BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE APRIL 13, 2020 | PAGE 4 OF 19 ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] Bulletin SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country YOURAlbu DAILYms; BrettENTERTAINMENT Young ‘Catc NEWSh UPDATE’-es Fifth AirplayFEBRUARY 19, 2021 Page 1 of 30 Leader; Travis Denning Makes History INSIDE Executive of the Week: Sam Hunt’s second studio full-length, and first in over five years, Southside sales (up 21%) in the tracking week. On Country Airplay, it hops 18-15 (11.9 mil- (MCA Nashville/Universal• Publishers Music Group Nashville),Atlantic debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Records’s lion audience impressions, GM/Senior up 16%). VP Top CountryQuarterly: Albums Sony chart dated April 18. In its first week (ending April 9), it earnedDrops 46,000 ‘ATV’ equivalent and album units, including 16,000 in album sales, ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITH YOUNG Brett Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cordingStays to No. Nielsen 1 On Music/MRCSongs Data. Urban A&Rand total Country Lanre Airplay No. 1 as “Catch”Gaba (Big Machine Label Group) ascends SouthsideCharts marks Hunt’s second No. 1 on the 2-1, increasing 13% to 36.6 million impressions. chart and fourth top 10. It follows freshman LP BY DAN RYS Young’s first of six chart entries, “Sleep With- Montevallo• Can You, which Tour arrived in a at the summit in No - out You,” reached No. 2 in December 2016. He Land Down Under? vember 2014 and reigned for nineThis weeks. week, To date, Atlantic Records celebrated two significant now — songsfollowed that come with inthe and multiweek out of playlistsNo. 1s “In andCase You MontevalloStrict has Rules earned Are 3.9 million units, with 1.4 Didn’t Know” (two weeks, June 2017), “Like I Loved millionMaking in album Australasia sales. a hip-hop arrivals on the charts, from two artists at dif- people haveYou” no idea (three, what January the 2018),artists “Mercy” even look (two, like,” August MontevalloReality has spent 267 weeksferent on the points list, tying in their career. says Gaba, who2018) also and stresses“Here Tonight” that “to (two, truly April break 2019). a Luke• TaylorBryan’s Swift’s Crash MyNew Party as thePooh sixth-longest- Shiesty, the young upstart from Memphis, career artist, you“Catch” need completes A&R, marketing his longest and journey artist to No. 1, running‘Love titles Story’: in the Here’s chart’s 56-yearlanded history. his first No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart development.”having taken 46 weeks to reach the apex. It out- Onthe the Story all-genre (So Far)Billboard 200,with Southside his debut, ar- Shiesty Season, while the project’s Here, thepaces longtime the 30-week exec — climb who ofwas “Here also Tonight.” honored as rives at No. 5, awarding Hunt his second top 10 On Hot Country Songs, “Catch” pushes 7-5 for on Airplay, Sales & lead single “Back InHUNT Blood” feat. Lil Durk climbedYOUNG part of Billboard’s 2020 Hip-Hop/R&B Power Play- after the StreamingNo. 3-peaking Montevallo. a new high. Hunt first released the EPX2C into, which the debuted top 20 of the Hot 100, at No. 17. Meanwhile, ers in November and as a Change Agent stepping and• peakedSBA Provides at No. 5New on Top Countryone of Albumsthe label’s in August resident 2014. superstars, FollowingCardi COMBS B — who ‘DOES’ forwardIT AGAIN toLuke help Combs lead’ the“Does music to Me” industry (River House/Columbia during a year MontevalloInfo For ,Preparing Between the to Pines: atAcoustic this point Mixtape is almost started a atslam its No.dunk 7 high on the in chartsNashville), with featuringof turmoil Eric Church in January, ascends — 11-8talks on the Country success Airplay, of Cardi up 10% and to Submit SVO Grant November 2015. each release — roared back with her first solo24.7 single million in in audience.Pooh Shiesty, The song the isimportance Combs’ eighth of timing straight and career-opening space in MontevalloApplications produced five singles, four of which hit the pinnacle of Country top 10, following a record run of seven consecutive out-of-the-gate, properly nearly two years, and first since last summer’s earth- music releases and the “amazing boss women” who Airplay:• Beach “Leave Boys the Partner Night On,” “Take Your Time,” “House Party” and “Make promoted No. 1 singles. shaking Megan Thee Stallion collab “WAP,” as her make up Atlantic’s brain trust. You WithMiss Me.” Irving “Break Azoff’s Up in a Small Town” peaked at No. 2. Church adds his 15th Country Airplay top 10. HuntIconic co-penned Artists Group all 12 songslatest on Southside song “Up”, including debuted “Body at No. Like 2 on a Back the Hot 100 while Pooh Shiesty landed his first No. 1 on the Rap Road,”in which Intellectual was released in 2017.topping The smash a slew hit of ruled other Country charts. Airplay for THAT TOOK QUITEAlbums ‘A FEW’ chart MONTHS with hisTravis debut, DenningShiesty shatters Season the record. What for three weeks and the airplay-, streaming- and sales-based Hot Country Songs the most weeks it has taken to penetrate the Country Airplay top 10 as “After Property Deal Each release represents a triumph of a different key decisions did you make to help him achieve chart for a then-record 34 frames. It now ranks second only to Bebe Rexha and a Few” (Mercury Nashville) climbs 12-10 in its 57th week, up 4% to 21.4 mil - Florida• As Georgia Texas Freezes, Line’s “Meant tokind Be” for (50 Atlantic,weeks atop which the latter has list a strongin 2017-18). recent liontrack in radio reach.that? “Downtown’sRadio Scrambles Dead,” which isrecord also on of the developing new set, reached young Nos. rappers 14 and into 15 establishedThe song surpassesA major two tracks key decision that took was50 weeks not rushing each to enter to put the out top the 10: on Hotto Country Stay On Songs Air & and Countryhit-makers. Airplay, respectively, And the twin in Junesuccesses 2018. “Kin help- Atlantic’sEaston GMCorbin ’smixtape. “A Girl LikeGucci You,” signed which Pooh reached to No.the 10New in J 1017/Atlanticanuary 2018 be - folks”Pivot led Country From Music Airplay on Feb.and 29, senior becoming vp urban Hunt’s A&R seventhLanre No. Gaba 1. It hit earn forethe peakingtitle at No.in April6 that February,2020. There and Aaronwere definitely Watson’s “Outta moments Style,” last which to Emergency No. 3 on Hot Country Songs. of Billboard’s Executive of the Week. achieved its No.year 10 high where in December we thought 2017. about putting out a tape. Once LatestProgramming single “Hard to Forget” jumps 17-9 on Hot Country Songs. It’s his “After” is Denning’s second Country Airplay entry. “David Ashley Parker “There’s so much faceless music that’s out right (continued) eighth top 10, having corralled 8.2 million U.S. streams (up 96%) and 5,000 in From Powder Springs” traveled to No. 32 in September 2018. ETHAN MICHAEL YOUNG: VIA MARTIN/NHLI GETTY HUNT: IMAGES. IMAGES MILLER/GETTY 20 21 5TH ANNIVERSARY Raleigh Music Group was founded in 2016 by industry veteran As Raleigh’s reputation has grown, the company has partners Peter Raleigh and Steven Storch. The company is steadily built a contemporary roster of songwriters, artists headquartered in the heart of Times Square, NYC with offices in and producers and now publishes songs performed by or Los Angeles. In its first five years has experienced remarkable global featuring superstar artists including: Ariana Grande, Chris growth and expansion. Brown, Kid Rock, Madonna, John Legend, Lil Uzi Vert, A$AP Ferg, Cardi B, A Boogie, Snoop Dogg, Trey Songz, Lil Durk, The boutique music publishing company attributes its success to its Busta Rhymes and film and tv composers Randy Edelman “client first” approach to music publishing – delivering a high touch, and Rick Marotta. high service experience to a select roster of music publishing clients it represents. The company has benefitted from the support of Please join Billboard in congratulating Raleigh Music Susan Aberbach, an owner of the Elvis Presley catalog and an early group’s 5th Anniversary. stage investor. CONTACTS Raleigh’s client services are provided by A&R staff in NY and LA, a synch licensing team with strong relationships in the film/tv, Joe Maimone 201.301.5933 | [email protected] advertising and gaming industries, and a first-class copyright and royalty administration department. Lee Ann Photoglo 615.376.7931 | [email protected] The company’s best in class global sub-publishing partner network includes Budde, Café Concerto, Peer Music, Native Tongue, Supreme Cynthia Mellow Songs, Schubert, Cloud 9, GL Music, Clippers, Som Livre, Nichion, 615.352,0265 | [email protected] Geoff Paynter Music, Fujipacific, IDM, Pelikan and others. Marcia Olival Raleigh represents numerous iconic catalogs and songs including 786.586.4901 | [email protected] Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, “A Little Less Conversation”, and “All Shook Up”, George Gershwin’s “Summertime”, “Let’s Call the Gene Smith Whole Thing Off” and “They Can’t Take that Away from Me”, The 973.452.3528 | [email protected] Tokens, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, Gregmark Music’s “Stormy Monday”, Anthony Newley’s “What Kind of Fool am I” and numerous Debra Fink other classics. The company also represents the classic catalogs of 213.448.5157 | [email protected] Bo Diddley, America, Anthony Newley, Willy (Mink) Deville, Lords of Ryan O’Donnell the Underground, Trax Records, and many others. +447843437176 | [email protected]

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we started to see the momentum, we made Durk’s trajectory was at the time. It all came together in the right way at the right time. a conscious decision to keep building up the together in the right way at the right time. The song was bubbling over the holiday and anticipation for Shiesty Season. Most impor- The song was bubbling over the holiday and by the time we dropped the video Jan. 2, it tantly, we wanted to have a real plan. From by the time we dropped the video Jan. 2, it just took to the song to another level. This the moment he signed, we kept consistently just took to the song to another level. This song was a great entry point for all of the dropping music and videos. While all of song was a great entry point for all of the new people who were starting to pay atten- this music was dropping, Carla Pagano in new people who were starting to pay atten- tion to Pooh. marketing did an amazing job connecting all tion to Pooh. Cardi B’s latest single “Up” — her first the dots — Pooh’s trajectory is a testament Cardi B’s latest single “Up” — her first song since “WAP” in the summer — just to real marketing and artist development. song since “WAP” in the summer — just debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100. Was the Gucci dropped two compilation projects debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100. Was the gap between singles a conscious strat- last year — So Icy Summer and So Icy Gang gap between singles a conscious strat- egy from the beginning or one that was Vol. 1 — that we used as launching pads for egy from the beginning or one that was determined along the way? Pooh and all of the other artists on the New determined along the way? “WAP” had such commercial and cultural 1017. Gucci being involved opened up a lot “WAP” had such commercial and cultural impact. Those types records stay in the of doors and we were able to leverage looks impact. Those types records stay in the conversation for a really long time. We knew we wouldn’t have otherwise gotten for a conversation for a really long time. We knew from the beginning that we could take our newer artist. The best part was that Pooh from the beginning that we could take our time to get to the next record. and his manager Mob Boss trusted us and time to get to the next record. the process. Pooh also has his first top 20 single on Pooh also has his first top 20 single on the Hot 100, with “Back In Blood” climb- the Hot 100, with “Back In Blood” climb- ing steadily over the past six weeks to ing steadily over the past six weeks to reach No. 17. What has been the strategy reach No. 17. What has been the strategy there? there? So Icy Gang Vol. 1 dropped in October So Icy Gang Vol. 1 dropped in October and our original plan was to drop Pooh’s and our original plan was to drop Pooh’s tape around his birthday in November. We tape around his birthday in November. We decided to push it to top of the year and take decided to push it to top of the year and take our time setting the project up. We dropped our time setting the project up. We dropped “Back In Blood” instead. There was so much “Back In Blood” instead. There was so much about that record that really connected right about that record that really connected right away — that hook, those “blrrds” in the ad away — that hook, those “blrrds” in the ad libs, the piano chords in the beat plus where libs, the piano chords in the beat plus where Durk’s trajectory was at the time. It all came

