the the Fania catalog was sold in 2005 to Emu- ID-19 global pandemic, Concord, its friends future through the Stax Music Academy. sica Entertainment Group. In 2018, the label and extended family donated $450,000 to Their commitment to establishing these was bought by Concord Records. SMA parent the Soulsville Foundation to new scholarships provides so much hope Pacheco’s legacy, however, was never provide critical funding for SMA students, and opportunity for so many young mu- diminished. In 2004, he received the ASCAP instructors and programming. Now as part sic students that it will essentially change Silver Pen Award and in 2005, he received of its scholarship fund, Concord and its the trajectory of their lives as we prepare a Lifetime Achievement Award from the partners — PULSE Music Group, Creative them to move forward with post-secondary Page 12 of 23

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education and thriving careers in the music Winston Churchill. industry.” At the dawn of the ‘60s, he was com- 56th Academy of Launched in 2000 and operated by the missioned to build his first audio-mixing Soulsville Foundation, SMA engages and console. And in 1961, Rupert and his wife Country Music inspires youth from under-served communi- launched Neve Electronics, which would ties in the greater Memphis area through an set the bar for professional audio equipment Awards Headed afterschool and summer slate of music edu- and mixing desks. cation and special programs. To date, SMA By the time Neve Electronics was sold in Back to Nashville has taught music theory, composition and 1975, the company employed over 500 staff. music business basics to more than 4,000 Countless artists would record albums on BY GIL KAUFMAN students. In the last 12 years, its graduates analog desks that bore the Neve brand, from have scored a 100% college acceptance rate, U2 to Neil Young, Queen and Nirvana, as his fter postponing last year’s event with 67% of the SMA class of 2020 earning consoles became the first choice for high- until September and then so- college music scholarships. Most recently, end recording studios around the globe. cially distancing the show due SMA students performed alongside Justin Neve moved with the times, and adopted to COVID-19, the Academy of Timberlake and Ant Clemons during the digital technology in 1977. He developed the CountryA Music announced on Tuesday (Feb. Biden inauguration television special, Cel- world’s first “flying” fader system, NECAM 16) that the 56th annual ACM Awards will ebrating America. (NEve Computer Assisted Mixdown), in- be back in Nashville on April 18 for a broad- stalling the first system at producer George cast that will pay homage to Music City by Martin’s Air Studios in London. setting up in three of its most iconic venues. Rupert Neve, In 1997, Rupert’s contributions to the pro- The show will be broadcast on CBS from fessional sound industry were recognized the Grand Ole Opry House, as well as the Audio Equipment with a Lifetime Achievement Technical Ryman Auditorium and the Bluebird Cafe. Grammy Award. The event will also stream live and on de- Trailblazer Neve and his wife Evelyn moved to Texas mand on Paramount+, ViacomCBS’ upcom- in late 1994 and became U.S. citizens in ing global streaming service. and Grammy 2002. In 2005, they acquired premises near “We’re thrilled to return to Music City’s where they had settled in the Texas Hill most iconic venues as we come together on Recipient, Dies Country and established Rupert Neve De- April 18th to celebrate the best in Country signs (RND), which in recent years present- Music, back in our normal awards cycle,” at 94 ed new high-fidelity audio products, from said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy a headphone amplifier, phono preamplifier, of Country Music in a statement. BY LARS BRANDLE digital-to-analog converter and more. “A huge thank you to the city of Nashville, “When Rupert, his wife Evelyn, and I Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium upert Neve, the audio industry sat at his kitchen table and founded Rupert and Bluebird Cafe for welcoming us back icon whose name was shorthand Neve Designs 16 years ago, he had two to Nashville, where we can look out for the for the highest-quality mixings goals,” recounts Josh Thomas, Rupert safety of our artists while shining a spotlight consoles on the planet, died Neve Designs’ co-founder and GM. “The on this vibrant city after a tough 2020.” RFriday (Feb. 12) in Wimberley, Texas due to first was to set a new standard in the qual- At press time, no host or performers had non-COVID pneumonia and heart failure. ity of recorded sound, drawing upon his been announced, but the show’s producers He was 94. unparalleled depth of experience to create promise “exciting performances, unprec- Born in Newton Abbott, England, in 1926, high-end solutions for the modern record- edented collaborations, surprising moments Neve had a spark for electronics from an ing engineer, musician, and listener alike. and more” to be rolled out in the next few early age. As a youngster, he repaired and The second was to pass on his philosophies, months. The awards broadcast is also ex- built radios for fun, and turned that hobby techniques, and methodologies to a new pected to adhere to all pandemic protocols into something else when, at 17, he joined generation of designers to carry his life’s to keep the performers and presenters safe. the war effort with the Royal Signals, which work and passion into the future.” In an effort to support Nashville, the provided communications support to the Neve is survived by his wife; five children, Academy of Country Music’s charitable arm, British Army during WWII. Mary, David, John, Stephen, and Ann; nine ACM Lifting Lives, will donate $25,000 to After returning to his homeland, Neve grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. the Music City, Inc. foundation for their developed a mobile system for recording Nashville Christmas Day Explosion Relief choirs and public events, and public address Fund, with the funds earmarked for local systems used by then Princess Elizabeth and musicians out of work due to damage to Page 13 of 23

