Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE MAY 19, 2021 Page 1 of 27

INSIDE Silk Sonic – & Anderson

• ‘She’s Perfect Right .Paak – Returns to No. 1 on Now for Top 40’: How Ariana Grande Hot 100 With ‘Leave the Door Open’ Made History at Pop Radio BY GARY TRUST • Broadway’s 2021 Reopening: What We “Leave the Door Open” by Silk Sonic, the duo of Bru- 38%, helped by its placement in the iTunes Store’s 69¢ Do (And Don’t) Know no Mars and Anderson .Paak, rebounds from No. 2 Pop Hits sale) in the week ending May 13, according • How Does to No. 1 for its second week atop the Billboard Hot to MRC Data. It also attracted 87 million radio airplay Recording Academy 100 songs chart. audience impressions (up 8%) in the week ending D.C. Chapter Leader Plus, Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” featuring DaBaby, May 16. Jeriel Johnson Stay rises from No. 4 to No. 2 on the Hot 100, a new high The track adds a fifth week atop the Mindful? Radio for the song and tying Lipa’s best career Hot 100 rank, Songs chart, pushes 3-2 on Digital Song Sales and • Radio Disney and J. Cole’s “Interlude” debuts at No. 8, launching as keeps at No. 10 on Streaming Songs. Vet Phil Guerini Named Jonas Group the week’s most streamed song. Notably, the four-week absence from No. 1 on the Entertainment CEO The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (of- Hot 100 for “Door” is the longest for a song since Post ficial audio and official video), radio airplay and sales Malone’s “Circles” waited four frames between its • Miley Cyrus, Foo Fighters, data. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard second and third weeks on top on the charts dated & and @billboardcharts on both and . Dec. 7, 2019, and Jan. 11, 2020. The two tracks’ breaks More to Headline The announcement of this week’s Hot 100 was de- between weeks at No. 1 mark the longest since Taylor Lollapalooza 2021 layed by approximately 48 hours while Billboard and Swift’s “Shake It Off” reigned for two weeks and then • Grand Ole Opry MRC Data conducted standard audits on reported data, spent eight frames at No. 2 (below Meghan Trainor’s Moves Toward the working with data partners to recognize and resolve “All About That Bass”) before returning for two more Old Normal as U.S. anomalies. weeks on top in September-November 2014. Reemerges From COVID-19 “Door,” released on Aftermath/Atlantic Records, “Door” concurrently leads Hot R&B Songs for first reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 dated April 17 an eighth week and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for a • (five weeks ago). It returns to the top as it drew 17.8 fourth frame; the latter two charts use the same meth- CLICK HERE million U.S. streams (down 4%) and sold 14,200 (up (continued)

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

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odology as the Hot 100. during the Grammy Awards March 14, as rises 7-6 for a new best, as it notches its Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” featuring DaBaby, part of a medley with “Don’t Start Now,” and first week at No. 1 on the multi-metric Hot elevates from No. 4 to No. 2 on the Hot 100, the song has also surged as a soundtrack to Rap Songs chart; and Polo G’s “Rapstar” a new best rank for the song and matching numerous TikTok clips over the last month. descends 6-7 on the Hot 100 after arriv- Lipa’s best career placement on the chart. Meanwhile, “Levitating” has experienced ing and spending its first two weeks on the She previously reached a No. 2 high with an atypical resurgence at radio. It hit a chart at No. 1. “Don’t Start Now” in March 2020. prior weekly high of 55.5 million in audi- J. Cole’s “Interlude” bounds onto the Hot “Levitating” landed 21.9 million U.S. ence as reflected on the Radio Songs chart 100 at No. 8, fueled by its No. 1 entrance on streams (up less than 1%) and sold 19,900 dated Feb. 13 and then steadily descended Streaming Songs with 26.6 million streams, (up 83%) in the week ending May 13, the to 31.2 million (April 3). This week, with its following its May 7 release. The song marks latter total good for the Hot 100’s top Sales new high of 59.7 million, the song boasts his sixth Hot 100 top 10 and fifth to debut Gainer nod. It also attracted 59.7 million its seventh consecutive week since with an in the region, as well as his first Streaming radio airplay audience impressions (up 18%) audience gain. Leading the way at radio, it Songs leader. in the week ending May 16. All three sums returns to its No. 4 high on the mainstream “Interlude” is from J. Cole’s sixth studio mark the highest weekly totals yet for the top 40-based Pop Airplay chart, which it The Off-Season, released Fri- song. had previously reached in January, with day (May 14) and due on next week’s Bill- The track climbs from No. 2 to No. 1 on Greatest Gainer honors. board charts (dated May 29). Digital Song Sales, where it becomes the ’s fellow former Hot The Kid LAROI and Miley Cyrus’ “With- first leader for both Lipa and DaBaby. It 100 leader “Peaches,” featuring Daniel out You” slips to No. 9 from its No. 8 Hot 100 holds at its No. 4 high on Radio Songs and Caesar and Giveon, keeps at No. 3. The song high, as it tallies a second week each atop lifts 6-5 for its first week in the top five on receives the Hot 100’s top Airplay Gainer the multi-metric Hot Rock & Alternative Streaming Songs. award for a seventh consecutive week (up Songs and Hot Alternative Songs charts. Multiple gains in the latest tracking week, 14% to 80.6 million), tying Olivia Rodrigo’s Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Lil following those in recent weeks, helped “Drivers License” (January-March) for the X’s former No. 1 “Montero (Call Me by Your “Levitating” ascend again, including a longest streak since Pharrell’s “Happy” Name)” dips 9-10. half-dozen versions of the song all being claimed the honor for eight straight weeks discounted to 69 cents in the iTunes Store in February-March 2014. “Peaches” also be- (with the DaBaby version included in the comes Bieber’s eighth No. 1 on Pop Airplay, 69¢ Pop Hits special). The song was origi- and the first each for Caesar and Giveon. nally released, in solo form, on Lipa’s second The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Save LP, Nostalgia, in March 2020; its Da- Your Tears” falls to No. 4 on the Hot 100 af- Baby remix arrived in October. (All versions ter two weeks at No. 1; ’s “Kiss Me of the song are combined for the Hot 100.) More,” featuring SZA, holds at its No. 5 high; Lipa and DaBaby performed “Levitating” Masked Wolf’s “Astronaut in the Ocean”

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DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS 2 0 2 1 INDIE L A B E L P O W E R P L AY E R S

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

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

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BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE APRIL 13, 2020 | PAGE Page 4 5OF of 1927

ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] IN BRIEF SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country

Albums; Brett Youngartist to post ‘Catc three top h10 songs ’-esat the Fifth same ple Airplay of generations, which is different from a ‘She’s Perfect time in the Pop Airplay chart’s 29-year his- very young-end artist that doesn’t have a lot Leader; Travis tory.Denning Makes Historyof appeal for thirty-plus [listeners].” Right Now for Top Grande has spent much of the past decade Gary Spangler, executive vp at Grande’s finding success at top 40 radio: “POV,” label Republic Records, says that Grande Sam40’: Hunt ’sHow second studio Ariana full-length, and first in overwhich five movesyears, Southside up to No. 7sales on this (up 21%) week’s in the trackinghas week. made On PopCountry Airplay Airplay, chart it hops history 18-15 thanks (11.9 mil - (MCA Nashville/ Nashville), debutschart at No. (while 1 on Billboard “Positions”’s lion drops audience to No. impressions, 8 and inup part 16%). to the immediate fan reaction to Top Country chart dated April 18. In its first “34+35”week (ending holds April at 9), No. it 9), is the superstar’s “POV,” the R&B ballad that slows down the earnedGrande 46,000 equivalent Made album units, including 16,000 in album sales, ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITH YOUNG Brett Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cording to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. 19th top 10 hit on the Popand Airplay total Country chart. Airplay No.tempo 1 as “Catch” of Grande’s (Big Machine recent Labeltop 40 Group) offerings ascends HistorySouthside marks Hunt’sat secondPop No. 1 on the Since her first top 10 hit came in June 2014 and2-1, became increasing a TikTok 13% to 36.6 hit millionmonths impressions. before im- chart and fourth top 10. It follows freshman LP with her Iggy Azalea collaboration “Prob- pactingYoung’s pop first radio. of six“Positions” chart entries, and “Sleep “34+35” With - MontevalloRadio, which arrived at the summit in No - lem,” Grande has become the most con- wereout You,”released reached one No.week 2 in apart December last October 2016. He vember 2014 and reigned for nine weeks. To date, sistent top 40 presence in the Pop Airplay infollowed conjunction with the with multiweek the Positions No. 1s “In album, Case andYou Montevallo has earned 3.9 million units, with 1.4 Didn’t Know” (two weeks, June 2017), “Like I Loved millionBY JASON in album LIPSHUTZ sales. chart’s upper tier, with her 19 top 10 hits the then,You” Spangler (three, January says, 2018), “The “Mercy”fans gravitated (two, August to Montevallo has spent 267 weeks on the list, tying most of any artist in that nearly seven-year ‘POV,’2018) which and “Here became Tonight” the (two,obvious April choice 2019). for Luke Bryan’sot Crash many My artists Party as can the sit sixth-longest- atop the time frame (Justin Bieber comes in second, the third“Catch” single.” completes his longest journey to No. 1, running titlesBillboard in the chart’sHot 56-year 100 and history. boast with 15 top 10 hits). havingSpangler taken credits 46 weeksJohn to reachIvey ,the president apex. It out- On the all-genrean even Billboard more significant 200, Southside chart ar - Now, with a record three concurrent top ofpaces contemporary the 30-week hits climb radio of “Here programming Tonight.” rives at No. 5, awarding Hunt his second top 10 On Hot Country Songs, “Catch” pushes 7-5 for HUNT YOUNG after the No.achievement 3-peaking Montevallo during. the same 10 hits on the chart, Grande has demon- strategya new high. at iHeartMedia, for testing “POV” Nweek.Hunt Yet first that’s released arguably the EPX2C what , whichAriana debuted strated just how dominant her blend of “much earlier than normal” in their internal andGrande peaked did at last No. week, 5 on Top when Country “Save AlbumsYour in Augusttraditional 2014. Following pop, R&B, hip-hopCOMBS influences ‘DOES’ IT AGAIN Lukecallout Combs research,’ “Does beforeto Me” (River the song House/Columbia started be- MontevalloTears,” her, Betweenlatest team-up the Pines: with Acoustic The WeekMixtape- startedand atpowerhouse its No. 7 high vocals in Nashville),have become featuring at the Eric Churching worked, ascends at 11-8pop on radio. Country “The Airplay, results up were 10% to November 2015. 24.7 million in audience. The song is Combs’ eighth straight career-opening nd, spent a second consecutive week at No. format. “Listeners love her,” says Jeremy clear — listeners were already familiar with Montevallo produced five singles, four of which hit the pinnacle of Country top 10, following a record run of seven consecutive out-of-the-gate, properly Airplay:1 on the “Leave Hot 100 the — Night just On,”as Grande “Take Yourmade Time,” his- “HouseRice Party”, director and “Makeof branding promoted and programming No. 1 singles. the song and loved it,” Spangler says. “That Youtory Miss on a Me.” different “Break Upchart in a Smallwith three Town”other peaked hit at No.for 2. WBLI (Long Island, N.Y.).Church “The adds con his- 15th Countryhelped Airplay drive top the 10. momentum for a quick singles.Hunt co-penned all 12 songs on Southside, includingsumption “Body Likeand aresearch Back is there. She flows ascent into the top 10.” Road,”On Billboard which was’s releasedmainstream in 2017. top The 40 smashradio- hit ruledvery Country well alongside Airplay for other THAT rhythmic TOOK andQUITE pop ‘A FEW’ Meanwhile,MONTHS Travis “Positions” Denning shatters and “34+35” the record have for three weeks and the airplay-, streaming- and sales-based Hot Country Songs the most weeks it has taken to penetrate the Country Airplay top 10 as “After based Pop Airplay chart, “POV,” Grande’s records. She’s perfect right now for top 40.” proven implacable at top 40 radio during the chart for a then-record 34 frames. It now ranks second only to and a Few” (Mercury Nashville) climbs 12-10 in its 57th week, up 4% to 21.4 mil - Floridalatest single Georgia from Line last’s “Meant year’s toPositions Be” (50 weeks album, atop the latter“She’s list mass in 2017-18). appeal — lionshe inreaches radio reach. moms rise of “POV,” residing in the top 10 of the rose“Downtown’s three spots Dead,” to No. which 10 in isits also seventh on the new set, reachedand daughters Nos. 14 andamong 15 millionsThe song of followers,” surpasses two tracksPop Airplay that took chart 50 weeks more each than to half enter a theyear top after 10: onweek Hot (on Country the chart Songs dated and Country May 15), Airplay, while respectively, the adds inJon June Zellner 2018. “Kin, president- Easton of Corbinprogram’s “A- Girl Liketheir You,” releases. which reached “Positions” No. 10 spent in January seven 2018 weeks be- folks”album’s led first Country two Airplay singles, on “Positions” Feb. 29, becoming and Hunt’sming seventh operations No. 1. It at hit iHeartMedia. fore peaking “All at No.three 6 that February,at No. 1 and on Aaronthe Pop Watson Airplay’s “Outta chart beginningStyle,” which No.“34+35,” 3 on Hot came Country in at Songs. No. 6 and No. 9, respec- of these songs are catchy,achieved they have its No. strong 10 high in Decemberin December, 2017. while “34+35,” which received 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 tively. As such, Grande became the first hooks, they’re melodic, and they span a cou- a remix featuring Doja Cat and Megan Thee eighth top 10, having corralled 8.2 million U.S. streams (up 96%) and 5,000 in From Powder Springs” traveled to No. 32 in September 2018. ETHAN MICHAEL YOUNG: VIA MARTIN/NHLI GETTY HUNT: IMAGES. IMAGES MILLER/GETTY 2021 GERARDO ORTIZ 10TH ANNIVERSARY

