Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE MARCH 25, 2020 Page 1 of 28

INSIDE Coronavirus Causes Dip in

• Paradigm’s Streaming, But Children’s Music, Coronavirus Layoffs Panned by Music Video on Demand & Catalog Industry: ‘This Is Really Just Greed’ Are Bright Spots • LA Clippers Owner Reaches $400M BY ED CHRISTMAN Deal to Purchase The Forum From MSG Music industry executives hoped that the coronavirus Within that, all sales formats, as summarized by • Radio Stations quarantines might buoy music streaming activity with albums plus track equivalent albums, fell a whopping Adjust to Social- so much of the population isolated indoors. So far, 25.6% last week to 1.94 million from the prior week Distancing, Work- the opposite has occurred. In the last two full weeks total of 2.61 million units. From-Home Studios as the Covid-19 pandemic was spreading across the Before Covid-19 took hold in the U.S., streaming Amid Coronavirus world, the U.S. industry has had a moderate downturn was soaring: the week ending March 5 marked 2020’s • As Dow Jones in streaming, with even bigger drops in physical. highest streaming week, with 25.55 billion plays. Scores Single-Day Two weeks ago, in the week ended March 12, the But there is a bigger cloud on the horizon: as mil- Record, Live Nation industry saw a dip in music streaming — down by 1% lions of people lose their jobs due to the vast economic & MSG Stocks Post to 25.3 billion streams from 25.55 billion streams. But shutdowns, some music executives fear that they will Big Gains it would appear that the longer people stayed out of get rid of fixed expenses —- namely, music stream- • Spotify Pledges the office, the less music they consumed. ing subscriptions — which would starve the overall Up to $10M To In the week ending March 12, album consumption revenue pie. Support Artists Amid units were down 1.6% to 14.6 million units from 14.8 For now, people who are streaming music seem to Coronavirus, With million units. The decline worsened the following be taking comfort in listening to songs they already In-App Fundraising Feature to Come week, ending March 19, with overall album consump- know. Catalog (music that is older than 18 months) tion units down a whopping 12.3% to 12.76 million trumped current (music released within the last 18 units, and total streams fell to 24.45 billion streams months) over the last two weeks. The week ending (3.5% from the 25.3 billion tallied in the week ending March 19, current streams dropped 5%, whereas cata- March 12). (continued)

ACCESS THE BEST IN MUSIC. A DIGITAL VERSION OF EVERY ISSUE, FEATURING: COVER STORIES . SPECIAL REPORTS . CHARTS . REVIEWS INTERVIEWS . EVENT COVERAGE & MORE

AVAILABLE FREE TO CURRENT BILLBOARD SUBSCRIBERS billboard.com/iPad Gotta Have It_07_032820.indd 1 3/23/20 11:45 AM Page 3 of 28

IN BRIEF

log only fell 2.5%. So far this year, catalog million streams, up from 311.35 million for streams are up 21.6% to 171.29 billion from the week ending March 12. Paradigm’s 140.88 billion in the same corresponding In terms of the large genres, pop was period last year; while current streams are streamed the most up 0.6% to 3.615 billion, Coronavirus up 16.4% to 96.46 billion versus 82.85 billion while overall consumption units fell 5.3% to in the year earlier period. 2.11 million units for the week ending March Layoffs Panned by A different scenario played out for audio 19 compared to the prior week. The biggest and video. In the week ending March 12, drops were felt by R&B/hip-hop, down to Music Industry: video was only down 0.7%, faring slightly 12.2% with streams down 6.9%; and rock better than both overall streams (down was down 13.5% with streams down 4.5%. ‘This Is Really Just 0.9%) and audio (down 1%). The follow- The genres declining slower than the ing week, ending March 19, video streams overall industry are classical, which fell Greed’ surged — up 6.9% — thanks to millions of 2.4% in the week ended March 19, but on- people stuck at home, while overall streams demand streaming rose 4% to 184.4 million BY DAVE BROOKS were down 3.5% and audio streams dropped streams, versus 177.3 million streams in 9%. the prior week. And while comedy was s details of Paradigm’s tempo- Video streams continued to soar through- down 8.2% in overall consumption units, rary layoffs of agents, assistants out the week. The video streams for Friday, on-demand streaming only fell 1.4% to 46.5 and float staff on Friday have March 13, were 2% stronger than the aver- million streams. But within that genre, video dripped out, anger over the cuts’ age preceding nine Fridays; while Saturday streaming grew 7.9% to 18.4 million streams timingA — just one week into the widespread was 2.7% stronger and Sunday was 6.5% for the week ended March 19. coronavirus quarantine — and the terms better. Monday through Thursday, video Looking at the other genres, the big some agents were forced to accept is heating streaming was going strong with double- loser was Latin — down 16.2% overall with up. digit increases each day. Overall, the week streaming down 13.7%. — followed by coun- “In times like these you find out who has ending March 19 was the strongest week of try, down 11.1% overall with streaming down loyalty,” said Jarred Arfa, Artist Group In- the year for video on demand with a total of 6.1%. Dance/electronic fared slightly better, ternational GM. “What’s the point of being 9.43 billion streams, the most so far accumu- down 7.5% overall, but its streaming rate in a company if you don’t have job security lated in one week in 2020. was barely hit (down 0.9%). Other genres in times of crisis?” All of that video streaming benefited one such as Christian/gospel, blues, jazz, and Paradigm is home to superstar artists particular genre — children’s music, which new age all saw declines. including Shawn Mendes, Ed Sheeran, saw overall consumption units (including This article has been updated. Billie Eilish and Coldplay and has spent video) up 9.8% last week to 236,000, up significant money on acquisitions in recent from 215,000 in the prior week. Within that, years. In 2019, the company took full control on-demand streaming grew 16.7% to 363.4 of European agency Coda and bought Tom

DECISIVE INTELLIGENCE. DELIVERED DIGITALLY. CLICK HERE FOR FREE DELIVERY

DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS

Page 5 of 28

IN BRIEF

Windish’s eponymous agency in 2017, along gressive cost-cutting measures, this includes to close during in the second quarter of this with Paul Morris’ AM Only that same year asking our colleagues at every level to take year. As part of the agreement, all current and Marty Diamond’s Little Big Man. pay reductions, structured so our most Forum employees will receive employment On Friday, chief executive Sam Gores senior colleagues make the largest financial offers from the new owner. told staffers on an agency-wide call that sacrifice.” “This is an unprecedented time, but temporary layoffs would be enacted in the UTA was in talks to merge with Para- we believe in our collective future,” said coming days. Sources estimate that more digm last year but ultimately the deal never Ballmer in a statement. “We are committed than 200 agents, assistants and staffers materialized. to our investment in the City of Inglewood, would be cut as the live events business feels Billboard reached out to Paradigm for which will be good for the community, the the impact of the spread of coronavirus. comment for this story but did not receive a Clippers, and our fans.” Laid off employees were not given any response. Previous reporting by The Holly- In a release announcing the deal, The severance payouts, were told their clients wood Reporter indicated that after the crisis Forum’s new owners state that having it would remain with the agency and weren’t subsides and as business picks up again, and the still-to-be-built second Inglewood paid outstanding commissions, sources tell Paradigm hopes to rehire the employees it arena under the same ownership will allow Billboard — although many of the agents at has dismissed and will continue offering for coordinated programming between the Paradigm operate on salaries and not com- them health insurance through May. two venues and improve traffic congestion missions. Paradigm also laid off contract em- in the area. ployees and suggested a force majeure clause “We know traffic is something that many allowed for termination. Several sources tell LA Clippers Inglewood residents worry about,” said Billboard that the force majeure provision Chris Meany, principal of Wilson Meany, requires a 90-day notice, indicating legal Owner Reaches which is overseeing development of the action for breach of contract is likely. Staff new arena project. “While we have gone to that remained at the company was required $400M Deal to great lengths to provide an unprecedented to take a pay cut. traffic-management plan for the new bas- Even worse, many agents were told their Purchase The ketball arena, this acquisition provides a non-competes were still in place and they much greater ability to coordinate and avoid would not be allowed to take their artists Forum From MSG scheduling events at the same time at both with them, even if they signed them and venues.” brought them to the agency. Several sources BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN According to Tuesday’s release, the tell people Billboard they doubt the artist new arena project is expected to create an provision is enforceable and was done to APSS LLC, a new company estimated 7,500 construction jobs and 1,500 ensure the agencies were paid outstanding formed by L.A. Clippers chairman permanent jobs once it opens, while the commissions. Steve Ballmer and vice chairman Clippers have proposed a $100 million pack- “This isn’t about protecting cash flow, Dennis Wong, has reached an age of community benefits. this was about protecting profits,” said one Cagreement with the Madison Square Garden Previous reporting by Billboard found former employee who did not want to share Company to purchase The Forum arena in that the purchase agreement was endorsed their name. “This is really just greed.” Inglewood, California, for $400 million in by all five major stakeholders in The Forum, The move stands in contrast to how UTA cash, it was announced Tuesday (March 24). including Dolan, Inglewood mayor James is handling the financial crisis created by In addition to the acquisition, the agree- Butts, promoter Live Nation, Los Angeles the spreading COVID-19 pandemic. There, ment will resolve three separate lawsuits Rams owner Stan Kroenke and music man- CEO Jeremy Zimmer and co-presidents filed by Madison Square Garden Company ager and former Forum executive Irving David Kramer and Jay Sures will forgo chairman James Dolan against Ballmer and Azoff. Sources told Billboard at the time that the remainder of their 2020 salaries from the City of Inglewood over Ballmer’s plans the agreement would create a united front now through the end of the year and the rest to build a new 18,000 seat basketball arena against AEG owner Philip Anschutz, allow- of the staff will see proportionate reductions for the Clippers less than two miles from ing his rivals to join together and build an to its pay, with higher earners taking larger The Forum. That project, which is currently alternative to the AEG-managed LA Live, an cuts in order to avoid layoffs. undergoing an environmental review by the entertainment complex abutting the Staples “Like companies across the industry and city, is expected to break ground next year Center and the Los Angeles Convention our country, UTA is taking some immediate and be complete in time for the 2024-2025 Center in downtown Los Angeles. and painful steps to ensure we get through NBA season. Dolan purchased The Forum in 2012 and, the current public health and economic Tuesday’s deal, which remains subject to in a joint venture with Azoff, helped turn crisis as strong as possible,” the agency said review by the Federal Trade Commission the venue into one of the U.S.’s top-selling Monday in a statement. “In addition to ag- and the Department of Justice, is expected arenas. It reopened in 2014 after undergoing PROMOTION

The State Of Radio Who says radio’s dead? Although broadcast ad revenue is creeping downward, audiences are aging and streaming has surpassed the medium as a vehicle for music discovery. In its inaugural Deep Dive report, Billboard assesses the radio industry today and provides a glimpse of its future by comparing streaming and radio users, automobile audio usage, the growth rates of programming formats — and by looking at why labels and artists still need airtime even in a streaming world.

Hit Songs Are Staying These Three Double-Digit Growth On The Radio Airplay Singles Broke On Projected For Digital Charts Longer Despite Radio Instead Of Radio Ad Revenue Peaking Faster On Streaming: Here’s Through 2023, But Streaming Platforms How It Happened It’s No Panacea

Dive into this series and more with Billboard Pro!

• 250 weekly Billboard charts

• Billboard Insights: must-read insight reports tapping into industry intel and research Claim Your Billboard Pro Access! If you are a Billboard Digital or • Billboard Bulletin: the pulse of the industry, delivered daily — the best in analysis and industry coverage of All Access subscriber you’re already Billboard’s charts and more. a Pro. Simply claim your access at : • Analysis of our charts, by Billboard’s top executives www.billboard.com/claim-account • Digital Edition mobile magazine experience

• Priority access to our elite events including Power List Party, Latin Music Week, Live Music Summit Purchase Billboard Pro today and receive 25% off by going to www.billboard.com/offer and using promo code: 2020PRO • 50-year archive of Billboard Charts

*Applicable to new “Pro” and “Pro with Print” Billboard memberships purchased prior to 4/30/20. Promotional discount applies to memberships with annual billing chosen at the time of purchase. All promotional pricing and billing is applied to the first 12 months of a newly purchased membership. Pricing/payments revert to the then-standard pricing after the first 12 months. Page 7 of 28

IN BRIEF

a $100 million renovation. at home. But at Townsquare Media’s more “breaks” between music and advertising. The change in ownership isn’t expected than 320, including My Country 95.5, sales And others are calling in via Skype, which to impact the number of shows Live Nation and marketing staffs are working off-site; causes technical challenges. “It’s really dif- brings to The Forum, which has grossed DJs are isolated in spacious, constantly ficult when you’ve got a control board that $477 million in sales, sold 5.3 million tickets cleaned studios; on-air producers work in has three different people coming in on it, and hosted nearly 500 shows since its grand separate rooms; and engineers are able to plus, Skype, plus news,” says Ben Downs, re-opening in 2014, according to Billboard operate transmitters and other equipment the company’s GM. Boxscore. remotely. Advertising is the more pressing issue for “If this had happened 20, 25 years ago, Downs’ stations — nearby Texas A&M Uni- it would be extremely difficult, because we versity is on an extended hiatus, students Radio Stations didn’t have the technology we have now,” aren’t around to spend money in nonexis- says Kurt Johnson, the company’s senior tent bars and shops, and local advertisers Adjust to Social- vp programming. “What local radio does are in financial trouble. “There’s a lot of rent best is relate to the local audience — if the that’s going to go unpaid, and there’s a lot of Distancing, dog barks in the background, fine.” advertising bills that are going to be unpaid, Every station is dealing with the same too, I’m afraid,” he says. Borrell Associates, Work-From-Home problem — and doing it under the stress of a radio analyst, has suggested local advertis- an unprecedented advertising slowdown, ing will drop 20-25% this year. “The real Studios Amid as closed local bars, restaurants, shops and story here is just the absolute devastation concert promoters abruptly slash advertis- of the advertising economy in the last week Coronavirus ing budgets. A rep for iHeartMedia, the or so — then you couple that with trying to world’s biggest broadcaster, said in a state- work remotely as well, it’s super-challeng- BY STEVE KNOPPER ment that its teams “have all the technol- ing,” says Dennis Wharton, communications ogy resources ... to deliver the important executive vp for the National Association of n Casper, Wyoming, My Country 95.5 information our communities depend on Broadcasters. morning-show hosts Cathy “The us to provide.” Tim Clarke, vp content and Even without being present in the sta- Prairie Wife” Holman and Jeff audience for Atlanta broadcaster Cox Media tions themselves, radio is falling back on “Doc” Holliday are introducing Kane Group, adds that his stations have rolled out its core mission — to inform and soothe the IBrown singles and talking about their many strict hygiene and social-distancing policies, public. In Minnesota, a DJ working at home children, like they do every day. But there but, he says, “We still have a lot of teams declared to her audience, “You can’t cancel are subtle differences in the broadcast: that have to be in place in our buildings,” rock ‘n’ roll.” in Casper, Holman, who has Holman’s voice sounds distant and there including on-air personalities, producers an early-education degree, gives listeners are brief, barely perceptible pauses in the and reporters. resources about how to home-school their conversation, as she is self-distancing and “It’s not easy stuff to figure out,” Clarke kids. And the NAB’s coronavirus public- calling Holliday via Skype rather than com- says. “We’re staggering shifts, we’re stag- awareness campaign has aired 36,000 public muting 30 miles to the station. gering schedules, so we don’t have as many service announcements on TV and radio. “Today my daughter dropped something people exposed to each other at the same “Even if [radio employees] are not physi- — she was standing right next to me — so time.” cally at the station, the message is getting there was a huge thunk. Another day, I On March 11, The Current, a Minnesota out,” Wharton says. “They’re able to use swear people thought I was going to the Public Radio station, reduced its onsite whatever means is necessary to get the bathroom, because my 7-year-old was get- St. Paul staff from 350 to 50, streamlining broadcast out to the masses.” ting a drink of water,” says Holman, who is from four or five people to just one in each home-schooling her five kids, ages 5 to 14. of its two studios. “There are some things “We’ve made the conscious decision to keep we wouldn’t have done on a normal week, that. Who right now cannot relate?” but it’s not a normal week right now,” says Like every business, radio stations in managing director David Safar. “People are the coronavirus era must suddenly figure not concerned about whether [DJs] are con- out how to manage a staff of work-at- necting over the phone or an ISDN or a tape home employees, which creates technical sync. It’s just about making the connection.” complications: Morning-show crews thrive In College Station, Texas, 11-station Bryan on personal banter and studios are loaded Broadcasting is using more voice-tracking, with state-of-the-art microphones and so DJs on staggered shifts can show up soundboards that are difficult to reproduce alone and pre-record conversational Page 8 of 28