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venues from the Christmas Day incident you do it.” their active participation of consuming that damaged dozens of downtown build- He also enjoyed his pastry and coffee as a music, both on digital platforms and with ings. regular at République on La Brea. the purchase of physical formats during the The 56th ACM Awards airs April 18 at 8 “Larry was truly a man who led by previous year.” p.m. on CBS. (The event is produced by dick example,” Walter and Marge Manzke of Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, clark productions, which shares a parent République said in a statement. “He was the 2021 Premios Odeón will be held company with Billboard.) always full of stories, jokes and life lessons virtually on March 10. For more informa- that he was eager to share with anyone and tion, click here. everyone. He had the special gift of forming See the full nominees list below: Larry Robins, meaningful relationships with everyone he ODEÓN POP ARTIST met.” AITANA Music Manager Survivors include his wife of 40 years, DANI MARTÍN Catherine Scott. DAVID BISBAL and Producer, This story was originally published by The PABLO ALBORÁN Hollywood Reporter. ROSALÍA Dies at 75 VANESA MARTÍN ODEÓN NEW POP ARTIST BY MIKE BARNES David Bisbal, BELÉN AGUILERA CEPEDA arry Robins, who managed such Rosalia, Pablo DANI FERNÁNDEZ acts as Natalie Cole, Peter, Paul MIKI NÚÑEZ and Mary and George Wallace and Alborán & NATALIA LACUNZA served as a producer on a Netflix NIL MOLINER Lseries due this year, has died. He was 75. More Earn 2021 BEST POP ALBUM Robins died Jan. 23 in Los Angeles after a ANTONIO OROZCO - AVIÓNICA battle with multiple myeloma, nephew and Premios Odeón DANI MARTÍN - LO QUE ME DÉ LA producer J. Miles Dale, an Oscar winner GANA on Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Wa- Nominations: DAVID BISBAL - EN TUS PLANES ter (2017), said. PABLO ALBORÁN - VÉRTIGO Robins, who had a 50-year career in show Full List ROZALÉN - EL ÁRBOL Y EL BOSQUE business, came to Los Angeles from Toronto VANESA MARTÍN - SIETE VECES SÍ in 1969, and one of his first gigs was in pro- BY JESSICA ROIZ BEST POP SONG duction on CBS’ The Sonny & Cher Comedy AITANA / CALI Y EL DANDEE - + Hour. He also managed other musical acts he 2021 Premios Odeón have un- ANA MENA / ROCCO HUNT - A UN PASO like Delaney & Bonnie and Bill Medley; veiled the full nominations for its DE LA LUNA actors Cree Summer and Tamara Taylor; second annual awards show taking BERET - SI POR MI FUERA and voice-over artists from such kids shows place virtually on March 10. This DAVID BISBAL / AITANA - SI TÚ LA as Animaniacs, Rugrats and Clifford the Big Tyear’s nominees include Rosalia, David QUIERES Red Dog. Bisbal, Pablo Alborán, C. Tangana, Aitana, JARABE DE PALO - ESO QUE TÚ ME DAS Robins recently helped set up the 2021 and Nathy Peluso, to name a few. PABLO ALBORÁN / AVA MAX - TABÚ Netflix series Sex/Life with Dale. Created The Spanish-based awards show, which ODEÓN URBAN ARTIST by Stacy Rukeyser, the show centers on a was officially announced at the end of 2019 C. TANGANA suburban mother who, according to the by the Asociación De Gestión De Derechos CHEMA RIVAS streamer, “takes a fantasy-charged trip Intelectuales (AGEDI) and kicked off in DON PATRICIO down memory lane that sets her very mar- 2020, not only celebrates the diverse music KIDD KEO ried present on a collision course with her scene in Spain but also Latin and interna- LOLA ÍNDIGO wild-child past.” tional acts. NYNO VARGAS For the past 35 years, Robins held court Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Karol ODEÓN NEW URBAN ARTIST from 6:30 a.m.-8 a.m. at a table at the Farm- G, BTS, Harry Styles, and The Weeknd, BAD GYAL ers Market on Fairfax Avenue. A plaque ded- among others, are also nominated at the LÉRICA icated to his memory will be placed at his Premios Odeón this year. MORAD table with the words, “If you have the power The winners are chosen by the fans, ac- NATHY PELUSO to do something to improve someone’s life, cording to the official statement, “through OMAR MONTES Page 14 of 23

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RVFV ISRAEL FERNANDEZ DE LA LUNA BEST URBAN ALBUM MARÍA JOSÉ LLERGO C. TANGANA - TÚ ME DEJASTE DE DELLAFUENTE - DESCANSO EN PODER SARAYMA QUERER KASE.O - DENTRO DEL CÍRCULO BEST FLAMENCO ALBUM DAVID BISBAL / AITANA - SI TÚ LA KIDD KEO - BACK TO ROCKPORT DIANA NAVARRO - INESPERADO QUIERES LOS CHIKOS DEL MAÍZ - COMAN- ISRAEL FERNANDEZ & DIEGO DEL PABLO ALBORÁN - SI HUBIERAS CHERÍA MORAO - AMOR QUERIDO MORAD - MDLR MARÍA JIMENEZ - LA VIDA A MI ROSALÍA / TRAVIS SCOTT – TKN NATHY PELUSO - CALAMBRE MANERA BEST URBAN SONG MARÍA JOSÉ LLERGO - SANACIÓN C. TANGANA - TÚ ME DEJASTE DE MIGUEL CAMPELLO - 5 Ari Gold, QUERER PACO CANDELA - SENTIMIENTOS AL CHEMA RIVAS - MIL TEQUILAS AIRE Groundbreaking LÉRICA / BELINDA - FLAMENKITO ODEÓN ALTERNATIVE ARTIST LOLA ÍNDIGO / RAUW ALEJANDRO / CARLOS SADNESS Queer Dance LALO EBRATT - 4 BESOS FUEL FANDANGO OMAR MONTES / BAD GYAL - ALOCAO IZARO Artist, Dead at 47 RVFV / OMAR MONTES / DAVILES DE SEN SENRA NOVELDA - PRENDIO (REMIX) TXARANGO BY STEPHEN DAW ODEÓN ROCK ARTIST VETUSTA MORLA BUNBURY ODEÓN NEW ALTERNATIVE ART- ri Gold, the New York City-based LEIVA IST LGBTQ dance artist and DJ, died LOQUILLO ALIZZZ Feb. 14 after a long battle with ROSENDO DELAPORTE leukemia, according to multiple RULO Y LA CONTRABANDA GINEBRAS reportsA. He was 47. SIDECARS LA LA LOVE YOU “Deeply saddened over the passing of ODEÓN NEW ROCK ARTIST RODRIGO CUEVAS trailblazing queer artist Ari Gold,” World ARDE BOGOTÁ STAY HOMAS of Wonder Productions tweeted Sun- DESVARIADOS BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM day, confirming his death. “Gold released 7 LOS ZIGARROS CARLOS SADNESS - TROPICAL JESUS albums & paved the way for many out artists MARLON FUEL FANDANGO - ORIGEN since the early 2000s.” World of Wonder MIKEL IZAL IZARO - LIMONES EN INVIERNO had worked with Gold and RuPaul on their PLAYA CUBERRIS STAY HOMAS - DESCONFINATION collaborations. BEST ROCK ALBUM TXARANGO - DE VENT I ALES RuPaul, as well as Laverne Cox, Pepper- BUNBURY - POSIBLE VETUSTA MORLA - MSDL, CANCIONES mint, and more shared their condolences LA POLLA RECORDS - LEVÁNTATE Y DENTRO DE CANCIONES online as the news of Gold’s death spread. MUERE ODEÓN LATIN ARTIST “So many people have come and gone from LEIVA - MADRID NUCLEAR ANUEL AA my life over the past 25 years but you have MANOLO GARCÍA - ACÚSTICO, ACÚSTI- BAD BUNNY been a constant,” Cox wrote in a tribute post CO, ACÚSTICO J BALVIN on her Instagram. “I’m so utterly devastated MIKEL IZAL - DESDE DENTRO KAROL G that you’ve moved on today. But I know SIDECARS - RUIDO DE FONDO OZUNA you’ll be watching over me as you always ODEÓN FLAMENCO ARTIST SECH have. I’m so grateful to have known you.” DIANA NAVARRO ODEÓN INTERNATIONAL ARTIST RuPaul added, “Until we meet again, dear ESTRELLA MORENTE AC/DC friend.” MARÍA JIMÉNEZ BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Gold, who went by multiple stage names MIGUEL POVEDA BTS — including Sir Ari and GoldNation — PACO CANDELA DUA LIPA throughout his career, was widely consid- RAIMUNDO AMADOR HARRY STYLES ered a queer pioneer in the dance music ODEÓN NEW FLAMENCO ARTIST THE WEEKND genre. In 2004, his music video for “Wave CALIFATO ¾ BEST MUSIC VIDEO of You” became the first music video by an DANI DE MORÓN AITANA / CALI Y EL DANDEE - + openly LGBTQ artist to premiere on Logo DEMARCO FLAMENCO ANA MENA / ROCCO HUNT - A UN PASO TV. The musician performed alongside stars Page 15 of 23