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Behind every artist, songwriter and music produc- CONTACTS er is a trusted group of advisers who provide Joe Maimone guidance, advice and negotiate deals. Billboard’s 201.301.5933 | [email protected] 6th annual Top Music Lawyers list will recognize the biggest names and most prominent legal Lee Ann Photoglo minds in the world of music and 615.376.7931 | [email protected] entertainment law. They are the deal makers behind Cynthia Mellow the major contracts and lawsuits in the music 615.352,0265 | [email protected] industry. Marcia Olival 786.586.4901 | [email protected] This feature will also include a round-up of top law schools attended by the notable alumni on the Gene Smith Top Music Lawyer list. 973.452.3528 | [email protected]

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On both charts, Nos. 2-5 remained the Publishers same as the previous quarter: UMPG, Can You Tour Kobalt, Warner Chappell Music and BMG, Quarterly: Sony respectively. in a Land Down UMPG’s market share grew on both Drops ‘ATV’ and tallies. On Top Radio Airplay, it led song Under? Strict placements with 58, reaching 20.56% (from Stays No. 1 On 19.24% and 58 songs), while on Hot 100 Rules Are Making Songs, UMPG reached 20.29% with 50 Songs Charts songs (from 18.98% and 60 songs). Australasia a Kobalt’s share fell on both charts: down to BY ED CHRISTMAN 16.79% with 44 songs on Top Radio Airplay Reality (from 18.76% and 50 songs) and 15.27% with ony Music Publishing, which 39 songs on Hot 100 Songs (from 16.14% and BY LARS BRANDLE AND DAVE rebranded from Sony/ATV on 47 songs). BROOKS Feb. 10, maintained its reign atop Warner Chappell improved on Top Radio the publisher charts for the period Airplay with a 15.15% share and 48 songs RISBANE, Australia — After Sfrom October to December, leading both (from 13.19% and 46 songs) led by The years of playing Melbourne Top Radio Airplay and Hot 100 Songs for Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” at No. 3. On clubs with capacities of under the third quarter in a row. The publisher Hot 100 Songs, it earned a 14.82% share with 1,000, the hardcore rap-metal has topped the airplay tally for 33 of the 40 songs (from 13.30% and 42 songs), thanks Bband Dregg finally had its moment at the last 34 quarters, and its market share on it to “Laugh Now Cry Later.” For the 16th con- 2019 Brisbane Bigsound festival. Within rose slightly to 22.11% (from 22.10%). On secutive quarter, Warner Chappell led the months, the act signed with U.S. manag- Hot 100 Songs, Sony slipped to 24.13% (from Country Airplay chart, with 23.38%. ers Adam LaRue and Jon Halperin, then 26.68%). BMG’s market share slipped on both booking agency Paradigm and label Epitaph 24kGoldn’s “Mood” (featuring iann dior) rankings, scoring 8.22% on Top Radio Records. Everything was going great, until ruled both Top Radio Airplay and Hot 100 Airplay with 30 songs (from 9.17% and 32 “all the touring and shows were canceled,” Songs in the fourth quarter. (Universal Mu- songs) and 7.61% on Hot 100 Songs with 27 says lead singer Christopher Mackertich, sic Publishing Group and Kobalt have stakes songs (from 8.45% and 34 songs), with Jus- who quit his day job as a high-end hairstyl- in the song.) But the late Johnny Marks, tin Bieber’s “HOLY” (featuring Chance the ist to go on tour in March 2020. That didn’t published by his own St. Nicholas Music, Rapper) reaching Nos. 5 and 7, respectively. happen, of course. led songwriters on Hot 100 Songs, with four On Top Radio Airplay, the rest of the Because the group is based in Australia, Christmas compositions on the chart: Bren- top 10 repeated from the previous quarter though, Dregg will be able to start playing da Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas as well: Round Hill Music ranked sixth concerts far sooner than most. In North Tree” at No. 17, Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly (2.70%), Pulse Music Group seventh (1.81%), America and Europe, touring isn’t expected Christmas” at No. 44, Gene Autry’s “Ru- Reservoir eighth (1.62%), Big Machine ninth to resume until fall, with a full-scale come- dolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at No. 87 (1.61%) and peermusic 10th (1.5%). back not expected until 2022. But Australia and Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” at On Hot 100 Songs, St. Nicholas Music and New Zealand, which fought off the No. 80. On Top Radio Airplay, Tom “Kid ranked sixth (3.52%), Concord Music sev- coronavirus with strict quarantine rules Harpoon” Hull (represented by UMPG) enth (1.69%), Pulse Music eighth (1.68%), and rigorous safety protocols, are already was the top songwriter with four charting Round Hill Music ninth (1.38%) and Dean hosting both indoor concerts and festivals, songs: Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar” Kay’s Demi Music 10th (1.31%) on the with little or no social distancing. For inter- (No. 11), “Adore You” (No. 20) and “Golden” strength of Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most national artists willing to travel there and (No. 59) and Shawn Mendes’ “Wonder” Wonderful Time of the Year” (at No. 35) quarantine, Australasia’s relatively devel- (No. 43). and “Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season” oped touring market offers an opportunity This marks Sony’s 13th consecutive No. 1 (No. 84). to hit the road. on Top Radio Airplay, with 55 songs on the This article originally appeared in the Feb. “Australia is probably further along than chart, including Gabby Barrett’s “Hope” 20, 2021 issue of Billboard. most other countries” in terms of a touring (No. 2). The company had 54 compositions rebound, says AEG Asia CEO Adam Wilkes. on Hot 100 Songs — more than any other Other parts of Asia Pacific with large do- publisher, but down from 59 — includ- mestic markets — namely China and Japan ing Drake’s “Laugh Now Cry Later” (featur- — are also finding their way back by doing ing Lil Durk) at No. 2. local-artist events, increasingly on a larger 2 0 2 1 PRIMARY WAVE 15TH ANNIVERSARY

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scale, Wilkes says. set Piazza, a 350-capacity pop-up concert to the industry. We need to find our way So far, most tours in Australia are led by series. Other artists on the bill include Kate back.” domestic acts like Midnight Oil, which Miller-Heidke, Josh Pyke, Eddie Perfect Australia’s vaccine rollout is set to start by is playing shows to support its chart- and G Flip. the end of February, though a trans-Tasman topping mini-album The Makarrata Project. “The next test, particularly for Australia, Sea “bubble” has yet to materialize. Promot- But promoters are also establishing proto- will be finding the balance as we reopen ers had been hoping to create a COVID- cols to bring in global acts, including Guns and return to living a reasonably normal 19-safe regional touring map in Asia Pacific, N’ Roses, which will tour stadiums in life, something New Zealand has excelled but a planned travel bubble of Singapore November (during the Australian summer). at so far,” says Roger Field, president of and Hong Kong fell apart in November after Much of the traffic is handled by Michael Live Nation Asia Pacific. In May, New a spike in cases in Hong Kong. If a direct Gudinski’s Frontier Touring and Round- Zealand became one of the first countries path that doesn’t require quarantining twice house Touring, which booked Midnight Oil’s to experiment with COVID-19-safe shows. opens between Australia and New Zealand, four February/March outdoor winery shows In October, the annual Rhythm and Vines it would make the combination of both in Australia and New Zealand. “Touring is festival, with an all-local lineup, drew nearly countries “a very attractive global market decimated,” says Gudinski, “but it’s a great 20,000 attendees, according to Live Nation. for live events,” says Richardson. time for Australian acts to shine.” (An unexplained outbreak of three cases in No one is predicting a return to normal Queensland state, home to Brisbane Auckland led local officials to order a three- this year, although Australia and New and the Gold Coast, is back at 100% venue day lockdown starting Feb. 14.) Zealand are positioned to become the places capacity, and “we are working across all the Once artists pass through quarantine, to restart international tours — with some states to increase audience capacity beyond Australasia offers a potential touring map patience and planning. “We are the lucky 60% to 75% capacity and removal of caps so of at least 10 cities and 20 venues across country here,” says Gudinski. “Let’s not we can get to full capacity as soon as pos- both countries. Australia has five major make us unlucky.” sible,” says Evelyn Richardson, CEO of trade cities, three of which — Melbourne, Sydney Additional reporting by Alexei Barrion- association Live Performance Australia. and Brisbane — are on its east coast. More uevo. The Australasia market has never been a dates can be added in smaller cities: Elton This article originally appeared in the Feb. hard sell for touring artists: With a com- John’s 40-show schedule in 2019 and 2020 20, 2021 issue of Billboard. bined English-speaking population of nearly included dates in Bathurst, Coffs Harbour 30 million, top acts can sell over 300,000 and Geelong. tickets, or earn up to $40 million in gross Ed Sheeran’s 2018 Divide stadium Taylor Swift’s revenue, on a tour. The 2020-2024 Aus- tour smashed all-time box office records, tralian Entertainment and Media Outlook shifting 1.1 million tickets across both ter- New ‘Love Story’: predicted that the live sector would bring in ritories, says Gudinski, whose Frontier $1.4 billion in 2020, although revenue esti- Touring produced the trek. P!nk set the Here’s the Story mates fell by 90% due to the pandemic. benchmark for arena shows with her 2009 Distance and cost have always been the Funhouse tour, which criss-crossed the (So Far) on challenge. And Australia’s coronavirus quar- country and sold more than 650,000 tickets antine regulations, which captured global across 58 dates in Australia. Airplay, Sales & attention in January during the Australian Guns N’ Roses plans to stage this year’s Open tennis tournament, have also been an most ambitious tour — eight stadium shows Streaming issue. Anyone entering or reentering the starting in November produced by TEG country, including Australian nationals, Dainty, a division of TEG Group. The venues BY GARY TRUST AND KEITH must quarantine for 14 to 24 days at a hotel can operate at full capacity, but they will CAULFIELD chosen by the government. Travelers must employ COVID-19 cleaning protocols. (Guns cover hotel costs and submit to multiple N’ Roses last toured Australia in 2017, selling ccording to initial reports to COVID-19 tests. With irregular room service 350,000 tickets over eight shows to gross MRC Data, Taylor Swift’s and police and security guards maintaining $38 million, according to Billboard Box- re-recording of “Love Story” — order, “acts are very wary of traveling and score.) dubbed “Love Story (Taylor’s about putting up with a two-week quaran- In late 2020, TEG explored the market Version)”A — has garnered more than 10 tine,” Gudinski says. “I’m a realist.” with two reduced-capacity shows (6,000) million on-demand audio streams in the Some have already taken the plunge at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena featuring all- U.S. through Feb. 16, while also selling over though. American singer-songwriter Ben local lineups. “It’s not about making money,” 24,000 downloads through Feb. 17. In terms Folds is among the foreigners who have says TEG CEO Geoff Jones. “It’s about of airplay, while it is not being actively pro- moved to Sydney to perform at the Sun- breaking even. We need to give confidence moted to radio stations, it has been played Page 8 of 30