IN BRIEF

Entertainment companies could benefit Music Relief project, which helps connect As Dow Jones from a federal bailout of the U.S. airline musicians and other music professionals in industry that aids tourism to destination fes- need of funding to grant-giving organiza- Scores Single- tivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo; the hotel tions, in addition to helping fundraise. To industry has also asked President Trump for start, Spotify is donating money to the proj- Day Record, Live help. But the deciding factor in live event ect’s first partners: Nonprofits PRS Founda- promoters’ valuation is the COVID-19’s tion, Help Musicians and MusiCares, and Nation & MSG duration and effect on North America and will match donations made via the project’s Europe’s economies. McKinsey had fore- webpage dollar-for-dollar for up to a total Stocks Post Big casted new cases in Europe and the U.S. to Spotify contribution of $10 million. peak in mid-April and that their economies Next, Spotify is working to add a new Gains will recover in the fourth quarter. feature to its Spotify For Artists platform Goldman Sachs forecasted a 25% decline that will enable artists to fundraise directly BY GLENN PEOPLES in the U.S. gross domestic product in the from fans, and Spotify will not take any cut second quarter. Deutsche Bank puts GDP of the contributions. This will give artists nvestors’ optimism that a federal contractions at 24% and 13% for Europe and on Spotify the ability to link out to a verified stimulus package gets passed gave the the U.S., respectively. funding page for themselves, another artist Dow stock index its best single-day But the stimulus package is the deciding in need, or any other initiative. Spotify For point increase in its 135-year history. factor here. On Tuesday, investors felt better Artists users who wish to use the feature IBeleaguered investors and retirement ac- about the future global economy than last can sign up to receive updates here. count holders received good news Tuesday week. The trillion-dollar question is how Finally, Spotify is making temporary (March 24) as President Donald Trump and the federal government carries the country changes to several of the tools it owns to leaders in Congress made progress on an aid out of a recession. better serve creators during the crisis: bill, leading stocks higher even though the Music talent marketplace SoundBetter is legislation isn’t expected to get the Presi- waiving its revenue share, audio recording dent’s signature before Thursday. Spotify Pledges platform Soundtrap is offering extended The Dow Jones Industrial Average — an free trials for educators, and podcast firm index of 30 blue-chip companies such as Up to $10M To Anchor is waiving fees on its Listener Sup- Caterpillar and Pfizer — rose 2,112.98 points port feature. to 20,704.91, still far from its pre-bear mar- Support Artists ket high of 29,568.57 set Feb. 12. The S&P 500 rose 9.4%, it’s third-biggest percentage Amid Coronavirus, IMPALA gain since World War II. The Nasdaq com- posite climbed 8.1%. With In-App Launches 10-Point News of the stimulus also led some music stocks to huge rebounds on Tuesday. Fundraising Coronavirus Crisis Concert promoter Live Nation leapt 15% to $42.94, its highest closing price since March Feature to Come Plan to Support 13. Two other promoters, The Madison Square Garden Company and CTS Eventim, BY TATIANA CIRISANO Indie Artists & improved 9.6% and 24.6%, respectively, to their highest closing prices since March 11. potify is rolling out a suite of new Labels Live event promoters have plenty to cheer features and projects today (March about — within reason. Citi analyst Jason 25) intended to help artists who BY RICHARD SMIRKE Bazinet upgraded Live Nation’s stock from are struggling financially due to the “sell” to “neutral” while keeping a $35 price Scoronavirus crisis. ONDON – Digital music services target that’s 22.7% below Tuesday’s closing “Though streaming continues to play a like Spotify, Deezer and Apple Mu- price (yet only 6.7% below Monday’s closing key role in connecting creators with their sic are being called upon to make price before the note was issued to inves- fans, numerous other sources of revenue faster royalty payments and hand tors). But liquidity might not be a problem: have been interrupted or stopped altogether Lover a higher percentage of revenues to art- both Bazinet and Lightshed Partners analysts by this crisis,” the platform notes in a new ists and rightsholders to help them survive have argued Live Nation has enough cash and blog post about its efforts. the coronavirus crisis. credit to meet short-term obligations. First up is Spotify’s new COVID-19 The recommendation is one of 10 propos- Page 9 of 28

IN BRIEF

als made by European indie labels trade According to IMPALA, 99% of Europe’s 23) to dismiss his claims “without preju- body IMPALA in its COVID-19 Crisis Plan. music companies are micro, small or dice,” thereby reserving his right to litigate Other recommendations include in- medium-sized independent enterprises and those claims in the future. creased promotion of local music by Euro- self-releasing artists. Collectively they pro- With Earle exiting, Tom Petty’s widow pean radio stations and the establishment duce more than 80% of all new releases and Jane Petty remains the sole plaintiff in the of emergency funds by collecting societies account for 80% of the sector’s jobs. lawsuit against UMG regarding losses due (where they don’t already exist), making “This is a call for urgent action,” IMPALA to the fire. On March 13,Soundgarden and advances available for all members, as well executive chair Helen Smith tells Billboard. Tupac Shakur’s estate also filed voluntary as interest free loans. “Small and emerging companies in countries motions to drop their claims against UMG. At the heart of the plan is a call for an like Italy are saying they are on their knees, Hole dropped out of the suit last August. urgent and co-ordinated response across being much further into the crisis than The putative class action lawsuit was ini- Europe to minimize the impact of the other markets.” tially filed in June 2019. pandemic on the independent music sector, She likens the coronavirus crisis to an These revelations follow the March 5 which has been particularly hit hard by the iceberg, where the most visible conse- release of an internal memo from UMG global crisis. quences like cancelled tours and festivals senior vp recording studios and archive To support the thousands of micro- have profound knock-on effects that are not management Pat Kraus to staff providing businesses and self-employed workers most immediately apparent. an exhaustive update on the label’s exhaus- affected IMPALA wants to see all countries “A cancelled tour will have ongoing dam- tive, ongoing inventory survey efforts. In take clear decisions on event cancellations age as release schedules are mostly on hold the memo, which was obtained by Billboard, and lockdowns to ensure people can claim till later in the year [creating] a saturated he wrote that, contrary to reporting by on their insurance and access compensation market,” says Smith. “In the meantime, in- The New York Times Magazine that first schemes. come for labels is down as it’s linked to new broke news of the fire’s destruction in June In some European touring markets this releases... Add the problem of what is hap- 2019, “less than 0.1 percent” of the more has already happened, but others have suf- pening with traditional retail and also online than 150,000 assets he and his team have fered from unclear messaging from national retail of physical product, which has plum- reviewed so far were “original recordings” governments. In the United Kingdom, there meted, and the decline in digital streams destroyed by the fire. was a five day lag between Prime Minister and advertising revenue and it gets tough. “For the very few original recordings Boris Johnson advising people not to go Meanwhile the bills continue to come in.” we believe were impacted, almost all had to pubs, clubs and music venues and him “Most small companies can’t survive that previously been commercially released and officially ordering them to close. The week- for any length of time,” she says. “If that we have located safeties, copies or digital al- long delay meant many U.K. venues were happens, fewer artists will have partners to ternatives for every single album,” he wrote. forced to stay open with no customers, yet work with, particularly independent and “In the one instance where an unreleased al- unable to claim on their business interrup- local.” bum was affected, we have located multiple tion insurance. copies and we could still release the album IMPALA’s crisis plan also recommends if the artist wishes. We are also currently comprehensive economic measures for all Steve Earle working with a few artists and estates to European countries, including increased locate masters and copies that may exist in EU funding, unemployment relief for self- Drops His Claims their archives.” employed workers, fiscal incentives to boost According to the memo, a team of more recovery and the suspension of VAT (value- Against Universal than 70 specialists have been undertaking added tax, also known as goods and services the “exhaustive work” of reviewing assets, tax) on all cultural goods and services, like Music Over 2008 with Kraus noting that it can take “as long as music. several weeks” to analyze assets for a single As well as making faster royalty payments Backlot Fire artist. He added that they are prioritizing and increasing payments to artists and their work based on direct requests from labels, digital music services are being urged BY CLAUDIA ROSENBAUM artists or their representatives, with a total to provide advances to all rightsholders who of 392 requests having been received and need them and increase their support of lo- teve Earle is the latest artist to 209 responded to since the New York Times cal music through dedicated playlists. drop his claims against Universal Magazine stories were published. The roll-out of IMPALA’s plan, which can Music Group regarding the 2008 The memo continually downplays the be seen in full here, will be accompanied fire on the backlot of Universal scope of the losses suggested in the New by a survey of its 5,000 members measuring SStudios Hollywood. Earle filed a voluntary York Times Magazine stories, which in- losses and promoting best practice. request with the court on Monday (March cluded a list of 830 artists whose original Page 10 of 28

IN BRIEF

recordings may have been destroyed in the cent to Facebook. deepest fears — of illness, intimacy, betrayal 2008 blaze, including Aretha Franklin, ”I truly enjoyed working for TuneCore or death — while making them manageable Nirvana and Elton John. Kraus noted only and after ten amazing years,” said Acker- for all audiences, leavening the dread with 5% of UMG’s total assets were stored in the man. “I made the decision to end my tenure his rat-a-tat dialogue and well-timed jokes, Universal Studios vault that burned, and to pursue other opportunities. I remain The New York Times noted. He was also a that the bulk of those materials were not committed to working with Believe in an major artistic force in portraying the lives of master recordings. Of the 19 artists whose advisory capacity on strategic initiatives as gay men onstage. masters were confirmed by UMG to have TuneCore continues to grow.” McNally won his first Tony in 1993 for been destroyed, he said, they have managed Added Ladegaillerie, “[Ackerman’s] lead- his book for the musical Kiss of the Spider to track down secondary copies “for nearly ership of TuneCore’s global expansion and Woman and followed with trophies for Love! all” of them. prioritization of innovative technology has Valour! Compassion! (best play) in ‘95, Mas- Attorneys for Jane Petty have not re- helped us build the tools independent artists ter Class (best play) in ‘96 and Ragtime (best sponded to Billboard’s request for com- need to reach the highest level of success.” book of a musical) in ‘98. ment. In 1994, he was nominated for the Pu- litzer Prize for Drama for A Perfect Ga- Terrence McNally, nesh and given a special Tony for lifetime TuneCore CEO achievement in June, “not a moment too Trailblazing soon” he said in his acceptance speech. Scott Ackerman “I love being a playwright. The hours are Titan of American flexible, and you don’t have to wear a tie — Announces unless you’re invited to the Tonys.” Theater, Dies McNally impacted the lives and careers Departure of such notables as James Coco, Doris From Coronavirus Roberts, John Glover, Nathan Lane, Tyne BY BILLBOARD STAFF Daly, F. Murray Abraham, Chita Rivera, Zoe Complications Caldwell, Christine Baranski, Joe Mantello ndie distributor TuneCore announced and Audra McDonald. today that longtime CEO Scott at 81 Lane starred for McNally in 1989’s The Ackerman has decided to step down, Lisbon Traviata; 1991’s Lips Together, Teeth effective April 15. He’ll stay on in an BY SUZY EVANS Apart; Love! Valour! Compassion!; 2005’s Iadvisory role reporting to Denis Ladegail- The Stuff of Dreams; and 2014’s It’s Only a lerie, CEO of owner Believe Group, the errence McNally, the admired Play. “There is no better collaborator in the company said. playwright and librettist who world,” the actor wrote in 2015 in Playbill. A search for a new CEO is underway. received five Tony Awards while “He said he wrote better when he knew Ackerman joined TuneCore in 2010 as bringing his perspective of the whom he was writing for and that he COO and has run the company since 2012, Tworld to such productions as Kiss of the wanted to create plays with me in mind,” when then-CEO/president Jeff Price and Spider-Woman, Master Class, Ragtime and Lane wrote. “[That is] an unbelievably fellow co-founder Peter Wells departed. He Love! Valour! Compassion!, has died. He was generous and monumental gift for a young was officially promoted to CEO in May 81. actor, especially coming from a writer of his 2014. Prior to joining TuneCore, he held McNally died Tuesday at a hospital in caliber and stature.” executive roles at eHarmony, Orbitz and in Sarasota, Florida, due to complications from Baranski also starred in Lips Together and the airline industry. coronavirus, publicist Matt Polk told The noted that the cast were treated as partners. TuneCore charges an annual flat fee to Hollywood Reporter. McNally battled lung “Much of the time that would normally be help artists and labels distribute music cancer since the late 1990s, and the disease spent as actors working on scenes was spent on digital services. Since its inception, cost him portions of both lungs. He had talking about what the scene would be or TuneCore artists have earned over $1.8 lived with chronic obstructive pulmonary what or where or how long a speech should billion on the company’s platform of pay- disease ever since. be,” Baranski told the Times in 1991. “In a ing out 100% of what creators make from With 25 Broadway productions, nearly way, the actors became partly dramaturgs streams and downloads. 40 plays and 10 musicals, McNally was a and co-directors.” Under Ackerman’s watch, TuneCore has prolific writer whose work moved seam- McNally shifted between writing plays, expanded to the U.K., Germany, Australia, lessly from comedy to drama and from musicals and even operas, and from explor- Japan and other markets, while striking downtown avant-garde to the mainstream ing the AIDS crisis in the telefilmAndre’s deals with companies ranging from Ten- Great White Way. “He probes his characters’ Mother to the immigration struggles at the Page 11 of 28