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such as Cyndi Lauper and Diana Ross, col- with independent chart histories for each laborated with Boy George on “Underneath Taylor Swift’s version. Thus, Fearless (Taylor’s Ver- This Earth — Jared Jones Culture Club sion) and “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” Remix,” and served as an opening act for Re-Recorded will chart separately from Swift’s original Chaka Khan. 2008 recordings of the album and song, Over the course of his career, Gold ‘Love Story’ Sells respectively. released seven studio albums — Ari News on the Feb. 12 streaming activity Gold (2001), Space Under Sun (2004), The 10,000 in U.S. of “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” will be Remixes (2005), Transport Systems reported in the coming days. (2007), Between the Spirit & the on First Day And Now, The Radio ‘Story’ … As for Flesh (2011), Play My F**kn Remix (2013) radio airplay in its first day, “Love Story and Soundtrack to Freedom (2015) — and BY KEITH CAULFIELD AND GARY (Taylor’s Version)” — which is not being ac- charted three entries on Billboard’s Dance TRUST tively promoted to radio stations — drew 144 Club Songs chart, with his 2007 single plays on Feb. 12 on 89 stations that report “Where the Music Takes You” featuring aylor Swift’s “Love Story (Tay- to Billboard’s all-genre, audience-based Ra- Sasha Allen peaking at No. 10 on the chart lor’s Version)” is off to, well, a dio Songs chart, a sum that translates to dated Aug. 2, 2008. swift sales start. Meanwhile, the 777,000 audience impressions. Leading In 2018, Gold wrote an essay for track — which is not being actively the way among those 144 plays, 83 were on NewNowNext, where he revealed that he Tpromoted to radio stations — drew a smat- reporters to the Pop Airplay chart, 34 were was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syn- tering of airplay on its first day of release. on Adult Pop Airplay reporters and 12 drome (MDS), a rare form of blood cancer The Sales ‘Story’ … The new re-record- were on Country Airplay panelists. curable through bone marrow transplants, ing, which was released on Feb. 12, sold How does that play compare to the 2008 in 2013. In a 2019 episode of his podcast “A 10,000 downloads in the U.S. that day, ac- version? Kiki From the Cancer Ward,” with RuPaul cording to initial reports to MRC Data. The new take drew more than twice as as a guest, he said he had been officially To compare, in the week ending Feb. 4, many plays as the original on Feb. 12, which declared cancer-free. just three songs sold more than 10,000 in logged 67 plays yesterday on Radio Songs “I was an out and proud gay pop mu- the entire week in the U.S. — Tom MacDon- reporters. Adult Contemporary chart sic artist at a time when many feared that ald’s Fake Woke (14,000), BTS’ “Dynamite” reporters accounted for 25 of those spins, being open about their sexuality would (13,000) and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers followed by Country Airplay panelists con- ruin their careers,” Gold wrote in his 2018 License” (13,000). (Sales in the week ending tributing 12. NewNowNext essay. “I made every at- Feb. 4 are reflected on Billboard’s Digital While the new version attracted 777,000 tempt I could to wave the gay flag, from Song Sales chart dated Feb. 13.) in audience impressions on Feb. 12, the using male pronouns to men-on-men love On Feb. 11, Swift announced that she original drew 227,000. scenes in my videos. I told stories from a has re-recorded her 2008 album Fear- Though “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” pointedly gay perspective ... If you are a less, as Fearless (Taylor’s Version), and is not being actively promoted to radio, cancer warrior or a warrior of shame, don’t that the updated lead single, “Love Story instead, three tracks continue to be promot- forget to treat yourself better than anyone (Taylor’s Version),” would be unveiled that ed to various formats from Swift’s latest else could ever treat you, tell your story night. Fearless became Swift’s first No. 1 LP, Evermore. “Willow” rose 11-9 on the proudly every day you walk this earth, and album on the Billboard 200, while “Love most recently published Adult Pop Airplay use that fucking cancer card, gay card, or Story” was her second Billboard Hot chart (dated Feb. 13), becoming Swift’s 24th any card that you’ve earned as if you have all 100 top 10 hit. Since then, Swift has tallied top 10 on the tally, extending her record the credit in the world.” seven more No. 1 albums, and 27 more top 10 for the most among women. It also held See some of the tributes to Gold below: Hot 100 hits. at its No. 9 high on Adult Contemporary As for the original version of “Love Story,” and climbed 23-20 on Pop Airplay. Mean- it sold about 200 downloads in the U.S. on while, the set’s “Coney Island,” featuring Feb. 12. In the week leading up to the release The National, repeated at its No. 26 best on of the re-recording’s release, the original Adult Alternative Airplay, and “No Body, No version had been selling a negligible amount Crime,” featuring Haim, kept at No. 60 on on a daily basis. Through Feb. 4, the original Country Airplay. “Love Story” had sold 6.13 million down- The original “Love Story” hit No. 2 on loads in the U.S. Radio Songs (and No. 4 on the all-genre, Re-recordings of older songs or albums multi-metric Billboard Hot 100). It topped are treated separately from their originals, Country Airplay and Pop Airplay and re- Page 16 of 23