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

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

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Stallion,” topped the chart for three weeks types of songs back-to-back, and spacing out theater community and audiences celebrat- in February. songs by the same artist a certain number ed — even as questions remain about what a “The biggest thing [Grande’s chart of minutes apart. “That’s not necessarily post-pandemic Great White Way looks like. achievement] shows is the staying power of the way people listen to music anymore,” he One thing about the reopening, however, these singles,” says Erik Bradley, music di- says. “When people are able to curate their was established at least a year ago – unlike rector at chart reporters KNOU (97.1 Now!) own playlists — and you have playlists be- movie theaters, which have opened with Los Angeles and WBBM-FM (B96) Chicago. ing curated for them — I think it’s changed partially distanced seating, Broadway would “‘Positions’ and ‘34+35’ have lasted forever.” everything, and radio programmers have come back only at 100% capacity. Interestingly, Zellner says that the needed to adapt to that.” “We learned very early on in the pandem- three Positions singles have held on at pop As top 40 radio continues to evolve, ic that it wasn’t financially viable to open radio more comfortably than the trio of Grande’s run at the format shows no signs the theaters at anything less than full capac- smashes from Grande’s previous album, of slowing down: along with the three Posi- ity. Social distancing in the theaters just 2019’s Thank U, Next, even though songs tions hits, the “Save Your Tears” remix could doesn’t work for the commercial model of like “Thank U, Next” and “7 Rings” logged pick up at pop radio in the coming months, Broadway,” says producer Brian Moreland, more time at the top of the all-format Hot as The Weeknd’s solo version of the track a member of the Board of Governors for the 100 chart (and the third single, “Break Up remains at No. 1 on the Pop Airplay chart. Broadway League. With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” reached “Between her current songs and recurrent “Most shows don’t even break even until No. 2 on the Hot 100). “Those sort of came airplay, in many markets Ariana can be they get to 75% [capacity] and some shows and went a lot faster [at radio],” says Zellner. heard on the radio every 20 minutes,” says have to get all the way to 90% to start mak- “We saw a lot of burn much faster on those, Spangler. ing money,” explains Broadway League but on ‘Positions’ and ’34+35,’ we’re not see- There’s also the possibility of more Posi- President Charlotte St. Martin. “A socially ing nearly that burn. I think these songs are tions radio singles, based on how well the distanced option just doesn’t work.” St. Mar- going to have a much greater shelf life, and album’s first three have performed, Tear tin is quick to add, albeit with the exhaus- be around a lot longer.” points out. Or Grande could score another tion of someone who has repeated the same Grande’s latest chart feat also emphasizes radio smash with an as-yet-unreleased messaging for months, that a full-capacity the changing nature of pop radio, which has solo song or collaboration — after all, she house will not come at the expense of safety developed an increased appetite for playing released a pair of Hot 100 chart-toppers, and health guidelines: “I’ve done well over concurrent singles from the same A-list “Stuck With U” alongside Justin Bieber and 200 interviews saying we won’t open unless artist in recent years. Although Grande isn’t “Rain On Me” with Lady Gaga, roughly a the cast, crew and audience are completely the first pop star to have multiple singles year ago, with little warning ahead of each. safe.” worked to the format the same time — her “Maybe she’ll have something ready for “Right now we know we’ll be opening fellow SB Projects artist Justin Bieber flood- the summer — Ariana is unscripted and with masks but we don’t know the rest of ed radio leading up to his Justice al- unpredictable, which I think is very appeal- it just yet —- we’re still listening to the sci- bum earlier this year — her three concur- ing,” says Tear. “We’re just going to be wait- ence, what the state protocols are and what rent top 10 singles suggests an even greater ing for what she has to throw at us.” the CDC requires of us,” says Moreland, acceptance for stations to make multiple who notes the Broadway League has been tracks from the same artist the most-played working in close coordination with the state songs on their airwaves, if that artist is a Broadway’s 2021 to ensure each Broadway theater is receiv- cross-demographic juggernaut like Grande. ing the most up-to-date information as soon “You have to go where the listeners and Reopening: What as it comes in. fans are going,” says Alex Tear, vp pop As producers and the Actors’ Equity music & programming at Sirius XM/Pan- We Do (And Association work in tandem to bring back dora. “If it’s igniting on multiple platforms, shows safely, discussions are underway as you can bet we should be playing it, because Don’t) Know to what requirements for backstage workers that’s what the fans want. So it doesn’t will look like. Guidelines from the union surprise me that there [are] more songs by a BY JOE LYNCH call for regular testing and the presence of a single artist being able to be played simul- dedicated COVID-19 safety officer onsite at taneously, not necessarily back-to-back hen New York Gov. all times for every 20 people in the compa- but within the hour, because of audience Andrew Cuomo an- ny; they’ve also provided productions with demand.” nounced on May 5 that guidelines for fully vaccinated backstage Zellner adds that, pre-steaming, there Broadway would light up workplaces and non-fully vaccinated work- used to be more rules that radio program- againW on Sept. 14 after what will end up be- places. Brandon Lorenz, national director of mers had to follow about not playing two ing an unprecedented 18-month hiatus, the communications and public policy for the 2021 COUNTRY POWER PLAYERS

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

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

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Actors’ Equity Association, tells Billboard at least after the initial reopening rush and tions” with Black Theatre United and the the union is “not requiring” fully vaccinated holiday boom – will depend on how quickly Broadway Advocacy Coalition, Moreland workspaces, but if an employer does so “in tourists return to the city. NYC pulled in says behind-the-scenes industry players compliance with the law,” that situation more than 66 million tourists in 2019, a are invested in “a full overhaul of how we would be “acceptable” to the union (con- number that understandably dropped to 22 actually think about hiring people… so we ceivably, someone could cite medical or re- million in 2020. NYC & Company, the city’s will be able to fill more offices with more ligious reasons and refuse the vaccine while official tourism/marketing agency, predicts BIPOC people.” In additional to increased still aiming to return to work). Right now, 38 million visitors this year, but notes that transparency in the hiring process, More- at least one major blockbuster, Hamilton, “the international market will take longer land says they are working on ways to make is requiring all backstage workers receive to catch up,” especially as restrictions on the casting process and rehearsals “feel a COVID-19 vaccine before returning to the international travel continue. safe” not only in terms of physical well- job, per The New York Times. Tickets sales for reliable blockbusters being but mental health. “We can’t fix every Regardless, expect all productions – such as Wicked, The Lion King and Ham- single problem by the time our curtains rise whether fully vaccinated or not – to involve ilton – all reopening in September, part of on September 14, but we can make sure we masks. The Actors’ Equity Association’s an anticipated 12-13 shows returning that have a level reset in our minds and our daily guidelines specify masks should be worn month – appear solid based on a perusal practices,” he says. backstage and in front of house, “except for of Ticketmaster.com; for evenings that As for the moment those curtains actually the actors when rehearsing and/or perform- aren’t already sold out, it seems that the on Sept. 14, it’s a tantalizing eventual- ing.” theaters aren’t having trouble unloading the ity that finds even the most seasoned pro While producers can push for fully vacci- more expensive seats closer to the stage. unleashing their inner theater nerd. “The nated cast and crew, the audience is another When it comes to official Broadway produc- thought of it makes me have to pinch myself matter entirely. “We anticipate masks [for tions in various markets across America, that it’s really coming up,” St. Martin admits. the audience] will be required not only for subscription sales are “stronger than they “Anybody in the theater in our opening the opening but for some time,” St. Martin were before the pandemic” in many mar- month will be able to feel the energy in the says. Speaking to temperature checks and kets, according to St. Martin. room palpably. I think the room will vibrate contact tracing, Moreland freely offers that Concessions such as snacks, alcoholic with energy. People are so ready to come no decisions have been made yet about drinks or even bottled water — certainly back.” either — but vaccine passports for Broadway an important part of any business where “The hardest part [of the last year] has are seen as a non-starter given what the profit margins can be thin — are another been not to have a place to process,” says Broadway League sees as a lack of adequate open question for the time being, though St. Moreland. “I go to the theater for work, but technology. Martin says to expect “a lot of contact-less I also go to the theater for pleasure, and I’m “Our audiences are between 60-70% services.” really looking forward to being able to sit tourists from outside the Tri-state area, so to Naturally, some shows are considering a down and see it again and breathe again. have a universal passport that would accept proactive role in goosing sales. Moreland, When you have a chance to support a the- and be reliable for all cities, states, coun- who is one of the producers of Keenan Scott ater, do it.” tries, is not something we believe is available II’s Thoughts of a Colored Man, set to open at yet,” St. Martin explains. “For our audiences, the Golden Theatre before the end of 2021, a passport doesn’t make sense until some- plans “discounted tickets to get people there thing like that is available.” and a great deal of incentives across the One Broadway producer who spoke to board,” noting there’s a “David and Goliath” Billboard on background doesn’t expect it element of opening a new play on Broadway will be a Herculean effort to get stir-crazy post-pandemic as opposed to bringing back New Yorkers back into seats — if anything, a beloved, blockbuster property. he thinks some ravenous theatergoers Moreland, who sits on the Broadway would be willing to pay extra for premium League’s Equity, Diversity and Inclu- experiences. sion Committee and is co-chair of the By his reckoning, the biggest hurdle Multicultural Task Force, also notes that facing Broadway as it reopens is sustain- when Broadway returns, pandemic safety ing audiences in the face of an uncertain precautions won’t be the only things that outlook for New York City tourism. With have changed. “The murder of George people outside the Tri-state area accounting Floyd… changed the molecular structure for two-thirds of Broadway audiences at a of Broadway and our community,” he says. minimum, Broadway’s immediate future – After months of “intense Zoom conversa- Page 10 of 27

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able to work in the music industry, which That’s imperative, because we’re all How Does is something I remind myself of when I’m stressed out and dealing with different is- facing demanding or challenging moments sues, whether work-related or personal. So Recording at work. I’m a musician and keep my drum when confronted with an issue, give yourself practice pad sitting on my desk. So if I ever space that you can preemptively and proac- Academy D.C. need to just let some steam out between tively walk into so you can handle anything meetings, I start rat-a-tat-tatting real quick. that comes your way. For instance, give Chapter Leader Even in the way I work, I think very musi- yourself the space to write or type out what cally and try to find the rhythms as I handle the problem is before having that direct Jeriel Johnson what needs to be done. It’s all connected for conversation. Or maybe it’s a matter of going me. outside to yell and scream to release your Stay Mindful? For many years, people haven’t been open frustration or anger before dealing with the to talking about mental health. Now people issue. Whatever the situation may be, think BY GAIL MITCHELL are becoming more comfortable in em- first about how you want to respond before bracing the issue. They’re expressing their actually doing so. n recognition of Mental Health Aware- feelings, challenges, mental health goals and In our business, many of us don’t priori- ness Month, Billboard has partnered sharing resources. And as more people com- tize our physical wellness. I know I didn’t with Ian Davis and Brandon Hol- municate and work together in a thoughtful for many years. Sometimes our work hours man of The Mindful Creative on a and collaborative way on the issue, then the aren’t great and we don’t always eat the Iseries of conversations with music artists and stigma will start to fade. And while there are best foods. But finding the time to be active executives about the self-care practices they a lot of great resources for people who are and feeling what it does for you mentally use to keep themselves on track, both during currently struggling, it’s equally important is amazing. I wish everyone would just do the pandemic and beyond. that we also develop more preventative something to get their adrenaline going and Today’s conversation is with Jeriel measures to help people get ahead of any their blood pumping. You will see and feel Johnson, executive director of the Record- problems before they get way out of hand. the benefits. ing Academy’s Washington, D.C. chapter and It’s really just about creating more aware- At the beginning of this month, I kicked executive sponsor of the academy’s Black ness and continuing to support and be kind off #EveryDayInMay to help raise aware- Music Collective. Launched last September, to each other. It’s the original template of ness about mental health and wellness the BMC is an advisory group of Black music life — and we can always use more of that. through physical fitness. I’m doing this with creators and professionals dedicated to ampli- With any company or job position, it friends but am also challenging everyone fying Black voices within the academy and the starts with listening. I’m talking really to do something active every single day in music industry at large. A seven-year veteran actively listening to understand the needs of May. We’ve had so many people take on the of , the your team, to learn about and help develop challenge and share what they’re doing. You native and Berklee College of Music gradu- their interests and skills so you can help don’t have to run necessarily. It could be an ate joined the organization in 2014 as senior them work through potential work prob- exercise workout, yoga, biking, walking … project manager of urban music after holding lems as you support their growth. And that just some measure of fitness activity each prior posts at NBC Universal and Warner leads to empowerment and trust. One of the day. Bros. Records. He was recognized as a 2021 greatest ways you can empower someone As a family, my wife, children and I Billboard Change Agent for advocating for is to trust them fully. That’s been one very meditate. My wife thought of doing this major industry changes during a year rocked helpful approach for me toward fostering two years ago to help the kids wind down by the pandemic and protests for social justice mental health and wellness in the work- at the end of a long week and prepare them reform. place: listening and knowing when to stand for heading into the next week. While we I define mental health and wellness as in front or follow my teammates’ lead. also encourage physical outlets like soccer, finding peace through self-care. Because we As for myself personally, I try to go out dance and karate, meditation is another way have so many things going on in our work for a run every day, or at least three to four to teach mindfulness. As has been the case and personal lives, we need to figure out times a week, before I start work. That gives with many families, it’s been a challenge to how to effectively balance all of those things me time to process what the day ahead looks manage virtual school during the pandemic yet still be productive and enjoy life. like. So before I even sit down in front of my while providing other outlets so they can It all starts with perspective. My family computer or join a meeting, I’ve already had unplug from their devices. At the same — my wife and four children — is the most a victory for the day and can better handle time, my wife and I are keenly aware about important thing to me as I work to hopefully any issue without overreacting. It’s about creating space for them to know that we’re build a legacy. After that comes my love of knowing where to place your perspective always here and have their backs; that they music … I’m so thankful and blessed to be when challenges come at you. can talk to us about anything at any time. Page 11 of 27