IN BRIEF

turn of the century in Ragtime; he never They went on to live together for four playwright.” shied away from topical and relevant cul- years, during which time Albee would write “Gay theater doesn’t exist anymore,” he tural issues. and bring to the stage The American Dream wrote in the Los Angeles Times in 1996. “Theater is a deep reflection of the human and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? “There is good theater and there is bad the- community,” McNally wrote in his foreword After graduation in 1960, McNally worked ater. Gay playwrights either write a play as to the published text of his 2002 musical as a stage manager at the Actors Studio, then worthy of your interest as Mr. Arthur Miller A Man of No Importance. “Theater is not a accepted an offer from John Steinbeck in or they don’t. You can’t get away with a bad place to hide from the world but instead the 1961 to travel with the author around the gay play any more than you can with serving very place where we may finally discover world for a year as a tutor for his two teen- up lousy food in a gay restaurant.” our true selves.” age sons. Steinbeck would become a valued His first break into the mainstream came Michael Terrence McNally was born mentor. in 1987 with his off-Broadway hitFrankie on Nov. 3, 1938, in St. Petersburg, Florida, McNally’s first produced full-length and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, a play about where his parents, Hubert and Dorothy, ran play, The Side of the Door, ran at the Actors a one-night stand starring Abraham and a seaside grill before a hurricane destroyed Studio Workshop in 1962, starred a young Kathy Bates. (A longtime drunk, McNally the business. The New York transplants Estelle Parsons and followed a young boy said it was the first play he had written eventually brought Terrence and his young- in a power struggle with his father. His first sober.) He also did the screenplay for Garry er brother, Peter, to Corpus Christi, Texas, original play on Broadway, And Things That Marshall’s 1991 film adaptation that starred where they were raised. Go Bump in the Night, also about a dys- Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. The play McNally’s folks were theater lovers — he functional family, opened in 1965 to brutal was revived on Broadway in 2002 with Edie got to see Ethel Merman in Annie Get Your reviews and lasted less than two weeks. Falco and Stanley Tucci, and again in 2019 Gun, a formative experience, when he was After Albee, McNally dated Bump in the starring McDonald and Michael Shannon in 6 or 7 — but also alcoholics. “There wasn’t Night actor Robert Drivas, and he wrote what would be the final Broadway produc- a day when my parents weren’t drunk,” he many plays featuring him, including 1968’s tion of McNally’s work in his lifetime. said in the documentary Terrence McNally: Witness (also starring Coco), 1971’s Where McNally’s first Broadway musical was Every Act of Life, which premiered at the Has Tommy Flowers Gone (also starring 1984’s The Rink, starring Rivera and Liza 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. “Peter and I Abraham) and 1974’s Bad Habits (featuring Minnelli, which he wrote after John Kander would be sometimes hungry at 6 o’clock Abraham and Roberts). and Fred Ebb came up with the score. He and my mother and her friends would be Drivas also directed the Broadway pro- also used the legendary songwriting team’s drinking.” duction of The Ritz, the broad 1975 comedy music on Kiss of the Spider-Woman and for McNally was introduced to opera through set in a gay Turkish bath house that earned The Visit in 2015. one of the nuns at school, and he would McNally his first Drama Desk Award nomi- Rivera starred in both Spider-Woman and spend his Saturday afternoons watching nation. The playwright then adapted his The Visit, and McNally, alongside collabo- TV’s Live From the Met. When other kids in work for Richard Lester’s 1976 film, which rators Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the neighborhood were playing football, he had Tony winner Rita Moreno, Abraham, wrote Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life for the was staging operas in the family garage. Jack Weston and Jerry Stiller reprising their star in 2005. (He had previously collabo- His high school English teacher, Maurine stage roles. rated with Ahrens and Flaherty on Ragtime McElroy, was the first person who encour- Drivas and McNally broke up but and would work with them again on Anasta- aged him to write, and he ended up study- remained close until Drivas died of AIDS- sia in 2016.) ing journalism at Columbia College in New related complications in 1986 at age 50. Opera remained a passion of McNally’s York. There, he and Edward Kleban (future The AIDS epidemic would fundamentally throughout his life. He wrote libretti for lyricist of A Chorus Line) penned the senior change McNally. four operas between 1999 and 2015, three varsity show, a comedy about “cannibals He wrote and won an Emmy for the with composer and pianist Jake Heggie. and celebrities who deserved to be eaten.” American Playhouse 1990 production of Master Class, which bowed on Broadway in he said. McNally also attended shows and Andre’s Mother, revolving around a woman 1995 and starred Caldwell and McDonald, operas throughout the city almost daily. (Sada Thompson) who can’t come to grips is a character study of famed soprano Maria When he was 21, playwright Edward with the death of her son (Richard Thomas) Callas. Albee invited him to his apartment for “a from AIDS; Lips Together, about two straight He insisted the untested Mantello, who nightcap” after a party. “I remember saying couples who spend a weekend in the gay was an established actor, direct Love! this, spontaneously: ‘Are you sure your wife community of Fire Island; and Mothers and Valour! Compassion! in its original Broad- or family won’t mind?’” he recalled. “He Sons, a 2014 Broadway play that expanded way production, and Mantello also helmed looked at me like I was crazy. I just didn’t on Andre’s Mother and starred Daly as the McNally’s screenplay adaptation for the think he was gay.” (McNally never chose to same character played by Thompson. 1997 movie. remain closeted.) McNally, though, rejected the label of “gay McNally had an artistic home at the Man- Page 12 of 28

IN BRIEF

hattan Theatre Club, but controversy struck 2019; Jan. 2020) surrounding a 1998 production of his play Twelve Months of 2: P!nk (March 2019; July 2019) Corpus Christi, which depicted Jesus and his 1: Ed Sheeran; BTS; Spice Girls; The Roll- disciples as gay men in contemporary Texas. Boxscore: A Look ing Stones; Post Malone; Trans-Siberian The theater was going to cancel the produc- Orchestra tion until other playwrights from the season Back at The First Most Months in the Top 10 threatened to pull their works if it were not 9: Elton John produced. Year of Billboard’s 6: Ed Sheeran Despite the firestorm, “as an artistic expe- 5: Ariana Grande; Cher; Jonas Brothers; rience, it’s one of he things I most treasure,” Monthly Touring KISS; P!nk he said, and he partnered with the theater 4: BTS; Celine Dion again for a 2011 revival of Master Class, star- Chart 3: Justin Timberlake; Metallica; Michael ring Daly. Bublé; Paul McCartney; Post Malone; Shawn McNally met future husband Tom Kir- BY ERIC FRANKENBERG Mendes; The Rolling Stones dahy in 2001 when the public interest attor- Most Months on the Chart ney organized a panel called “Theatre From n March 21, 2019, Billboard 10: Elton John a Gay Perspective” that featured McNally, launched a monthly series of 9: Andre Rieu; Ariana Grande; Billy Joel; Albee and Lanford Wilson. They formed Boxscore charts, ranking the Shawn Mendes a civil union in 2003 and married in 2010. top-earning tours, boxscores, 8: Michael Bublé Kirdahy served as McNally’s producer on Ovenues, and promoters around the world 7: Aerosmith; Celine Dion; Ed Sheeran; every revival or new show since Some Men, within the scope of each calendar month. Eric Church; Post Malone a sprawling chronicle of a century of evolu- The timing of Boxscore reporting had 6: Backstreet Boys; Cher; George Strait; tion in gay culture, politics and relationships historically been inconsistent to an extent – KISS; Twenty One Pilots in America that was produced off-Broadway some tours are reported on a show-by-show 5: Chayanne; John Mayer; Jonas Brothers; in 2007. basis, some after a full week, some once the Lady Gaga; Metallica; P!nk; Rod Stewart McNally is also survived by his brother tour has wrapped. Highest-Grossing Month (Per Artist) Peter and nephew Stephen, among other The new monthly charts were the first $90 Million+The Rolling Stones - $95 family members. Donations in his memory look for the industry at such a zoomed in million – August 2019 can be made to Broadway Cares/Equity period of time. $60 Million+P!nk - $61.5 million – July Fights Aids and the Dramatist Guild On Thursday, Billboard will post the new- 2019; The Rolling Stones - $61.1 million – Foundation. est monthly charts looking at February 2020 July 2019 The playwright leaves a legacy, as he put but before we do, let’s look back on the best $50 Million+Spice Girls - $54.6 million – it, of “slowly changing people’s minds by of the first year of the series. June 2019; BTS - $51.7 million – May 2019 changing their hearts first.” TOP TOURS CHART $40 Million+Ed Sheeran - $48 million – “To me, the most significant thing a writer 149: Number of unique artists to hit June 2019; Trans-Siberian Orchestra - $46.8 can do is reach someone emotionally,” said the Top Tours chart from February 2019 million – December 2019; Ed Sheeran - $45.1 McNally. “Theater is an emotional medium, through January 2020. million – August 2019; Ed Sheeran - $40.2 and [through it] we’ve expanded people’s 85: Number of solo artists to hit the chart. million – July 2019 acceptance of our fellow man. And this is 64: Number of duo/groups to hit the Highest Grossing Month (Top 30 Tours what you write for, to reach other people.” chart. Combined) This article was originally published by 26: Number of female artists on the chart. July 2019 - $451.7 million The Hollywood Reporter. 118: Number of male artists on the chart. August 2019 - $441.7 million In terms of combined months, male acts June 2019 - $426.3 million took up 80% of the chart. March 2019 - $398.7 million *All-male and all-female groups were May 2019 - $371.8 million included in these figures. Blackpink, Little *All grosses are based on reported earn- Mix, and the Spice Girls were counted as ings published in Billboard each month. female artists, while BTS and The Rolling Extra data may have been reported after the Stones were counted as male artists. Acts fact. like Fleetwood Mac and Pentatonix were TOP BOXSCORES CHART not included in either group. Artists to Hit No. 1: George Strait; BTS; Most Months at No. 1 Spice Girls; P!nk; Bruno Mars; BTS; U2; 4: Elton John (Feb. 2019; Sept. 2019; Nov. Elton John Page 13 of 28

IN BRIEF

Festivals to Hit No. 1: Electric Daisy Car- executor, told The Associated Press. “This is nival; Lollapalooza Brazil; Outside Lands personal for us.” Elton John Music and Arts Festival; Corona Capital A Jackson-themed Broadway show, “MJ Artists who Simultaneously Led the Top The Musical” is scheduled to start previews Hosting Virtual Tours and Top Boxscores Charts: BTS (May in July, though like the rest of Broadway it 2019); Spice Girls (June 2019); P!nk (July is currently on hold amid the coronavirus All-Star Benefit 2019); Elton John (January 2020) shutdown. No announcements have been Artists With $10 Million+ Boxscores made on postponing the show, and the es- Special: See the 10: The Rolling Stones tate and producers are taking a wait-and-see 7: BTS approach, Branca said. Performers 6: Ed Sheeran “Michael Jackson ONE,” the long-running 2: George Strait; Spice Girls Jackson-based Cirque du Soleil show at BY GIL KAUFMAN 1: Andre Rieu; Celine Dion; Drake; P!nk; Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, where Jackson Take That; U2 lived late in his life, is also on hold indefi- lton John will host an all-star Artists With Most Entries on the Chart nitely. benefit special aimed at providing 29: Ed Sheeran “Las Vegas has been very good to Mi- some relief and entertainment for 27: Elton John chael,” Branca said. Americans locked down in their 17: Metallica The estate’s donation there will provide Ehomes during the coronavirus pandemic. 15: Celine Dion 300,000 meals to the needy, and help to Fox Presents the iHeart Living Room 14: P!nk; The Rolling Stones maintain the supplies of the food bank Concert For America, a one-hour, commer- 13: Billy Joel Three Square, the estate said. cial-free special celebrating the nation’s 12: Eric Church In New York, the estate says it is donat- resilience in fighting the COVID-19 virus 10: BTS; Post Malone ing to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ will feature music from the Backstreet COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund, and Boys, Billie Eilish, Alicia Keys, Green will give the rest to MusiCares, the chari- Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson table branch of the Recording Academy that Tim McGraw and a number of other stars helps those in the music industry who are beaming in from their homes. Estate Donates economically struggling. The performances will be filmed on the The estate says the donations are inspired singer’s personal cell phones, cameras and to MusiCares, by the constant charitable work of Jackson audio equipment in order to ensure the himself. health and safety of the participants in this Broadway Amid “Michael was extremely generous both period of social isolation. It will air on Fox of his time and his money in his life, and in the original slot for the canceled 2020 Coronavirus it’s in his music too,” Branca said. “We look iHeartRadio Music Awards — March 29 to Michael for leadership and inspiration. from 9-10 p.m. EST — and on iHeartMedia Outbreak We’re doing what Michael would have been radio stations nationwide, as well as on the doing.” IHeartRadio app. BY ASSOCIATED PRESS For most people, the new coronavirus The concert will also pay tribute to the causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as front line health professionals, first respond- he Michael Jackson estate fever and cough that clear up in two to three ers and local heroes who are putting them- is donating $300,000 to help weeks. For some, especially older adults selves in harm’s way to help others, encour- entertainment industry workers and people with existing health problems, aging viewers to support two of the many on Broadway, the music business it can cause more severe illness, including charitable organizations helping victims Tand in Las Vegas who have been hurt by the pneumonia and death. and first responders during the pandemic: coronavirus pandemic. Feeding America and First Responders The estate announced Wednesday that Children’s Foundation. it will give $100,000 apiece to Broadway Fox will offer the event across all its Cares, the food bank Three Square in Ne- linear and digital platforms, with additional vada and MusiCares, because all three areas details and performers to be announced have been good to the estate and to Jackson. soon; check here for updates. Executive “This virus, this pandemic affects all of us producers of the event include John Sykes obviously, so we wanted to start in our own and Tom Poleman, for iHeartMedia and Joel communities,” John Branca, the estate’s co- Gallen, For Tenth Planet Productions — who Page 14 of 28