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mains the only song to have led both lists. It 2011. Today (February 12), Burridge delivers and so intensely, to this kind of maroon or also crowned Adult Contemporary and rose the latest ADID material, his Leee EP. The blood red sky — we seemed to be at the epi- to No. 3 on Adult Pop Airplay. project’s four tracks add up to roughly 35 center, underneath this circle of clouds that minutes of pretty, vibey music that works as surrounded the whole thing. well at home as it does on the dancefloor. Obviously the sunset itself is beautiful, A Decade of To celebrate a decade of dreaming, here, and then the sky just lit up into this vivid in his own words, Burridge shares ten for- color. Everybody who was at the party danc- Dreams: Lee mative moments of his celebrated brand. ing was standing still, staring in that sort of 1. The dream begins: 2007/2008 “captivated by nature” kind of way. I can’t Burridge Shares I started collecting tracks that align with remember what I played, but something All Day I Dream’s sound in 2007, when I gorgeous. Every element came together. Na- 10 Key Moments was simply over minimal. I never really ture was very generous that day, so beautiful resonated with it. I ended up having a folder sunset, amazing after sunset colors — and From His Iconic of about 20 of these tracks, and that was all then it got dark suddenly. Just then is when I could find. But they all sat well together the fireworks went off over the Manhattan Party & Record and weaved into each other, and it felt like skyline. something. 4. Forging the sound with Matthew Label, All Day The first mix I made with this music was Dekay for my girlfriend at the time — and her dog, I told [Dutch producer] Matthew Dekay I Dream who used to bark when there was no music about my idea to do an event based around on at home. [Laughs.] She didn’t listen at his music — what it would feel like, where BY KATIE BAIN first, but when she did, she loved it. After it would happen, that it was outdoors. I that, I started handing out the mix to a few wanted to use these organic elements offset en years ago, Lee Burridge saw a friends who were girls, and it was just a against the hardness of the city. There gap in the party sphere. thing. I always thought this music had a would be clouds and bamboo. Not really a fan of the minimal more “feminine appeal,” and I wanted to re- He listened to the original “All Day I techno that was then dominat- balance the dancefloor because in the past Dream” mix over and over and over, and it Ting clubs, he longed for a sound that was there were generally more dudes at parties. became, in his words, “a Bible.” He began warmer, more beautiful, more feminine The response was constantly the same: translating musically his vision of what he and more fun. The British DJ and producer “This is beautiful, I listen to it all the time!” thought All Day I Dream would sound like. started collecting house and techno tracks, I did this for about a year. Resident Advisor We worked on our first track together, “Lost assembling them into mixes and finding that later asked me to do a podcast, and I felt in a Moment,” and Matthew was jamming people resonated with these sounds as much there was a wider audience for the music on the synth for about half an hour. We as he did. He had a dream of what to do with and this particular mix, which felt really pulled out the best part and couldn’t stop the music. Like, literally. special. That was the first step forward with listening to it. He and I were just laying on Ten years later, Burridge’s All Day I sharing these different sounds. the floor for an hour with this one minute Dream events have become highlights of the 2. An epiphany in Playa del Carmen loop going around and around. We just global dance circuit, with Burridge hosting I played a set with this music at BPM, knew it had some sort of magical essence hundreds of ADID parties in 38 locations — where Stacey Pullen was playing before me. to it, that was saved within all those first from New York to L.A. to Mykonos, Burning Everyone was sitting down at that point, but releases. Man’s Black Rock City to cities in Russia, soon after I started playing, everyone was up These were very magical times, because Turkey, Brazil and beyond — during the last dancing. That was when I had this epiphany we were staying in Berlin in the winter, decade. These events are beloved for their that I needed to play this music at events where it’s cold and bleak, and creating emphasis on a beautiful natural surrounding and parties out there in the world, and bring something that really hadn’t been created a (even if said party is happening the midst of it to the dance music scene. great deal prior. an urban jungle), friendly crowds and smart, 3. The sunset at All Day I Dream’s sec- 5. Making a magical setting, then emotive music with enough power to make ond party: Brooklyn, July 4, 2011 watching everyone else do the same you dance and enough depth to make you Bear in mind that Manhattan is the sky- damn thing cry. line in the distance that you can see from There was such excitement about this And while the parties are ephemeral, Brooklyn , which is obviously a gorgeous type of event. It felt very different to people their soundtracks live on, via the All Day I skyline. At night, you see that come alive. So because prior to that, it was a DJ standing Dream Label — which has dropped roughly the sun started to set, and other than it be- between a stack of speakers, with maybe 60 releases from Burridge and friends since ing a cloudy day, the color shifted so quickly some flashing lights. Looking back now it’s Page 17 of 23