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over 350 times through Feb. 17. Feb. 13 - 59 plays, 246,000 audience - 92 Here’s a look at the daily U.S. sales for the On Feb. 11, Swift announced she had re- plays, 344,000 audience two songs, side-by-side, according to initial recorded her 2008 album Fearless, as Fear- Feb. 14 - 47 plays, 177,000 audience - 66 reports to MRC Data: less (Taylor’s Version), and that its updated plays, 160,000 audience Date - Re-Record – Original lead single, “Love Story (Taylor’s Version),” Feb. 15 - 43 plays, 190,000 audience - 62 Feb. 12 - 18,900 - 200 would be released on Feb. 12. Fearless be- plays, 372,000 audience Feb. 13 - 2,100 – 100 came Swift’s first No. 1 album on the Bill- Feb. 16 - 28 plays, 153,000 audience - 66 Feb. 14 – 1,600 – 100 board 200, while “Love Story” was her plays, 297,000 audience Feb. 15 – 800 – less than 100 second Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit. Since Feb. 17 - 38 plays, 135,000 audience - 44 Feb. 16 – 500 – less than 100 then, Swift has tallied seven more No. 1 plays, 219,000 audience Feb. 17 – 300 – less than 100 albums, and 27 more top 10 Hot 100 hits. Totals, Feb. 12-17: 359 plays, 1,678,000 audi- Streaming Update: Between Feb. 12 Re-recordings of older songs or albums ence - 397 plays, 1,619,000 audience and Feb. 16, “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” are treated separately from their originals, As the above daily breakdown reflects, collected 10.21 million on-demand audio with independent chart histories for each the new version of “Love Story” boasts the streams in the U.S., according to initial version. Thus, Fearless (Taylor’s Ver- biggest one-day total between the two, un- reports to MRC Data. 4.70 million of that sion) and “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” surprisingly in its first day of release. Mean- figure came on the track’s release day, Feb. will chart separately from Swift’s original while, the 2008 original has maintained 12. 2008 recordings of the album and song, fairly steady daily plays, having long been an The original “Love Story” captured respectively. “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” established hit that’s now in regular rotation 667,000 on-demand audio streams on Feb. is expected to debut on various weekly Bill- among the biggest songs from its era. 12 – more than two times the number of board charts dated Feb. 27, with highlights to Notably, the new version of the song is not streams the song garnered daily between post Feb. 22 and all charts updating on Bill- being actively promoted to radio. Instead, Feb. 5-10. On Feb. 11, in the wake of Swift’s board.com Feb. 23. three tracks continue to be promoted to news announcing the re-recording, the Airplay Update: As for radio airplay in its various formats from Swift’s latest LP, Ev- original song’s streams grew to 504,000 (up first six days, “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” ermore. The set’s “Willow” rose 9-8 on the from 290,000 on Feb. 10). drew over 350 plays on stations that report most recently published Adult Contempo- Here’s a look at the daily U.S. on-demand to Billboard’s all-genre, audience-based Ra- rary and Adult Pop Airplay charts (dated audio streams for the two songs, side-by- dio Songs chart, a sum that translates to Feb. 20) and 20-17 on Pop Airplay. Mean- side, according to initial reports to MRC nearly 1.7 million audience impressions. while, the album’s “Coney Island,” featur- Data: Leading among those plays, over 240 were ing The National, climbed 26-21 on Adult Date - Re-Record – Original on reporters to the Pop Airplay chart, led by Alternative Airplay; a week earlier, “No Feb. 12 – 4,701,000 – 667,000 45 on SiriusXM’s Hits 1 channel. Adult Pop Body, No Crime,” featuring Haim, kept at its Feb. 13 – 2,144,000 – 493,000 Airplay reporters followed, having given No. 60 best on Country Airplay. Feb. 14 – 1,388,000 – 518,000 the song over 80 spins in that span. The original “Love Story” hit No. 2 on Feb. 15 – 1,076,000 – 355,000 How does that play compare to the 2008 Radio Songs (and No. 4 on the all-genre, Feb. 16 – 898,000 – 327,000 version? The original drew slightly more multi-metric Billboard Hot 100). It topped plays on Radio Songs reporters in that Country Airplay and Pop Airplay and re- six-day period: nearly 400. Adult Contem- mains the only song to have led both lists. It SBA Provides porary chart panelists led with over 180 also crowned AC and rose to No. 3 on Adult plays, followed by reporters to Country Pop Airplay. New Info For Airplay (70) and Adult Pop Airplay (50). Sales Update: “Love Story (Taylor’s Ver- Generally speaking, daily plays of the sion)” sold 24,300 downloads in the U.S. Preparing to original have been steady the whole month. through Feb. 17, according to initial reports The song garnered between 46 and 81 daily to MRC Data. Of that sum, 18,900 came Submit SVO Grant plays on Feb. 1-11, compared to between 44 on its first day of release, Friday, Feb. 12. It and 92 plays on Feb. 12-17. was earlier reported (on Saturday, Feb. 13) Applications Here’s a look at the daily U.S. airplay (on that the song had sold 10,000 on Feb. 12, Radio Songs chart reporters) for the two based on initial reports. Since that story was BY TAYLOR MIMS versions, side-by-side, according to MRC published, further sales were reported for Data: Friday, lifting the tune’s total for that day to pplications for the Shuttered Date - Re-Record - Original 18,900. Venue Operator Grants (formally Feb. 12 - 144 plays, 777,000 audience - 67 As for the original “Love Story,” it has sold referred to as Save Our Stages plays, 227,000 audience 700 downloads between Feb. 12-17. A Act or SOS grants) are not open Page 9 of 30

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yet and the Small Business Administra- days for the government to validate. possible hands. We are very proud of what tion has yet to announce a date for when Additional detailed instructions of how to we have achieved as The Beach Boys and they will be open. prepare for applying for the SVO grant can how our songs continue to resonate with It’s a frustrating fact for a lot of indepen- be found in the video below. our fans.” dent venues and promoters who spent the The deal between Iconic and The Beach better part of 2020 lobbying for the legisla- Boys has been a year in the making, and was tion that would end up providing $15 billion Beach Boys the first one Iconic started working on when in federal support to those forced to close the company formed, Iconic’s founder/ due to the pandemic. Partner With CEO Olivier Chastan tells Billboard. Chas- Since the passage of the bill in late De- tan says that the idea of the collaboration cember, the SBA has provided some details Irving Azoff’s as a partnership, rather than a sale of assets and today the SBA released an addition- — as has been happening more and more in al training video to help independent ven- Iconic Artists the publishing space in particular of late — ues prepare to apply for the SVO grants. In is what helped to bring the group aboard. the video filled with information slides, the Group in He floats branding and licensing concepts SBA states that those wanting to apply for as possibilities that could come from the the SVO grants are required to register in Intellectual partnerships, as well as a biopic, “a proper the federal government’s System for Award documentary,” and leveraging technology Management (SAM). Property Deal for virtual exhibits, though he notes that For those entities already registered ideas with a legacy like this can be “as big as through SAM.gov, the SBA notes that BY DAN RYS your dreams.” registrations only remain active for 12 “The overall goal is twofold,” Chastan months. Registering or renewing registra- he Beach Boys have entered into tells Billboard. “One, obviously, preserve and tion is free for everyone. The registration an intellectual property partner- protect the legacy. And two, to grow it. But will collect information such as taxpayer ship with Irving Azoff’s Iconic not grow it just in terms of financials, but identification numbers, certifications, bank- Artists Group that will cover really acting as a bridge to new generations. ing information and more. Tthe legendary Southern California group’s So, how do you perpetuate the legacy? So In order to register for SAM, entities will recordings, brand, memorabilia and select think of it as protection and perpetuating for need to go here to get a D-U-N-S number, compositions, the company announced new generations.” which is a unique nine-digit identification Thursday (Feb. 18). As part of the deal, “The Beach Boys are an American number for each physical location of a busi- Iconic will acquire a controlling interest in treasure,” Azoff said in a statement. “I am ness. D-U-N-S number assignments are free the IP, with the group and members’ heirs honored that the Beach Boys have entrusted and required for contracts or grants with the retaining an interest moving forward. Iconic to preserve and grow their legacy. Federal government. New D-U-N-S num- In announcing the deal, three of the And I’m thrilled that the Beach Boys want to bers can be created in a day and requires original members — Brian Wilson, Mike stay invested in the growth of the incredible documentation such as Secretary of State Love and Al Jardine — as well as the estate cultural brand they created.” articles of incorporation, taxpayer identifi- of Carl Wilson released a joint statement. cation confirmation letter, lease agreement “The Beach Boys and our songs have been or others. one of the great joys of our lives,” the state- A login.gov account will also need to be ment says. “For more than half a century, established in order to set up SAM regis- we’ve witnessed generations of fans from all tration. Those hoping to apply to the SVO corners of the world come together to cel- grant program will need to select the answer ebrate our music, dancing and singing along the “Why are you registering?” question by to the songs that we have loved and per- selecting the option for seeking federal op- formed for decades. As we look towards the portunities for grants, loans, and other fi- upcoming 60th anniversary of The Beach nancial assistance programs. Boys, we wanted a partner to help expand Following SAM registration, entities opportunities for our brand, while con- are required to submit a notarized let- tinuing to preserve our tradition as a band ter to the Federal Service Desk within 60 whose music transcends the test of time. We days. Venues seeking SVO grant money are confident that Irving and Iconic are the should prep their SAM accounts ahead of ideal partners and are confident that The time since registration can take up to 7-10 Beach Boys’ ongoing legacy is in the best Page 10 of 30

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“It was a scramble. We did not expect it to app. For his show, Lindsey interviewed local As Texas Freezes, last as long as it did,” says Johnny Chiang, emergency experts, like reps from Culture- operations director for Cox Media Group’s Map Houston, which provides informa- Radio Scrambles four stations in Houston, including country tion about free meals and other emergency 93Q and classic-rock stations 106.9 and 107.5 services. to Stay On Air & The Eagle. “We had almost the entire staff at “For a while, the cell towers down here the hotel across the street.” were malfunctioning due to the freezing Pivot From Music The three-person morning show for Aus- rain,” Lindsey says. “We got people saying, tin pop station Mix 94.7 mostly maintained ‘I’m sitting in my car to get information.’ It to Emergency power but struggled on other fronts: One was sobering to think people were sitting of the hosts, Sara Osburn, was stranded in their car just to get caught up on what’s Programming in Florida after traveling for an event and going on.” had to rent a car; another, Alex Franco, BY STEVE KNOPPER lost power at his home and had to intermit- tently keep his family warm in a car in their Warner Music’s fter this week’s unprecedented driveway. Because co-host Brad Booker was Texas freeze slammed Houston able to travel to the station, the show could Social Justice Sunday night, country radio broadcast without interruption — shifting morning-show host George focus from its typical entertainment news to Fund Announces LindseyA lost power at his home and moved how listeners could access local emergency into the offices of his station, 100.3 The Bull. services. First Grant At first, he and his wife, Deanna, were the “Our show is very entertainment-based, only people in the studio, so while he talked very relationship-driven. We reined back Recipients on the air, she pitched in to research critical quite a few segments and focused more on news about power outages, line up inter- what was happening,” Booker says. “Radio is BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN views with public officials and take phone still the No. 1 way of getting content.” calls from listeners. “We had calls every- Adds Sean Pendergast, a morning-show ast June, Warner Music Group where — north, south, east, west — ‘Can you co-host for Entercom’s Sports Radio 610 in and the Blavatnik Family Founda- tell me about this?’ ‘My mom and dad live Houston: “We’re a sports station, so we want tion announced the formation of a 25 miles away, can you tell me if they have to be escapism for people, but when stuff is joint $100 million Social Justice power?’” Lindsey recalls. “It was heart- so dire, you want to remind people of things LFund to support charitable causes related to breaking. It was gut-wrenching. You kind of they should be doing or can be doing.” the music industry, social justice and educa- let people talk.” While Sports Radio 610 did not lose tion, along with campaigns against violence As Texas suffered through five days of power in Houston, most employees were and racism. Now, the Fund has announced cold and snow that burst frozen pipes, took marooned at home and unable to report to its first six grant recipients: Black Cultural out the electrical supply and left millions in work. Pendergast was one of the exceptions, Archives, Black Futures Lab, Florida Rights dangerously frigid temperatures, radio staff- digging out an old ski coat from his time Restoration Coalition (FRRC), Howard ers struggled to remain on the air while hav- in Colorado to walk the 2.5 mile-commute University, REFORM Alliance and Rhythm ing to provide listeners with emergency con- from his high-rise apartment. “My pro- & Blues Foundation. tent. Lindsey and 10 other employees at the ducer, who normally would be looking at “We have been intentional in structur- Entercom-owned station moved couches me through the window, was at his house ing the Fund as a separate legal entity to and tables and lived together at the station controlling the board through the internet,” support organizations that are on the front offices from Monday morning to Thursday he says. “I’m doing this without being able lines of advancing equity and justice for all night. Gavin Spittle, brand manager for to see my producer and I’m only seeing my people,” said Camille Hackney, president 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, had to frantically co-host on Zoom.” of the Fund and chief partnerships officer at relocate studio equipment in order to hook At 100.3 The Bull in Houston, engineers Atlantic Records/head of global grand part- into power generators on different floors of were mostly prepared. They had 1,000 nerships council at Warner Music Group. the station building. And Entercom’s four gallons of diesel fuel on hand to keep the “Our Fund intends to not only work to effect stations in Austin, including Majic 95.5 and generators going. Crammed together in the structural change through our contribu- Mix 94.7, endured power outages leading to studio, George Lindsey and the other 10 tions, but also support Black-owned and led five or six 30-second bursts of dead air due on-site employees were able to maintain businesses as a core way of operating.” to transmitters losing power and switching COVID-19 safety protocols by checking in The Fund also announced that is has to backup generators. via a company temperature-and-vital-signs chosen OneUnited Bank — the largest Black- Page 11 of 30