IN BRIEF

produced the multi-network telethons im- “From LaLiga we want to give support to European jaunt running through June. mediately following 9/11, Hurricane Katrina people who will be dealing with the third There’s no announcement yet on Styles’ and the Haiti Earthquake. weekend of quarantine and at the same time North American dates, which are scheduled raise funds to acquire medical supplies,” to start in late June. Óscar Mayo, the league’s director of busi- Styles’ change of plans come just days Spanish Pop ness international development, said in the after the U.K.’s prime minster Boris Johnson statement. announced a nationwide lockdown to help Stars & Soccer The full line up of artist sand players who reduce the spread of COVID-19. All social will be virtually participating in the event events have been banned in Britain, includ- Astros Join For will be announced in the coming days on ing weddings, and new restrictions are in LaLiga’s social media channels. place on public gatherings of more than two ‘First Benefit people. Festival With Harry Styles’ Pan- Bill Rieflin, Global Impact’ of European Tour Drummer For Coronavirus Crisis Delayed Due to Ministry, R.E.M. Coronavirus Crisis BY JUDY CANTOR-NAVAS and More, Dies layers from premier Spanish soc- BY LARS BRANDLE cer league La Liga and pop stars at 59 including David Bisbal, Sebas- arry Styles’ extensive tour of tian Yatra, Aitana and Alejandro the U.K. and Europe will be BY GIL KAUFMAN PSanz will come together virtually-each rescheduled to 2021 due to the from their own homes-for “the first benefit uncertainty surrounding the ill Rieflin, a multi-talented festival with global impact” of the current Hcoronavirus pandemic. drummer and percussionist who coronavirus crisis. With several European states enter- played with a wide variety of The “charity macroconcert” will take ing lockdown and closing their borders to rock and industrial bands over a place on Saturday (March 28) at 6 p.m. fellow EU states, there was simply no way Bthree-decade career, has died at age 59. In a (CET), according to an announcement from Styles could take his show on the road in the statement to Billboard his family confirmed LaLiga, whose competing clubs include FC coming months. that Rieflin died after an eight-year battle Barcelona and Real Madrid. The telethon “Anyone who knows me, knows that per- with cancer, passing a year after the cancer- will be broadcast on LaLiga channels and forming has always been my favorite part of related death of his wife of 27 years, master online at LaLigaSportsTV. Globally, LaLiga working in music,” Styles explains in a post painter Francesca Sundsten. “will offer its signal to all international on his socials. “However, during times like “Seattle native and life-long resident, broadcasters.” these, the safety and protection of touring Bill was a world-class musician who was The purpose of the LaLigaSantander Fest, crew, fans, and everyone else around the at home on the drums, guitar, bass, and presented by LaLiga, name sponsor Banco world is an immediate priority.” keyboards,” reads the family statement. “He Santander and other league supporters, and The former One Direction star also took was also an accomplished composer and Universal Music, is to raise funds to support the opportunity to remind fans to self- producer who possessed a sophisticated ear, hospitals and health workers with necessary isolate during the health crisis. “We’re all in a depth of rare talent and complete dedica- supplies in Spain, where over 40,000 people this together,” he explains. “I can’t wait to tion to his craft. Known for much of his have been diagnosed with the virus, and see you out on the road as soon as it’s safe to career as an extraordinary drummer, Bill nearly 3,000 have died. The supplies will do so. Until then, treat people with kind- performed with a wide range of artists and be acquired and distributed according to ness.” bands from Swans and Ministry to R.E.M. government priorities, the league specified. New dates in support of his chart-topping and King Crimson and many more. Hospitals are nearing collapse in Madrid sophomore solo album Fine Line are set to “His refined manner, brilliant mind, eye and other cities in Spain, where the coun- begin from Feb. 12, 2021 in Bologna, Italy. for the ironic and legendary sense of humor try’s population has been under mandatory The Brit’s Love On Love trek was original- defined him as a man of discerning taste, confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic ly set to kickoff in his homeland this April palate, and company. We will miss him ter- since March 13. with a run of arena dates, followed by a pan- ribly.” Page 15 of 28

IN BRIEF

The news was announced by King the hospital,” she said. “Bill’s sister, Tracy, 247,000 equivalent album units, according Crimson’s Robert Fripp, who wrote in a determined that Bill would not pass away to Nielsen Music/MRC Data, fueled by the Facebook post, “A call from Tracy Rieflin without his family by his side stood outside arrival of its deluxe edition. in Seattle. Bill Rieflin flew from this world on the pavement till the hospital allowed her Lil Uzi Vert concurrently lands 22 songs c. 18.50 Pacific, 18.50 UK. Tracy [Rieflin’s in. The wonderful staff at the Oncology unit on the Hot 100, including all 14 from the sister] told Toyah and me that the day gave access to Bill’s mother Olive and young deluxe version. (He charted 20 titles last was grey, and as Bill flew away the clouds brother Fritz to be at his side. The pain this week.) Drake and Lil Wayne are the only opened, and the skies were blue for about extraordinary man has endured in the past other acts to have posted as many as 22 fifteen minutes. Fly well, Brother Bill! My 9 years has been unbearable to witness, not songs chart on the Hot 100 simultaneously. life is immeasurably richer for knowing only was his body being destroyed by cancer Niall Horan re-enters the Artist 100 at you.” but he also had to bare the cruellest twist No. 2, as his sophomore solo LP, Heartbreak Rieflin worked with everyone from of them all, the loss of his beautiful wife Weather, debuts at No. 4 on the Billboard R.E.M. and Crimson to a number of in- Frankie on the 9th March 2019.” 200 with 59,000 units. dustrial metal/dance bands over the years, A number of Rieflin’s bandmates posted The Artist 100, which launched in 2014, including Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Lard, loving tributes, including R.E.M. bassist/ measures artist activity across key metrics KMFMD and Pigface, as well as experi- vocalist Mike Mills, who wrote, “Bill Rieflin of music consumption, blending album and mental act Swans and Nine Inch Nails. He was a gentleman and a gentle man, but he track sales, radio airplay, streaming and helped fill in for departed drummer Bill could beat the shit out of a set of drums. A social media fan interaction to provide a Berry after the R.E.M. time keeper retired musical polymath, deeply intelligent and weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist in 1998 and performed with prog rock icons very funny. I’ll miss sharing his darkness popularity. King Crimson from 2013 until shortly before and his laughter. Words really don’t suffice. Check out this week’s full Artist 100 his passing. R.I.P., Spill Brieflin.” chart here. Born William Frederick Rieflin on Sept. Hitchock wrote: “The great Bill Rieflin 29, 1960, in Seattle, the drummer played has changed hotel rooms for the last time - with a variety of local bands before teaming after a long battle with cancer he checked Diplo’s Mad up with industrial standard bearer Al Jour- out and left us today. Musical genius and gensen in Revolting Cocks, and appearing bleak perfectionist, Bill graced me with Decent Label on the landmark third album from Jour- his drumming, harmonies and laser-sharp gensen’s Ministry, 1988’s The Land of Rape insight between 2005 and 2013.” Launches New and Honey. See some of the tributes to Rieflin below. He recorded a number of albums and Watch Rieflin play Led Zeppelin’s “Kash- Imprint With singles with German industrial/techno mir” at Seattle Celebration Day in 2013. band KMFDM from the mid-1990s until the Creative Agency early 2000s, providing percussion as well as vocals and keyboards. Lil Uzi Vert Logs Pizzaslime His versatile nature made him a frequent go-to studio and touring staple in a number Second Week BY KATIE BAIN of all-star acts in his Seattle hometown, in- cluding Scott McCaughey’s The Minus 5 — Atop Artist 100 iplo’s longstanding label Mad which included R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck Decent has announced a col- from time to time — in addition to multi-in- Chart laborative imprint with Los strument contributions to albums by Swans Angeles-based creative agency leader Michael Gira, Robyn Hitchcock BY XANDER ZELLNER Dand streetwear brand Pizzaslime. The first and The Humans, which featured Fripp’s release from Pizzaslime Records is “Marl- and his wife singer Toyal Willcox. He later il Uzi Vert tallies his second con- boro Nights” from Baltimore artist Lonely served as R.E.M.’s touring drummer for secutive week atop the Billboard God. several years beginning in 2003 and played Artist 100 chart (dated March 28), Written, recorded and released from on their albums until the group called it continuing his reign as the top Lonely God’s bedroom,”Marlboro Nights” quits in 2011. Lmusical act in the U.S., thanks to another first went viral on TikTok, landing in the Willcox wrote in a post that Rieflin died massive week on the Billboard 200 and Top 10 of Spotify’s Viral 50 chart with over in Seattle from an undisclosed cancer. “He Billboard Hot 100 charts. 33 million streams. The song’s video, out wasn’t alone but the virus meant no one The rapper’s new LP Eternal Atake logs Tuesday (March 24) was directed by Kylie other than patients where allowed to enter its second week atop the Billboard 200 with Jenner’s personal photographer Amber Page 16 of 28

IN BRIEF

Asaly. Watch the clip for the indie track Here’s an updated look at other notable below. Pizzaslime Records will release the R.E.M.’s ‘It’s the songs related to the coronavirus, and social forthcoming Lonely God EP later this year. distancing, that gained in the tracking week Mad Decent, Diplo and Pizzaslime — End of the World,’ ending March 19. known for products like their “Drake Tears” Disturbed, “Down With the Sickness” coffee mug and pillowcases decorated with Fifth Harmony’s Up 31% in digital song sales to 1,000 tweets by the Kardashians, Kanye West and Up 3% in U.S. streams to 2.6 million more, have had a longtime working relation- ‘Work From Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign, ship. Diplo also ‘grammed himself in a pair “Work From Home” of Pizzaslime sweatpants back in January. Home’ & More Up 11% in U.S. streams to 1.2 million “Pizzaslime is a movement — they are Tim Heidecker, “Work From Home” ruthless, cutting edge and crazy on top of Keep Surging Up 66% in U.S. streams to 7,000 culture,” Diplo said in a press release. “Mad The Knack, “My Sharona” (as it rhymes Decent is teaming with them to help figure Amid Coronavirus with “corona”) out what the music side is — the sound of Up 50% in digital song sales to 1,000 the Pizzaslime brand — and bringing our BY XANDER ZELLNER Up 28% in U.S. streams to 1.1 million two worlds, audio and visual, together.” “Weird Al” Yankovic, “My Bologna” Pizzaslime, which takes inspiration from s Billboard reported last week, (parody of the song above) internet culture, plans to use their under- the COVID-19 pandemic has Up 52% in U.S. streams to 24,000 standing of the internet, branding and mar- prompted many songs whose Shwayze, “Corona and Lime” keting, along with their creative network, to lyrics tie in to the coronavirus Up 37% in U.S. streams to 161,000 develop ideas and campaigns for its roster toA surge in sales and streams, from R.E.M.’s The Minutemen, “Corona” of artists. “As Pizzaslime, we have a direct “It’s the End of the World as We Know It Up 95% in U.S. streams to 122,000 relationship with our consumers/fans and (And I Feel Fine)” to Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Joy Division, “Isolation” creative network which gives us an advan- Survive” and more. Up 132% in U.S. streams to 63,000 tage over traditional labels which sit behind The trend has continued in the latest At the Drive-In, “Quarantined” their artists’ fanbase,” says brand cofounder tracking week (ending March 19), with some Up 70% in U.S. streams to 7,000 Nicholas “Stoveman” Santiago. titles scaling Billboard charts decades after “This record label is an extension of our their original releases. brand and we want it to work and flow in a R.E.M.’s “World,” which hit No. 16 on Lee Brice & Rob similar way; for us it’s all about speed and Mainstream Rock Songs in 1987, and No. the ability to identify, adapt and create at the 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988, debuts Hatch Launch speed of the internet,” Santiago continues. on the all-genre Digital Song Sales chart at “We pitched Mad Decent on the idea of No. 22, up 482% to 5,000 downloads sold, Pump House signing a bologna sandwich and they said according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. yes without any hesitation — I don’t think The bump, and a 169% gain to 1.7 million Records: Exclusive Pizzaslime Records could exist anywhere U.S. streams, also sparks the track’s No. 4 else. Mad Decent and Diplo have always debut on the Hot Rock Songs chart (which BY ANNIE REUTER been forward thinking and at the frontline launched in 2009). of culture. Them betting on us is something “World” additionally places at No. 2 on ountry singer Lee Brice has we are super grateful and excited for.” LyricFind’s U.S. ranking. (The LyricFind teamed up with longtime co- U.S. and LyricFind Global charts, whose writer Rob Hatch, producer/engi- latest tracking week ran March 16-22, rank neer/songwriter Elisha Hoffman the fastest-momentum-gaining tracks in Cand veteran industry executives Derek and lyric-search queries and usages in the U.S. Kristi Hutchins to launch Pump House and globally, respectively, provided by Lyr- Records, Billboard has learned exclusively. icFind.) The artist development collective will offer Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” which A&R, promotion and other label services to spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in its roster. 1979, bounds by 81% to 1,000 sold and rises The announcement comes with the reveal 9-4 on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song of Pump House Records signing its flagship Sales chart. It also rises by 5% to 3.4 million artist, singer-songwriter Nick Norman. His on-demand U.S. streams. debut album is expected later this year. Page 17 of 28

IN BRIEF

“Nick has always been a special singer,” for us. All we can do is all we can do,” he Corporation (LISC), a national nonprofit Brice tells Billboard of the collective’s first reasons. “We feel that if we all put in all the that has invested $20 billion since 1979 to signing and his childhood friend. “He’s talents of everyone involved, Nick will have boost economic opportunity for people and always 100 percent devoted to whatever he an opportunity to shine.” communities across the U.S. During the loves. To me, he’s one the best singers I’ve Brice is far from the first country artist to series run, viewers will be encouraged to ever heard. He practices singing, playing venture into starting a label to support acts tag local businesses and make a purchase in guitar, writing, playing drums, playing basi- he believes in. Last year, Florida Georgia advance for when the crisis is over and the cally anything with strings every day. He has Line launched Round Here Records businesses reopen. never stopped growing since the day I met with flagship artist and frequent co-writer Following engagement, Verizon will com- him, and now, he has grown into a beast.” Canaan Smith. In 2018, Smith signed to Tree mit $2.5 million more, for a potential dona- Hatch says plans for the label have been Vibez Music – the duo’s publishing arm tion of $5 million. LISC will dole out grants in the works over the past six months. founded in 2015. of up to $10,000 to businesses in dire need Norman was the main reason he and Brice “I have every expectation for the world because of the pandemic, which has forced joined forces on Pump House Records, as to hear Nick and the best music of his life. closures across the country as leaders have both songwriters saw the talent he pos- We know this isn’t an easy feat, but we hope, attempted to stop the growing spread of the sessed. They hope the new venture will and are going all in on a belief in the music, novel coronavirus. Restaurants, cafes, bars, help get Norman’s career off the ground. the team, and the artist,” Brice adds. sports venues, gyms, wellness business and While radio isn’t the main focus at the label live events spaces have all been impacted currently, Hatch explains that the digital and there’s been no definitive date of when market is where they will place most of their Verizon to Launch some may reopen. As part of Verizon’s com- focus when it comes to promoting Norman’s mitment, LISC will prioritize entrepreneurs music. Streaming of color, women-owned businesses and “Something about Nick’s voice, passion other enterprises that “don’t have access and songwriting ability, mixed with his hon- Entertainment to flexible, affordable capital in historically esty and original point of view, really got our underserved communities,” per today’s an- attention. The music felt real and organic Series, Sets nouncement. and it came from a place that is distinctly LISC will launch an online application Nick,” Hatch says. “Maybe some of the Dave Matthews process, after which candidates will be insight we’ve gained over the years can help, reviewed and then entered into a lottery. but we’re basically just here to help Nick Performance “Small businesses are being impacted in create the vision he already sees.” extraordinary ways as we all fight against The label is currently negotiating dis- BY CHRIS GARDNER the spread of COVID-19,” said Verizon’s tribution and doesn’t intend to only sign chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg. “These country acts. Plans are also in the works erizon has found a way to marry companies provide employment opportuni- to team up with soul singer Rebecca Lynn digital entertainment and phi- ties, goods, services, and gathering places Howard. “We are solely dedicated to being lanthropy while honoring social that are the soul of local communities. Pay open-minded. Allowing artists to have their distancing guidelines via Pay it it Forward Live will give all Americans an team specifically built for them and their ForwardV Live, a new weekly streaming series opportunity to help their favorite small busi- music style. That may end up being a county that will include music, gaming, comedy and nesses survive this unprecedented hardship act or it may not,” Hatch explains. other categories all to support small busi- “The funds allocated to Pay it Forward Adds Brice, “We love all music. But this nesses that have been affected during the Live are in addition to Verizon’s combined model is all about the artist and who they coronavirus pandemic. The series launches $13 million donation to nonprofits includ- are. If it’s country, then it will be country. If Thursday (March 26) at 8 p.m. EST with an ing No Kid Hungry, the American Red it’s pop, or blues or soul, or whatever else, it exclusive performance from veteran rocker Cross, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy would be exactly that. If we love the music, Dave Matthews. COVID-19 Response Fund, Direct Relief, that’s what we would want to bring into the He’ll do a 30-minute set from home that and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund family.” will be streamed on Twitter @verizon in support of the World Health Organiza- While both Brice and Hatch understand and on Yahoo Entertainment. Additional tion’s global response. More information can the roadblocks in front of them within partners and artists, who will follow his lead be found here. The shut downs and social the music business, Brice says they have with intimate home-based performances, distancing guidelines have forced many adopted an “all in” mentality. “There are will be announced at a later date. As part entertainers to rethink how they reach their roadblocks happening on a daily basis. So of Pay it Forward Live, Verizon will donate fans. going into this venture is, again, exciting $2.5 million to Local Initiatives Support At-home concerts and performances have Page 18 of 28