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charming and cute, what we did and how stay with your friends, and then you leave. decided we wanted to create a little journey. we produced it — because we had a limited With All Day I Dream, however, the music In some ways, Melt is like a mix CD — each budget — but it still had that essence of the can be a focus, but you can also just wander track complements the other. We decided flowing material and the lanterns, Christmas around, and you tend to expose yourself — that we would create an album that you lights and all that stuff. It just had a charm or you tend to find yourself exposed — to could dance to, but if it was on at a dinner to it that nobody really had done before, that people who are happy to just chat. That’s party in the background, it would still create I know of anyway. why people have met and made great friends an ambience in the house. When people started taking on our aes- or life partners. I’m super proud of that. The ultimate intention for ‘Melt’ is that thetic, we were initially pissed off, actually We’ve had one or two couples who got it stands the test of time and it’s not just — because we were developing an aesthetic engaged in the DJ booth. They’d ask, “I’m throwaway material that some DJs will play and everybody was leaning in on it ma- going to get engaged to my girlfriend. Can for a while and then forget about forever. jorly. That was a fleeting thought, though I do it in the DJ booth?” and it’s like, “Sure, Something that you would return to or mark — then I was kind of proud, because from absolutely!” a summer, a moment in time. The reaction the inception of the idea I’ve always said I 8. Dee Montero’s edit of Everything to it was great. It stuck with people, which wanted to encourage more people to play But the Girl’s “Missing”: 2018 is another achievement, I think, to have put this music, make this music, to drop more of The original “Missing” was a special mo- out an album and actually have it resonate this concept into their own parties. Because ment in dance music history, and one of the with people, not just have them play one ultimately, only so many people can come to tracks that really stayed with me. I didn’t track. one party. If you’re going to any party and it know if people would know the track, but 10. Dreaming in the pandemic looks and feels better, you have a good time. I just saw people start to melt. By the time I think All Day I Dream, in general, has 6. Junior blowing people away while the second breakdown came in, which adds the ability to create a soothing feeling. singing “Lingala,” live in Golden Gate a little bit more of the original song, people When the world started closing down last Park: San Francisco, 2016 were stunned, crying, elated. year, I was a little torn as to whether or not Junior is such a vibrant character. He I got that kind of goosebumps, hair- to release new music on the label, because just exudes love and warmth and joy. He standing-up-on-my-arm moment, because obviously there’s no parties. There’s nobody hadn’t sung to that many people before, but the whole crowd was one. What is a DJ if out hearing this music. suddenly, he was belting out “Lingala” in you can actually create that sort of moment We decided to carry on forging forward, perfect pitch. He nailed it so perfectly that where that feeling runs between every including my EP, to give people that escap- even I had droplets in the corner of my eye. person, after all? It was just a high point, ism. It might be at home. It might be on a There was a massive crowd, and he some- and it was the last track of the night. When stream online, but the music’s still impor- how connected to everyone. People were it finished, there was this moment of total tant as something that helps make the day just in awe of seeing this guy sing this track silence and like, “Is it over?” A pause, and a little bit better, something that helps you that they’ve only heard on Spotify — and there were so many people there. It was just feel a bit more comfort in your life. We’re all we’re surrounded by nature in Golden Gate so peaceful. stuck in our houses or not traveling or not park, so it was really amazing. 9. Partnering with Belgian producer seeing people we love. We’re not going out 7. So many dancefloor romances Lost Desert: 2016-2019 dancing, but the music kind of somehow still We have a lot of diversity at All Day I Lost Desert and I just resonated as people. connects us all and brings that beauty back Dream, but the beauty is the kind of person I never go to people’s houses anymore like into our lives — if only for seven minutes that comes has this sort of loving, open- that; we’re usually so busy or traveling, and and 42 seconds, or whatever the length of ness to them. They’re very warm and sweet I just go back to the hotel and sleep. But the track is. people. That’s how it always feels. We have there was just something about him, that couples come up to us, gay and straight, that I knew I just wanted to hang out when we often have the same story with slightly dif- met in Belgium. At that time, I’d not really ferent words — they say, “Hi, we just want been working with anybody in the studio, to tell you something. We’re so grateful. We and he suggested that we work together. He love your event, and this is my partner. We was really into the idea. I instantly saw that actually met at your event and we got mar- there was something special about the way ried. Thank you so much. We were living in he produced and the way he viewed life. these cities, and we didn’t always have a way We had some time on our hands, and a to find people that are like us.” bunch of tracks that suddenly felt like they I think you can go to festivals and parties were fit to go on an album. I don’t think and nightclubs, but it doesn’t lean as heavily people really listen to albums these days so on community. You go, you have fun, you much, let alone whole tracks. But for us, we Page 18 of 23

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themselves in since mid-Monday. Bad Bunny Set as D’Angelo Is It was the rapper’s latest effort to resist imprisonment and draw attention to what Next ‘Saturday Booked For the he portrays as a campaign for free speech. The rapper has been sentenced to 9 months Night Live’ Next Verzuz Battle in prison for insulting the monarchy and praising terrorism. Musical Guest BY BILLBOARD STAFF “We will win, they will not bend us with all their repression, never!” the 32-year-old BY ANNA CHAN et your snacks and drinks orders rapper said as he passed TV news cameras. in, prep your couch: D’Angelo is The case of Hasél, whose real name is aturday Night Live has its next on the bill for the next Verzuz Pablo Rivadulla Duró, has drawn increasing musical guest lined up! The sketch battle. attention in Spain and has been linked to the comedy show announced dur- GThe R&B star will rumble with his as-yet government’s sudden announcement that it ing its Feb. 13 episode that Bad unannounced opponent live from Harlem’s is changing a national law that is deemed to SBunny will be gracing Studio 8H Feb. 20. historic Apollo Theater on Feb. 27. curtail freedom of expression. Hosting the show will be Bridgerton star He’ll be joined by some mystery “friends” Over 200 artists, including film director Rege-Jean Page. It will be both stars’ first on what’s bound to be a “legendary night,” Pedro Almodóvar and actor Javier Bardem, appearance on the long-running NBC show. organizers say. signed a petition last week in support of the Bad Bunny (born Benito Antonio Mar- D’Angelo’s most recent album, rapper. tínez Ocasio) had a busy 2020, including 2014’s Black Messiah, peaked at No. 5 on the Spain’s left-wing coalition government making history on the Billboard 200. The Billboard 200. His highest-charting Hot unexpectedly announced last week that rapper earned his first No. 1 on the chart 100 hit, “Lady,” stands as his lone top 10, it would make changes to the country’s with El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo, which having hit No. 10 on March 30, 1996. criminal code to eliminate prison terms for became the first all-Spanish-language Co-created by Timbaland and Swizz offenses involving freedom of expression. It album to reach the peak position in the Beatz, Verzuz is now in its second season. did not specifically mention Hasél or set a chart’s 64-year-history. In recent weeks, we’ve seen Jeezy vs Gucci timetable for the changes. The album was also the Puerto Rican art- Mane, E-40 take on Too Short, and Ashanti ist’s third studio album of 2020, which also against Keyshia Cole. included YHLQMDLG — released in Febru- D’Angelo and friends take center stage Foo Fighters ary and and peaked at No. 2 — and Las Que next Saturday 8 p.m. ET on VerzuzTV’s No Iban a Salir from May. Instagram Live and Apple Music. Land Third No. Page, meanwhile, has seen his fame skyrocket after Netflix’s steamy ro- 1 on Billboard’s mance Bridgerton premiered to record Spanish Rapper In numbers with its Christmas Day launch. Top Album Sales The actor played the dreamy Duke of Hast- Prominent ings. Chart With Fans of the stars quickly reacted to the ‘Gag Law’ news of the two appearing on the same ‘Medicine episode of SNL: Case Arrested “omgg rege-jean page and bad bunny at Midnight’ on the same day i’m not well,” one Twitter BY ASSOCIATED PRESS user tweeted in response to the show’s an- BY KEITH CAULFIELD nouncement. 24-hour standoff between police “Love next week’s host and musical and a rapper barricaded with oo Fighters land their third guest,” added another. dozens of his supporters in a No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album See Saturday Night Live’s announcement university ended Tuesday with Sales chart (dated Feb. 20) as Med- below: anti-riotA officers arresting the artist. icine at Midnight debuts atop the Pablo Hasél was escorted by riot police Ftally. The set sold 64,000 copies in the U.S. out of Lleida University’s rectorate build- in the week ending Feb. 11, according to ing, in the northeastern Catalonia region, MRC Data. The band previously led the tally where he and over 50 supporters had locked with Concrete and Gold in 2017 and Wasting Page 19 of 23