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owned bank in the U.S. — as its banking REFORM Alliance aims to dramati- communities.” Recipients will be announced partner, and Moore Impact — a division of cally reduce the number of people who are twice a year by the Fund’s Advisory Board, the Black woman-owned start-up Moore “unjustly under the control of the criminal with the next tranche to be revealed this fall. Philanthropy, led by Yvonne L. Moore — as justice system,” starting with probation and Each grantee will meet with Dr. Maurice its fiscal sponsor. As part of the deal, Moore parole. The organization was co-founded Stinnett — WMG’s head of global equity, di- will play a “key role” in distributing the by Fanatics executive chairman Michael versity and inclusion and an Advisory Board funds. Rubin; artists and criminal justice reform member of the Fund — and other key WMG “Over the past eight months, we’ve advocates Meek Mill and Shawn “JAY-Z” executives to explore further partnership crafted a grantmaking strategy focused on Carter; Kraft Group CEO and New England opportunities. three key pillars – education, criminal jus- Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Brooklyn Nets In addition to Stinnett and Coke, the tice, and cultural and performing arts – that co-owner and philanthropic investor Clara Fund’s advisory board includes Live Nation promote narrative change about the Black Wu Tsai; Galaxy Digital CEO and found- Urban president/Maverick partner Shawn experience,” said Tanya Coke, an Advisory er Michael E. Novogratz; Vista Equity Part- Gee; San Francisco Department of Police Board member of the Fund and director of ners founder, chairman and CEO Robert F. Accountability executive director and for- gender, racial and ethnic justice at the Ford Smith; Arnold Ventures co-founder Laura mer chief prosecutor Paul Henderson; 1063 Foundation. “This first tranche of grants Arnold; and CNN host, author and activ- West Broad social impact agency founder — to organizations providing a range of ist Van Jones. It recently helped win pas- and chief impact officer Alencia Johnson; needed services and advocacy to effectuate sage of California’s AB 1950 law, which and The Vistria Group LLC private equity meaningful change — reflects these guiding limits adult probation sentence maximums firm senior advisor Mona Sutphen, who principles, as well as the values of Warner to one year for misdemeanors and two years served as the White House Deputy Chief Music Group and the Blavatnik Family for felonies. of Staff for Policy under former presi- Foundation.” Black Cultural Archives (BCA) was found- dent Barack Obama. Howard University — one of the country’s ed in 1981 to “collect, preserve and celebrate Aside from the Social Justice Fund, most esteemed Historically Black Colleges & the histories of people of African and Carib- WMG’s diversity, equity and inclusion Universities (HBCUs) — is slated to receive bean descent in the UK and to inspire and endeavors include the creation of a Global a multimillion-dollar grant from the Fund give strength to individuals, communities Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, over a five-year period, with the money go- and society.” It runs gallery exhibitions, edu- employee resource groups and more. ing toward the launch of a new music busi- cational programs and public engagement You can find more information about the ness center at Howard University School events out of its London headquarters and fund here. of Business. The center, the first of its kind offers free access to its archives, museum at any HBCU, will house a new recording objects and reference library. studio and create curriculum development, Finally, Black Futures Lab “works to build New Canadian internship opportunities and executive-in- Black political power and change the way it residence and certification programs. operates – locally, statewide, and nationally” Venture Is Banking The Florida Rights Restoration Coali- by engaging Black voters and encouraging tion — a membership organization dedi- them to wield their political muscle year- on Bringing cated to ending the disenfranchisement and round. discrimination against people with criminal “Providing opportunities for underserved Copyrights Back convictions in the U.S. — has already used communities in education in the arts paves the grant funds to help over 40,000 formerly the way for equal opportunity and represen- North convicted individuals become eligible to tation in the music industry and beyond,” vote by paying their remaining legal and said Len Blavatnik, chairman of the BY KAREN BLISS financial fees. Blavatnik Family Foundation. “The Fund’s The Rhythm & Blues Foundation will use commitment to a sustained effort to achieve ndustry veteran Michael Mc- the grant money to provide financial and change and results will have a lasting, posi- Carty has launched a new venture, medical assistance to legacy R&B artists tive impact.” Kilometre Music Group, with a goal who have suffered economic hardship due The grant recipients announced today are to “reclaim music rights of Canadian to COVID-19. The foundation is committed only the first round; over the next decade, Iartists.” to the historical and cultural preservation the Fund plans to invest in organizations A long-time champion and devel- of R&B music and offers financial support, that “build more equitable communities and oper of Canadian songwriters, McCarty medical assistance and educational outreach create real change in the lives of historically signed Sum 41, Three Days Grace, Billy to R&B artists who recorded music between underserved and marginalized popula- Talent, Len and more when he helmed EMI the 1940s and the 1990s. tions – with heightened attention to Black Music Publishing Canada for 17 years. Then Page 12 of 30

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he served as chief membership and business related to our strategy, where the primary a year in royalties. development officer for performing rights piece is from one of our target Canadians or You arrive at that figure based on your organization SOCAN for seven years before a catalog that was inspirational to our target knowledge from working at SOCAN? leaving in November. group, we would absolutely look. We’d That comes to my industry knowledge McCarty sees the value not just in look at anything that’s a good investment, and our deep understanding of music royal- Canadian songwriters that are chart- but this is our focus. The other thing that’s ties and the economics behind that. It’s a toppers like Justin Bieber, Drake, Shawn different for us than most of the other new guesstimate, but I think it’s a conservative Mendes, The Weeknd and Alessia Cara, entries into this space is that we’re going guesstimate. I think that Canadians in the but the behind- the-scenes collabora- to be investing in known writers and new last four, five decades or so, have generated tors found in the small print of publishing songs by unknown writers. over $6 billion in worldwide royalties. credits. What is the advantage for a writer Did your time at ole (now Anthem), a Alongside producer-songwriter Gavin to go with Kilometre versus Hipgnosis Canadian independent which launched Brown and McCarty’s former SOCAN versus a global publishing company like with financial backing from the Ontario colleague Rodney Murphy, who are also Universal? Teachers’ Pension Plan, show you it was based in Toronto, the intellectual prop- We’ve got a great track record at being possible? erty and rights management company has great publishers, great developers of talent, I’ve been impressed with Canadian talent partnered with Toronto investment firm great developers of valued songs. As a team, and getting recognition for it and opportuni- Barometer Capital Management Inc. to form we have a world-class track record that way. ties for Canadians and helping Canadians the Barometer Global Music Royalty Fund, We’re a small boutique and given the tight reach the world stage and cheering on Cana- a limited partnership with a targeted size focus that we’re going to have, we were go- dians who reach the world stage my entire of $200 million, “that will invest primarily ing to build a community of people that will career, if not my entire life. in the iconic catalogs and music rights of be helpful to all the new writers and songs. But you’ve always had a boss. Canadian creators,” according to the press Who’s on your wish list? For almost 20 years I was part of the announcement. Just look at any of the international suc- problem — when I ran EMI [we were] McCarty, a 2019 Canadian Music & cessful Canadian music the last five decades. investing in Canadian artists on behalf of a Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame inductee, That’s a long list. foreign company. So an awful lot of copy- spoke with Billboard about his new venture, It’s an incredibly long list. Canada has rights from that era, they don’t belong to or and why Kilometre Music Group is going been punching above its weight on the aren’t owned in Canada because of the deals after Canadian copyrights. world music scene. There’s been a quiet that I did. I’m out to get them back. [laughs] The press release announcing Kilome- Canadian invasion of the music world for So during your time at SOCAN you tre calls it “groundbreaking.” How so? the last five decades and it’s reached a fever had this idea of buying back Canadian It’s the mission to essentially repatriate, pitch in the last five years, to the point copyrights. Did you meet with various reclaim, reassemble the rights of the great where it’s kind of absurd that the whole investors? Canadian songs. Nobody else is doing that. world’s not talking about it. But one of the No. The catalyst for it all coming together That’s the difference, that you’re keep- reasons for that is people don’t look beyond with Gavin Brown. He is a producer/writer ing it Canadian? the artists. One of the things that I’ve always that I signed to EMI like 20 years ago. “Keeping it Canadian” sounds pretty known but was really struck with when We had a tremendous amount of success limiting. There are two main differences I was at SOCAN was the huge number of together developing Three Days Grace and between us and everybody else. We are people having international success with Billy Talent, and Gavin’s had a lot of success focused on a particular group of songwrit- their music that aren’t the artists — the beyond that. He’s very entrepreneurial and ers and songs and when we assemble them co-writers, the beat-makers, the produc- he’s always known about my interest in all, it will be an utterly world-class portfolio ers. As big as the artist story is, with Justin doing this type of thing. He happened to that anybody in our business in the world Bieber and Drake, Shawn Mendes, Alessia be golfing with Greg Guichon, who is the would want to have, but it just happens to Cara, Jessie Reyes, it’s a way bigger story chairman and founder of Barometer Capital. be that it’s mostly, if not entirely, created by about their collaborators. Those people also I’ve known Greg for 25 years and we’ve had Canadians. collaborate with non-Canadian artists. So these kinds of conversations for a while, but Other companies are going after Cana- anytime you see a notable number of Cana- never seemed to click on a mutual under- dian songs. Neil Young just sold 50% of dian artists at the top of the world charts, I standing of what the vision and opportunity his publishing to Hipgnosis. But you’re guarantee you there’s a significant portion could be. On the golf course, Gavin started not going after the international ones? of the rest of the top of the chart that’s pow- speaking to him and they realized, “Hey, We wouldn’t not do a deal for a song ered by Canadian writers, producers, and you’re in the music business,” or “Hey, that’s not Canadian. If catalogs come along beat-makers. We think the Canadians are you’re in the financial world.” And then that make sense as an investment, or are generating $600 million (USD $472 million) Greg said, “I’ve got a music royalty fund Page 13 of 30