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As told to Gail Mitchell, Ian Davis and enough to experience a full circle moment,” in North America after the global coronavi- Brandon Holman. Guerini said in a statement. “I’ve been rus pandemic shut down much of the world extremely fortunate to have spent the last in March 2020. 28-plus years of my career with the world’s “Armed with a vaccine that is safe, ef- Radio Disney leader in family entertainment, The Walt fective and widely available, we are able to Disney Company, and I plan to bring that bring back one of our city’s most iconic sum- Vet Phil knowledge and experience to Jonas Group mer music festivals,” Chicago’s Mayor Lori Entertainment.” Lightfoot said in a release Tuesday. “I want Guerini Named In addition to the Jonas Brothers, Jonas to thank the Lollapalooza team for working Group Entertainment, which Jonas founded closely with the City to create a reopening Jonas Group in 2005, has formerly overseen the careers strategy that prioritizes safety and can’t wait of and Jordin Sparks. Current to see festivalgoers return to Grant Park this Entertainment clients include Bailee Madison, Frankie Jo- summer.” nas, Lanie Gardner, Public, Melanie Pfir- Lollapalooza attendees will need to CEO rman, Livvia, Mandy Harvey, and Lucy provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. For Cloud. those who aren’t fully vaccinated, they’ll BY MELINDA NEWMAN Guerini will be based in Nashville. need to provide a negative test result within 24 hours of attending Lollapalooza each day. alt Disney Company Additional details on entry will be available vet Phil Guerini has been Miley Cyrus, in early July. named CEO of Jonas See the full lineup below: Group Entertainment. Foo Fighters, WGuerini was most recently VP of music strategy for Disney Channels Worldwide Post Malone & Grand Ole Opry and GM, Radio Disney Network. In the lat- ter role, he oversaw Radio Disney and Radio More to Headline Moves Toward Disney Country. Radio Disney shut down earlier this year. Lollapalooza 2021 the Old Normal as Guerini’s ties with Kevin Jonas, Sr., founder and chairman of Jonas Group BY ANNA CHAN U.S. Reemerges Entertainment, go back to 2005 when, at Disney, he began working with the Jonas ollapalooza is coming back in a big From COVID-19 Brothers, and had a hand in develop- way just in time for its 30th an- ing such pop acts as Justin Bieber, Ariana niversary. The festival announced BY TOM ROLAND Grande and Gabby Barrett, among others. on Wednesday (May 19) that Miley “He has been an instrumental part of my LCyrus, Foo Fighters, Post Malone and Ty- t likely won’t have the shelf life family’s journey and was an early supporter ler, the Creator, will be headlining the 2021 of Throwback Thursdays or Taco of my sons before they experienced their event held July 29 to Aug. 1 at Grant Park in Tuesdays, but “full-capacity Friday tremendous success,” said Jonas, in a state- Chicago. night” had an oddly special ring to it ment. “Matching our current projects and Other big names set to perform at the Ion May 14. talent with his tremendous leadership will festival include Megan Thee Stallion, Da- Grand Ole Opry announcer Bill Cody un- assist in bringing Jonas Group Entertain- Baby, , , Illennium, corked the phrase as the WSM-AM Nash- ment into its finest days. I am confident that Journey, Limp Bizkit, Modest Mouse, and ville show had every ticket in the 4,400-seat we will move forward into incredible things many others. More than 165 bands are set to Opry House available for the first time since with Phil leading the way.” perform on eight stages during the four-day March 10, 2020, when the coronavirus At Disney, Guerini, who frequently ap- event. Four-day general admission tickets pandemic forced live entertainment off the peared on Billboard Country Power Players and other ticket packages go on sale at noon stage. Some 2,400 tickets were sold, accord- list, also spearheaded the launch of the CT today. Single-day tickets will be available ing to Opry vp/executive producer Dan Radio Disney Music Awards in 2013 and at a later date. Rogers, as the reboot coincided with an un- revamped Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing Organizers announced on Tuesday (May expected bonus: Barely 24 hours before the development program. 18) that the event would be returning to full show’s start, the city of Nashville dropped “Life is truly an unpredictable bless- capacity this year. Its return will also mark face-mask mandates. The Opry matched the ing and every once in a while, we’re lucky one of the first major festivals to take place metro policy — signs indicated masks were Page 12 of 27

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welcome, but not required — and at least Bonsall indicated, felt “really weird” — but than five years away. 90% of ticket-buyers dropped the fabric. even after scattered seating was introduced, After coping successfully with a lethal, in- “It just felt liberating,” The Oak Ridge the atmosphere was unavoidably unusual. visible threat, management has a refreshed Boys’ Joe Bonsall said after the group closed “You look up in the balcony, and there’s attitude about any upcoming challenges. the two-hour show with “Elvira.” “It felt like all these people looking down in masks,” he “It’s not as if I had a lack of confidence be- maybe, just maybe, we are really on our way quipped. “It kind of looked like the gallery fore this,” observed Rogers. “But I thought, here. Maybe we are emerging. I mean, it was on Grey’s Anatomy, looking down at a brain ‘If this team can get through this’ — and I just awesome. I knew it would be, but it was transplant.” knew we would be able to — ‘we’ll have so even more awesome than I thought it would Still, after 14 months of caution, the much more confidence, and things will seem be. I almost cried out there. I didn’t, but I abrupt return to more normal conditions so much easier to take on.’” almost did.” was as much an oddity as the beginning This article first appeared in the weekly In ideal Opry fashion, the lineup reflected stages of the pandemic. Billboard Country Update newsletter. a variety of styles and eras. Lorrie Mor- “There was a backstage tour today, and it Click here to subscribe for free. gan opened with her chart-topping 1990 sin- was the first time in well more than a year gle “Five Minutes,” and the rest of the talent that I looked out and saw people in a group parade featured current hitmaker Michael together without masks on,” noted Rogers. ’s Ray, Western vocal quartet Riders in the “It was just as strange as it looked in March Sky, comedian Aaron Weber, Nashville ac- of 2020 to see all these people walking Ericsson Globe tor Charles Esten and newcomer Brittney around with masks on. I had the opposite Spencer, who sang a new song, “Sober & experience today when I walked out and Officially Skinny,” for the first time in public. thought, ‘Oh my God: faces.’” Spencer’s appearance was a personal The backstage area, more than any part Renamed milestone, for she made her Opry debut. of the rebooted Opry experience, remains While she felt its significance (she conceded abnormal. Historically, the volume of acts Arena: ‘We’re So that her breathing was more pronounced — combined with their entourages, fam- during “Sober” as she fought off a case of ily members and personal guests, as well Honored’ nerves), she was still present enough to rec- as other industry visitors — creates a mild ognize a positivity across the audience. party atmosphere that spills out to the side BY KATIE BAIN “It felt like relief,” she said. “It’s this crazy stages, where fans can see hangers-on. time for a lot of people. This is their first Those areas were barren on May 14, and n 2012, Avicii played sold out two time hearing live music in 14 or 15 months. I the typically crowded back hallways were shows at Stockholm’s Ericsson Globe, feel like you can just hear everyone taking a likewise spacious and easily navigated. That a 15,000 capacity arena in the heart big sigh and [having] a sense of belonging.” will probably remain the case for several of his native city. The then 23-year- While most live events were canceled or months as the Opry respects the most cau- Iold producer, born Tim Bergling, was the postponed across the United States once tious members of the community. new king of a new genre, EDM, and riding the virus broke out in March 2020, the Opry “My goal is to bring the area backstage high on the recent release of his global hit, kept going, in great part because it is a radio to normal, where it feels congenial and “Levels.” The shows were to become a mile- show at heart and was able to exist without Opry-like, if you will, but to really over the stone in Tim Bergling’s then exponentially an audience. Parts of the program also air on next few weeks still try to limit the number expanding career. the Circle Network, and Opry management of people,” said Rogers. “That’s just so those “I was there before he went on,” the late made major adjustments to keep it on the who are back here can feel a little more producer’s father, Klas Bergling, tells Bill- air, with a minimal lineup of artists perform- comfortable. Maybe you don’t have your board. “He was sitting in the green room, ing to a vacant house. It was livestreamed mask on when you’re walking through the and he looked so small, sitting far back in beginning March 14, 2020, a move that Rog- family room and maybe you can go get your the room on a big sofa, concentrating on the ers now believes will lead to greater support free popcorn from the green room again.” upcoming set.” at an international level. Full-capacity Fridays, as well as full- The afternoon after the second show, Klas Opry executives followed city guidelines capacity Saturdays and Tuesdays, are Bergling walked into his son’s bedroom, closely, opening Opry House seating to 500 returning at an ideal time as the Opry looks woke him up and read him the newspaper socially distanced patrons in October and forward to several significant milestones. review of the shows. “The critics were so gradually adding more tickets as Nashville Launched on Nov. 28, 1925, the show nice,” Bergling recalls. “Tim was so proud.” loosened policies. celebrated its 95th anniversary during the Now, nine years after those highlight The Oaks appeared two or three times lockdown. Its 5,000th Saturday concert is performances and three years after Avicii when no fans were present — the last visit, set for Oct. 30, and its 100th birthday is less committed suicide, ASM Global — operators Page 13 of 27