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Light in 2011. Double Album is pushed down from the top Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks slot, despite a gain of 49%, with 37,000 cop- Slowthai’s ‘Tyron’ the top-selling albums of the week based ies sold. Wallen doubles up in the top three, only on traditional album sales. The chart’s as his previous album, If I Know Me, surges Blasts to Midweek history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first 17-3 with its best sales week yet, 10,000 (up week Billboard began tabulating charts with 101%). Wallen is the first male artist to have U.K. Chart Lead electronically monitored piece count infor- two out of the top three on Top Album Sales mation from SoundScan, now MRC Data. since the May 14, 2016-dated chart, when BY LARS BRANDLE Pure album sales were the measurement Prince had Nos. 2 and 3 (with The Very Best solely utilized by the Billboard 200 al- of Prince and Purple Rain) following his lowthai is taking the fast route to bums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, death. Wallen is also the first artist to have the U.K. chart title. 2014, after which that chart switched to a two country albums in the top three at the The English rapper’s sophomore methodology that blends album sales with same time since Feb. 15, 1992, when Garth album Tyron (Method) blasts ahead track equivalent album units and stream- Brooks was Nos. 1 and 3 with Ropin’ the Sto lead the Official Chart Update, opening up ing equivalent album units. The new Feb. Wind and No Fences. a margin of more than 4,000 chart sales over 20-dated chart (where Medicine debuts at During the new chart’s tracking week, its nearest competitor, Pale Wave’s Who Am No. 1) will be posted in full on Billboard’s on Feb. 10, Wallen issued a five-minute I? (Dirty Hit). website on Feb. 17 (one day later than usual, video via social media addressing the Feb. Tyron is the most streamed and physically owed to the Presidents’ Day holiday in the 2 emergence of an earlier video showing purchased album, the OCC reports. U.S. on Feb. 15). For all chart news, follow him using the N-word. Reaction to the Feb. It’s the followup to the Northampton @billboard and @billboardcharts on both 2 clip was swift — he was “suspended” from artist’s debut Nothing Great About Britain, Twitter and Instagram. his recording contract with Big Loud Re- which peaked at No. 9 in May 2019, got short- Of Medicine at Midnight’s first-week sales cords, his music was removed from dozens listed for the Mercury Prize and earned him a of 64,000 across all formats (CD, vinyl LP, of high profile playlists on streamers such as pair of NME awards. digital download, etc.), 36% came from Apple Music and Spotify, and multiple radio Last week’s leader, Foo Fighters’ Medicine vinyl LP sales: 23,000, as it starts at No. 1 on groups dropped his music. at Midnight (Columbia), dips to No. 3 on the the Vinyl Albums chart). CDs and digital The Weeknd’s new best-of compila- chart blast, while New York City rockers The albums split the remainder of the first-week tion The Highlights arrives at No. 4 with Pretty Reckless bow at No. 4 on the mid- sales, with 20,000 each. 10,000 sold. The album was released on week survey with their fourth album Death Medicine’s 23,000 in vinyl LP sales marks Feb. 5, two days before he played the Super by Rock and Roll (Century Media), the most the third-largest sales week for a hard rock Bowl halftime show on Feb. 7. His last stu- downloaded album over the past weekend. album since MRC Data began tracking dio set, 2020’s After Hours, bolts 26-8 with The top tier is closed out by David sales in 1991. The only bigger weeks logged just over 6,000 sold (up 67%). Bowie’s live album Look At The Moon! (Par- by a hard rock set were Pearl Jam’s Vi- One Direction’s former No. 1 Up All lophone), new at No. 5. talogy (34,000 in its debut frame, week Night makes a grand re-entry at No. 5 with Following the release of a “Moonlight ending Nov. 27, 1994) and Queen’s Greatest a little over 7,000 sold, thanks to the Feb. Edition,” Dua Lipa’s former leader Future Hits (slightly more than 23,000; week end- 5 arrival of the 2012 album on green vinyl, Nostalgia (Warner Records) lifts 20-6, ing Nov. 19, 2020). exclusive to Urban Outfitters. Vinyl sales ac- while Taylor Swift’s Evermore (EMI) en- Medicine also debuts at No. 1 on count for effectively all of the album’s sales joys a 21-10 rise after the release of her new the Tastemaker Albums chart, which ranks for the week. re-recorded single “Love Story (Taylor’s the top-selling albums at independent and Taylor Swift’s Evermore climbs 14-6 Version)”. small chain music stores. Sixteen percent of (7,000; up 26%), Ariana Grande’s Posi- Over in the singles chart race, there’s no the album’s first-week sales (10,000) came tions zooms 89-7 (a little more than 6,000; change in the Top 3 following the week- via indie and small chain stores. up 263%, owed to a surge in sales of a signed end’s sales and streaming activity as Lil All told, Foo Fighters have notched nine CD sold via Grande’s webstore), Harry Tjay & 6Lack’s “Calling My Phone” (Co- top 10s on the Top Album Sales chart, first Styles’ Fine Line ascends 10-9 (6,000; lumbia) holds the edge over Olivia Rodrigo’s visiting the region with the band’s second down 22%) and Barry Gibb’s Barry Gibb “Drivers License” (Interscope). album, 1997’s The Colour and the Shape. It & Friends: Greenfields – The Gibb Brothers Unless “Drivers License” hits the gas in the peaked at No. 10 on the chart dated June 7, Songbook, Vol. 1 rises 16-10 (just under 6,000 second half of the week, it’ll be dumped from 1997. The act’s self-titled 1995 debut topped sold; up 10%). the top spot for the first time in five weeks. out at No. 23. The Official U.K. Singles and Albums At No. 2 on the latest Top Album Sales Charts are published late Friday local chart, Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The time. Page 20 of 23

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“Drivers License” holds No. 1 for a fifth Foo Fighters’ straight week, ahead of Glass Animals’ Mariah Carey “Heat Waves” (No. 2) and The Kid Laroi’s ‘Medicine At “Without You” (No. 3). & More to Be Veteran Dutch EDM star Tiësto has his Midnight’ Debuts highest-charting single in Australia with Honored by “The Business,” lifting 8-4. at No. 1 In Finally, Cardi B snags the week’s highest African American debut with “Up,” the second single from her Australia forthcoming sophomore album release. It’s Film Critics new at No. 20. BY LARS BRANDLE Association