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and we’re thinking of doing another one, ever left, and we kept all the new people LINA ROSS only way bigger.” And then he said to Gavin that emerged when I was there. The pitch 9. SÓLO TÚ - CALIBRE 50 he tried to get Mike McCarty involved, but was very simple: “If we’re competitive 10. “YO YA NO VUELVO CONTIGO (EN can’t seem to come to a common ground on the business side, wouldn’t you like to VIVO)” - LENIN RAMÍREZ FT. GRUPO with him. And Gavin said, “I’ll call him.” work with people you know and trust, and FIRME — WINNER Gavin called me up and I said the same wouldn’t you like to contribute to the mis- Pop- Song Of The Year thing. And then an hour later he called me sion of supporting the Canadian institutions, 1. “ADMV” - MALUMA — WINNER back and said, “He’s in.” Canadian economy, and the future of other 2. BONITA - JUANES & SEBASTIÁN And then you lured Rodney? Canadian writers?” And almost every single YATRA No, I didn’t lure Rodney. Gavin lured time they all said “Yes.” We [Kilometre] are 3. BUENA SUERTE - PEDRO CAPÓ Rodney. We started to talk about the strat- set up to be competitive on the business 4. FAVORITO - CAMILO egy of whose music we wanted to acquire. side and we already know from our early 5. NO HA PARADO DE LLOVER - MANÁ & A lot of it was the most successful music of conversations with people that we’d like to SEBASTIÁN YATRA the last 10 years. I kept talking about how deal with, that it matters to them, support- 6. PERDIENDO LA CABEZA - CARLOS instrumental Rodney was in our success at ing where they come from and having the RIVERA, BECKY G & PEDRO CAPÓ SOCAN and Gavin said, “Okay, I’m going to feeling of completing their circle. 7. SI ME DICES QUE SÍ - REIK, FARRUKO go get Rodney then.” Barometer’s role is to & CAMILO raise the money and our role is to acquire 8. TABÚ - PABLO ALBORÁN & AVA MAX the acquisitions and manage it all. 2021 Premio Lo 9. TANTO - JESSE & JOY & LUIS FONSI Are you autonomous? You can make 10. TIBURONES - RICKY MARTIN the offer and can approve the purchase? Nuestro Winners: Premio Lo Nuestro Artist Of The Year The Kilometer principles are the deci- 1. ALEJANDRO FERNÁNDEZ sion makers on the investments. We also Complete List 2. BAD BUNNY —- WINNER have Kyle Mullen from Barometer’s first 3. CAMILO fund [Music Royalty Fund]. He was the [roy- BY GRISELDA FLORES 4. CHRISTIAN NODAL alty] analyst for the value of the catalogs and 5. J BALVIN was very involved in negotiating the deals. Balvin, Maluma and Camilo lead the 6. KAROL G Their first fund has done very well. It’s a Premio Lo Nuestro 2021 nominations — 7. MALUMA small fund, a 10th the size of what this one’s but who will be Thursday night’s (Feb. 8. NATTI NATASHA going to be. They bought very small cata- 18) big winner? 9. OZUNA logs, not particularly well-known, looking JBalvin leads the pack at 14 noms. Malu- 10. SEBASTIÁN YATRA for under-the-radar type deals. They found ma follows with 12, Camilo with 10, Album Of The Year some good ones. They had a really good and Ozuna with eight. Anuel AA, Bad 1. ALTER EGO - PRINCE ROYCE return. But the focus of [Kilometre] is iconic Bunny, Karol G, Natti Natasha, Sebastian 2. AYAYAY! - CHRISTIAN NODAL songs. In my entire time I’ve been in the mu- Yatra, and Sech continue with seven nomi- 3. COLORES - J BALVIN sic publishing and copyright business, one of nations each. 4. DE BUENOS AIRES PARA EL MUNDO - the things I learned was that quality matters The annual awards show is airing live LOS ÁNGELES AZULES and great songs that hook themselves to the from Miami’s AmericanAirlines Arena. See 5. GUÁRDAME ESTA NOCHE - EL FAN- culture last forever. Lightning strikes them the full winners list below: TASMA over and over again, like the TikTok video at Regional Mexican - Song of the Year 6. HECHO EN MÉXICO - ALEJANDRO the end of last year that used “Dreams” by 1. AMOR TUMBADO - NATANAEL CANO FERNÁNDEZ Fleetwood Mac. Those things happen all the 2. CABALLERO - ALEJANDRO FERNÁN- 7. MÁS CARO, QUE AYER - GERARDO time to great songs. There’s more protection DEZ ORTIZ when the economy is bad. It’s like owning 3. DORMIDA - EDWIN LUNA Y LA 8. MÁS FUTURO QUE PASADO - JUANES Boardwalk and Park Place in Monopoly. TRAKALOSA DE MONTERREY 9. PAPI JUANCHO - MALUMA What would your pitch be to a legacy 4. EN ESO NO QUEDAMOS - BANDA LOS 10. YHLQMDLG - BAD BUNNY —- WIN- artist? SEBASTIANES NER Let me equate that to one of the things 5. ESCONDIDOS - LA ADICTIVA BANDA Song Of The Year that I already knew when I came to SOCAN. SAN JOSÉ DE MESILLAS 1. ADMV - MALUMA My job was to repatriate writers and their 6. OTRA BORRACHERA - GERARDO 2. BONITA - JUANES & SEBASTIÁN rights and their revenue and keep the ORTIZ YATRA upcoming generation, and that’s what we 7. SE ME OLVIDÓ - CHRISTIAN NODAL 3. CARITA DE INOCENTE - PRINCE did. We got back almost everybody that had 8. SI QUIERES - NETO BERNAL & CARO- ROYCE Page 14 of 30

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4. FANTASÍA - OZUNA MYKE TOWERS RIVERA, BECKY G & PEDRO CAPÓ 5. FAVORITO - CAMILO 4. ME QUEDARÉ CONTIGO - PITBULL & 7. SI ME DICES QUE SÍ - REIK, FAR- 6. KEII - ANUEL NE-YO FT. LENIER & EL MICHA RUKO & CAMILO —- WINNER 7. LA MEJOR VERSIÓN DE MI (REMIX) - 5. QUÉ MALDICIÓN - BANDA MS DE 8. TABÚ - PABLO ALBORÁN & AVA MAX NATTI NATASHA & ROMEO SANTOS SERGIO LIZÁRRAGA & SNOOP DOGG 9. TANTO - JESSE & JOY & LUIS FONSI 8. MORADO - J BALVIN 6. RITMO (BAD BOYS FOR LIFE) - BLACK 10. UNA MENTIRA MÁS - YURI & NATA- 9. SÓLO TÚ - CALIBRE 50 EYED PEAS & J BALVIN LIA JIMÉNEZ 10. TUSA - KAROL G & NICKI MINAJ 7. SUBELO (FURTHER UP) - STATIC & Pop - Group or Duo of the Year —- WINNER BEN EL, PITBULL & CHESCA 1. CALI Y EL DANDEE New Artist Female 8. TKN - ROSALÍA & TRAVIS SCOTT 2. CNCO —- WINNER 1. CHESCA 9. TUSA - KAROL G & NICKI MINAJ 3. JESSE & JOY 2. EMILIA 10. UN DÍA (ONE DAY) - J BALVIN, DUA 4. MAU Y RICKY 3. NATHY PELUSO LIPA, BAD BUNNY FT. TAINY —- WIN- 5. REIK 4. NICKI NICOLE —- WINNER NER Pop - Album of the Year 5. YENNIS Video of the Year 1. AIRE - JESSE & JOY New Artist Male 1. BOOGALOO SUPREME - VÍCTOR 2. BLANCO - RICARDO ARJONA 1. CAMILO —- WINNER MANUELLE & WISIN 3. COLEGIO - CALI Y EL DANDEE 2. JAY WHEELER 2. CUANDO ESTÉS AQUÍ - PABLO AL- 4. MÁS FUTURO QUE PASADO - JUANES 3. NATANAEL CANO BORÁN 5. MESA PARA DOS - KANY GARCÍA 4. NETO BERNAL 3. DESPUÉS DE TODO - YORDANO 6. MUNAY - PEDRO CAPÓ 5. RAUW ALEJANDRO 4. EN CANTOS - ILE & NATALIA LA- 7. PAUSA - RICKY MARTIN Remix Of The Year FOURCADE 8. POR PRIMERA VEZ - CAMILO —- 1. CARAMELO (Remix) - OZUNA, KAROL 5. FOR SALE - CARLOS VIVES & ALEJAN- WINNER G & MYKE TOWERS DRO SANZ 9. QUE QUIÉNES SOMOS - CNCO 2. DJ NO PARE (Remix) - JUSTIN QUILES, 6. GIRASOLES - LUIS FONSI 10. 20—21 - REIK NATTI NATASHA, FARRUKO FT. ZION, 7. MALA VIDA - NICKI NICOLE Pop/Ballad - Song of the Year DALEX & LENNY TAVÁREZ 8. PECADOR - RESIDENTE 1. ADMV - MALUMA —- WINNER 3. HAWÁI (Remix) - MALUMA & THE 9. QUÉ LÁSTIMA - CHOCQUIBTOWN & 2. HONGOS - RICARDO ARJONA WEEKND SECH 3. LO QUE EN TI VEO - KANY GARCÍA & 4. LA CAMA (Remix) - LUNAY, MYKE 10. TKN - ROSALÍA & TRAVIS SCOTT NAHUEL PENNISI TOWERS, OZUNA, CHENCHO COR- —- WINNER 4. TE ADORARÉ - RICARDO MONTANER LEONE & RAUW ALEJANDRO Pop - Artist of the Year 5. UNA MENTIRA MÁS - YURI & NATA- 5. LA JEEPETA (Remix) - NIO GARCIA, 1. CAMILO —- WINNER LIA JIMÉNEZ ANUEL, MYKE TOWERS, BRRAY & 2. CARLOS RIVERA Urban - Female Artist of the Year JUANKA —- WINNER 3. ENRIQUE IGLESIAS 1. ANITTA 6. LA MEJOR VERSIÓN DE MI (Remix) - 4. JENNIFER LOPEZ 2. BECKY G NATTI NATASHA & ROMEO SANTOS 5. JUANES 3. CAZZU 7. PORFA (Remix) - FEID, JUSTIN QUILES, 6. KANY GARCÍA 4. IVY QUEEN J BALVIN FT. MALUMA, NICKY JAM & 7. PEDRO CAPÓ 5. KAROL G —- WINNER SECH 8. RICKY MARTIN 6. NATTI NATASHA 8. RELACIÓN (Remix) - SECH, DADDY 9. SEBASTIÁN YATRA 7. PALOMA MAMI YANKEE, J BALVIN FT. ROSALÍA & FAR- 10. SHAKIRA 8. ROSALÍA RUKO Pop - Collaboration of the Year Urban - Male Artist of the Year 9. TATTOO (Remix) - RAUW ALEJANDRO 1. BONITA - JUANES & SEBASTIÁN 1. ANUEL & CAMILO YATRA 2. BAD BUNNY —- WINNER 10. YO NO SÉ (Remix) - MATI GÓMEZ, 2. COMO ASÍ - LALI FT. CNCO 3. DADDY YANKEE NICKY JAM & REIK 3. EL CIEGO - MELENDI & CALI Y EL 4. FARRUKO “Crossover” Collaboration of the Year DANDEE 5. J BALVIN 1. HAWÁI (Remix) - MALUMA & THE 4. FOR SALE - CARLOS VIVES & ALEJAN- 6. MALUMA WEEKND DRO SANZ 7. OZUNA 2. MAMACITA - BLACK EYED PEAS, 5. MUCHACHA - GENTE DE ZONA & 8. SECH OZUNA & J. REY SOUL BECKY G Urban - Song of the Year 3. ME GUSTA - ANITTA, CARDI B & 6. PERDIENDO LA CABEZA - CARLOS 1. FANTASÍA - OZUNA Page 15 of 30