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of the Ericsson Globe — have announced board. “The people that run our venues Wednesday (May 12) with the Superior that starting Wednesday (May 19) the venue around the world are members of those Court of Los Angeles Country in which she will officially be called the . The communities. They know what’s happening, details several alleged incidents of abuse, Avicii Estate will not pay for the rights to and it’s my job to listen and then throw the dating back to 2010 and 2011. have its name on the venue, with those weight of ASM Global behind it.” Walters was an aspiring photographer expenses covered by Swedish insurance “They asked if we were open to calling it when she first met Manson (real name Brian company Trygg-Hansa and Swedish con- the Avicii Arena and we were so honored by Warner), who had complimented her work struction retailer Bauhaus, both of which just the question,” Bergling says. “For us, the on social media, according to the suit. have their own mental health initiatives. possibility of taking the Tim Bergling Foun- Soon after they met, Manson overstepped “We want to show ’s young people dation into the arena for longterm activity is boundaries, the document explains. Despite that the adult world listens and cares,” a very unique opportunity.” this, when the rocker reportedly implied he said Hanna Axelsson, Trygg-Hansa’s com- In conjunction with the announcement, could further Walter’s creative career and munications and marketing manager, in a the The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic offered twice what she was earning as an of- statement. Orchestra has recorded a version of the 2015 fice coordinator for a production company, This name change is not, however, a Avicii track “” that features Walters accepted his invitation for work. purely cosmetic endeavor. The Avicii Arena 14-year-old Swedish vocalist Ella Tiriti- According to published reports, Walters will serve as a hub for events hosted by ello. Watch the performance below. was hired as Manson’s PA in August 2010, the , the suicide This name change is one of several and was subjected to a toxic working en- prevention and mental health awareness projects currently in motion to commemo- vironment, in which she faced aggression, organization founded by Klas Bergling and rate Avicii. Bergling says that The Avicii violence, threats and more before her depar- his wife Anki Lidén in the wake of their Experience, a museum chronicling the life ture the following year, which she details in son’s death. (Foundation-related events will and career of the artist, is set to open in the suit. happen alongside the large-scale concerts Stockholm this November or December. Walters, now 37, also claims Manson and sporting events that have been the “We are just supporting them [by providing] made her work for 48 hours straight, and he Arena’s focus since it opened in 1989.) The videos, instruments and things to put out invited his friends to sexually assault her. foundation focuses on suicide prevention there,” Bergling says. In one alleged incident, Manson pushed among young people worldwide, as suicide Additionally, an official Avicii biography Walters onto the lap of an actor during an is currently the second most cause written by Swedish investigative journalist awards show in September 2010, and said for death among people aged 15-29. Tim and documentary producer Måns Moses- he could “have her,” the lawsuit reads. “The Bergling was 28 when he took his own life son is set for release in the United States actor proceeded to kiss Walters and keep on April 20, 2018. on Nov. 16. Proceeds from the book will her on his lap,” the document continues. In Planning for such Foundation-related benefit the Tim Bergling Foundation. a separate incident the following month, events is currently in progress and will ex- Walters details a situation where Manson tend through the summer. Bergling antici- introduced her to a director who repeatedly pates the Avicii Arena will host lectures for Marilyn Manson groped her and put his hand up her skirt student groups, music-related education ac- while covering her mouth. tivities and other education and awareness- Accused of “It made me feel like I was his property,” based initiatives hosted in conjunction with she tells the Cut. “It just made me feel like a Foundation partners including Save The Sexual Assault, piece of meat.” Children and Sweden based mental health In total, Walters makes six legal claims, initiatives SuicideZero, MIND and BRIS. Harassment by including sexual harassment, sexual assault, For Bergling, shifting events to the central sexual battery, and infliction of emotional hub of the Avicii Arena “is an opportunity to Former Assistant: distress. reach a much bigger audience.” She’s seeking back pay and lost wages Representatives of ASM Global first had Reports and an unspecified sum in damages, and she the idea for the name change after the suc- wants the veteran artist and his employ- cess of a Avicii tribute concert, which was BY LARS BRANDLE ees at Marilyn Manson Recordings Inc. to hosted at the Stockholm’s , participate in anti-sexual harassment and another ASM venue, in December of 2019. arilyn Manson is facing fresh anti-sexual violence classes. The show drew roughly 60,000 fans. allegations of sexual assault Walters is one of over a dozen women “Hosting the tribute, we knew there was and harassment, this time from who have alleged abuse at the hands of a void left after Tim passed,” ASM Global his former personal assistant. Manson, and she becomes the second president and CEO Ron Bension tells Bill- MAshley Walters filed a complaint last woman to submit a legal claim against him, Page 14 of 27

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following Game of Thrones actress Esmé Bi- adding their names to a concert marketplace residency at Resorts World’s 5,000-seat anco’s suit, filed April 30 in the U.S. District bulging with package tours, benefits and theater. His run begins Feb. 11, 2022. Court for the Central District of California. even extended residencies. This article first appeared in the weekly In February, Westworld star Evan Rachel Newly announced concert appearances Billboard Country Update newsletter. Wood named Manson, her former partner, include: Click here to subscribe for free. as her alleged abuser. Soon after her claims • Ashley McBryde rolls out the This were broadcast, Manson was dropped by Town Talks Tour on June 12 in Roanoke, Va., Loma Vista Recordings label, CAA and long- with over three dozen shows on the docket time manager Tony Ciulla. through January 2022. Four different acts Billboard made earlier attempts to reach are filling the opening slot on a rotating Bringing ‘Poster Manson for comment. basis: Morgan Wade, Adam Hambrick, Pris- Stories about sexual assault allegations cilla Block and Ray Fulcher. Girl’ Launch Party can be traumatizing for survivors of sexual • The Birthplace of Country Music Mu- assault. If you or anyone you know needs seum is holding a three-part Road to Bristol to Roblox support, you can reach out to the Rape, Abuse Rhythm series that offers concerts for 100 & Incest National Network (RAINN). The people at an outdoor stage at the Sessions BY TATIANA CIRISANO organization provides free, confidential sup- Hotel on State Street in Virginia, walking port to sexual assault victims. Call RAINN’s distance from the site of historic recordings ara Larsson is the latest artist set National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656. by Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family. to perform virtually inside gaming HOPE) or visit the anti-sexual violence orga- The shows will include Wade, June 19; Jim platform Roblox, where the Swed- nization’s website for more information. Lauderdale, July 17; and Amythyst Kiah, ish pop singer will celebrate the Aug. 7. Zexpanded edition of her March album Poster • Jackson is going home to Newnan, Girl this weekend. Country Artists Ga., on June 26 for a benefit at the Coweta In partnership with TEN Music Group County Fairgrounds on the three-month an- and Epic Records, the performance and Begin Flooding niversary of an EF4 tornado that destroyed launch party is set in an elaborate, virtual 70 homes and damaged a total of 1,700 Swedish lake house roamed by virtual pigs the Concert buildings. (Larsson’s favorite animal). Larsson will • Aldean’s aptly titled Back in the Saddle perform the album title track as well as hits Pipeline Tour launches Aug. 5 in Virginia Beach, Va. like “Lush Life,” “FFF” and “Never Forget Amphitheaters dominate the schedule that’s You” and take part in an exclusive Q&A. BY TOM ROLAND currently booked through Oct. 30 in Tampa, The first performance on Friday, May Fla. Opening are HARDY and Lainey Wil- 21 at 7 p.m. EST marks the availability that s a gas crisis begins to ease in the son. day of Poster Girl: Summer Edition, which Southeast, a new supply-chain is- • Garth Brooks will play the Nebraska includes new tracks and remixes, and will sue reared its head on Facebook. Cornhuskers’ house, Memorial Stadium be followed by three encore sets over the Fusion Music managing in Lincoln, on Aug. 14. It marks the first weekend. partner DanielA Miller (, Ri- concert at the football venue since Willie “I was thinking about the future — what ley Green) reported a “massive shortage of Nelson’s Farm Aid III in 1987. will make a really good concert. I like to country concert tickets” on May 12. Miller • Dan + Shay reboot The (Arena) Tour on write songs, but I’m a performer first and a didn’t hold back; he encouraged “stocking Sept. 9 in Greenville, S.C., with openers The writer second,” Larsson said in a statement. up” on passes to weather the “unpredict- Band CAMINO and Ingrid Andress. Inter- “This album will be fantastic when played able season ahead” as the concert industry rupted by COVID-19 after the first three live, and I’m really excited to be able to play reboots in the aftermath of the COVID-19 dates were completed in March 2020, the a select list of songs to the whole world for shutdown. updated itinerary includes additional shows the first time inside Roblox.” Miller’s words were obviously sarcastic, in San Diego and Los Angeles. Fan players will also be able to engage in but they underscored the excitement of art- • Underwood opens Reflection: The Las mini games at the party and purchase exclu- ists and executives in the live business to see Vegas Residency on Dec. 1, with six shows sive virtual merchandise including emotes, fans’ faces and generate sales again. booked during the month at Resorts World an avatar bundle and items for their avatars After 14 months of scarcity, in-person Las Vegas. She is the first country performer like sunglasses, a flower crown, Larsson- concerts and events are revving up in a announced for the new 3,500-room hotel, branded sunglasses and more. There will big way, with Jason Aldean, Carrie Under- which opens June 24. also be one free virtual item that all attend- wood and Alan Jackson among the acts • Luke Bryan also booked a six-concert ees can pick up. Page 15 of 27

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Larsson “Has created a magical pink back inside Neumos and see a show without wonderland that you have to see to believe,” Neumos in a mask on. That’s amazing. said Roblox vice president and global head In Washington, the Governor’s office says of music Jon Vlassopulos. “Roblox Launch Seattle, in a we should be opening at 100% capacity on Parties continue to be the best way for art- June 30. He said we might be able to open ists to reach millions of fans over a weekend, Pandemic: Venue even sooner if we can get to 70% vaccinated. connecting them and their music in unparal- He said by June 30, we should be there leled fun, interactive, and immersive ways.” Owners ‘Have and no masks inside if you’re vaccinated. Over the past two years, in-game music If you’re not vaccinated, you’re taking the performances have emerged as a new and Never Been In risk. That is in six weeks. I can’t book shows innovative method for artists to connect and get them on sale and marketed and all with a limitless audience and sell virtual This Much Debt’ that stuff in six weeks. So, July is screwed merchandise in the process. That market is and August will have some shows. We’ve huge: Global gamers spent around $50 bil- BY TAYLOR MIMS turned down so many shows because we lion on these types of in-game items in 2020, didn’t think we were going to be open. according to MIDiA Research. s co-owner of Seattle’s popular Does Neumos have a plan for checking While Fortnite led the way with per- independent venue Neumos in if people are vaccinated? formances from artists like Larsson’s Capitol Hill, Steven Severin has I have no idea. It just got announced and Epic labelmate last sum- been a staple in the Seattle music I don’t want to have to do the vaccine pass. mer and Marshmello in 2019, Roblox has industryA for more than 20 years. Roughly People are already selling fake vaccine cards. recently become a popular choice as well. 10 years ago, he helped create the Seattle If you are not vaccinated and you come to a On Roblox, which is free to play and has Nightlife and Music Association to bring small music venue and there is someone else 42.1 million daily active users, a community together the area’s live event insiders, and who is not vaccinated and you get it from of more than 8 million creators develop for the past 16 years has helped run Neumos them, I can’t do a whole lot for you. You’ve their own games. Over the past year, the list with its sister club Barboza and the accom- had every opportunity to get vaccinated. of artists who have performed in Roblox panying Runaway bar. And there are some people that can’t get includes , Royal Blood, Why As part of Billboard’s efforts to best cover vaccinated for health reasons, but anybody Don’t We and Lil Nas X, whose set of four the coronavirus pandemic and its impacts who can just needs to get vaccinated so we performances in November — where he on the music industry, we have been speak- can lower the probability of catching it. I debuted single “Holiday” — drew a total of ing with Severin regularly to chronicle his don’t see why we would need to be check- more than 33 million visits. experience throughout the crisis. (Read ing. If they are comfortable coming and “During the past year we’ve worked to the last installment here and see the full being around all those people and all the create new and innovative ways to connect series here.) mandates have been lifted. artists with their fans,” said Epic CEO Syl- Last week the Centers For Disease Is there a show you’re ready to go see? via Rhone. “Bringing Zara to Roblox to Control and Prevention announced that Dead & Co at the Hollywood Bowl. I perform and interact with the Roblox com- fully vaccinated people could go without know the tour manager. I will probably hit munity is an incredible match and we know masks indoors and outdoors. What are him up for a friends and family hook up. her fans will love the performances this your first thoughts on that? I’ll pay for tickets though. Just because I weekend.” I drink from the fountain that is Dr. haven’t talked to him for a while and then Check out the showtimes below, and learn [Anthony] Fauci. If Fauci says it, it is gospel the whole pandemic thing. If I don’t know more about how to attend here. to me. I follow the science. You have to trust you and I didn’t help make you money, then somebody. When he says, if you are vacci- I will pay for tickets. nated you don’t have to wear a mask,’ then How do think comp tickets are going to ok. Cool. That’s what I am going with. I’m go as everything opens back up? still wearing my mask around and it is going Nobody is going to ask me for free tickets. to take people some time to get used to that. And if you do… My two best friends, they get Does the CDC news mean the coun- free tickets. Everybody else, they got a job. try is going to get back to indoor shows They can pay. faster? The Small Business Administration says Oh, yeah. July 1, I bet everybody starts 12,200 businesses have applied for the having shows. There is some shell shock Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. Anoth- that this might really be over. Not complete- er 12,000 were started but not completed. ly, but over in the sense that people can go What do you think happened there? Page 16 of 27