oo Fighters are on top in the Land Lil Tjay and BY PAUL GREIN Down Under with Medicine At Midnight, their eighth No. 1. 6LACK Could End ariah Carey and George C. Medicine becomes the Foos’ sev- Wolfe, director of the ac- Fenth successive No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Olivia Rodrigo’s claimed film adaptation of Ma Chart, equaling U2, Taylor Swift and home- Rainey’s Black Bottom, are grown comedy act The 12th Man. U.K. Chart Streak Mamong those set to receive special awards Only Eminem has had a longer streak of from the African American Film Critics No. 1 studio albums, with nine. BY LARS BRANDLE Association (AAFCA) at the 12th annual Dave Grohl and Co. previously ruled AAFCA Awards, which are set to be pre- the chart with the studio sets One By il Tjay and 6LACK could bring an sented virtually on April 7. One (October 2002), In Your Honor (June end to Olivia Rodrigo’s long streak Carey will receive the innovator award, 2005), Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (Oc- atop the U.K. singles chart. which will recognize her creative role in her tober 2007), Wasting Light (April 2011), Son- The U.S. rappers’ “Calling My dozens of music videos and specials. Carey ic Highways (November 2014) and Con- LPhone” rings up an early lead and is on has directed or co-directed such videos as crete And Gold (September 2017), plus track to end Rodrigo’s reign with “Drivers “Fantasy” and “Always Be My Baby.” their Greatest Hits compilation (November License” at five weeks. “Mariah Carey is often recognized as a 2009). “Calling My Phone” is at No. 1 on the global icon for her musical gifts, but rarely The Foos’ 10th album also leads the ARIA First Look survey, which measures the most is she celebrated for the visual storytelling Vinyl Albums Chart. popular tracks following the first 48 hours in her music videos and specials,” says Gil Following his halftime performance at of the chart week, with “Drivers License” Robertson, the association’s CEO/president. the Super Bowl, The Weeknd kicks another parked at No. 2 after the weekend, the OCC “We’re recognizing her as a creator. She goal as The Highlights slots in at No. 2 on reports. has been very involved over the years in the the ARIA Albums Chart, with several tracks Also enjoying a fast start is Taylor creation, stories and storylines in her videos from it impacting the singles survey, led Swift’s re-recorded “Love Story,” now titled and we thought she deserved recognition.” by “Save Your Tears,” lifting 18-7 for a new “Love Story (Taylor’s Version).” The original Musicians who have received special high. peaked at No. 2 in 2008 and marked her first awards from the AAFCA in the past include After setting a record for the youngest U.K. chart entry, while the new cut appears “Glory” co-writers John Legend and Com- homegrown solo No. 1, The Kid Laroi’s F*ck at No. 4 on the chart blast. mon and Harold Wheeler, the multi-tal- Love (Savage) dips 1-3. Further down the list is Dua Li- ented orchestrator, composer, conductor, Rounding out a top five stacked with new pa’s “We’re Good,” the latest single from Fu- arranger and record producer. arrivals is Psychedelic Porn Crumpets’ Shy- ture Nostalgia, (The Moonlight Edition). It Wolfe is set to receive the salute to excel- ga! The Sunlight Mound and Kate Cebera- starts at No. 20. lence award. In addition to directing the no’s Sweet Inspiration, respectively. The Official U.K. Singles Chart is pub- Oscar-bound film adaptation of August Shyga! is the first ARIA Top Ten for Perth’s lished late Friday local time. Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, star- Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, while Sweet ring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman, Inspiration gives Ceberano her seventh Top Wolfe has had a long career as a playwright Ten overall. and director in both theater and film. He Meanwhile, Olivia Rodrigo continues has received Tony Awards for both direc- to cruise atop the ARIA Singles Chart as tion of a play, Angels in America: Millen- Page 21 of 23

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nium Approaches (1993), and direction of In the 18 years that the AAFCA has been will also exec produce, as will Jenny Robins a musical, Bring in ‘da Noise/Bring in ‘da in existence, and especially in the last six of Wells Street Films. Funk (1996). years, there has been much more emphasis The updated Mr. & Mrs. Smith marks The Oscar-shortlisted documentary All on diversity in Hollywood and in award vot- a teaming of Emmy winners Glover and In: The Fight for Democracy and Netflix will ing bodies. Waller-Bridge who both have a history of also be honored with special awards. For two years running (2014-15), all 20 creating and starring in their own material. All In: The Fight for Democracy, the docu- actors nominated for acting awards at the Glover, who sources say quietly renewed his mentary about Stacey Abrams’ mission to Academy Awards were white, which led the overall deal with FX Productions last year fight voter suppression, which last week was Academy of Motion Picture Artists &Sci- after drawing interest from Amazon and shortlisted for the Oscar for best documen- ences to launch a major effort to enlarge and other outlets, continues to have Atlanta in tary (feature), is set to receive the Stanley diversity its voting body. the works at FX. The series marks Waller- Kramer Award for Social Justice. The re- Robertson was critical of the Oscars in the Bridge’s follow-up to Amazon’s Emmy- cipient of this award is chosen by Kramer’s #OscarSoWhite years. “Individuals work winning Fleabag. widow, Karen Kramer, and her team. Past very diligently at their craft and for someone The original Mr. & Mrs. Smith grossed recipients in this category include Quincy to question whether or not they deserve to $487 million worldwide when it was re- Jones and the late Carl Reiner. be nominated is unfair,” he says. “It’s offen- leased in 2005. Key to doing reboots is hav- Lisa Cortés and Liz Garbus directed All sive to anyone who would question it.” ing the original producers involved, which is In and also co-produced it with Dan Cogan He applauds the Oscars for taking steps the case here with New Regency. and Abrams. to correct the problem. “I think it’s great,” This article was originally published Stanley Kramer received nine Oscar nom- he says. “I think diversity and inclusion is a by The Hollywood Reporter. inations, including twin nods for producing good thing.” and directing The Defiant Ones, Judgment at Nuremberg and Guess Who’s Coming to Din- Sprinkle Stardust ner, the 1967 film about interracial romance Donald Glover & that was groundbreaking in its time. on Your Feet With Netflix is the cinema vanguard recipi- Phoebe Waller- ent “for fostering a global tribe rooted in This David Bowie bringing all people together across various Bridge Team for languages and continents through the power Sock Collection of cinema.” ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ Robertson, a veteran journalist and au- BY GIL KAUFMAN thor, co-founded the AAFCA in 2003 with Series Daryle Lockhart, Kathy Williamson and appy Socks has unveiled a new Kevin Chill Heard. The organization bills BY LESLEY GOLDBERG collection in honor of Da- itself as the world’s largest group of Black vid Bowie that includes two film critics, with about 90 members who are ow’s this for a collabora- limited-edition designs based active film critics. Most are in the U.S., but tion: Donald Glover and Phoe- Hon iconic moments in the late rock star’s there are also a handful of “ex-pats” around be Waller-Bridge are uniting for career. the world. an Amazon series, Mr.& Mrs. The collection features six pairs of cotton According to a statement, “The organiza- HSmith. The Atlanta star teased the series, crew socks and four pairs of kid’s cotton tion’s primary mission is to cultivate under- coming to Amazon in 2022, on his Insta- crew socks, available as singles ($8-$16) and standing, appreciation and advancement gram story Friday (Feb. 12). in collectible gift boxes ($32-$96). of the contributions of African-descended The project, a reboot of the 2005 New The Silver Lining socks — matte black talent to cinematic and television culture… Regency film starring Brad Pitt and Ange- wrapped in silver foil — are based on the As a non-profit organization, AAFCA is lina Jolie, has quietly been in the works for silver zebra outfit that Bowie wore on h9is committed to numerous educational and months and stems from the Fleabag cre- 1976 Station to Station album. According to philanthropic efforts, particularly those that ator’s overall deal with Amazon.Waller- Happy Socks, the Ziggy Special is inspired foster and celebrate diversity and inclusion.” Bridge and Glover will create and star in the by the Japanese concept Basara, which is The AAFCA presents awards in 12 catego- series. Francesca Sloane (Atlanta, Fargo) “characterized by colorful attention-grab- ries, but, like many other film critics groups, — who is also under an overall deal with bing garments.” it doesn’t announce nominees, just winners. Amazon — is also attached as a co-creator The asymmetrical knitted leotard created “I don’t think it’s fair to pit actors against and will serve as showrunner. New Re- by designer Kansai Yamamoto became one each other in that way,” Robertson says. gency’s Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer of Bowie’s signature pieces, with the sparkly Page 22 of 23