IN BRIEF

become the major go-to with top name acts The new single, Terndrup adds, “explores to initial reports to Nielsen Music/MRC like John Legend, Chris Martin, Pink, Niall that notion of looking back. It’s hard not to Data. News of Rogers’ death was announced Horan and Keith Urban recently belting idealize the past when change is inevitable. March 21. out performances from the comfort of their So we decided to celebrate what was and Rogers’ music logged 18 million streams respective personal spaces. Matthews and cherish what is. We are celebrating the on March 21 and 22, up from 1 million on his Dave Matthews Band have also been endurance of our relationships.” March 19 and 20 — a gain of 1,687%. affected, forced to cancel tour dates in “Hometown Heroes” also marks a new Rogers’ albums and songs catalog also saw Australia and a performance at BottleRock chapter in a re-upped partnership with significant gains. Sales of Rogers’ albums Napa. Information about those rescheduled BMG for the band; they last worked togeth- surged 7,709% to 15,000 copies sold, accord- dates and the latest with Matthews and his er in 2015 when Moon Taxi released their ing to initial reports. The singer sold 15,000 clan can be found here. fourth album, Daybreaker, via the major copies on March 21, 22 and 23, up from a This article originally appeared on The label on their 12th South Records imprint. negligible figure on March 18, 19 and 20. Hollywood Reporter. “We are thrilled to work with BMG Concurrently, Rogers saw an 11,163 % again,” Terndrup adds. “It feels great to have increase for digital downloads of his songs them back as a part of our team. They have from March 18, 19 and 20 to March 21, 22 Moon Taxi truly been some of our greatest champions. and 23 with 82,000 downloads sold (up Nothing better than new beginnings with from 1,000). Unveils Nostalgic old friends.” Rogers’ single “The Gambler” specifi- “Everyone at BMG is excited to be back cally saw a sizable gains. The track gained ‘Hometown working with the band, Don, Dawson and 12,671% in digital song sales to 13,000 sold the team at Red Light Management,”BMG (up from a negligible figure) and gained Heroes,’ Signs svp of global repertoire Jason Hradil also 1,377% in total on-demand U.S. streams to tells Billboard. “Over the last few years, 3.7 million (up from 253,000). With BMG: they’ve continued to build upon the founda- His former Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 song tion we helped establish early on and are “Islands In the Stream,” with Dolly Parton, Exclusive primed to have a big impact with ‘Home- also saw notable gains. The song gained town Heroes’ and the forthcoming album.” 9,769 % in digital song sales to 12,000 sold BY GLENN ROWLEY Listen to ‘Hometown Heroes’ below. (up from a negligible figure) and gained 720% in total on-demand U.S. streams to 1.6 oon Taxi has signed with million (up from 200,000). BMG, Billboard can exclusively Kenny Rogers The gains are sure to translate into move- announce. They also returned ment for Rogers’ catalog on the Billboard with the nostalgia-fueled Music Streams charts dated April 4. Industry forecasters M“Hometown Heroes” on Wednesday (March even suggest that Rogers’ 2018 greatest hits 25). Increase 1,686% album The Best of Kenny Rogers: Through On the single, the quintet take a rosy look the Years could earn over 25,000 equivalent back on their longstanding bond as both as Fans Mourn album units in the U.S. in the week ending a band and as friends. “We go way back/ March 26, which could be enough to debut Where we started from/ We were home- Country Star’s at No. 1 on Top Country Albums, marking town heroes/ High enough for everyone/ Rogers’ first No. 1 on the list since 1985’sThe We go way back/ Where we started from/ Death Heart of the Matter. So far, Rogers has tal- Oh, we used to say it’s/ One for all and all lied 12 No. 1s on the list to date. for one,” frontman Trevor Terndrup croons BY XANDER ZELLNER The set could also bow in the top 20 of the on the track’s folksy chorus. all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart. Rog- “Hometown Heroes” serves as the lead ollowing the death of country mu- ers was last in the top 20 with 2006’s Water single for the Nashville-based alt-rockers’ sic icon Kenny Rogers on Friday, & Bridges (peaking at No. 14). If Through upcoming sixth full-length album, Silver March 20, fans flocked to various the Years opens in the top 10, it would mark Dream. “Memories, especially good ones, streaming and sales outlets to pay Rogers’ first top 10 effort since 1983’s No. have a soft, lustrous shine in our mind,” Ftribute to the singer. 6-peaking Eyes That See in the Dark. Terndrup tells Billboard. “We called the al- On-demand U.S. streams of Rogers’ Rogers died on March 20 under hospice bum Silver Dream to honor those memories. catalog of songs, which spans nearly eight care in his Sandy Springs, Georgia home of Was it as beautiful as you remember or was decades, surged 1,687% on March 21 and 22 natural causes. it all a dream?” (versus the two previous days), according Page 19 of 28

IN BRIEF

million). and webcasts of exclusive content, will be Lil Uzi Vert Uzi now has 18 Streaming Songs top 10s, announced in the coming weeks. a mark that also puts him third all time, In the meantime, organizers in 195 coun- Becomes Third behind Drake and Post Malone. 12 of those tries around the world who had registered 18 have come via the last three Streaming events for International Jazz Day 2020 are Act With at Least Songs charts. being asked to participate virtually. Most Top 10s, Streaming Songs Herbie Hancock—UNESCO Goodwill 50 Streaming 40, Drake Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue and 19, Post Malone co-chair of International Jazz Day—stated Songs Chart Hits 18, Lil Uzi Vert in a press release, “These are unprecedented 16, Ariana Grande times for world citizens and we are most BY KEVIN RUTHERFORD 15, Justin Bieber grateful for the support, understanding, 15, Kanye West and partnership of our Jazz Day commu- rior to Billboard’s Streaming As previously reported, Eternal Atake nity. Armed with optimism, patience and Songs chart dated March 28, just spends a second week at No. 1 on the Bill- grace, we’ll work through these challenges two artists — Drake and Future board 200 dated March 28, with 247,000 as families, communities, countries and as — had landed at least 50 entries equivalent album units earned in its second a stronger united world. Now more than Pon the tally in its seven-year history. frame. ever before, let’s band together and spread Now, make that three, courtesy of Lil Uzi the ethics of Jazz Day’s global movement Vert. around the planet and use this as a golden The rapper lands 12 debuts on the International opportunity for humankind to reconnect Streaming Songs survey dated March 28 especially in the midst of all this isolation from the newly-released deluxe version of Jazz Day 2020 and uncertainty.” his new album Eternal Atake, giving him 51 The release also notes that many part- entries on the list. Shifts to Virtual ners of International Jazz Day have already His 12-song onslaught comes one week rescheduled their programs for a later date after he debuted 16 additional songs on the Celebration that will depend on the abatement of the list upon the release of the standard version pandemic. When these postponed events do of Eternal Atake, as well as two weeks after Owing to take place, they will be acknowledged as of- Eternal Atake bonus track “That Way” and ficial celebrations of International Jazz Day. Lil Baby’s “Commercial,” on which Uzi is Coronavirus In addition to the Hancock Institute of featured, debuted — meaning Uzi’s overall Jazz, support for 2020 International Jazz Streaming Songs count has risen by 30 over BY GAIL MITCHELL Day also involves the following parties: the past three Streaming Songs charts. South African Department of Sports, Arts Most Entries, Streaming Songs nternational Jazz Day—including and Culture; South African Tourism; the 139, Drake its All-Star Global Concert on April South African National Commission for 58, Future 30—is the latest music event changing UNESCO; the City of Cape Town, the SPIN 51, Lil Uzi Vert course in the wake of the coronavirus Foundation; local partners and community 46, Nicki Minaj Ipandemic. The ninth annual worldwide leaders in South Africa; and the worldwide 44, The Weeknd celebration was slated to take place in Cape International Jazz Day community. 43, Kanye West Town and other cities across South Africa 42, Lil Wayne during the last week of April. 41, Post Malone However, partners and organizers of 41, Travis Scott International Jazz Day are still planning to 35, Lil Baby celebrate the occasion on April 30. They are The March 28 ranking sees Uzi’s new issuing a call for artists and fans around the appearances paced by “Myron,” which bows world to self-create video messages that will at No. 2 with 25.6 million U.S. streams in its be featured in a free live stream worldwide first week (tracking frame ending March as part of virtual programming that’s cur- 19), according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. rently being planned. “Bean (Kobe),” with 20.9 million streams, Further details about the live stream and also debuts within the top 10 (No. 4), as additional programming that day, which does “Yessirskiii,” with 21 Savage (No. 7, 17.2 will include a forum with acclaimed artists Page 20 of 28

IN BRIEF

gizing and wanting to start over “from zero” effort from Dr. Dre; the original Broad- Monsta X Earn even if there’s been pain and hurt in the way cast recording of Fiddler on the Roof; past — a timely message for MX fans as they Dusty in Memphis, from Dusty Springfield; First No. 1 on responded to the singer’s departure with Selena’s Tejano breakthrough Ven Conmigo; both online and in-person protests. Concert in the Garden, from jazz composer World Digital Along with the statement from Monsta Maria Schneider; and Colin Currie’s kinetic X’s Korean label home Starship Entertain- Percussion Concerto, the newest recording Song Sales Chart ment that the singer had been cleared of his named. charges, the agency added that they “will Song selections include Glen Campbell’s With 2017 Track continue to fully support Wonho for devel- “Wichita Lineman”; Whitney Houston’s oping his own career in the future.” rendition of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always After Fan-Led Monsta X performed “From Zero” on sev- Love You”; “Me and My Chauffeur Blues,” eral television, award shows and tour dates from country blues icon Memphis Min- Initiative around their promotions for The Code. Take nie; “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh,” the a look at the full, seven-member group’s sleepaway-camp song from comedian Allan BY JEFF BENJAMIN performance from Korean chart show Music Sherman; 21 tunes performed by that great Bank: warbler, Mister Rogers; and a tune whose onsta X and their fans have title seems to have particular relevance yet another reason to celebrate today, Eddy Arnold’s “Make the World Go this week. Songs From Glen Away.” The K-pop boy band earns But wait, there’s more: Russ Hodges’ call Mtheir first No. 1 onBillboard ’s World Digital Campbell, Dr. of Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ‘Round Song Sales chart as “From Zero” leaps onto the World,” which gave the New York the chart to debut at No. 1 more than two Dre, Fred Rogers, Giants the 1951 National League Pennant years after its release. The tropically-tinged with one swing of the bat; Puccini’s Tosca, pop cut sold 2,000 copies in the week end- Tina Turner performed by opera great Maria Callas; ing March 19, according to Nielsen Music/ “Whispering,” a huge hit from Paul White- MRC Data. “From Zero” has now shifted Enter National man and his Orchestra in 1920; songs writ- 3,000 copies in America to date. ten in the 12th century; hours of traditional Originally, “From Zero” was included on Recording Afghan music; a 1939 horror radio program; Monsta X’s 2017 EP The Code, considered by and the announcement of the assassination many to be a breakthrough release for the Registry of President Kennedy made by a Boston band as it marked their first No. 1 album on Symphony Orchestra conductor during a Korea’s domestic charts with lead single BY MIKE BARNES live performance. “Dramarama” landing them their first No. Under the terms of the National Record- 1 win on K-pop charts. To date, The Code ith the coronavirus going ing Preservation Act of 2000, the Librarian, has earned 27,000 equivalent album units around, it’s not the best with advice from the Library of Congress’ to date in America (counting album sales, idea to stay at the Y.M.C.A., National Recording Preservation Board, is track-equivalent albums and streaming- but that didn’t prevent tasked each year with selecting 25 titles that equivalent albums). theW Library of Congress from inducting the are “culturally, historically or aesthetically But there’s a deeper reason for this track signature tune from Village People into significant” and at least 10 years old. “The just finding its way to the charts this week. the National Recording Registry. Librar- National Recording Registry is the evolving Following the news that Monsta X’s ian of Congress Carla Hayden has named playlist of the American soundscape. It re- member Wonho was cleared of all charges “Y.M.C.A.” and 24 other aural treasures as flects moments in history captured through after an investigation over allegations of worthy of preservation this year, picked the voices and sounds of the time,” Hayden past drug use, fans celebrated by purchas- because of their cultural, historical and said in a statement. “We received over 800 ing and streaming “From Zero” as a way to aesthetic importance to the USA’s recorded nominations … to add to the registry. As show their excitement over the news. The sound heritage, it was announced Wednes- genres and formats continue to expand, the song is considered a special track to Monsta day (March 25). Library of Congress is committed to work- X and particularly Wonho for his heavy Also making the playlist are such albums ing with our many partners to preserve the involvement in the track’s songwriting and as Cheap Trick at Budokan, a classic live sounds that have touched our hearts and production credits, as well as for its mes- import; Tina Turner’s liberating Private shaped our culture.” Here’s a chronologi- sage. The track’s lyrics speak about apolo- Dancer; The Chronic, the seminal hip-hop cal list of the 22nd year of selections, with Page 21 of 28