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A lot of people bailed on the SVOG fan favorites. ment, based in . application and went to the Restaurant “We have always been a band that loves to Boateng was most recently a promoter at Revitalization Fund because you could make play live in venues of all shapes and sizes,” Live Nation. She previously launched ‘The more. You could make way more money, said The Black Keys in a release. “The past Ends Festival,’ a predominantly Black music but you have less things that you can spend year has been tough for musicians and fans festival celebrating culture and art from it on. If you’re not open, I don’t know how alike, so we wanted to find a way to share across the African and Caribbean diaspora. you spend that money. You can’t spend it on this live performance of songs from our new “The nearly sold-out event was praised band guarantees or ticket refunds. And any project, Delta Kream, from a place we love, for its authentic presentation, apt artist money you don’t spend, you have to give the Blue Front Café, the oldest active juke selection and astute interpretation of the back. joint in America. We’re excited to be a part modern Black British identity in turn setting With the SBA saying they except the of this new initiative with Spotify that will a new precedent for the UK festival experi- majority of grants awarded to be around give fans a great way to connect with their ence,” a press release from WME reads. $1 million each, that leaves roughly $4 favorite artists.” Boateng also co-founded the Bold Women billion still in the fund. Do you think Other participating artists in- Win Big foundation, a platform dedicated to there will be enough money for everyone clude Rag’n’Bone Man from the Round- empowering women with opportunities to who needs it? house in London, Bleachers on a city develop their careers within the music and Not really. We’ve been closed for what bus from New York to New Jersey, Leon creative industry. will be 18 months by the time we’re back. Bridges at the Gold-Diggers Hotel in Los The grants are going to help. They’re go- Angeles and girl in red from . Spotify ing to help massively. The people who run will notify fans on the concerts based on Elle King Now venues have never been in this much debt. their listening history. Fans of The Black How are we supposed to recover from this? Keys, for example, will start to receive Getting Team People think we’re getting all this money notifications on May 19 for the performance and I’ll be driving a Maserati. We’re not taking place on May 27. Support From getting a new car. We’re still going to be in “I’m excited to collaborate with Spotify debt. If there are supplemental grants and on this intimate concert experience that RCA and Sony they extend the criteria another six months will feature songs from across my cata- (January through June 2021), that would be log, including a few tunes from my new Music Nashville huge. That would be a game changer. album, Gold-Diggers Sound,” said Leon Bridges in a release. “I’ve truly missed see- BY MELINDA NEWMAN ing my fans around the world this year, and Spotify Partners we are working hard to bring the concert CA Records and sister company experience to your home, thanks to Spotify.” Nashville are part- With Driift for Anyone can purchase a ticket for $15 nering together to support Elle (plus tax) or the local currency equivalent King’s career. The “Ex’s & Oh’s” Ticketed Virtual at spotify.live. Those who don’t already Rsinger remains signed to RCA Records, have a Spotify account can buy a ticket and which released her debut EP in 2012. Concert Series enjoy the experience by signing up for a Sony Music Nashville has already been free account. working with King on her duet with Sony BY TAYLOR MIMS Music Nashville artistMiranda Lambert, “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” ans who are still hesitant about Whitney Boateng which is at country radio now and has in-person concerts have another already topped Billboard’s Rock Digital way to enjoy their favorite artists Joins WME as Song Sales and Country Digital Song thanks to Spotify. Starting May 27, Sales charts. Though King broke through FSpotify is providing fans with intimate con- Music Agent as a pop artist with 2015 hit, “Ex’s & Oh’s,” cert experiences in partnership with Driift. which earned her two Grammy nomina- The Black Keys will kick off the series BY DAVE BROOKS tions and topped the Hot Rock Song chart, with a performance from one of their favor- her most recent successes have been in the ite juke joints, Blue Front Café in Missis- ME today announced country world. sippi. The five shows will all be ticketed that Whitney Boateng has King and Lambert collaborated with Mar- through online platform Driift and range joined the company as an en Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes from 40-75 minute sets of new material and W agent in the music depart- and Caylee Hammack on a remake of Elvin Page 17 of 27

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Bishop’s “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from 10, and Russ Millions’ “Body” which snagged an ACM Award last year as territories excluding the U.S. soars 18-6 for its first week in the bracket music event of the year. Additionally, King’s Chart rankings are based on a weighted (34.3 million streams, up 43%; 2,000 sold, up 2016 duet with Dierks Bentley, “Different formula incorporating official-only streams 8%). The collaboration between the British For Girls,” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Country on both subscription and ad-supported rappers features ArrDee, E1 (3x3), ZT (3x3), Airplay chart and also won a CMA Award tiers of audio and video music services, as Bugzy Malone, Buni, and Dar- for musical event of the year. well as download sales, the latter of which koo; the nine-artist remix arrived April 22. “I’ve met some of the most badass song- reflect purchases from full-service digital “Body” additionally tops the Official U.K. writers and artists and had some of the most music retailers from around the world, with Singles chart for a second week, having be- rock & roll experiences of my life in country. sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites come the first drill No. 1 in the list’s history. So I think we’re gonna get along just fine,” excluded from the charts’ calculations. The track also takes over atop the ARIA said King in a statement. “Plus, I’m always ‘Montero’ Maintains Global 200 Domi- Singles Chart, marking the first British hip- trying to prove to my PaPaw in Ohio that I nance hop hit to lead the Australian list. haven’t forgotten my roots or where I came Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me by Your For the Billboard Global 200 and Bill- from, so this helps a lot.” Name)” posts its fifth week atop the Bill- board Global Excl. U.S. charts, the top 100 ti- King, who is managed by Nashville- board Global 200, with 77 million streams tles are available to all readers on Billboard. based Mary Hilliard Harrington of Red (down 9%) and 5,500 sold (down 13%) com, while the complete 200-title rankings Light Management, will open for Chris worldwide in the May 7-13 tracking week. are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s sub- Stapleton’s tour this summer. Justin Bieber’s “Peaches,” featuring Dan- scription-based service. For all chart news, iel Caesar and Giveon, keeps at No. 2 on the you can follow @billboard and @billboard- Global 200, following its two-week reign; charts on both Twitter and Instagram. Lil Nas X’s Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” featuring DaBaby, hits a new No. 3 high, up from No. 4; The ‘Montero’ Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Save Your Brazilian Artist Tears” drops 3-4, after topping the chart Continues two weeks earlier; and Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me MC Kevin Dies at More,” featuring SZA, is steady at its No. 5 Reign Atop Both best. 23 After Falling Elsewhere in the Global 200’s top 10, J. Billboard Global Cole’s “Interlude” debuts at No. 8 with 37.6 From Hotel million streams and 3,300 sold worldwide Charts in its first week, following its May 7 arrival. Balcony The song is from his sixth studio album The BY GARY TRUST Off-Season, released Friday (May 14) and BY GRISELDA FLORES due on next week’s Billboard charts (dated il Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me by May 29). razilian funk musician MC Kevin Your Name)” remains the biggest ‘Montero’ Again No. 1 Outside U.S. died Sunday after falling from song in the world, as it adds its Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me by Your the fifth-floor balcony of a hotel, fifth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Name)” tallies its third week at No. 1 on the according to reports. He was 23 LGlobal 200 chart and third week atop Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 57.7 Byears old. the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. survey. million streams (down 7%) and 2,500 sold The artist (real name: Kevin Nascimento Plus, J. Cole’s “Interlude” debuts in the (down 18%) in territories outside the U.S. in Bueno) was taken to a nearby hospital Global 200’s top 10, while Tion Wayne and the May 7-13 tracking week. where he was pronounced dead. The Russ Millions’ “Body” (assisted by seven Justin Bieber’s “Peaches,” featuring incident is still under investigation by local featured acts) soars to the Global Excl. U.S. Daniel Caesar and Giveon, stays at No. 2 on police. top 10. the Global Excl. U.S. chart, after five weeks The news of his death was confirmed by Billboard’s two global charts (the latest at No. 1; The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s his wife, whom he had just married weeks of which are dated May 22) began last Sep- “Save Your Tears” repeats at No. 3, following ago. Deolane Bezerra posted a heartfelt tember and rank songs based on streaming its No. 2 peak; Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” fea- message on Instagram, writing, “You were and sales activity culled from more than 200 turing DaBaby, holds at No. 4, after reaching always so incredible. It’s not fair for you to territories around the world, as compiled by No. 3; and Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More,” fea- leave like this. It’s not. It’s not.” MRC Data. The Billboard Global 200 is in- turing SZA, reaches the top five, rising 6-5. A promising artist on the rise, MC Kevin clusive of worldwide data and the Billboard Additionally in the Global Excl. U.S. top launched his career in 2014 with the break- Page 18 of 27

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out hit “Prepara Novinha” in collaboration as voice acting in Rugrats and The Rugrats Hussle (Victory Lap), Jay Electronica (A with MC Pedrinho. With more than 10 Movie. Last year he also competed on The Written Testimony) and D Smoke (Black million followers on Instagram and 2 mil- Masked Singer. Habits) — and at the 2018 Grammys, he lion monthly listeners on Spotify, MC Kevin The rapper continues to be managed nabbed a best R&B song trophy for his song- most recently released his album titled Fê- by Steve Rifkind and Anthony Botter. writing on Ella Mai’s “Boo’d Up.” nix. As peers and members of Los Angeles- “We thank everyone for their comforting based music collective 1500 or Nothin’ — messages of support and love,” a post reads named after how much the band originally on his official Instagram account. “We ask charged to perform — Fauntleroy and Dop- for prayers and much strength.” and Larrance son have taken their knowledge as creators and industry insiders by co-founding 1500 ‘Rance’ Dopson Sound Academy with entrepreneur-philan- Busta Rhymes thropist Twila True. Housed in Inglewood, on Guiding the the academy is a creative hub for artists who Signs With CAA seek to study various facets of entertain- Next Generation ment, from songwriting and engineering to BY TAYLOR MIMS the business side of the industry. of Music “We really want to make sure people usta Rhymes is making moves. know the value of learning as much as you The legendary MC has signed on Professionals can, but especially things that support with CAA for representation in whatever your dream is,” says Fauntleroy. all areas worldwide. Rhymes was Through 1500 “It just makes you more capable and more Bpreviously repped by APA. valuable.” The rapper first hit scene with hip-hop Sound Academy 1500 Sound Academy students have group Leaders of the New School in 1990 plenty to learn from the combined five- before he began solo work alongside Mary J. BY JAELANI TURNER-WILLIAMS time Grammy winners, especially as they Blige, Notorious B.I.G. and more. Since then bridge their extensive industry knowledge Rhymes has become a multi-platinum sell- resh off of collaborating on new DJ with introducing the next generation of ing rapper and /executive. Khaled single “Sorry Not Sorry” artists. Below, Fauntleroy and Dopson take His albums have sold a combined 7.9 million with hip-hop rivals-turned-friends a look back on their musical ascension, copies, according to MRC Data. Jay-Z and Nas, singer- their gospel origins, and their now-defunct Rhymes has had 20 songs on the Bill- Fand general music multi-hyphenate James supergroup (where Fauntleroy board Hot 100 and landed nine albums on Fauntleroy has a lot to celebrate. “It was was joined by No I.D., and other the Billboard 200. Ten of his singles have an early birthday present, it’s awesome to artists) — as well as how they’re acclimating landed on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop have an opportunity to do anything that to the TikTok era of music. Songs chart, landing two No. 1 hits with gets heard by anyone,” he says. “It’s such You both formed musicianship through 1999’s “What’s It Gonna Be?” and his 2011 a miracle to be a part of something that so attending and performing in church. How collaboration with and Lil many people can be impacted by or enjoy — has spirituality informed your work over the Wayne on “Look At Me Now.” According it’s mindblowing.” years? to MRC Data, Rhymes’ catalog has earned Fauntleroy’s humility is sincere, but Larrance Dopson: Church music is the se- 1 billion on-demand U.S. streams. Last year alongside producer and multi-instrumen- cret to us making songs, us writing hits. First his latest album, t, reached No. 7 on the talist Larrance “Rance” Dopson, his song of all, it’s spiritual. By us being able to learn Billboard 200. credits for , , church music, we learn the chords that Throughout his career, Rhymes has been Bruno Mars, and other lu- can affect certain emotions. In church, you nominated for 12 Grammy awards and minaries has made his resumé the sort that learn the chords that make you cry, make toured with some of the biggest names in producers and in the R&B and you laugh, make you shout. By understand- hip-hop and R&B. He has joined Diddy, Pub- hip-hop lanes have long aspired to. Just last ing that theory, you really control emotions lic Enemy, Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu on week, J. Cole dropped his latest album The through music and that’s super spiritual. tour since the 1990s. Off-Season, where Fauntleroy was featured The whole objective of a business is to Rhymes has appeared in film and televi- alongside Dreamville rapper Bas on final create and keep a customer. Because of the sion over the past three decades, including track “hunger.on.hillside,” Meanwhile, church training us [like] ‘I’m gonna sing this roles in Shaft, Finding Forrester, The Steve Dopson’s production was instrumental on part, you sing this part’, church has kept us Harvey Show and Master of None, as well Grammy-nominated albums from Nipsey making sure that we repeat what the first Page 19 of 27