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2. HAWÁI - MALUMA 6. PRINCE ROYCE 7. JOSS FAVELA 3. KEII - ANUEL 7. ROMEO SANTOS —- WINNER 8. LENIN RAMÍREZ 4. LA DIFÍCIL - BAD BUNNY —- WIN- 8. SILVESTRE DANGOND 9. NATANAEL CANO NER 9. VÍCTOR MANUELLE 10. NETO BERNAL 5. MORADO - J BALVIN 10. WILLIE COLÓN Regional Mexican - Collaboration of 6. MUÉVELO - NICKY JAM & DADDY Tropical - Song of the Year the Year YANKEE 1. BOOGALOO SUPREME - VÍCTOR 1. NO ES QUE ME GUSTES - LUIS CORO- 7. QUE TIRE PA LANTE - DADDY YAN- MANUELLE & WISIN NEL & LA SÉPTIMA BANDA KEE 2. CARITA DE INOCENTE - PRINCE 2. QUÉ MALDICIÓN - BANDA MS DE 8. RITMO (BAD BOYS FOR LIFE) - BLACK ROYCE SERGIO LIZÁRRAGA & SNOOP DOGG EYED PEAS & J BALVIN 3. EL CARNAVAL DE CELIA: A TRIBUTE 3. SI QUIERES - NETO BERNAL & CARO- 9. SIGUES CON ÉL - ARCÁNGEL & SECH - KYEN?ES? LINA ROSS 10. TUSA - KAROL G & NICKI MINAJ 4. LA MEJOR VERSIÓN DE MI - NATTI 4. Y LA HICE LLORAR - LOS ÁNGELES Urban - Collaboration of the Year NATASHA & ROMEO SANTOS —- WIN- AZULES FT. ABEL PINTOS 1. MUÉVELO - NICKY JAM & DADDY NER 5. YO YA NO VUELVO CONTIGO (EN YANKEE 5. LÁMPARA PA’ MIS PIES - JUAN LUIS VIVO) - LENIN RAMÍREZ FT. GRUPO 2. QUÉ PENA - MALUMA & J BALVIN GUERRA FIRME —- WINNER 3. RITMO (BAD BOYS FOR LIFE) - BLACK 6. LO QUE TE DI - MARC ANTHONY Regional Mexican - Group or Duo Of EYED PEAS & J BALVIN 7. NO TE VAYAS - CARLOS VIVES The Year 4. SIGUES CON ÉL - ARCÁNGEL & SECH 8. PA’LANTE Y PA’TRAS - N’KLABE, LA 1. BANDA MS DE SERGIO LIZÁRRAGA 5. TUSA - KAROL G & NICKI MINAJ —- TRIBU DE ABRANTE & FARINA 2. CALIBRE 50 WINNER 9. PERRIANDO (LA MURGA REMIX) - 3. EDWIN LUNA Y LA TRAKALOSA DE Urban - Album of the Year REYKON FT. WILLIE COLÓN MONTERREY 1. 1 OF 1 - SECH 10. VALLENATO APRETAO - SILVESTRE 4. GRUPO FIRME —- WINNER 2. COLORES - J BALVIN DANGOND 5. LOS ÁNGELES AZULES 3. NIBIRU - OZUNA Tropical - Collaboration of the Year Regional Mexican - Sierreña Song of 4. PAPI JUANCHO - MALUMA 1. BOOGALOO SUPREME - VÍCTOR the Year 5. YHLQMDLG - BAD BUNNY —- WIN- MANUELLE & WISIN 1. CON TUS BESOS - ESLABON ARMADO NER 2. CANCIÓN PARA RUBÉN - CARLOS 2. EL GÜERO - MARCA MP —- WINNER Urban/Pop - Song of the Year VIVES & RUBÉN BLADES 3. EL MUCHACHO ALEGRE - FUERZA 1. HONEY BOO - CNCO & NATTI NATA- 3. CARTAGENA - FONSECA & SILVESTRE REGIDA SHA DANGOND 4. EN BOCA DE TODOS - T3R ELEMENTO 2. ME GUSTA - SHAKIRA & ANUEL 4. IMAGINARME SIN TI - ELVIS CRESPO 5. TÚ - CARIN LEÓN 3. ME QUEDARÉ CONTIGO - PITBULL & & MANNY CRUZ Regional Mexican - Banda Song of the NE-YO FT. LENIER & EL MICHA 5. LA FAMILIA - GILBERTO SANTA ROSA Year 4. SI ME DICES QUE SÍ - REIK, FAR- & TITO NIEVES 1. DORMIDA - EDWIN LUNA Y LA RUKO & CAMILO —- WINNER 6. MI CORAZÓN ES TUYO - OLGA TAÑÓN TRAKALOSA DE MONTERREY 5. TBT - SEBASTIÁN YATRA, RAUW ALE- & MANNY MANUEL 2. EN ESO NO QUEDAMOS - BANDA LOS JANDRO & MANUEL TURIZO 7. NUESTRO AMOR - ALEX BUENO & SEBASTIANES Urban/Trap - Song of the Year ROMEO SANTOS —- WINNER 3. ESCONDIDOS - LA ADICTIVA BANDA 1. BOUNCE - CAZZU 8. PA’LANTE Y PA’TRAS - N’KLABE, LA SAN JOSÉ DE MESILLAS 2. GAN-GA - BRYANT MYERS TRIBU DE ABRANTE & FARINA 4. ESTA VEZ SOY YO - BANDA CARNAVAL 3. MEDUSA - JHAY CORTEZ, ANUEL & J 9. PERRIANDO (LA MURGA REMIX) - 5. YO YA NO VUELVO CONTIGO (EN BALVIN REYKON FT. WILLIE COLÓN VIVO) - LENIN RAMÍREZ FT. GRUPO 4. NO ME AME - RVSSIAN, ANUEL & 10. VALLENATO APRETAO - SILVESTRE FIRME —- WINNER JUICE WRLD DANGOND FT. ZION Y LENNOX Regional Mexican - Norteño Song of 5. VETE - BAD BUNNY —- WINNER Regional Mexican - Artist of the Year the Year Tropical - Artist of the Year 1. ALEJANDRO FERNÁNDEZ 1. EL ENVIDIOSO - LOS DOS CARNALES 1. CARLOS VIVES 2. CARIN LEÓN —- WINNER 2. GENTE DE ZONA 3. CHIQUIS 2. EN HONOR A TI - LA MAQUINARIA 3. GILBERTO SANTA ROSA 4. CHRISTIAN NODAL —- WINNER NORTEÑA FT. GRUPO FIRME 4. JUAN LUIS GUERRA 5. EL FANTASMA 3. MÁS TE RECUERDO - JULIÓN ÁLVA- 5. MARC ANTHONY 6. GERARDO ORTIZ REZ Page 16 of 30

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4. OTRA BORRACHERA - GERARDO ruins any more lives. I stand with the many ORTIZ Marilyn Manson victims who will no longer be silent.” 5. SÓLO TÚ - CALIBRE 50 After Wood’s allegations — along with Regional Mexican - Mariachi/Ranchera Allegations Being accusations from at least four other women Song of the Year and, most recently, Game of Thrones ac- 1. CABALLERO - ALEJANDRO FERNÁN- Investigated tress Esme Bianco coming forward — Man- DEZ son has been dropped by his Loma Vista 2. CLARO Y OBVIO - JOSS FAVELA by LA Sheriff’s Records label, CAA and longtime manager 3. DILE - JARY FRANCO Tony Ciulla. He was also edited out of an 4. SE ME OLVIDÓ - CHRISTIAN NODAL Department episode of the Starz series American Gods, —- WINNER on which he has had a recurring role, while 5. SI QUIERES - NETO BERNAL & CARO- BY KATIE ATKINSON AMC’s Shudder service will not be air- LINA ROSS ing a segment of a forthcoming episode of Regional Mexican - Cumbia Song of the llegations made against Mari- its Creepshow TV series in which Manson Year lyn Manson are currently being appears. 1. ACARÍÑAME - LOS ÁNGELES AZULES, investigated by Los Angeles Manson has denied the claims, writing in JULIETA VENEGAS & JUAN INGARAMO County Sheriff’s Depart- a Feb. 1 Instagram response: “Obviously, 2. TE EXTRAÑO, TE OLVIDO, TE AMO - ment, ABillboard has confirmed. my art and my life have long been magnets LOS SOCIOS DEL RITMO & CHIQUIS According to a statement issued to Bill- for controversy, but these recent claims 3. TE METISTE - LOS ÁNGELES DE board, the department’s Special Victims Bu- about me are horrible distortions of reality. CHARLY reau is looking into accusations of domestic My intimate relationships have always been 4. TÚ Y YO - RAYMIX & PAULINA RU- violence against Manson (real name: Brian entirely consensual with like-minded part- BIO —- WINNER Warner). ners. Regardless of how - and why - others 5. Y LA HICE LLORAR - LOS ÁNGELES “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s De- are now choosing to misrepresent the past, AZULES FT. ABEL PINTOS partment, Special Victims Bureau is inves- that is the truth.” Regional Mexican - Album of the Year tigating allegation(s) of domestic violence 1. AYAYAY! - CHRISTIAN NODAL involving Mr. Brian Warner also known 2. DE BUENOS AIRES PARA EL MUNDO - as ‘Marilyn Manson,’ who works in the Event Designer LOS ÁNGELES AZULES music industry,” the statement reads. “The 3. EL TRABAJO ES LA SUERTE - BANDA incidents occurred between 2009 and 2011 Bobby Garza MS DE SERGIO LIZÁRRAGA when Mr. Warner lived in the city of West 4. EN VIVO DESDE ANAHEIM, CA - Hollywood.” in Austin, in a GRUPO FIRME —- WINNER TMZ first reported the investigation. 5. GUÁRDAME ESTA NOCHE - EL FAN- Because there have been multiple pub- Pandemic: A Cold TASMA lic abuse claims made against Manson 6. HECHO EN MÉXICO - ALEJANDRO recently, starting with an Instagram post Reality in Texas FERNÁNDEZ from his ex-fiancee Evan Rachel Wood on 7. LABIOS MENTIROSOS - LA ARROL- Feb. 1, it’s unclear what domestic violence BY STEVE KNOPPER LADORA BANDA EL LIMÓN DE RENE allegations the LA Sheriff’s Department is CAMACHO looking into. hen the concert business 8. MÁS CARO, QUE AYER - GERARDO Wood’s post came after she had previ- shut down last March, Bob- ORTIZ ously said she had been raped twice, includ- by Garza abruptly shifted 9. PORQUE ASÍ TENÍA QUE SER - BANDA ing by a significant other that she wouldn’t from putting on live events CARNAVAL name. “The name of my abuser is Brian toW tearing them down — his company, 10. SIMPLEMENTE GRACIAS - CALIBRE Warner, also known to the world as Marilyn Austin-based Forefront Networks, had to 50 Manson,” Wood wrote on Instagram. “He cancel the California food-and-music festi- started grooming me when I was a teenager val Yountville Live later that month. In early and horrifically abused me for years. I was April, his life changed even more dramati- brainwashed and manipulated into submis- cally: Forefront furloughed 30 percent of its sion. I am done living in fear of retaliation, staff, including him. slander or blackmail. I am here to expose As part of Billboard’s efforts to best cover this dangerous man and call out the many the coronavirus pandemic and its impacts industries that have enabled him, before he on the music industry, we will be speaking Page 17 of 30