IN BRIEF

descriptions provided by the Library of Neapolitan tenor residing in the U.S., per- family moved to the Memphis, Tennessee, Congress: forming a song written by Renzo Vampo and area in 1904 and was singing and playing on “Whispering,” Paul Whiteman and His F. Penisero, of whom little is known, though Beale Street by age 13. She started record- Orchestra (1920) Whiteman’s blockbuster they wrote at least one other song in defense ing as Memphis Minnie for the Columbia hit was the first in a long series of popular of Sacco and Vanzetti. label in 1929 and went on to record more recordings that sharply defined a new style “La Chicharronera,” Narciso Martínez than 200 songs, more than any other female and direction in instrumental dance music and Santiago Almeida (1936) country blues artist. “Me and My Chauf- — one that would have long-lasting effects. Martínez and Almeida, pioneers of Tex- feur Blues” showcases her aggressive and Though rather quaint to modern ears, Mex conjunto music, introduced the classic uncompromising vocal delivery and sting- “Whispering” was made at the pinnacle of accordion (Martínez) and bajo sexto (Almei- ing guitar work. It also is her best-known up-to-date dance music and directly led to da) combination on this, their first recording song, thanks in part to covers by Big Mama the big band era. Among its attributes were for Bluebird Records. Martínez was known Thornton, Nina Simone and Jefferson bold, clean lines with the melody clearly in as the “Father of Conjunto Music” and had Airplane. front. Gone was the old fashioned-ness of a long career in Texas, performing from a National League Playoff Game: New the lead being handed off to different voices huge repertoire of regionally popular dance York Giants vs. Brooklyn Dodgers — Russ mid-chorus. Also, harmonic and rhythmic tunes and styles including polkas, redovas, Hodges, announcer (Oct. 3, 1951) support was pared to a sleek, tasteful profile, schottisches, waltzes, mazurkas, boleros, In 1951, the Giants won 37 of their final 44 one that encouraged the smart-looking up- danzones and huapangos. Almeida devel- games to catch their crosstown rival Dodg- dated fox trot of 1920. With pianist-arranger oped the bajo sexto guitar as the distinctive ers, forcing a three-game playoff for the Ferde Grofé and ace trumpet man Henry accompanying instrument in the classic National League pennant. The teams split Busse, Whiteman would codify a type of conjunto style. the first two games, setting up the tiebreaker jazz and be popularly considered its king. Their music exemplified the blending of at the Polo Grounds. With the Dodgers lead- “Protesta per Sacco e Vanzetti,” Com- Central European instruments and dance ing 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth, the Giants pagnia Columbia; “Sacco e Vanzetti,” genres with those of Mexican Texas that had runners at second and third with one Raoul Romito (1927) had been going on for at least a generation out when Bobby Thomson stepped to the This release combines a spoken, dramatic before they made their first recordings. This plate. Ralph Branca’s first pitch was a called set piece on its “A” side with a protest song conjunto sound remains popular in Tex-Mex strike. As he released his next pitch, Giants on the “B” side. Both decry the impending music in an expanded and amplified form. announcer Hodges said, “Branca throws execution of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Martínez and Almeida were honored with …” and then shouted, “There’s a long drive. Vanzetti, two Italian American immigrants the NEA’s National Heritage Fellowship art- It’s gonna be, I believe — the Giants win the convicted of murder in 1920 but believed ist award in 1983 and 1993, respectively. pennant! by many to have been railroaded because of “Arch Oboler’s Plays” Episode of The The Giants win the pennant! The Gi- their anarchist political beliefs. The record- Bathysphere (Nov. 18, 1939) ants win the pennant! The Giants win the ing was made by Compagnia Columba, a Oboler was one of radio’s great suspense pennant!” The game was covered by other group of actors who recorded this and other writers, known for the terrifying and legendary announcers, including Ernie scenes for the Columbia label. “Protesta beloved Lights Out! radio program. Before Harwell (Giants TV), Red Barber (Dodgers per Sacco e Vanzetti” presents a scene at a that, he helmed this eponymous series and radio) and Gordon McLendon (the national rally for the two men, with actors, repre- one of his best-known plays, The Bathy- broadcast), but it is Hodges’ call that is most senting different regions of Italy, speaking sphere. It concerns the descent of a diving remembered. It so vividly captures not only on their behalf as well as others wrongly bell to a depth of 3,200 feet with an unlikely the action on the field but also the excite- accused: “Friends, you already know what two-man crew: a scientist and a dictator, ment of the moment — truly the thrill of has brought us together here, and I am one of whom may not be entirely trustwor- victory and one of the greatest calls in all of happy to see in this solemn moment a crowd thy. After taking over Lights Out!, Oboler sportscasting. made up not just of Italians but of people of restaged this radio play, in 1943, with new Puccini’s Tosca, Maria Callas, Giuseppe all nationalities: Italians, Americans, Jews, actors but with the same spine-tingling di Stefano, Angelo Mercuriali, Tito English, Japanese. suspense. Years later, Rod Serling would Gobbi, Melchiorre Luise, Dario Caselli, At this fatal hour we have come together acknowledge Oboler as one of his greatest Victor de Sabata (1953) to form a single race: the human race! With influences. In 1981, Christian Science Monitor critic no differences based on age, on class or on “Me and My Chauffeur Blues,” Mem- Thor Eckert Jr. wrote a critique of the re- party.” The scene was written by Frank phis Minnie (1941) cording history of Puccini’s Tosca and said, Amodio, who specialized in dramatic and Lizzie Douglas, better known as Memphis “In 1953, Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, comedic sketches aimed at Italian Ameri- Minnie, was born circa 1897 in Algiers, Loui- Tito Gobbi and maestro Victor de Sabata cans. Side B features Romito, a popular siana. She took up guitar as a child after her along with the forces of La Scala Opera Page 22 of 28

IN BRIEF

gathered to make recording history — the Nov. 22, 1963. Just after concluding Handel’s 3,242 performances. This RCA Victor cast finestTosca of all time and one of the great- Concerto Grosso in B flat major and a second recording features the original versions est recordings of an opera on records.” No short piece, Leinsdorf stoically addressed of songs that have now become standards, other Tosca has equaled this performance. the large audience with a change of program including “Matchmaker,” “Tradition,” “If I Produced by Walter Legge, the recording and to share the tragic news of President Were a Rich Man” and “Sunrise, Sunset.” captured one of Callas’ greatest triumphs. Kennedy having been killed in Dallas. For “Make the World Go Away,” Eddy Ar- The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Mu- those in the audience and thousands more nold (1965) sicians would state, “Among her contempo- listening over the radio, it was their first This song brought veteran country hit- raries she had the deepest comprehension of news of the assassination. maker Arnold to a new, younger audience the Classical Italian style, the most musical In the hall, gasps could be heard. As and launched what he called his second instincts and the most intelligent approach,” everyone — including the musicians — career. The recording showcased songwriter while Leonard Bernstein would call her “the processed the news, the sheet music for Hank Cochran’s memorable melody and Bible of opera.” the “Funeral March” from Beethoven’s plaintive lyrics, Arnold’s mellow baritone “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh,” Allan Symphony No. 3 was distributed to the vocal and the tasteful backing of such Nash- Sherman (1963) orchestra, which bravely performed. The ville session stalwarts as guitarist Grady This is a comic novelty song with lyrics next day, Margo Miller of the Boston Globe Martin, pianist Floyd Cramer and the Anita written by Sherman and Lou Busch (to the reported, “The Eroica marcia funebre is one Kerr Singers, plus an eight-piece string tune of Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours”) of the great moments in music. The dread section. “Make the World Go Away” was a in which a boy describes his summer camp beat of the march cannot be disguised. Yet prime example of the “Countrypolitan” style experiences at the fictional Camp Granada. there is a middle section of the movement, a of country music and one of the high-water At the time of the recording, Sherman was time of incredible energy and involvement, marks of the Nashville sound that producer an intermittently successful TV writer and somehow, or so it seemed Friday, expressing Chet Atkins and others had pioneered. producer specializing in game shows, while eternal hope.” Released in the fall of 1965, it became an Busch was best known as ragtime pianist Fiddler on the Roof, Original Broadway unexpected presence in the national top 10 Joe “Fingers” Carr. Sherman lived in the Cast (1964) alongside The Beatles, James Brown and Brentwood section of Los Angeles and The character of Tevye the Dairyman was Dean Martin when few other country songs occasionally performed his song parodies created by Yiddish writer Sholem Aleichem were crossing over to the pop charts. for neighbors like Harpo Marx and George and is an orthodox Russian-Jew who at- Hiromi Lorraine Sakata Collection Burns. Burns brought him to the attention of tempts to raise his daughters and lead a of Afghan Traditional Music (1966-67; Warner Bros. Records. humble life under the oppressive reign of 1971-73) Sherman’s first two albums, released the tsar. While the Aleichem tales had been This collection of more than 50 hours of in 1962 and 1963, topped the charts, but it adapted various times before, Tevye’s true important and unique field recordings from would be this single from his third album, entry into the greater public consciousness Afghanistan came via ethnomusicologist My Son, the Nut, that immortalized him. The came with Fiddler on the Roof, the musical Sakata. She first researched in Afghanistan lyrics were based on letters of complaint adaptation of Aleichem’s stories. Librettist in 1966-67 and captured 25 hours of record- Sherman received from his son, Robert, Joe Stein had become a fan of Aleichem’s ings of singers and instrumentalists from the while the boy was attending summer camp writing and enlisted the help of composer provinces of Kabul, Khandahar, Urozgan, in Westport, New York. The opening lines Jerry Bock and lyricist Sheldon Harnick to Nangarhar, Herat, Balkh and Nuristan. Her are remembered fondly by three (or more) create a show that incorporated traditional second trip, from 1971-73, resulted in 26 ad- generations of Americans: “Hello Muddah, Jewish music — like klezmer — into a mod- ditional hours of recordings from Herat, Ka- hello Fadduh / Here I am at Camp Granada.” ern musical theater framework in service of bul, Badakhshan, Hazarajat and Kandahar. “It would have amazed my father, 50-plus a story about traditions in conflict with the As she wrote in her 2002 book, Music in the years since he wrote it. It’s still something modern world. Mind: The Concepts of Music and Musician that people care, sing about,” Robert Sher- In the process, the show brought Jewish in Afghanistan, these recordings document a man said. audiences closer to part of their heritage time and place that are now gone. Invasion, WGBH Broadcast on the Day of JFK’s (especially sobering in a post-World War II civil war and social upheaval have disrupted Assassination, Boston Symphony Orches- world) while presenting gentile audiences and, in some cases, destroyed the musical tra (1963) with a story built on universal themes and life she documented. Sakata, a well-known The ageless adage of “drawing com- a central protagonist both conflicting and expert in the music of Afghanistan, taught fort through music” had never been more admirable. With direction from Jerome at the University of Washington and UCLA thoroughly tested than on the scheduled Robbins and opening with Zero Mostel as for decades. These important recordings afternoon broadcast of the Boston Sym- a riveting Tevye, Fiddler became a massive are now deposited at the Ethnomusicology phony, with conductor Erich Leinsdorf, on Broadway success, running a record-setting Archives at the University of Washington. Page 23 of 28

IN BRIEF

“Wichita Lineman,” Glen Campbell Inspirations (Whitney Houston’s mother, had, by the late 1970s, very little impact (1968) Cissy Houston, was a member). at home in the U.S. But they were already Campbell made a splash on both the Springfield initially recorded her vocals huge in Japan. In 1978, at the Budokan in country and pop charts and achieved in the Tennessee city as well but, reportedly Tokyo before 12,000 ardent fans, the band enormous fame in the ‘60s and ‘70s with a dissatisfied with the results, later rerecord- recorded this seminal live album, which was singing style that matched a genial tone with ed them at Atlantic Studios in New York. originally meant solely for sale in the Japa- introspective lyrics, emphasizing them in a Though the single “Son of a Preacher Man” nese market. But stoked by word-of-mouth way that made him ideal for modern coun- was a hit, early album sales proved modest. and airplay on a few U.S. FM rock stations, try songwriters, most notably Jimmy Webb. Over time, Dusty in Memphis grew in stature high-priced imports of the album began to Webb conceived the tale behind “Wichita to become widely recognized as an impor- sell in unheard-of numbers for a Japanese Lineman” while driving through Washita tant album by a woman in the rock era. Elvis release in the U.S. Further airplay and inter- County, Oklahoma, when counties had their Costello, who contributed the liner notes est increased when Epic, the band’s record own telephone company utilities and line- to a Memphis 2002 reissue, writes, “Dusty company, serviced radio stations with a man employees. Among the endless lines of Springfield’s singing on this album is among promotional version of the album unavail- poles was a silhouetted lineman who struck the very best ever put on record by anyone.” able in stores before finally releasingCheap Webb as “the picture of loneliness.” What Her voice, Costello wrote, was “recorded in Trick at Budokan domestically in February was the man saying into the receiver? the audio equivalent of ‘extreme close-up.’ 1979. It proved to be the making of the band Webb placed himself in the man’s head Every breath and sigh is caught, and yet it in its home country, as well as a loud and and, with lingering feelings from an affair can soar.” welcomed alternative to disco and soft rock with a married woman, crafted one of the Mister Rogers Sings 21 Favorite Songs and a decisive comeback for rock. most beautiful songs to ever climb the From Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Fred Holst: Suite No. 1 in E-Flat, Suite No. charts. With the location changed from Rogers (1973) 2 in F / Handel: Music for the Royal Washita to the more euphonious Wichita (of Almost two decades after the last broad- Fireworks / Bach: Fantasia in G (Special Kansas), “Wichita Lineman” struck listeners cast of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in 2001, Edition Audiophile Pressing), Frederick with its poetic lyrics about a man attempt- Fred Rogers remains an influential figure in Fennell and the Cleveland Symphonic ing to make a romantic connection in the American culture. As an enduring presence Winds (1978) face of his crippling loneliness. BBC Radio on national public television since 1968, This was the first commercial digital re- 2 recently described it as “one of those he emphasized holistic child development cording of symphonic music in the U.S. and rare songs that seems somehow to exist in through play, curiosity and human interac- was captured on the Soundstream recorder, a world of its own — not just timeless but tion while fostering emotional intelligence. the first available commercial digital re- ultimately outside of modern music.” “I’m Rogers held a bachelor’s degree in music corder, introduced by U.S. inventor Thomas humbled and, at the same time for Glen, I composition and aptly leveraged the poten- Stockham. The original was released to vinyl am extremely proud,” said Webb, who wrote tial of music to influence emotion, memory in 1978 and then again in 1983 as the first CD “Wichita Lineman.” “I wish there was some and cognitive development by composing release for the U.S.-based Telarc label. The way I could say, ‘Glen, you know they’re prolifically for his program. recording was produced by Robert Woods doing this. They are putting this thing in a Numerous musical guests and the consis- and engineered by Jack Renner, co-founders mountain.’” tent presence of an in-house jazz trio led by of the Telarc label. Telarc and Soundstream Dusty in Memphis, Dusty Springfield pianist Johnny Costa also exposed listen- worked together, increasing the capability (1969) ers to a wide range of high-quality music. of the Soundstream recorder, and the results By 1968, London-born singer Springfield Certain tunes became synonymous with had an immediate impact on audiences was already a success in the U.K. when she the program, especially the opening and around the globe. The World Book Ency- came to America to record what would be- closing themes as well as “You Are Special” clopedia described this recording as having come the defining album of her career. Even and “I’m Proud of You.” His recitation of his “the bass drum heard around the world.” before Memphis, Springfield had strong ties lyrics for “What Do You Do (With the Mad “Y.M.C.A.,” Village People (1978) In to American music, having released hits That You Feel)” was a high point of his 1969 1977, Village People emerged as a purposely written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David testimony before the Senate Subcommittee campy and extravagantly costumed vocal as well as Gerry Goffin and Carole King. on Communications that helped save fund- sextet of guys — the Native American, the Three legendary producers were involved ing for public broadcasting. cop, the biker, the soldier, the cowboy and in the sessions: Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin Cheap Trick at Budokan, Cheap Trick the construction worker — singing upbeat and Tom Dowd. The instrumental tracks (1978) dance floor anthems that often referenced were recorded at legendary American Sound Though a handful of U.S. critics and gay pop culture. Now, more than four de- Studio in Memphis featuring the Memphis devoted fans could have told you about their cades since it hit the streets and the dance Cats and the backup vocalists the Sweet formidable live performances, Cheap Trick floors, “Y.M.C.A.,” their biggest hit, is an Page 24 of 28