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person said. It’s just human behavior — ways director, so there’s a thousand ways we’ve Fauntleroy: One of the things I notice, a to make you remember and love a song. had to learn how to fall in and get it to- lot of really successful artists have a huge Fauntleroy: I didn’t grow up in church, gether. I don’t know if they still do this, but library of music in their minds. They know even though I met Larrance in the church. people used to switch instruments on the about so many abstract things — like all this Once I got there, I joined the choir. I was in stage. old stuff — even if their music is super mod- a gospel group on the low-low and I sang at Dopson: Yep, we still do. I mean, let’s be ern or simple. I’ve noticed that the biggest all these churches and I got a lot of impor- clear, last time we did a band show, James artists are huge music encyclopedias. tant experience. Everything [Larrance] was was the percussion player for Rick Ross. No- I sit there and pretend like I know what talking about — call and response and what body knows this, but that was him on stage. they’re talking about sometimes. “Have you things make the audience feel a certain Fauntleroy: I did a couple gigs, you know heard of The Striped Curtains? It’s so crazy way. I feel like getting [to church] late gave what I’m saying? How we get in sync is just how they—” and I’m like “Yeah, that’s amaz- me a different perspective on the actual by practice as a band, practice as collabora- ing — they’re great.” [Laughs.] experience of church, and what the Bible is tors, that’s our part. It’s been a decade since the Cocaine 80s talking about. It gave me a strong interest in Dopson: I work best with people that EP series. I’ve always considered that sound spirituality and philosophy — studying that know the language fully, that really know to be enlightening. Can you describe the has another level of impact on the music I’m the language to where they can tell me to phase you were in at that time? making. change the chord, go minor or go major, Fauntleroy: I’m still in the phase. The Can either of you pinpoint the moment and I actually know what they’re talking energy behind it was the idea of constantly or the song in which word began to spread about. You can speed up the process for the focusing on improvement. That’s the most about 1500 or Nothin’? song when everyone knows what they’re important quest — not perfection but con- Dopson: Locally, it was “Remember Me”. doing and we all got that mutual respect. stant growth. That’s why the first project It was a song that Snoop [Dogg] put on his It’s all the same to me — it’s really about the is called The Pursuit, because it’s the idea album [Welcome to tha Chuuch] that he energy, if [the artist] is insecure — there’s of — you don’t even want to get to the end, wasn’t rapping on. Other than that, I feel different ways we come at the artist when because who wants that? The part that is like “Show Me What You Got” [by Jay-Z] we know certain things. exciting and important is the pursuit. By was one of the main songs for us as a band When me and James are in sessions, we’ll the time we got to that last project, I was where we could kind of make church songs ask a bunch of questions when we first already into philosophy, but by the time we cool on the radio. That changed the sound of meet them. ‘What do you like? What do you got to The Flower of Life, I was fully off the hip-hop for a second. wanna talk about? What are songs that you deep end of studying religion. Fauntleroy: As far as 1500 is concerned, love already?’ When we’re doing all that, I’m I don’t know if I’ve said this publicly yet, [“Remember Me”] was it — I didn’t play just gathering information to where, when but I’m going to start saying it now — if you on that song, but I was there. “” was it’s time for us to do the song, I already go back and look at the songs on The Flower my first big song, but I feel like “Take You know what key you’re comfortable in, I of Life, each one of them are the days of Down” was similar. From my perspective, know what tempo you like — so we might do creation in the Bible. First song is [“Kuro to the Chris Brown album [Exclusive] was the total opposite. There’s a reason why we Shiro”] when God made light, the birds and when people were hitting me up and started ask every question. the fish is “Fly Ass Pisces” and on and on. to act like I was tight. Can you recall the recording experience I was really in philosophy and science Act like you were tight? with on Victory Lap? What mode when I was doing that, but more im- Fauntleroy: I knew already, but I was sound was he looking for? portantly was for [Cocaine 80s] to do what waiting for everybody else to get the memo. Dopson: We really grew up together, so we wanted to do. That’s what it was about [Laughs.] it [was] literally us making the soundtrack and that’s what it’s about now. How do you build a creative synchronicity for L.A. When you go to Slauson Swap Meet You should take a look at the YouTube with the artists you collaborate with? Or is it and buy a rolex chain, [Victory Lap] is liter- comments under The Flower of Life. Some a natural process? ally the sound of L.A. Nipsey kind of wanted people that listen to it feel like they’re being Fauntleroy: I think every situation is it to be the street bible of L.A. for people initiated into a secret society for wokeness. different and everyone has different goals. that can either be a gangbanger, or drug Fauntleroy: That’s literally what it is. When we go in there, how we’re thinking dealer that could end up being a venture We’ve got some things going on but it’s top about it — not only from the church experi- capitalist. So he teaches you the steps and secret as you know. It’s a secret society so ence because there’s certain ways people musically, we wanted to be the soundtrack everybody’s gotta pay attention, but the have to interact — is as a service. It’s a time around that. pursuit continues. to help this person with some kind of cre- You both have a diverse range of collabo- Your personal catalog and Instagram live ative expression. rators, but what commonalities have you streams have generated a cult following on- 1500 is a band and Larrance is the music seen between them? line. How do you determine whether a song Page 20 of 27

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is for another artist or for yourself? iteration of the audience. The Silhouette you can have that huge moment and also be Fauntleroy: I don’t — if it was up to me, Challenge [reintroduced] “Put Your Head on TikTok. everyone’s songs would be my songs. I on My Shoulder” — that song is super old. For us, the goal is still to do the best thing would just be like, “You know what? You? I don’t know what era it’s from, it’s before we can do, whether we come up with the These are gonna be my songs.” They choose, all of us were born, but that song still has perfect, quick, simple thing that ends up I just do the best I can do, and I try to do impact today in a way that the writer never on TikTok, or if we come up with some better every time. Either they realize it’s thought it would be used. The same tech- huge, global thing that ends up on TikTok. tight and they take it, or it was so tight that niques that make a song catchy [can] cause Whether people are paying attention for one they didn’t get it. Those are the only two an action in a person — that’s why it’s like second or two hours, if you get somebody’s choices. [Laughs.] If you didn’t get it, it’s magic. attention in a world of billions and billions okay, I understand and I play it on Insta- People talk about TikTok songs like of people — that’s a miracle. gram sometimes. they’re less good songs, but I can have a What made 1500 or Nothin’ transition What do you find intriguing about pro- whole other conversation about how people into 1500 Sound Academy? duction and songwriting in the current era think their era has the best music — every Dopson: It’s really us experiencing all the of music, specifically R&B? era has had terrible music. I don’t think that ups and downs of everything in the music Fauntleroy: I love it, man. If you study this era’s bad music is any worse than bad business, from touring to studio to life, and music, you’ll see all these cyclical trends — music from the beginning. us creating our own curriculum that helped things going away and coming back. When Dopson: Usually, for radio, a song is like us to get to where we are. There is no R&B took a step back from the mainstream, three minutes and thirty seconds, and now rulebook to this, or blueprint to how to be the development got more advanced in TikTok, they’re finding the phrase that pays successful in the music business. some ways, and much less in other ways, as — the most important part of the song to Fauntleroy: We thought about dealing we tried to figure out how to reconcile R&B them. The fact that they’re just catching it with executives, dealing with collabora- and mainstream music. Now that it’s more and making it way shorter it just shows the tors, whose careers lasted however long, popular, you’re seeing this epic culmination attention span that most humans have. and what factors had something to do with of some of the things that modern music Are you fearful about the attention span longevity. We talked about it for years. killed. that listeners have now in terms of music Before we started getting to the curricu- Before, when R&B was — we’ll call it and creating? lum, we did a seminar where we were doing the Confessions era — R&B was the biggest Dopson: James has taught me and a lot of a live performance. First I would talk about thing in the world. Now, all the things that other people the science of a hit song, and creativity, brain activity and all these dif- have happened in R&B and rap music and writing human behavior songs for people ferent factors that I had found from my re- all these different ways it’s changed [all that don’t even speak English. They’re mak- search that helped me get in the zone. Then over] the world, to where people are start- ing it much easier for us, because James can me, Larrance and the band would come up ing to use complex chords with the 808s. write a song with 40 words or less. Normal with music, a song and have the audience Even if it’s one note, some of these patterns people write a song with 100 words or more. pick a topic. So we’ve written some really that come from more popular rap songs, it’s If you pay attention to TikTok, they are say- strange songs over the years. where I’ve always hoped it would go — and ing the main phrase that matters, so I love There’s a lot of musicians who think that this is as a rapper. Whether you’re rapping what’s going on. all it takes is a viral hit to become recog- or singing, it’s what you’re saying that has an Fauntleroy: Everyone is always excited by nized as an artist. What would you say to impact on the audience. sensational things, but the people who are those who are undecided on applying for Dopson: I actually love where it’s going, having the highest level of success, they still 1500 Sound Academy and think they can too. Now it’s just about keeping everything have albums, they still have a story — they become established on their own? fresh, fun, new and exciting. Even co- have a whole world that you can enter and Dopson: You can’t. [Laughs.] I remember producing “Boo’d Up,” that was something an experience to offer you. Quincy Jones said “If you wanna fight, if you where if you can match the feeling where TikTok songs can come from whatever wanna knock somebody out, you can’t knock [listeners] would remember a moment from your best expression is, so I think the short them out with one finger, you gotta use five.” a long time ago with the new — if you can attention span — it can only be good. If you Those five fingers can make you stronger figure that out, I think it could work every have success from the TikTok perspective, when you’re all on the same page. It’s not time. that means you can get some attention and for everybody, it’s for people that want to be We’re in a time where platforms like can turn that into whatever. If you have suc- their best, and really for people that believe TikTok have become the new A&R. What cess from an album where you’re drawing in them more than anybody else. We’re just are your thoughts on TikToks that teach ab- a crowd, you’re having bigger touring rev- giving you the tools for you to get to your breviated versions of how to make a song? enue, people are buying your merchandise, highest self. Fauntleroy: I feel like TikTok is the next you can’t get that from a fleeting thing. But What knowledge do you want to instill in Page 21 of 27

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the next generation of music professionals? ron McMackin. and I’m vaccinated now because I definitely Fauntleroy: We want to stress the impor- “The world’s a crazy place right now and don’t want it again.” tance of learning, period. Teddy Riley told everyone’s got an opinion of how you should Dragge said he’s looking forward to me this when we were in our first sessions: be living your life,” Dragge tells Billboard. returning to the road with Pennywise and “The more you know about your environ- “It’s not just because of COVID — we’re just said he hopes “One Voice” becomes an ment, the more control you’ll have over in this landscape with a lot of people think- anthem for punk rock fans of all ages. He what you’re able to produce, and the more ing they’re right and someone else is wrong. added that he doesn’t think of The Crew as money you’ll make.” We’re constantly under pressure with a super group but more of a collective of art- Dopson: We need to bridge the gap people trying to tell us how to live our lives.” ists whose members ebb and flow over time between tech, film and music — it’s all one “One Voice” is a reflection of a lesson with new projects and music. marriage. Everything is so separate, but for Dragge learned from Muir, “who taught “One Voice” is available on all streaming the world to work correctly, you need it all. me about life and how to be punk rock and platforms via Epitaph Records and is being Computer literacy at the highest level and helped shape me into the the person I am released on limited edition vinyl to ben- the true foundation of music, between both today,” says Dragge. “That’s what the song is efit Musack, an organization that gives kids of those — and being a good person — you’ll about. I am who I am. We have a community and teens a voice through musical instru- be alright. and don’t need anyone’s approval. If you ments, training and support for teachers. don’t like me or my friends, then f*** you” “It was great working with Jon Hal- Dragge tells Billboard he remembers back perin from Stay Free Recordings on the Pennywise’s to the 1980s and ‘90s when punk music was vinyl for this song, he’s an incredible guy,” still considered a second-class art form that Dragge said of the longtime Long Beach tal- Fletcher Dragge faced constant rejection from the music ent buyer and label founder. Sales of the 7” industry and society at large. vinyl will feature The Crew’s “Once Voice” and Rancid’s Tim “People would just trash our music with- on Side A, while Side B will feature “One in out trying to understand what it was about,” a Million,” an original song by Musack-affil- Armstrong Unite Dragge recalls. -forward a few decades, iated youth rockers Rippy and the Sillyettes, and today Pennywise is recognized as one of two young girls from the Navajo reservation ‘The Crew’ for the most successful punk bands of all time, who wrote the song about a friend who was with 11 albums charting on the Billboard murdered. Punk Anthem 200 albums chart and countless headline The cover for the track features original appearances at festivals in addition to non- art by Tim Armstrong and the pressing will ‘One Voice’ stop global touring. be limited to 500 copies sold in five unique Dragge and punkers like Armstrong — colorways. Vinyl Pre-orders are available BY DAVE BROOKS who fronted influential Berkeley, California at stayfreerecordings.bandcamp.com. punk outfit Operation Ivy before forming collective of California punk Rancid with Lars Frederiksen in 1991 — pioneers have come together to and hardcore and thrash music OG Muir A2IM Indie deliver a message of unity and have remained accessible and connected self-reliance — through a new to the punk community decades after their Week 2021 highA energy anthem that could be coming initial success. Dragge said the ability to soon to a mosh pit near you. control one’s life and set one’s destiny is a Lineup Includes If “One Voice” by The Crew sounds major theme of the track, although his expe- familiar, it’s because it’s performed by rience during the COVID-19 pandemic has SoundExchange’s members of three of the West Coast’s most taught him how to face things beyond his influential punk bands — Suicidal Tenden- control. Dragge said he struggled with the Michael Huppe, cies, Pennywise and Rancid. Written by long stretch of isolation brought on by the Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge, “One lockdown. In June, he contracted the virus Dionne Warwick Voice” pushes the genre forward with its and battled illness for nearly a month. creative call and response sections from “It was definitely scary. I lost my sense of BY LARS BRANDLE vocalists Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies taste and smell and had to be extra cautious and Tim Armstrong of Rancid, blitzing not to give it to my mom who I had been oundExchange CEO Michael guitar riffs from Dragge and Rancid bass- moving when I caught it,” he tells Billboard. Huppe, iconic artist Dionne War- ist Matt Freeman and skull pounding, “It was miserable and I don’t wish it on any- wick and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) knuckle-down drums from Pennywise’s By- body. I got through it, which I’m grateful for, S are among the big names added to Page 22 of 27