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with Garza, a 43-year-old former Forefront money? Now they’ll have a new project. creative team leader who used to be general A little bit. I’m loathe to say 48 hours is Yeah, man, acoustic guitars and keyboards manager of festival producer Transmission going to make a difference, but I’m also cog- and a whole drumkit and a PA. We’ve got Events, every other week to chronicle his nizant that every day matters. It’s frustrat- some stuff to keep us busy in the garage if experience throughout the crisis. As of early ing, but at the same time, we certainly don’t we bundle up and want to get industrious January, he is now vice president of pro- want to have a webinar that gives people about it. grams and community outreach at the Long all the information they’re going to need to You were just saying something, but you Center, a performing-arts facility in Austin, be able to apply and have nobody be able cut out. I heard “if,” then “suck.” which, among other things is working on to tune into it. Some stuff’s going to slide a [Laughs.] That’s one of the bad parts dispersing emergency SAVES grants worth day or two, or into next week, and that just about today. All of our services seem to suck tens of thousands of dollars to struggling means we have to hurry on the back end and a little bit worse. local concert venues. (Read the latest install- get people ready to roll. ment here and see the full series here. So next week, venues can start getting Any update on the Long Center dispers- money? The Fat Boys’ ing the city grants to struggling venues? No, next week is when people can start It’s kind of the same. We had actually applying. There’s a whole series of things we Prince Markie Dee scheduled today to be the first part of our have to do. The way the program is designed rollout for Phase 2, which is an enhanced at the city, people have to answer a series of Dies at 52 grant that gives people a lot more money questions and it becomes part of a scoring over the course of several months. We’re in matrix. But we can’t use the fund until the BY RANIA ANIFTOS the midst of Snowpocalypse over here. Most universe of applicants has applied. We’re people don’t have power or are just getting not trying to present any barriers to venues rince Markie Dee, radio personal- power back after not having it for 36 hours that are already struggling and are just ity and the Fat Boys rapper, has in some cases. exhausted. We want to think about “what died. He was 52 years old. As part of Billboard’s efforts to best cover documentation is going to be right? What’s Dee’s longtime friend Louis the coronavirus pandemic and its impacts the quickest way we can score and make PGregory confirmed the news via Twitter on on the music industry, we will be speaking that determination?” It’s a large process. Thursday (Feb. 18), though did not reveal with Garza, a 43-year-old former Forefront Where do the other Long Center pandem- a cause of death. “Forever in my Heart,” he creative team leader who used to be general ic initiatives stand, like the socially distant wrote. “Prince Markie Dee was more than a manager of festival producer Transmission live concerts we’ve discussed? rapper; he was one of my very best and clos- Events, every other week to chronicle his Long Live Music — we’ve been talking est friends. My heart breaks today because experience throughout the crisis. As of early about trying to get the second series done I lost a brother. I’ll always love you Mark January, he is now vice president of pro- this year. Obviously, that’s dependent on the and I’ll cherish everything you taught me. grams and community outreach at the Long public-health environment. We hope to have Tomorrow is your birthday, swing my way Center, a performing-arts facility in Austin, an announcement for that stuff in a couple big bro.” which, among other things is working on of weeks. The ironic thing about this terrible SiriusXM’s Rock the Bells, where Dee dispersing emergency SAVES grants worth weather is nobody’s been able to go out and had a daily show, also tweeted a message tens of thousands of dollars to struggling do anything for a while. There’s less chance of mourning. “The Rock The Bells family is local concert venues. (Read the latest install- of having bad interactions or going back- heartbroken to learn of the passing of Mark ment here and see the full series here. wards in terms of public health. I guess if ‘Prince Markie Dee’ Morales earlier today,” Any update on the Long Center dispers- you want anybody in Texas to stay put, just the tweet read. “That voice and his presence ing the city grants to struggling venues? send them a blizzard. can never be replaced. Our thoughts and It’s kind of the same. We had actually Were you able to retrieve all the band gear prayers go out to his loved ones.” scheduled today to be the first part of our you had to pick up when the local music- Dee teamed up with fellow Brooklyn rollout for Phase 2, which is an enhanced storage space shut down a few weeks ago? natives Darren Robinson and Damon grant that gives people a lot more money I did! We went and got it last weekend, Wimbley to form the Fat Boys in the early over the course of several months. We’re in right before it was crazy-ridiculous. 1980s, and the group went on to release the midst of Snowpocalypse over here. Most Are your kids excited about it? seven studio albums. While all their albums people don’t have power or are just getting They’re actually about to walk in right earned a placement on the Billboard 200 power back after not having it for 36 hours now from their mom’s house. They were chart, 1987’s Crushin’, which featured hit in some cases. with their mom and without power and single “Wipeout,” gave them an all-time How much will the weather delay the without a way to get over here for 24, 36 high, peaking at No. 8 on Sept. 12, 1987. The work you’re doing to get venues their hours. project also snagged the No. 4 spot on the Page 18 of 30

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Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on Sept. how this has affected us at home because Blake Foster re-joins WMG from Skril- 5, 1987. I am very protective of our children and lex’s label OWSLA, where he served as “Wipeout,” which featured the Beach Kanye’s right to privacy when it comes to his general manager. Prior to that, he was vp of Boys, peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot health,” she wrote on her Instagram story on marketing at Atlantic Records and concur- 100 and No. 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop July 22, adding, “He is a brilliant but compli- rently served as head of marketing for Big Songs chart on Sept. 19, 1987. cated person who on top of the pressures Beat Records, where he worked with Da- Following the news of Dee’s death, a num- of being an artist and a black man, who vid Guetta, Clean Bandit, DRAM, Jess ber of stars took to social media to honor the experienced the painful loss of his mother, Glynne and more. legend’s impact on hip-hop. See below. has to deal with the pressure and isolation Ingrid Erickson joins the parent com- that is heightened by his bi-polar disorder. pany from Warner Records, where she was Those who are close with Kanye know his vp of marketing and oversaw campaigns for Kim Kardashian heart and understand his words some times artists including Tom Petty, The Head and do not align with his intentions.... I kindly the Heart, Foals and The Flaming Lips. Files for Divorce ask that the media and public give us the Alicia Yaffe joins WMG from from Jam- compassion and empathy that is needed so pol Artist Management and The Spellbound From Kanye West: that we can get through this.” Group, where she delivered campaigns for West and Kardashian were married in artists including The Doors, Jefferson Report May 24, 2014, during a private reception at Airplane and Janis Joplin. the Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy. The Nigel Reeve is a 36-year Parlophone BY HERAN MAMO wedding took place 11 months after Kar- and WMG veteran, most recently serving dashian gave birth to their firstborn, North, as vp of catalogue A&R for Warner Music im Kardashian has filed for in June 2013. UK, where he oversaw the development divorce from Kanye West after This would be Kardashian’s third divorce. of the catalogs of artists including David after six-plus years of mar- She was previously married to songwriter Bowie, New Order, Joy Division and The riage, TMZ reports. Damon Thomas and NBA player Kris Smiths. KRumors about a possible divorce have Humphries. Mike Engstrom most recently over- been swirling around the couple since the saw marketing & content development for summer, following West’s July 4 announce- WMG’s global catalog and is also a more ment that he would run for president. Executive than two-decade veteran at Rhino, where he According to TMZ, Kardashian has filed for worked with artists including Led Zeppe- joint custody of their four children togeth- Turntable: WMG lin, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clap- er: 7-year-old daughter North, 5-year-old ton and Chicago. son Saint, 3-year-old daughter Chicago, and Beefs Up Catalog Andrea Craig has been promoted to se- 1-year-old son Psalm. nior vp of content development & curation. West alluded to divorcing the Keeping Team, Industry In the role, she will lead WMG Arts Music’s Up With the Kardashians star on July 21 in efforts in kids & family, musical theater, jazz a since-deleted tweet. “I’ve been trying to Vet Boards and crossover. In her previous role at the get divorced since Kim met with Meek at company, she worked closely with WMG the Warldolf for ‘prison reform,’” he wrote, Looped partners including Sesame Street, Super regarding the time she met up with fellow Simple Songs and Mattel. rapper Meek Mill at the Criminal Justice BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN Faisel Durrani has joined livestream Reform Summit on Nov. 14, 2018. In another platform Looped as co-CEO. tweet, he posted the following message: arner Music Group In his new role, Durrani will oversee “Meek is my man and was respectful. That’s (WMG) has announced Looped’s strategic initiatives, new business my dog Kim was out of line I’m worth 5 several hires and promo- opportunities, marketing strategies and tal- billion dollars and more than that through tions within the company’s ent relationships. Christ But ya’ll ain’t listen to MJ and now globalW catalog team. Except where noted, all “We are currently in a movement where ya’ll believe them???” join the company as senior vps of catalog de- creators are looking for new opportunities Kardashian responded by penning an velopment & marketing, with each heading that steer away from the traditional ad- open letter about West’s struggles with bi- up an area of the business and represent- based distribution model and allow them to polar disorder, asking the media and public ing the catalog division’s global leadership maintain their independence while directly for compassion for her husband and their under Kevin Gore, WMG’s president, global monetizing their content,” said Durrani in a family. “I’ve never spoken publicly about catalog, recorded music & arts music. release. “Looped’s technology solutions are Page 19 of 30

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at the forefront of this movement and our platform regulation, market entry strate- licensing negotiations with public perfor- platform makes this process and experi- gies and political dynamics and regulatory mance, TV and radio broadcasters, digital ence seamless for creators and fans alike. risks in the U.S., China and Europe. She also services and recorded media providers. I couldn’t be more excited about leading served as a managing director at UBS AG, Gopal most recently served as executive Looped to innovate in the live digital pro- where she developed new tools for political vp & head of sales EMEA at Entertainment gramming space.” risk evaluation impacting capital markets. One (eOne), where he led the company’s Durrani comes to Looped with over 25 Sutphen is also an independent director distribution team in the region and imple- years of experience in the creative industry, for Pattern Energy and a trustee of Putnam mented local and multi-territory deals for having held leadership positions including Mutual Funds. Additionally, she is a member film and TV. At the Walt Disney Company, executive vp of international marketing at of the Council on Foreign Relations, serves where he spent ten years, he managed the Island Def Jam and president of marketing of the boards of the International Rescue company’s relationships with international & senior vp of global touring at Live Nation. Committee and Human Rights First and is a collection societies and oversaw commer- At Def Jam, Durrani managed the label’s trustee of Mount Holyoke College. cial and strategic relationships with global fiscal business plans and restructured the The Recording Academy has hired Ray clients including Apple, Sony, Microsoft and business’ marketing, commerce and content Starck as vp of digital strategy. Google for the EMEA region. creation departments to find efficiencies In his new role, Starck will lead the edito- Earlier in his career, Gopal worked at ITV and increase output. He has been noted rial, digital media production and product Studios Global Entertainment, where he for helping break artists Logic and Alessia teams and be responsible for content strat- was responsible for content distribution and Cara globally and overseeing Beyonce’s ca- egy and website management. Among other strategy across all platforms and negoti- reer while serving as president of Parkwood duties, he will be tasked with developing ated the company’s first global deals with Entertainment. digital content strategies across the organi- partners including Netflix, Apple, YouTube Since its founding in 2019, Looped zation to drive engagement, retention and and Amazon. He was additionally a board has hosted over 300,000 fans and 1,000 channel optimization, while also leverag- member of Cirkus, the subscription video- creators including Billie Eilish, Shawn ing data to advise his teams and supporting on-demand joint venture between ITV and Mendes, BTS, Dua Lipa and Bad Bunny. stakeholder initiatives. Content Associates. Mona Sutphen will join the Spoti- Starck comes to the Academy with more Why&How Management founder Bruce fy board of directors in April 2021, subject than 20 years of digital experience. His Kalmick has launched Hazel Street to shareholder approval. previous roles include vp of e-commerce, Records, a joint label venture with The Or- Sutphen is a private equity advisor and digital media & retail technology at Trina chard. Kalmick, whose management clients co-founder/advisor to several technology Turk; vp of product management at Fox include alt-rockers Kaleo, country-trap start-ups. She was previously White House Networks Group; and senior product direc- artist Breland, Southern rock band Whiskey Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy for Presi- tor at Yahoo Media Group. He most recently Myers and singer-songwriter ZZ Ward, will dent Barack Obama from 2009 to 2011; she led e-commerce & digital technology at serve as the label’s CEO. also served on the President’s Intelligence Fiore Management, advising c-suite execu- Hazel Street’s day-to-day operations will Advisory Board from 2013 to 2016. tives and consulting on product manage- be led by Laura Bender, most recently “Mona has built a career in both the ment, e-commerce and retail trends. of Hard 8 Management/Folsom Records, private and public sectors advising leaders In addition to his executive roles, Starck who will run operations out of Nashville on international and U.S. domestic policy, also serves as an advisory board member and oversee the company’s managers along technology, macroeconomics and trade, at Palomar College, where he helps define with digital marketing and touring person- and human rights...and that’s just the tip of course curriculum, technologies, platforms nel. The label’s first signings are alternative the iceberg,” said Spotify founder, CEO and and direction of digital technologies via his rock band Goldpark and alt-pop duo Nox chairman of the board Daniel Ek. “Mona role on the school’s digital communication & Holloway. will bring a new and highly valuable per- design board. While at Hard 8, Bender worked spective to the Board as we focus on driving PRS for Music has appointed Dan Go- with Dashboard Confessional, Twin Forks our strategy forward during this time of pal as chief commercial officer, a role he will and Dan Layus. Before that, she served as exceptional change around the world.” assume on Mar. 1, 2021. national director, promotion at Alternative Sutphen is currently a senior advisor at Reporting to PRS for Music CEO Andrea Distribution Alliance (ADA), following more Chicago-based private equity firm The Vis- Czapary Martin, Gopal will lead com- than a decade in promotion at RRP/Warner tria Group. She was previously a partner at mercial and strategic partnerships at the Music Group. Macro Advisory Partners (MAP), where she company, driving digital transformation Other hires at the new label include Les- led the firm’s U.S practice advising global while leveraging and improving customer ley James and MJ Marty, who will serve corporates on emerging risks and opportu- relationships and joint ventures. He will as directors, radio and streaming. James nities across sectors, including technology be responsible for steering PRS for Music’s comes from East City Management, where Page 20 of 30