IN BRIEF

American cultural phenomenon — people about her), Private Dancer revealed Turner “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney from all walks of life do the “Y.M.C.A.” as a mature and versatile singer whose work Houston (1992) dance at weddings, bar mitzvahs or sporting transcended categories like rock and pop. Inspired in part by the end of her musical events. It is as likely to be heard at a Mid- Since then, the album and its song cycle partnership with Porter Wagoner, this song western prom as it is at New York City’s Gay have become a touchstone and a symbol had been a big hit on the 1974 country charts Pride parade. In its heyday, “Y.M.C.A.” was for powerful womanhood. Private Dancer for its writer, Dolly Parton. Later, it would a hit around the world, going to No. 1 on the solidified her as a legend — a status she become one of her signature compositions; charts in some 15 countries, and its ongoing achieved on her own terms.”Tina’s innate over the years, she often concluded her popularity is evidence that, despite the nay- ability to expand her reach deep into all this concerts and TV variety shows with it. In sayers, disco has never truly died.”I had no new material seems, to this very day, simply the early ‘90s, actor Kevin Costner suggest- idea when we wrote ‘Y.M.C.A.’ that it would unbelievable. Never equaled,” said Rupert ed that pop diva Houston record it for the become one of the most iconic songs in the Hine, a musician, songwriter and producer soundtrack of their forthcoming film,The world,” singer Victor Willis said. “I am glad on the album. “These songs were populated Bodyguard. Already recognized as one the that the Village People has made the world in such a small handful of days at such high great voices of her generation, Houston took smile for over 40 years with our music.” energy as to leave those left in the room the song and made it her own. Her powerful, A Feather on the Breath of God, Gothic thereafter spinning. Something very special passionate performance drove her rendition Voices; Christopher Page, Conductor; was happening right under our feet.” to the top of the charts. It would eventually Hildegard von Bingen, Composer (1982) Ven Conmigo, Selena (1990) become Houston’s signature song and sell Twelfth-century Benedictine abbess This 1990 album by Selena Quintanilla upward of 20 million copies. von Bingen is the earliest known female was the first Tejano record by a female Concert in the Garden, Maria Schneider composer whose works have survived to artist to achieve Gold status. The album Orchestra (2004) present day. She was a writer, philosopher, also marks a turning point both in Selena’s Dance permeates Schneider’s album with Christian mystic and visionary as well — the career and within the Tejano music genre — titles such as “Dança Ilusória” and “Choro title of the album is a quote from one of her as it brought the music to a wider American Dançado.” Listening to “Pas de Deux,” it writings. Her repertoire had been ignored audience and upended the dominance of is hard not to be reminded of the seminal for decades until the release of this beauti- male-led acts within the genre. Selena’s Sketches of Spain album Miles Davis made ful recording by the award-winning Gothic biographer, Joe Nick Patoski, highlights with arranger Gil Evans, with whom Schnei- Voices, directed by Page and engineered by the expanded stylistic scope of the album, der worked closely in the 1980s. It is a testa- Tony Faulkner. This was Gothic Voices’ first which her versatility made possible. The ment to Schneider’s composing and arrang- recording; it also marked the beginning of selections pushed the boundaries of the ing talents that her work can be seen not as Gothic Voices as a permanent group. The Tejano genre at the time while keeping the a copy of Evans’ work, but an extension of it. release helped heighten — albeit belatedly beat at the heart of the music; as Patoski And it is a tribute to her determination and — von Bingen’s life story and remarkable quoted Selena, “I don’t think you can really leadership that the Maria Schneider Orches- achievements both inside and outside of mess with the beat.” Hits like “Baila esta tra was some 15 years old at the time of this music.”This album of Hildegarde von Bin- cumbia” helped establish Selena as “the recording, with its 18-piece membership gen’s music brought the art of an amazing reigning queen of the Tejano music world,” largely intact during that period. woman to an entirely new audience, and I as her obituary in The New York Times For them, Schneider created an amalgam feel most fortunate to have been part of the called her just five years later. of big band, chamber music and improvisa- group that recorded it,” said soprano Emma The Chronic, Dr. Dre (1992) tional jazz. Such improvisation can be seen Kirkby. The Chronic is the solo debut album in Donny McCaslin’s critically acclaimed Private Dancer, Tina Turner (1984) of hip-hop artist and producer Dr. Dre, solo in “Buleria, Solea y Rumba.” In addi- Turner survived a brutal marriage to a former member of N.W.A. Along with tion, Concert in the Garden was the first reclaim fame and obtain recognition as a exemplifying the “G Funk” style of hip-hop album to win a Grammy without having solo artist and a superstar in her own right production, it solidified the West Coast’s been sold in stores, distributed digitally with with this timeless comeback album. After dominance of the genre, and its influence no fixed format. Also, the album was funded several solo projects she released following would be heard for years to come. The and distributed by crowdfunding site Artist- her divorce from Ike Turner failed to sell, Chronic also featured appearances by future Share to respond to fan-driven demand for Turner was without a recording contract superstar Snoop Dogg, who used the album styles of music not otherwise readily avail- when John Carter signed her to Capitol as a launching pad for his own solo career. It able while offering artists greater control Records in 1983 and she began work on is considered one of the most important and over their work. Private Dancer in England. Propelled by the influential albums of the 1990s and regarded Percussion Concerto, Colin Currie (2008) lead single, “What’s Love Got to Do With by many fans and peers to be the most well- A drummer’s dream, Jennifer Higdon’s It?” (later the title of the big-screen biopic produced hip-hop album of all time. composition Percussion Concerto received Page 25 of 28

IN BRIEF

a Grammy in 2010. It began as a co-com- sofacto in leading in a premiere appearance. are on the deluxe edition of Lil Uzi Vert’s mission between the Philadelphia Orches- Compare that to 2019, when five artists new LP Eternal Atake, which, sparked by tra, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra ruled for the first time the entire year: Lana the new version (featuring 14 new tracks), and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Tim Del Rey, Dominic Fike, Matt Maeson, logs its second week atop the Billboard 200 Smith of The Baltimore Sun wrote that the SHAED and Billie Eilish; Fike, Maeson with 247,000 equivalent album units, ac- one-movement work “unleashes a kinetic and SHAED reigned in their firsts chart cording to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. storm of urban beats, balanced by passages appearances. In 2018, six No. 1 newcomers Here’s a look at all four of Bourne’s pro- of Asian-influenced musings that exploit the ruled (Marshmello, Two Feet, Panic! at duction credits on the Hot 100: most seductive qualities of the diverse per- the Disco, lovelytheband, AJR and Alice Rank, Artist Billing, Title cussion instruments assigned to the soloist.” Merton), with five (all but Panic!) doing so No. 19, Lil Uzi Vert feat. Chief Keef, “Bean And Marin Alsop, the conductor of this par- on their first tries. (Kobe)” ticular performance, said that the concerto The only repeat leader this year? Eilish, No. 26, Lil Uzi Vert & 21 Savage, “Yessir- “embraces the concept and explains that a who’s still, of course, a fairly new artist in skiii” major priority for her is to give listeners a her own right (although she’s already tied No. 54, Lil Uzi Vert feat. Future, “Wassup” sense of grounding and a feel for where they the mark for the most No. 1s among solo- No. 89, Lil Uzi Vert feat. Young Thug, are in her compositions.” This recording by ists in the chart’s three-decade history). “Money Spread” percussionist supreme Currie — indeed, the Sub Urban is also the fourth soloist to lead Bourne dethrones Brandon Finessin (real piece was written for him — captures his Alternative Songs in 2020, following Eilish, name Brandon Veal), who ruled the Hot 100 great virtuosity. The piece would go one to Myers and Absofacto. A record-tying five Producers chart for one week (March 21), win the Grammy for best classical contem- songs by solo artists ruled in 2019, by Del thanks to eight production credits that ap- porary composition. Rey, Fike, Maeson and Eilish (two). peared on the Hot 100 a week earlier, also all This article originally appeared on The On the all-rock-format Rock Airplay from Eternal Atake. Hollywood Reporter. chart, “Cradles” ranks at No. 9 with 4.8 Prior to Bourne’s four production credits million audience impressions, according to on the current Hot 100, he had charted as a Nielsen Music/MRC Data. producer with eight songs, including tracks Sub Urban Rocks “Cradles” initially found its legs on by 6ix9ine, Travis Scott, Kanye West and TikTok before it was serviced to alternative Young Thug. ‘Cradles’ to No. radio and debuted on Alternative Songs in As a solo artist, Bourne has charted two October 2019. Sub Urban’s debut EP, Thrill albums on the Billboard 200: Sli’merre, with 1 on Alternative Seeker, was released March 13. Young Nudy, reached No. 63 in May 2019, and The Life of Pi’erre 4 peaked at No. 107 Songs Chart that July. Pi’erre Bourne Bourne concurrently debuts at No. 6 on BY KEVIN RUTHERFORD the Hot 100 Songwriters chart, as he also co- Tops Hot 100 wrote the four tracks listed above. ub Urban’s “Cradles” climbs 3-1 Lil Uzi Vert (real name Symere Woods) on Billboard’s Alternative Songs Producers Chart, logs his second week atop the Hot 100 airplay chart dated March 28. Songwriters chart, powered by 22 songs on The song, serviced to radio by Powered by Lil the Hot 100, all of which he co-wrote. Here’s SWarner, becomes the first No. 1 on aBill - a rundown: board chart for the New Jersey native (born Uzi Vert’s ‘Eternal Rank, Title (Songwriters in addition to Lil Danny Maisonneuve), achieved with his first Uzi Vert) entry on Alternative Songs. Atake’ No. 13, “Myron” (Jonathan Priester, Jor- The coronation also continues this year’s dan T. Ortiz) trend of newcomers topping the tally. In just BY XANDER ZELLNER No. 19, “Bean (Kobe)” (Chief Keef, Pi’erre the first three months of 2020, five artists (of Bourne) six total No. 1s) have led Alternative Songs i’erre Bourne (real name Jordan No. 26, “Yessirskiii” (21 Savage, Pi’erre for the first time, including three in a first Timothy Jenks) debuts at No. 1 Bourne) visit to the chart. Sub Urban follows The on Billboard’s Hot 100 Producers No. 27, “Baby Pluto” (Brandon Finessin, Unlikely Candidates (“Novocaine”), White chart (dated March 28), thanks Bugz Ronin, Cousin Vinny, Ike Beatz) Reaper (“Might Be Right”), Meg Myers Pto four production credits on the latest Bill- No. 37, “P2” (TM88) (“Running Up That Hill”) and Absofacto board Hot 100. No. 41, “That Way” (Jonathan Priester, “Dissolve,” and joins White Reaper and Ab- All four songs, which he solely produced, Felipe Spain, Milan Modi, Andreas Carlsson, Page 26 of 28

IN BRIEF

Max Martin) rently re-enters the Rock Digital Song No. 42, “Lo Mein” (Brandon Finessin, Dropkick Sales chart at No. 6 with 2,000 downloads – Bugz Ronin) a new high on the chart for the band, despite No. 45, “Lotus” (Jordan T. Ortiz, Tre- Murphys’ the song’s re-entry on Rock Digital Song shaun Beats, Don Cannon) Sales every year since the tally was created No. 52, “Silly Watch” (Jonathan Priester) Livestreamed (2010) around St. Patrick’s Day. No. 54, “Wassup” (Pi’erre Bourne, Future) No. 60, “Strawberry Peels” (Young Thug, St. Patrick’s Day Wheezy, Gunna) ‘Let’s Go Crazy: No. 62, “Moon Relate” Concert Drives No. 66, “I Can Show You” (Jordan T. The Grammy Ortiz) Them Onto Social No. 68, “Trap This Way (This Way)” (Jor- Salute to Prince’ dan T. Ortiz) 50 Chart No. 72, “Leaders” (NAV, Amir Cash, Moh- Set to Air on the kom Singh Bhangal) BY KEVIN RUTHERFORD No. 76, “No Auto” 4th Anniversary of No. 82, “Homecoming” (Bugz Ronin) espite the global outbreak of No. 83, “Come This Way” (Nicole Miglis, COVID-19 putting a damper His Death Paul Giese Garonzik, Trayer Tryon, Zach on St. Patrick’s Day’s celebra- Tetreault) tions, Celtic rockers Dropkick BY PAUL GREIN No. 87, “Got the Guap” (Young Thug, DMurphys didn’t let that spoil their annual Brandon Finessin, Tobias Dekker) holiday concert. BS will air Let’s Go Crazy: The No. 89, “Money Spread” (Pi’erre Bourne) Instead of doing a traditional concert with Grammy Salute to Prince on April No. 94, “Futsal Shuffle 2020” (Brandon fans in person, the group opted to perform a 21, the fourth anniversary of the Finessin, Star Boy, Cas van der Hijden, Mees livestreamed concert across multiple social legendary musician’s death. The van der Bruggen) media and video-streaming platforms, help- Cshow was filmed Jan. 28, two days after the No. 95, “Prices” (Harold Harper, Travis ing the act debut at No. 36 on Billboard’s 62nd annual Grammy Awards — and before Scott, Roget Chahayed, Kid Cudi, Swizz Social 50 chart dated March 28. the novel coronavirus pandemic put such Beatz, Cashmere Cat, Hit-Boy, Starrah, The Social 50 is powered by data tracked entertainment events on hold indefinitely. Carlton Mays Jr.) by music analytics company Next Big Sound Actress Maya Rudolph hosts the show, The weekly Hot 100 Songwriters and and ranks the most popular artists on and also performs with her Prince cover Hot 100 Producers charts are based on total Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and band, Princess. The show also features points accrued by a songwriter and produc- Wikipedia. The chart’s methodology blends performances by Beck, Gary Clark Jr., er, respectively, for each attributed song that weekly additions of friends/fans/followers Common, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Foo Fight- appears on the Hot 100; plus, genre-based with artist page views and engagement. The ers, H.E.R., Juanes, John Legend, Chris songwriter and producer charts follow the chart’s latest tracking week ended March 19. Martin, Miguel, Morris Day And The Time, same methodology based on correspond- The Boston-bred band saw gains in all Sheila E., St. Vincent, Mavis Staples, the ing “Hot”-named genre charts. As with social media categories, led by 41,000 new Revolution, and Usher, with special appear- Billboard’s yearly recaps, multiple writers or subscribers on YouTube (one of the places ances by Fred Armisen, Naomi Campbell, producers split points for each song equally the concert was streamed) in the week end- Misty Copeland, FKA Twigs and Jimmy (and the dividing of points will lead to oc- ing March 19 (up 2,628%), according to Next Jam. casional ties on rankings). Big Sound. Ken Ehrlich, who wrapped up a 40-year The full Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot Dropkick Murphys’ Wikipedia page also career as the Grammy Awards’ producer 100 Producers charts, in addition to the full racked up 28,000 views, and on Twit- or executive producer this year, served as genre rankings, can be found on Billboard. ter, where the concert was also streamed, executive producer of the special. In an in- com. the band was mentioned 12,000 times, up terview with Billboard in the week preced- 2,129%. ing the Grammys, Ehrlich noted, “Prince is In the tracking week ending March 19, the special. He probably did 12 TV appearances group’s catalog of songs was streamed 7.3 over his career. I did five of them. I think it’s million times in the U.S., up 169%, accord- going to do very well because the audience ing to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. One of its that has grown around him since his death songs, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” concur- is equal to or greater than the audience that Page 27 of 28