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the lineup for A2IM Indie Week 2021. fered from late stage Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Huppe is tapped as keynote speaker for i_o’s Cause of This is unusual in young males and if undiag- next month’s event, for a session presented nosed can have severe, and sometimes fatal as a fireside chat with Digiday senior editor Death Revealed consequences. These include fatigue, anxiety, Max Willens, drilling down into the future depression and cardiac arrhythmias. of the music industry. BY KATIE BAIN The coroner determined that Garrett had a Separately, Warwick and Deutch will join sudden and fatal arrhythmia. No toxins were Huppe for a panel discussion on the move- he dance music community went found on extensive and repeated tests. ment for a performance right for record- into mourning last November After 5 months of testing, the conclusion is ings played on AM/FM radio, moderated when rising techno producer i_o that, while Garrett did suffer from depression by White House reporter for The Hill, Alex died unexpectedly at age 30. and anxiety, he did not take his own life. Gangitano. TNow, nearly six months later, the Los It is our hope that Garrett’s premature “It is a dynamic time in the world of mu- Angeles County Medical Examiner has re- death can be used to create and normalize sic marked by continued transformation,” leased its autopsy report, which states that conversations surrounding mental health said Huppe. “It is my honor to kick off A2IM the artist born Garrett Lockhart died of issues, realizing there may be an underly- Indie Week and open up what promises to natural causes as a function of Hashimoto’s ing disease or conditions requiring medical be a week of meaningful discussion to help Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder involv- attention. shape the future of our industry and inspire ing chronic inflammation of the thyroid. No Though this report offers us answers on the Indie community and beyond.” other significant issues were found during the questions of why, we remain without our Organized by the American Association of the examination. friend, our brother and our son. Many of you Independent Music, this year’s event will be As first reported by EDM.com, Lock- have mentioned Garrett’s friendship in a time held virtually for the second successive year, hart’s family released a statement Tuesday of personal crisis. Honor his memory by being from June 14 – 17. (May 18) noting that the Examiner’s office that person to someone else, taking gentle The conversations will explore many of contacted them to report that Lockhart suf- care of yourselves and each other. the issues important to today’s music pro- fered from late stage Hashimoto’s Thyroid- We, his family are grateful for everyone fessionals, from independent music advo- itis, an unusual condition for men of his age. that has been involved with the i_o project. It cacy, digital marketing, exporting, steaming, Side effects of this condition, the statement was truly what Garrett had always aspired NFTs and touring post-COVID. continues, can include fatigue, anxiety, de- to be as an artist. We continue to request “We’re very excited to announce this pression and cardiac arrhythmia. privacy as we navigate this difficult time. year’s diverse lineup of trailblazers, experts, “After five months of testing,” the family’s Thank you for your support and prayers, The and luminaries across the independent mu- note says, “the conclusion is that, while Gar- Lockhart Family sic, tech, and business worlds,” comments rett did suffer from depression and anxiety, A2IM CEO Richard James Burgess in a he did not take his own life.” Read the com- statement Wednesday. plete statement below. Bad Bunny & Karol A2IM Indie Week 2021 culminates with Lockhart had become known in the dance the 10th anniversary of the A2IM Libera community via his experimental acid techno G Set to Perform Awards on its final day. As previously sound, which earned him releases on pres- reported, soul and gospel great Mavis tige label including Mau5trap and Armada at 2021 Billboard Staples is slated to receive the indepen- Music. He counted deadmau5 as a major dent icon award on the night. Performers inspiration and received support from his Music Awards include Grammy-nominated rock and soul idol via his myriad mau5trap releases and duo Black Pumas, Grammy-winning hip- sets at mau5trap events. Lockhart was also BY PAUL GREIN hop artist Lecrae, 2021 Brit Award win- supported by scene stars including Armin ner Arlo Parks, three-time Grammy-win- van Buuren and Eric Prydz. n separate performances, Bad Bun- ner Fantastic Negrito, Grammy nominated The most recent i_o release — an update ny and Karol G will represent Latin singer Lido Pimienta, Malaysian singer- of Ian Van Dahl’s trance classic “Castles in music at the 2021 Billboard Music songwriter Yuna, and the Memphis-based the Sky” — was released via Armada just Awards. Bad Bunny will perform “Te Stax Music Academy Rhythm Section. days before his death. IDeseo Lo Mejor” from his 2020 album El For the full program visita2im.org/in- Below, find the full family statement: Último Tour Del Mundo, which made his- dieweek. The LA Coroner’s office has contacted the tory as the first all-Spanish-language album Lockhart Family to report on the cause of to hit No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 Garrett Lockhart (i_o’s) death. chart. Karol G will perform a medley of her It has been determined that Garrett suf- hits “Bichota” and “El Makinon.” Page 23 of 27

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In addition to topping the Billboard 200, album and digital song sales, radio airplay, bio – part Chiquis and part Janney,” the Bad Bunny has also reached No. 1 on Bill- and social engagement, tracked by Bill- Latin Grammy-winning artist told Billboard. board’s other flagship, all-genre chart, the board and its data partners, including MRC “I’ve always seen [that] character as an alter . He topped that chart Data and Next Big Sound. This year’s awards ego and thought that it would even be per- with “I Like It,” a 2018 collab with Cardi are based on the chart period of March 21, fect for a video game character!” B and J Balvin. In addition, he has cracked 2020 through April 3, 2021. Only a handful of Latin acts, such as Ozu- the top five on the Hot 100 with two other Fan-voted categories include top social na and Rudy Mancuso, have experimented hits: “Mia” (featuring ) and “Dakiti” artist and top collaboration. Voting opened with this once-considered niche method of (a collab with Jhay Cortez). on May 10 and closes May 21 at 11:59 p.m. cryptocurrency, and Chiquis becomes the Bad Bunny, a four-time BBMA winner, PT on Twitter and billboard.com/bbmas- first female Latin act to release her very own is nominated for seven more BBMAs this vote. For more information, visit billboard- digital collectible. year, including top Latin artist and top Latin musicawards.com/vote. “It is so exciting to be on the forefront album, two categories he won last year. Bad The 2021 Billboard Music Awards are of new technology and bring my fans and Bunny is one of only nine artists with seven produced by dick clark productions, which followers along for the ride,” the “Anímate y or more BBMA nods this year — and the is owned by MRC; MRC and Penske Media Verás” singer says. “There is so such a vast only one representing Latin music. are co-parent companies of Billboard. Barry space for incredibly creative and innovative The Puerto Rican superstar won his Adelman and Robert Deaton are executive ideas in the NFT and crypto world. You all first Grammy on March 14, when his al- producers. know me as an artist, TV personality, philan- bum YHLQMDLG won for best Latin pop or For the latest news on the Billboard thropist and business woman so I see there urban album. Music Awards visit billboardmusicawards. are big possibilities ahead in this sector.” Bad Bunny holds the record for the most com and billboard.com/bbma. Involved in the NFT creating process top 40 hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs The BBMAs will broadcast live from from beginning to end, Chiquis says that chart with 104. He also holds the record for the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on the fun part was collaborating with AnRKey the most hits total on that chart: 111. Sunday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on X to design the digital token. The most Karol G’s most recent album, KG0516, NBC. challenging? Understanding the technology debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Al- behind NFTs. “But I was with a team that bums, becoming her first No. 1 on that chart. aligned with my vision for creating NFT It also made the top 20 on the Billboard 200, Chiquis to Release products. AnRKey X has a long-term vision her highest ranking to date. of releasing NFTs with a strategy behind it.” The Colombian singer-songwriter has First NFT In Pact The “Spiritual Gangsta” inspired gam- amassed 25 hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin ing card is just the beginning of the part- Songs chart, including three No. 1s. She has With Crypto nership. The second release will feature had 10 No. 1s on Billboard’s Latin Airplay a multi-set NFT collection of five “Gems” chart. Gaming Company that are creatively developed images incor- This year’s BBMAs will have something porating her most famous inspirational and for fans of all kinds of music. AnRKey X motivational life quotes that Chiquis herself Hosted by , the show will recorded. include performances by (in alphabetical BY GRISELDA FLORES Chiquis’ NFT gaming card is set to go on order by principal performer) AJR, BTS, DJ sale Friday, May 21 at 11 a.m. ET on www. Khaled featuring H.E.R. and , Duran egional Mexican artist Chiquis is anrkeyx.io.celebrityNFTs. The multi-set Duran, Glass Animals, Jimmy Jam & Terry set to release her first-ever NFT “Gems” collection will go on sale soon after Lewis with Sounds Of Blackness featuring in partnership with crypto gam- the “Spiritual Gangsta” token. , , P!nk, twenty one ing company AnRKey X, Bill- pilots and The Weeknd. Rboard has learned. In addition to performing, P!nk will re- The digital NFT (non-fungible token), ceive the ICON Award. She is the youngest a one-of-a-kind cryptographic token that recipient of that award to date. exists on a blockchain, will come in the form Drake will receive the Artist of the De- of a gaming card inspired by her “Spiritual cade Award. Trae Tha Truth will receive the Gangsta” persona, which will be able to Change Maker Award. be used in AnRKey X’s game Battle Wave Billboard Music Awards finalists and win- 2323 – a blend of cyberpunk, hip-hop and ners are based on key fan interactions with Marvel universe-inspired game characters. music, including audio and video streaming, “’Spiritual Gangsta’ is in my Instagram Page 24 of 27

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Swift. me know, if you give this your all, I promise Billboard’s R&B/ You started writing music during a you it’s gonna change your life. I started tak- 6-year prison sentence. What made you ing it more seriously and being in the studio Hip-Hop Rookie gravitate towards it? a lot ever since then. I’ll probably be making Seeing how it made my brother feel. He’s 100k a show in a month. Imagine that. of the Month for doing life. Not only were we locked up to- is both your label’s CEO, gether but we were in [solitary confinement] collaborator and friend. What’s that May: 42 Dugg together. When he came, he got me through, dynamic like? talking to me every night. My brother was Baby is my brother — we were gambling BY NEENA ROUHANI the one who told me, “When you get out, when we first met and just developed a do that s—t. Take it seriously. You have a friendship over time. We were friends 2 Dugg has been working hard. story to tell.” He gave me my motivation. before all the music shit, but he’s definitely Just three years ago, the I miss him. That’s all [my brothers] would someone that saw my potential, believes 26-year-old rapper, whose moni- talk about, getting out here with me, being in me and supports me. When we’re in the ker is pronounced “four-two” beside me. studio together, we got incredible energy 4Dugg, stepped on stage at Erotic City — a It’s so crazy because two of my brothers and chemistry. strip club — to perform his music for already came home from doing life sentenc- You talk a lot about Detroit whenever the first time ever. “I was scared,” he says. es. One of my big brothers came home after you have the chance. What’s the role of “I was like, they might not even know my 17 years. I feel like I’m gonna be a better the city in your artistry? songs.” artist, a better overall person [having] them Detroit is my biggest market. They f—k Today, Dugg is cool and collected, per- with me. [My career] has given everyone in with me. Before [signing with] Gotti, I did forming at sold out shows exponentially my family something to smile about. We had an interview with Hot 107.5 and Stewe asked bigger than his strip club debut. Now signed been through a lot of adversity. We lost my what was something I wanted Detroit to to deals with both Lil Baby’s 4PF and Yo uncle, my other uncle went to jail for life. know and I said “If I make it, we make it.” I Gotti’s CMG, the Detroit rapper is gearing This has given everyone a breath of fresh air. really stayed true to that and they just sup- up to release his third studio album, Free What’s the story behind signing to Yo ported me the whole way. They made me Dem Boyz, on May 21. Gotti? the artist I am. I make music for Detroit, I In the last year or so, Dugg has had quite Gotti offered me a deal before he heard don’t really make it for the world. It just so a few wins. He reached No. 5 on the Bill- all my music, that was the crazy thing. He happened that the world fucks with it. I try board emerging artists chart, and scored saw me perform at The Big Show in Detroit to relate everything to Detroit, even when three Hot 100 hits — including “” and offered me a deal the next day. I really I’m on a feature with someone, I try to bring and “Grace” alongside Lil Baby, and his lat- didn’t have no big songs. I just had good it back home. est single, “4 Da Gang” with Roddy Ricch, music. He said, “I look at you as the next Detroit got a lot of rappers that talk s—t. which has spent five weeks on the chart and star, what do I need to do to make [the deal] I got that from Detroit, growing up in the counting. “We Paid” peaked at no. 10 on the happen?” When someone recognized all my streets. Artists like Babyface Ray, Peezy, the Hot 100, and its video has garnered over 250 hard work, I really appreciated that. I wasn’t whole team eastside, I admire all of them. million views to date. freestyling since 10, none of that shit. I had They keep me going. “I’m ,” says Dugg. “It’s been a just started rapping. When I played him my There’s one thing that signifies we’re long time coming.” whole catalog, he was like “Damn, I really about to hear a 42 Dugg track. What’s the While Dugg is basking in the simple joys f—k with you.” story behind your signature whistle? of stardom, he reminisces on his tumultuous After he said he wanted to sign me, I sent One time I was just trying to catch a beat. road to success. The midwest MC spent six him “Dog Food” and told him I just made When I first started rapping I used to beat years incarcerated, entering the system at it yesterday, and he was like “man, that on surfaces to show how I wanted my songs the age of 15 for carjacking and gun charges. motherf—ker so hard. We had shot a video to start. When they put the drops in the It was during his time in solitary confine- for “Dog Food,” but it was some industry song, to catch the beat I used to whistle to ment, alongside his older brother who is s—t. I’m like “Nah, that ain’t how we need to myself. People just started fucking with it. serving a life sentence, that he picked up a do it.” We ended up doing it in Detroit and I been thinking, when am I gonna be done pen to write raps. “My brother was the one bringing the whole city out. I appreciated with it? When will it be enough of the whis- who told me when you get out, [pursue mu- how much Yo Gotti was behind me. tle? Just imagine me doing a full out album sic],” he says. “He gave me my motivation.” What’s one of the most valuable gems and whistling on every track. Motherf—kers Below, Dugg talks to Billboard about his of wisdom you’ve gotten from Gotti? are gonna be like, “Enough of the whistle.” relationship with Yo Gotti, getting inspired He told me to take everything seriously. What do you listen to outside of rap? behind bars and his admiration for Taylor Treat this shit like your hustle. He always let I listen to pop. I f—k with Taylor Swift. Page 25 of 27