IN BRIEF

nium Approaches (1993), and direction In the 18 years that the AAFCA has been will also exec produce, as will Jenny Robins of a musical, Bring in ‘da Noise/Bring in ‘da in existence, and especially in the last six of Wells Street Films. Funk (1996). years, there has been much more emphasis The updated Mr. & Mrs. Smith marks The Oscar-shortlisted documentary All on diversity in Hollywood and in award vot- a teaming of Emmy winners Glover and In: The Fight for Democracy and Netflix will ing bodies. Waller-Bridge who both have a history of also be honored with special awards. For two years running (2014-15), all 20 creating and starring in their own material. All In: The Fight for Democracy, the docu- actors nominated for acting awards at the Glover, who sources say quietly renewed his mentary about Stacey Abrams’ mission to Academy Awards were white, which led the overall deal with FX Productions last year fight voter suppression, which last week was Academy of Motion Picture Artists &Sci- after drawing interest from Amazon and shortlisted for the Oscar for best documen- ences to launch a major effort to enlarge and other outlets, continues to have Atlanta in tary (feature), is set to receive the Stanley diversity its voting body. the works at FX. The series marks Waller- Kramer Award for Social Justice. The re- Robertson was critical of the Oscars in the Bridge’s follow-up to Amazon’s Emmy- cipient of this award is chosen by Kramer’s #OscarSoWhite years. “Individuals work winning Fleabag. widow, Karen Kramer, and her team. Past very diligently at their craft and for someone The original Mr. & Mrs. Smith grossed recipients in this category include Quincy to question whether or not they deserve to $487 million worldwide when it was re- Jones and the late Carl Reiner. be nominated is unfair,” he says. “It’s offen- leased in 2005. Key to doing reboots is hav- Lisa Cortés and Liz Garbus directed All sive to anyone who would question it.” ing the original producers involved, which is In and also co-produced it with Dan Cogan He applauds the Oscars for taking steps the case here with New Regency. and Abrams. to correct the problem. “I think it’s great,” This article was originally published Stanley Kramer received nine Oscar nom- he says. “I think diversity and inclusion is a by The Hollywood Reporter. inations, including twin nods for producing good thing.” and directing The Defiant Ones, Judgment at Nuremberg and Guess Who’s Coming to Din- Sprinkle Stardust ner, the 1967 film about interracial romance Donald Glover that was groundbreaking in its time. on Your Feet With Netflix is the cinema vanguard recipi- & Phoebe Waller- ent “for fostering a global tribe rooted in This David Bowie bringing all people together across various Bridge Team languages and continents through the power Sock Collection of cinema.” for ‘Mr. & Mrs. Robertson, a veteran journalist and au- BY GIL KAUFMAN thor, co-founded the AAFCA in 2003 with Smith’ Series Daryle Lockhart, Kathy Williamson and appy Socks has unveiled a new Kevin Chill Heard. The organization bills BY LESLEY GOLDBERG collection in honor of Da- itself as the world’s largest group of Black vid Bowie that includes two film critics, with about 90 members who are ow’s this for a collabora- limited-edition designs based active film critics. Most are in the U.S., but tion: Donald Glover and Phoe- Hon iconic moments in the late rock star’s there are also a handful of “ex-pats” around be Waller-Bridge are uniting for career. the world. an Amazon series, Mr.& Mrs. The collection features six pairs of cotton According to a statement, “The organiza- HSmith. The Atlanta star teased the series, crew socks and four pairs of kid’s cotton tion’s primary mission is to cultivate under- coming to Amazon in 2022, on his Insta- crew socks, available as singles ($8-$16) and standing, appreciation and advancement gram story Friday (Feb. 12). in collectible gift boxes ($32-$96). of the contributions of African-descended The project, a reboot of the 2005 New The Silver Lining socks — matte black talent to cinematic and television culture… Regency film starring Brad Pitt and Ange- wrapped in silver foil — are based on the As a non-profit organization, AAFCA is lina Jolie, has quietly been in the works for silver zebra outfit that Bowie wore on h9is committed to numerous educational and months and stems from the Fleabag cre- 1976 Station to Station album. According to philanthropic efforts, particularly those that ator’s overall deal with Amazon.Waller- Happy Socks, the Ziggy Special is inspired foster and celebrate diversity and inclusion.” Bridge and Glover will create and star in the by the Japanese concept Basara, which is The AAFCA presents awards in 12 catego- series. Francesca Sloane (Atlanta, Fargo) “characterized by colorful attention-grab- ries, but, like many other film critics groups, — who is also under an overall deal with bing garments.” it doesn’t announce nominees, just winners. Amazon — is also attached as a co-creator The asymmetrical knitted leotard created “I don’t think it’s fair to pit actors against and will serve as showrunner. New Re- by designer Kansai Yamamoto became one each other in that way,” Robertson says. gency’s Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer of Bowie’s signature pieces, with the sparkly Page 23 of 23

IN BRIEF

lurex knitted heel and toe sock matched with two eye-popping ankle bangles in green and red. The collection launches today and will be sold on the Happy Socks website and its retail stores as well as some other retail out- lets. Following a private battle with cancer, Bowie died Jan. 10, 2016, just two days after his 69th birthday. Check out images from the collection below.