IN BRIEF

loved him when he was alive. There’s no 15- ful eight-and-a-half hours of sleep with the year old who doesn’t know who Prince is.” World Sleep Day set’s gentle sounds as background. Ron Basile, Chantel Sausedo, Rac Clark For World Sleep Day, Richter curated and David Wild are producers of the special. Wakes Up Max playlists takeovers for Spotify, Apple Music Wild also wrote it. Jimmy Jam & Terry Lew- and Amazon Music (which featured his is and Sheila E. are the co-musical directors Richter’s 2015 own music), and also worked with Pandora, of the special. AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC iHeart Music and Tidal for World Sleep produced the show with with the coopera- Set on Classical Day-related promotions. tion of The Prince Estate. In addition, one can imagine some of the Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Albums Chart Sleep activity was earned via consumers in Prince is the latest in a long line of TV Coronavirus quarantine at home, seeking tributes that the Grammys have produced in BY KEITH CAULFIELD out peaceful music. recent years. Others have included Sinatra 100 — An All-Star Grammy Concert, Stevie he top of Billboard’s latest Classi- Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life — An All- cal Albums chart is a bit sleepy. Star Grammy Salute, The Beatles: The Night Literally. That Changed America — A Grammy Salute, Max Richter’s concept album Stayin’ Alive: A Grammy Salute To The TSleep returns to No. 1 on the chart dated Music Of The Bee Gees, Elton John: I’m Still March 28 for the first time in four-and-a- Standing–A Grammy Salute and Motown 60: half years, thanks to publicity and pro- A Grammy Celebration. motion for the composer’s set generated Prince won seven Grammys over the around World Sleep Day on March 13. course of his career, but he never won in The project climbs from No. 3 to No. 1 a “Big Four” category (album, record and with 3,000 equivalent album units in the song of the year, plus best new artist). Purple U.S. in the week ending March 19, according Rain was nominated for album of the year to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. That’s a 112% for 1984, but controversially lost to Lio- surge from the previous week (up from little nel Richie’s Can’t Slow Down. The double more than 1,000 units). The album’s tracks album Sign “O” the Times was nominated in generated 3.5 million on-demand streams that same category three years later, but lost during the tracking week (up 107% from 1.7 to U2’s The Joshua Tree. Prince’s composi- million the prior frame). tion “Nothing Compares 2 U,” made famous Billboard’s Classical Albums chart ranks by Sinéad O’Connor, was nominated for the most popular classical albums of the song of the year for 1990, but lost to Julie week in the U.S. based on multi-metric con- Gold’s “From a Distance,” a hit for Bette sumption as measured in equivalent album Midler. units. Units comprise album sales, track Purple Rain and Sign “O” The Times have equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming since been voted into the Grammy Hall of equivalent albums (SEA). Fame, as has Prince’s 1982 double-album, The eight-and-a-half hour long project 1999. was released in 2015 via Deutsche Grammo- phon and debuted at No. 1 on the Classical Albums chart dated Sept. 26, 2015. The album is available in two editions: a 31-track set, and a 204-track version – both contain- ing the same eight-and-a-half hour long program. Richter told NPR in 2015 that “Sleeping and being asleep is one of my favorite activi- ties. Really, what I wanted to do is provide a landscape or a musical place where people could fall asleep.” The album’s length is designed to be a companion to a sleeping listener, who, hopefully, is getting a peace- Page 28 of 28 LAST THIS ARTIST CERTIFICATION Title PEAK WKS. ON LAST THIS ARTIST CERTIFICATION Title PEAK WKS. ON WEEK WEEK IMPRINT/DISTRIBUTING LABEL POS. CHART WEEK WEEK IMPRINT/DISTRIBUTING LABEL POS. CHART

#1 LIL UZI VERT Eternal Atake XXXTENTACION ? 1 1 2 WKS GENERATION NOW/ATLANTIC/AG 1 2 62 51 BAD VIBES FOREVER 1 105

LIL BABY My Turn TONES AND I The Kids Are Coming (EP) IN BRIEF 4 2 QUALITY CONTROL/MOTOWN/CAPITOL 1 3 56 52 BAD BATCH/ELEKTRA/EMG 30 24

BAD BUNNY YHLQMDLG CHRIS BROWN Indigo 3 3 RIMAS 2 3 54 53 CBE/RCA 1 38 HOT Heartbreak Weather Diamonds SHOT 4 NIALL HORAN 4 1 58 54 ELTON JOHN 7 123 DEBUT NEON HAZE/CAPITOL ROCKET/ISLAND/UME

JHENE AIKO Chilombo KHALID Free Spirit 2 5 DEF JAM 2 2 59 55 RIGHT HAND/RCA 1 50

RODDY RICCH Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial MAC MILLER Circles 6 6 BIRD VISION/ATLANTIC/AG 1 15 40 56 WARNER 3 9

DON TOLIVER Heaven Or Hell LIL UZI VERT Luv Is Rage 2 NEW 7 CACTUS JACK/ATLANTIC/AG 7 1 43 57 GENERATION NOW/ATLANTIC/AG 1 134 7 8 POST MALONE Hollywood’s Bleeding 1 28 52 58 ED SHEERAN No.6 Collaborations Project 1 36 Round REPUBLIC ATLANTIC/AG 9 9 JUSTIN BIEBER Changes 1 5 48 59 BLAKE SHELTON Fully Loaded: God’s Country 2 14 SCHOOLBOY/RAYMOND BRAUN/DEF JAM WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE/WMN Two For 18 10 SOUNDTRACK Frozen II 1 18 50 60 SELENA GOMEZ Rare 1 10 WALT DISNEY INTERSCOPE/IGA Lil Uzi 8 11 BTS MAP OF THE SOUL : 7 1 4 57 61 MONEYBAGG YO Time Served 3 10 BIGHIT ENTERTAINMENT N-LESS/INTERSCOPE/IGA Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal JAY ELECTRONICA A Written Testimony MUSTARD Perfect Ten Atake secures a second NEW 12 ROC NATION 12 1 61 62 10 SUMMERS/INTERSCOPE/IGA 8 38 week at No. 1 on the 11 13 BILLIE EILISH 2 When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? 1 51 64 63 ARIANA GRANDE Thank U, Next 1 58 DARKROOM/INTERSCOPE/IGA REPUBLIC Billboard 200 as the set EMINEM Music To Be Murdered By BLUEFACE Find The Beat earned 247,000 equiv- 14 14 SHADY/AFTERMATH/INTERSCOPE/IGA 1 9 NEW 64 CASH MONEY/REPUBLIC 64 1 alent album units in the 17 15 HARRY STYLES Fine Line 1 14 66 65 LIL NAS X 7 (EP) 2 39 ERSKINE/COLUMBIA COLUMBIA United States during the YOUNGBOY NEVER BROKE AGAIN Still Flexin, Still Steppin ED SHEERAN 4 ÷ (Divide) 12 16 NEVER BROKE AGAIN/ATLANTIC/AG 2 4 67 66 ATLANTIC/AG 1 159 week ending March 19, BILLBOARD 200 BILLBOARD according to Nielsen 15 17 POP SMOKE Meet The Woo, V.2 7 6 65 67 ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST 6 Hamilton: An American Musical 3 234 VICTOR VICTOR WORLDWIDE/REPUBLIC HAMILTON UPTOWN/ATLANTIC/AG Music/MRC Data. A BOOGIE WIT DA HOODIE Artist 2.0 LIL WAYNE Funeral 13 18 HIGHBRIDGE THE LABEL/ATLANTIC/AG 2 5 55 68 YOUNG MONEY/REPUBLIC 1 7 That’s down just 14% compared with its debut 19 19 DOJA CAT Hot Pink 17 20 79 69 THE BEATLES 11 1 1 412 KEMOSABE/RCA APPLE/CAPITOL/UME atop the list a week ago LUKE COMBS What You See Is What You Get KANE BROWN Experiment 21 20 RIVER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE/SMN 1 19 69 70 ZONE 4/RCA NASHVILLE/SMN 1 71 with 288,000 units. The lack of a large 10 21 MEGAN THEE STALLION Suga 10 2 76 71 BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS 15 Legend: The Best Of... 5 618 1501 CERTIFIED/300/AG TUFF GONG/ISLAND/UME second-week decline DABABY KIRK KHALID 3 American Teen 24 22 SOUTHCOAST/INTERSCOPE/IGA 1 25 72 72 RIGHT HAND/RCA 4 159 is owed to the album’s surprise reissue on 23 23 POST MALONE 3 beerbongs & bentleys 1 99 51 73 OZZY OSBOURNE Ordinary Man 3 4 REPUBLIC EPIC March 13, when a new NEW 24 RICH THE KID BOSS MAN 24 1 68 74 LIL TJAY True 2 Myself 5 23 deluxe edition arrived MAR. REPUBLIC COLUMBIA with 14 additional songs, 22 25 HALSEY Manic 2 9 28 75 JAMES TAYLOR American Standard 4 3 28 CAPITOL FANTASY/CONCORD expanding upon the 2020 ROD WAVE Ghetto Gospel CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL 10 Chronicle The 20 Greatest Hits 27 26 ALAMO/IGA 10 20 71 76 FANTASY/CONCORD 22 463 original 18-song set. (All versions of the album 25 27 TRIPPIE REDD A Love Letter To You 4 1 17 70 77 VARIOUS ARTISTS Dreamville & J. Cole: Revenge Of The Dreamers III 1 37 TENTHOUSAND PROJECTS DREAMVILLE/INTERSCOPE/IGA are combined together TAYLOR SWIFT 2 Lover CHRIS STAPLETON 4 Traveller 26 28 REPUBLIC 1 30 74 78 MERCURY NASHVILLE/UMGN 1 236 for tracking and charting

3 15 purposes.) 30 29 LUKE COMBS This One’s For You 4 146 83 79 JOURNEY Journey’s Greatest Hits 10 608 RIVER HOUSE/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE/SMN COLUMBIA/LEGACY Eternal Atake would JUICE WRLD Goodbye & Good Riddance FLEETWOOD MAC 20 Rumours 32 30 GRADE A/INTERSCOPE/IGA 4 96 88 80 WARNER BROS./RHINO 1 364 have most likely held at No. 1 for a second 29 31 SUMMER WALKER Over It 2 24 85 81 SHAWN MENDES Shawn Mendes 1 95 LVRN/INTERSCOPE/IGA ISLAND/REPUBLIC week without the help LEWIS CAPALDI Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent CARDI B 3 Invasion Of Privacy 35 32 VERTIGO/CAPITOL 20 44 80 82 THE KSR GROUP/ATLANTIC/AG 1 102 of its reissue. Even if the

G HERBO PTSD NF The Search album had declined by 20 33 EPIC/MACHINE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP 7 3 77 83 NF REAL MUSIC/CAROLINE 1 34 70% in its second week, YOUNGBOY NEVER BROKE AGAIN AI YoungBoy 2 MAREN MORRIS GIRL 37 34 NEVER BROKE AGAIN/ATLANTIC/AG 1 23 73 84 COLUMBIA NASHVILLE/SMN 4 54 it still would have ranked

YNW MELLY Melly vs. Melvin SOUNDTRACK 2 Moana ahead of the chart’s 92 35 GG YNW MELLY/300/AG 8 17 93 85 WALT DISNEY 2 173 No. 2 album, Lil Baby’s JACK HARLOW Sweet Action DABABY Baby On Baby NEW 36 GENERATION NOW/ATLANTIC/AG 36 1 78 86 SOUTHCOAST/INTERSCOPE/IGA 7 55 former No. 1 My Turn

QUEEN 8 Greatest Hits THE WEEKND 3 Starboy (77,000 units). 38 37 HOLLYWOOD 11 378 84 87 XO/REPUBLIC 1 173 —KEITH CAULFIELD DRAKE 5 Scorpion TORY LANEZ Chixtape 5 39 38 YOUNG MONEY/CASH MONEY/REPUBLIC 1 90 81 88 MAD LOVE/INTERSCOPE/IGA 2 18

BILLIE EILISH Dont Smile At Me TAME IMPALA The Slow Rush 42 39 DARKROOM/INTERSCOPE/IGA 14 117 60 89 MODULAR/INTERSCOPE/IGA 3 5

POST MALONE 3 Stoney A BOOGIE WIT DA HOODIE Hoodie SZN 36 40 REPUBLIC 4 171 82 90 HIGHBRIDGE THE LABEL/ATLANTIC/AG 1 65

LIZZO Cuz I Love You THE WEEKND 4 Beauty Behind The Madness 34 41 NICE LIFE/ATLANTIC/AG 4 48 89 91 XO/REPUBLIC 1 237

JUICE WRLD Death Race For Love SOUNDTRACK 4 Frozen 44 42 GRADE A/INTERSCOPE/IGA 1 54 RE 92 WALT DISNEY 1 144

CAMILA CABELLO Romance DAN + SHAY Dan + Shay 45 43 SYCO/EPIC 3 15 87 93 WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE/WMN 6 91

MORGAN WALLEN If I Know Me GROUPLOVE Healer 46 44 BIG LOUD 35 77 NEW 94 CANVASBACK/ATLANTIC/AG 94 1

YOUNG THUG So Much Fun BILLY JOEL 3 The Essential Billy Joel 41 45 YOUNG STONER LIFE/300/ATLANTIC/AG 1 31 149 95 PS COLUMBIA/LEGACY 15 183

JACKBOYS JACKBOYS KENDRICK LAMAR 3 DAMN. 33 46 CACTUS JACK/EPIC 1 12 90 96 TOP DAWG/AFTERMATH/INTERSCOPE/IGA 1 153 THE BILLBOARD CHART 200 RANKS THE MOST POPULAR ALBUMS THE WEEK, OF AS COMPILED NIELSEN BY MUSIC, BASED MULTI-METRIC ON CONSUMPTION (BLENDING TRADITIONAL ALBUM SALES, TRACK EQUIVALENT ALBUMS, AND STREAMING EQUIVALENT ALBUMS).

NCT 127 NCT #127: Neo Zone, The 2nd Album JELLY ROLL A Beautiful Disaster 5 47 SM 5 2 NEW 97 WAR DOG/STRANGE/IT GOES UP 97 1

TRAVIS SCOTT 3 ASTROWORLD TREVOR DANIEL Homesick (EP) 47 48 CACTUS JACK/GRAND HUSTLE/EPIC 1 85 97 98 ALAMO/IGA 64 18

LAUV ~how i’m feeling~ SOUNDTRACK ZOMBIES 2 16 49 LAUV/AWAL-KOBALT 16 2 99 99 WALT DISNEY 44 5

LIL MOSEY Certified Hitmaker DRAKE 6 Take Care 53 50 MOGUL VISION/INTERSCOPE/IGA 12 16 95 100 YOUNG MONEY/CASH MONEY/REPUBLIC 1 368 SALES DATA COMPILEDBY

CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTIRE 66 GO TO BILLBOARD.COMBILLBOARD FOR COMPLETE 200 CHARTCHART. DATA DATA FOR WEEK OF 03.28.2020

X7chart_bb200 PM [P]_27830126;6_View.indd PAGE 66 3/25/20 5:29 PM