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A lot of people wouldn’t know that. I bang “Sorry,” three weeks, January 2016 according to MRC Data. her music. I like “Blank Space,” I f—k “Love Yourself,” five weeks, February-March Hunt wrote the song with Zach Crowell, with “Shake It Off.” 2016 Chris LaCorte, Josh Osborne and Ernest K. What would you say if T-Swift wanted “Cold Water” (Major Lazer feat. Bieber & Smith. a 42 Dugg feature? MO), one week, October 2016 On Hot Country Songs, which blends I’d say, “Hell yeah! When?” “Despacito” (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee airplay, sales and streaming data, the You’re releasing an album on May 21. feat. Bieber), five weeks, July-August 2017 track rises 5-4. It also drew 7.5 million U.S. What can you tell us about it? “I Don’t Care” (with ), three streams (up 6%) and sold 1,800 downloads The project is called Free Dem Boyz. I weeks, July-August 2019 (up 7%) in the week ending May 13. wanted to shine a light on all my people “Intentions” (feat. ), one week, June Hunt adds his third consecutive Coun- incarcerated. I feel like it was time for me to 2020 try Airplay leader, after “Hard to Forget” dedicate a project to them. Give them their “Peaches” (feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon), reigned for a week last July and “Kinfolks” own music, a soundtrack to their lives. My one week to-date, May 2021 dominated for a frame in February 2020. whole point of rapping was so that they feel Bieber ties Ariana Grande and Justin The triumphant trio is from his second it in jail. To give them something to look for- Timberlake for the seventh-most Pop full-length, Southside, which bowed at No. 1 ward to. I was like, imagine if I can get them Airplay No. 1s, dating to the chart’s October on Top Country Albums in April 2020. to hear my s—t on an mp3 player. That’ll be 1992 inception, after Maroon 5, Katy Perry He first topped Country Airplay with his the best thing in the world. I want my album and Rihanna — the leaders with 11 apiece debut hit “Leave the Night On” for a week to go No. 1 in the world, even if it’s Apple — and Bruno Mars, P!nk and Taylor Swift in November 2014 and added three more Music. I think I got a strong chance. (nine each). one-week No. 1s from his debut LP Monte- Meanwhile, “Peaches” rebounds for a sec- vallo: “Take Your Time” (May 2015), “House ond week atop the Rhythmic Airplay chart, Party” (September 2015) and “Make You Justin Bieber’s where it became Bieber’s fifth No. .1 Miss Me” (September 2016). The track, from Bieber’s eighth Billboard Hunt then led Country Airplay with his ‘Peaches’ 200 No. 1 album Justice, concurrently rises crossover smash “Body Like a Back Road” 15-14 on Adult Pop Airplay, where Bieber (also included on Southside) for three weeks Becomes His boasts five top 15 entries this year. No one in May 2017. The track dominated Hot else has more than two in that span. Plus, on Country Songs for 34 weeks starting that Eighth No. 1 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, “Peach- February. es” pushes 17-16, tying last year’s “Yummy” Plus, Hunt claims the first song whose Pop Airplay Chart for Bieber’s highest career rank on the chart title calls out the ‘90s to hit No. 1 on Country as a lead artist. Airplay, which itself began that decade, in BY GARY TRUST January 1990. Two other such entries have hit the chart: Lauren Alaina’s “Ladies in the eaches” continues to Sam Hunt Goes ‘90s” (No. 40 peak, April 2019) and Walker prove fruitful for Jus- Hayes’ “90’s Country” (No. 52, December tin Bieber, as the song Back to the ‘90’s’ 2018). becomes his eighth No. NEW TOP 10s Dylan Scott scores his “P1 on Billboard’s mainstream top 40 radio- for His Latest third Hot Country Songs top 10 as “Nobody” based Pop Airplay chart (dated May 22). lifts 12-8. It pushes 7-5 on Country Airplay, It’s the first leader on the list each for fea- Country Airplay up by 8% to 22.7 million impressions, and tured artists Daniel Caesar and Giveon. jumped by 28% to 5.5 million streams and The song, which launched as Bieber’s sev- Chart Leader sold 1,000 downloads in the tracking week. enth No. 1 (and Caesar and Giveon’s first “Nobody” follows Scott’s “Hooked,” each) on the all-genre, airplay-, sales- and BY JIM ASKER which peaked at No. 6 on Hot Country streaming-based Billboard Hot 100 dated Songs and reached No. 2 on Country Airplay April 3, is Bieber’s first Pop Airplay leader am Hunt banks his eighth in September 2018. He first hit the Hot since “Intentions,” featuring Quavo, last leader on Billboard’s Country Country Songs top 10 with “My Girl,” which June. Airplay chart as “Breaking Up Was peaked at No. 3 in August 2017 after leading Here’s a recap of Bieber’s eight Pop Air- Easy in the 90’s” climbs from No. Country Airplay for a week that July. play No. 1s: S2 to No. 1 on the chart dated May 22. In the Plus, Jason Aldean’s “Blame It on You” “What Do You Mean?,” two weeks at No. tracking week ending May 16, it increased (Macon/Broken Bow) pushes 11-10 on 1, October 2015 by 18% to 30.1 million audience impressions, Country Airplay, up by 11% to 18.7 million Page 26 of 27

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impressions, marking his 33rd top 10. It leads as “Levitating,” featuring DaBaby, hits the semi-final stage. follows “Got What I Got,” which became his a new No. 2 high on the Billboard Hot 100, First, the survivors. Team Legend singer 22nd No. 1 last October. Aldean, who first with 59.7 million radio airplay audience Victor Solomon got the green light with hit the top 10 with “Hicktown” in 2005, is impressions, 21.9 million U.S. streams and his version of Tamela Mann’s “I Can Only the 12th artist with at least 33 top 10s on the 19,900 sold in the latest tracking week, ac- Imagine”; Team Clarkson’s Kenzi Wheeler tally. George Strait leads with 61. cording to MRC Data. All three sums mark advanced following his performance of ‘TAPES’ ON ALBUM CHARTS The the highest weekly totals yet for the song. George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her To- Marfa Tapes, by Jack Ingram, Miranda Lam- Her single “We’re Good” also rises 39-31, day”; Team Jonas’ Rachel Mac got through bert and Jon Randall, enters Top Country reaching a new peak. with a cover of Christina Perri’s “Human”; Albums at No. 7 with 14,000 equivalent Her album Future Nostalgia concurrently and Team Shelton’s Cam Anthony contin- album units (10,000 in album sales). The rises 7-5 on the latest Billboard 200 with ues in the contest following his rendition of set, recorded in Marfa, Texas, also arrives 36,000 equivalent album units, after reach- Boyz II Men’s “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye at No. 1 on Americana/Folk Albums. ing as high as No. 3 in March. to Yesterday”. Lambert notches her eighth Top Country Before Lipa, the last British soloist to That left five performers and just one Albums top 10. Her previous seven entries, lead the Artist 100 chart was Harry Styles in place in the finale. all solo sets, debuted at No. 1, a career-open- December 2019. The last British solo woman Pia Renee (Legend), Gihanna Zoë (Clark- ing run second only to Carrie Underwood’s was in March 2016. son), Corey Ward (Clarkson), Dana Monique nine straight leaders in as many appear- Among other Artist 100 chart moves, (Jonas) and Jordan Matthew Young (Shel- ances. Weezer re-enters at No. 8, a new peak and ton) went head-to-head for the last Instant Ingram adds his second Top Country the group’s first week in the top 10, as its Save. Sadly, there could be only one, and that Albums top 10, after This Is It opened and new LP Van Weezer debuts at No. 1 on Top was Young. peaked at No. 4 in 2007. Rock Albums and Alternative Albums and For those counting at home, Legend, Randall makes his first Top Country No. 11 on the Billboard 200 (27,000 equiva- Jonas and Clarkson each have one finalist, Albums visit. As an artist, his single “Cold lent album units), as well as No. 1 on the Top while Shelton has two. Coffee Morning” dented Country Airplay Album Sales chart (23,000 copies sold). The singers will need to be at the top of in 1999. He’s since produced three No. 1s on The Artist 100 measures artist activity their game when the Top 5 perform live the chart: Dierks Bentley’s “Am I the Only across key metrics of music consumption, during next Monday’s finale. One” (2011) and “Living” (2019) and Parker blending album and track sales, radio air- McCollum’s “Pretty Heart” last December. play, streaming and social media fan interac- On Americana/Folk Albums, Lambert tion to provide a weekly multi-dimensional Justin Bieber, and Randall chart their first entries, while ranking of artist popularity. Ingram earns his second, after Midnight For all chart news, you can follow @bill- Snoop Dogg & Motel hit No. 9 in 2016. board and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram. More on Tap For Dua Lipa Tops All-Star ‘Voice’ ‘’ Final Artist 100 Chart Season 20 Finale Five Contestants for First Time, Are Revealed BY GIL KAUFMAN Thanks to he two-hour The Voice finale BY BILLBOARD STAFF Tuesday (May 25) will be packed ‘Levitating’ Bump with guest stars including Justin nd then there were five. Bieber, Snoop Dogg with DJ Bat- BY XANDER ZELLNER Tuesday night’s elimination Ttlecat, and many more. As Billboard exclu- episode of NBC’s The Voice had sively reported May 18, former coach Adam ua Lipa jumps from No. 7 to action and drama aplenty, as the Levine will be returning with Maroon 5 to No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 finalA nine contestants were pared back to perform “Beautiful Mistakes” for the show’s chart (dated May 22) to become just five and reigning champ 10-year anniversary. Also joining the fun the top musical act in the U.S. emerged with the slightest of edges. will be with Saweetie, Thomas Dfor the first time. It was an especially tough night for Kelly Rhett, OneRepublic, Ben Platt, Lauren The London-born pop singer-songwriter Clarkson, who saw two of her wards slip at Daigle and Kelsea Ballerini. Page 27 of 27

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The double-stuffed episode — which 500. will air from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT — will Allen will sing “The Star-Spangled Ban- also feature coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly ner” before drivers are called to their cars Clarkson, Nick Jonas and May 30 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. performing with their final artists. The NBC will telecast “The Greatest Spectacle in finalists are Team Blake’s Cam Anthony Racing” for the third consecutive year. and Jordan Matthew Young, Team Kelly’s Allen made history in 2018 as the first Kenzie Wheeler, Team Legend’s Victor Black artist to launch a career with two Solomon and Team Nick’s Rachel Mac, one consecutive No. 1 hits on country radio, with of whom will be crowned the winner on the “Best Shot” and “Make Me Want To.” live telecast. Allen last month won New Male Artist of Check out the list of performances on tap the Year at the Academy of Country Music for the episode: Awards. His debut picture book, My Voice Is — Bieber will perform a medley of a Trumpet, is set for release in June. “Peaches” and “Hold On.” His most recent release, “Bettie James,” — Levine returns with Maroon 5 to is named in honor of his late father and late perform their latest single, “Beautiful Mis- grandmother and features Brad Paisley, takes.” Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Mickey — Season 20 Mentor Snoop will play “Sit- Guyton, Nelly, Noah Cyrus, The Oak Ridge tin on Blades” from his 18th studio al- Boys, Rita Wilson, Tauren Wells and Tim bum, From Tha Streets 2 Tha Suites. McGraw. — Former coach Stefani will perform her latest single, “Slow Clap” featuring rapper Saweetie. — Rhett will roll out latest single “Coun- try Again” from his fifth album, Country Again: Side A. — OneRepublic will perform their new hit single “Run” from their upcoming al- bum Human. — Daigle will hit the stage for the TV pre- miere of her new single “Hold On to Me.” — Platt will play his new single, “Imagine” — Ballerini returns returns to The Voice after representing Team Kelly in the Battles to perform her latest single “Half of My Hometown.” Jimmie Allen to Sing National Anthem at Indy 500

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

hart-topping, platinum-selling country recording artist Jimmie Allen will perform the national C anthem at this year’s Indianapolis