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he worked as head of U.S. radio and stream- are becoming independent by owning their themic Agency and FLOOD Media founder ing promotion for two years. Before that, he masters and getting access to most digital and CEO Alan Sartirana. “FLOOD Media’s was on-air talent and program director at platforms. There is a lot of reason for opti- mission is to tell the stories often overlooked WWCD in Columbus, OH. Marty has served mism now.” by other traditional publishers and media in roles at Epic Records, Island Def Jam Mzalazala joins CD Baby’s growing outlets. We’ve seen tremendous growth over and Columbia Records and most recently 22-person international team, which is the past five years and the audio division established Realid Records at Warner Music active in markets across Europe, North was the next logical step. I know Aaron will Group. He has been a key player in promo- America, South America, East Asia and be on the forefront of the audio medium and tion efforts for artists including Beyon- South Asia. continue to champion the best artists for cé, John Legend and Fall Out Boy. Charlie Adler has been hired as head of discerning music fans all around the world.” Lastly, Andrew de Torres has boarded booking at Anthony Makes’ concert pro- Various Artists Management has pro- the label as director, digital and artist mar- motions company Brooklyn Made. moted Rebecca Dixon to head of marketing keting. He joins Hazel Street from Thirty Based in New York, Adler started his and promotions, effective immediately. She Tigers, where, as digital sales manager, he career at Bowery Presents in 2012 before will report directly to CEO David Bianchi. helped execute streaming strategy across taking a role at Live Nation’s West Coast Dixon has worked at Various Artists for the label’s roster. Prior to that, he toured operations beginning in 2018. five years, during which she has helped for years as an artist signed to Photo Finish “I’m thrilled to be joining Brooklyn Made oversee the careers of artists includ- Records/Atlantic Records. and returning to my home market of NYC,” ing Charli XCX and The Libertines. In her CD Baby is expanding its international said Adler in a statement. “I’ve worked with new role, she will oversee the company’s artist services team to Africa, where it has Anthony throughout my career and look global marketing and promotions activities, hired music business manager and indepen- forward to partnering once again to build a splitting her time between its London and dent music advocate Sakhele Mzalazala to new independent voice for live entertain- Los Angeles offices once travel restrictions grow the company in South Africa and other ment as we come out of a stressful time for around COVID-19 are lifted. markets across Southern Africa, including our business.” Various Artists’ current roster in- Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland Anthemic Agency — the home of FLOOD cludes Ashnikko, Tom Grennan, Super- and Namibia. Mzalazala, who will report Media, FLOOD Magazine and Louder grass, Loyle Carner and La Roux. to CD Baby vp of international develop- Than Bombs Productions — has named San Christian/gospel music giant Gaither ment Heli Del Moral, is CD Baby’s first hire Francisco Bay Area radio veteran Aaron Music Group has announced a slew of staff on the African continent. Axelsen as head of programming for its promotions and new hires. In the role, Mzalazala will lead strategic newly launched audio division. Melissa Chambers has been upped to partnerships both locally and internation- Axelsen will oversee the programming senior director of operations and produc- ally while building relationships with young and development of FLOOD FM, a 24/7 tion. In her new role, she will oversee the and established artists. He will also develop digital indie, alternative and electronic radio ingestion of masters and metadata from all and execute programs to increase the vis- station, as well as branded podcasting. He new acquisitions and partnerships into the ibility and adoption of CD Baby services in joins FLOOD Magazine co-publisher Randy digital marketplace. She will also continue the region and establish strategic industry Bookasta as part of the company’s music leading Gaither’s production itinerary. relationships there. and culture team. Celeste Winstead has been promoted Over more than 20 years, Mzalazala has Prior to joining Anthemic, Axelsen served to senior director of content and market- worked at companies including Yourself as music director and an on-air personal- ing. While continuing as a leader in the Management, Xhentsa and Koloni; worked ity for the Bay Area alt-rock radio station company’s artist promotions, marketing directly with artists Mahlatse Vokal and Lisa Alt 105.3/Live 105 (CBS radio/Entercom). campaigns, consumer branding, media and Good; and overseen the publishing team at During this time there, he anchored the industry communications and digital efforts, South African label Mathaland/Ghetto Ruff. long-running music specialty shows Sound- she will advance her role to encompass Working as an artist before transitioning to check and Subsonic. brand partnerships, catalog strategy and the business side, he has been active in sup- Axelsen also co-founded and manages digital promotions and content initiatives porting the work of independent artists in- Popscene, the San Francisco-based indie for the Gaither marketing division. cluding Ina Ethe, Sfiso Ncwane, Sizwe Zako, music club night that is now planning to Hannah Franklin is now digital market- Tshepo Tshola and Lawrence Matshiza. expand its events to Los Angeles and else- ing manager. During her year-and-a-half at “Independent artists’ biggest challenges where beginning next year. Gaither, Franklin has expanded the com- in our region are the lack of information or “I’ve known and worked with Aaron for pany’s social media audience, diversified knowledge, lack of income from their works, over 25 years and have always had a great content on its platforms and introduced new and the long-term agreements they sign,” deal of admiration for the work he did with editorial and statistical strategies. said Mzalazala in a statement. “But artists Alt 105.3/Live 105 and Popscene,” said An- Ben Binner, who has led Gaither’s Page 21 of 30

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streaming and playlisting initiatives since the first time Bieber had performed his 2013 ism. 2019, has been elevated to digital streaming project Journals. But potentially deepening the tension, manager. The super-personal, R&B vibe of the court authorities in the northeastern Cata- Meghann Wright has been hired as fan-favorite album was a perfect fit for lonia region announced that Hasél lost a director of marketing. In the role, Wright Valentine’s Day, as evidenced by the TikTok recent appeal and is looking at an additional will oversee strategic marketing initiatives viewership and the boost in streams after. prison sentence of 2 1/2 years for obstruct- and further develop Gaither labels includ- On-demand streams of Journals’ songs ing justice and assault in 2017. The sentence ing Green Hill, Rural Rhythms and Club 44, increased 37% in the U.S. on Feb. 14-16, ac- can be appealed again before the country’s in addition to future label acquisitions. Her cording to initial reports to MRC Data. The Supreme Court. previous leadership roles include business album’s collected tracks garnered 1.32 mil- Like the two previous nights, the pro- and operations manager at Premier Studios lion streams on Feb. 14-16, versus 963,000 on tests began Thursday with large gatherings New York, artist and label development Feb. 11-13. in several cities that were, at first, mostly and marketing and project management Bieber also saw a spike in TikTok fol- peaceful. at Symphonic Distribution and founder of lowers, increasing by 700,000 to 20.3 In Catalonia’s regional capital, Barcelona, GrindEthos Records. million after the announcement of the Jour- hundreds sang songs, rapped and shouted Adrienne Kelley has joined the company nals livestream. “Pablo Hasél, freedom!” and “Spanish as social media specialist. She comes from “Journals is one of my favorite projects media, manipulators!” at a central square APEX Entertainment Management, where and I’ve never performed it live,” Bieber said before dozens broke off the main group to she served as day-to-day manager for artists ahead of Sunday’s broadcast. “I’m grateful to set alight a barricade of trash containers including Dailey & Vincent and The Sing- TikTok for helping me to bring this show to and a construction skip that blocked a main ing Contractors. everyone on Valentine’s Day.” city artery, hurling stones, bottles and other Finally, Skye Overstreet has been hired Get a taste of the performance below: objects at riot police. as digital streaming specialist. Overstreet There were moments of tension as flames previously worked at WME in both the fairs threatened to extend to nearby buildings & festivals and publishing divisions and Spain Arrests before firefighters arrived. was also office coordinator and day-to-day In the eastern coastal city of Valencia, manager for several artists on the roster at 80 In Riots Over police used batons to disperse protesters AMFM Management. and arrested at least eight people, accord- Rapper Pablo ing to the Spanish government’s regional delegation. Justin Bieber Hasel’s Jailing Nearly 80 people have been arrested and more than 100 injured since Hasél was Broke Hearts & BY ASSOCIATED PRESS taken away from a university where he had sought refuge after refusing to show up at Records With His rotests over the imprisonment prison voluntarily. of a rapper convicted of insult- The facades of several political parties’ Valentine’s Day ing the Spanish monarchy and headquarters have been graffitied, a police praising terrorist violence were station in the town of Vic was battered and TikTok Livestream Pmarred by rioting for the third night in a protesters significantly damaged shop fronts row Thursday. and bank offices in several cities, including BY KATIE ATKINSON The plight of Pablo Hasél, who began the capital, Madrid. this week to serve a 9-month sentence in a The Catalan regional police has also ustin Bieber serenaded a record northeastern prison, has triggered a heated launched an internal investigation to estab- number of fans during his Valentine’s debate over the limits of free speech in lish whether one of their foam bullets hit a Day TikTok livestream, drawing more Spain and a political storm over the use of youth who lost an eye in the protests. than 4 million unique viewers over violence by both the rapper’s supporters and The rapper and his supporters say Hasél’s Jtwo broadcasts on Sunday and Monday, the police. nine-month sentence for writing a criti- according to Def Jam. That makes his “Jour- The ruling coalition’s junior partner, the cal song about former King Juan Carlos I, nals Live” performance the most-watched far-left United We Can (Unidas Podemos) and for dozens of tweets that judges said single-artist livestream ever for TikTok. party, on Thursday filed a petition for a glorified some of Spain’s defunct terrorist The livestream marked a few other mile- “total pardon” for Hasél and another rapper, groups, violates free speech rights. stones too: It was the first full-length single- Valtònyc, who fled to Belgium in 2018 to Besides that case, the rapper has previ- artist live performance on TikTok and it was avoid trial on charges of “glorifying” terror- ously faced other charges or has pending Page 22 of 30

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trials for assault, praising armed extremist groups, breaking into private premises and Pandemic Causes Essence Fest insulting the monarchy. His legal situation has drawn consider- Carnegie Hall to Announces Hybrid able public attention because it comes after a string of other artists and social media per- Miss Season For Event for 2021 sonalities have been put on trial for violating Spain’s 2015 Public Security Law, which First Time in 130- BY TAYLOR MIMS was enacted by a previous conservative-led government and criticized by human rights Year History ssence announced Thursday (Feb. organizations. 18) that the annual festival held in One of them was Valtònyc, who has so far BY ASSOCIATED PRESS New Orleans will adopt a hybrid avoided extradition from Belgium. model for its 2021 event. Over United We Can parliamentary spokes- arnegie Hall will miss an entire Ethe course of two weekends this summer, man Jaume Asens said Thursday the party season for the first time for the the festival will feature online content as had triggered the first step to demand an first time in its 130-year history. well as live-to-tape activations throughout “urgent” and “total” pardon of both rappers. Carnegie said Thursday (Feb. 18) the city. Pardons are a bureaucratic process and need Cit was canceling performances from April 6 “This year, with the theme ‘Live Loud,’ the final approval from the Spanish govern- through July at its three venues, extending ESSENCE is thrilled to curate an invaluable ment, which is currently in the hands of a a closure that started last March 13 due to hybrid experience that offers the best of in- left-wing coalition led by Prime Minister the novel coronavirus pandemic. Carnegie person and virtual worlds via a celebration Pedro Sánchez and Asens’ party. hopes to reopen in October for its 2021-22 of the resilience, power and achievement And although both parties have agreed season and intends a delayed season an- of our community and the omnipresence to amend the criminal code to eliminate nouncement in late spring. of our culture,” festival organizers said in a prison terms for offenses involving freedom The pandemic also caused the Metropoli- release. of speech, the protests have also opened the tan Opera to miss a season for the first time, The festival’s virtual programming will latest divide in the shaky partnership after and it hopes to start its season in September. include interactive sessions, as well as eve- the opposition lambasted United We Can Broadway theaters have been closed since ning concerts and connection opportunities. for not publicly condemning the violent March, and the arts shutdowns have con- In addition, Essence will produce live-to- protests. tributed to a major contraction to New York tape activations available only to local New Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo, City’s economy. Orleans and Louisiana residents, honoring a member of the center-left Socialist Party, Carnegie’s Voices of Hope festival will essential workers and first responders. also criticized a United We Can spokesman shift to online performances from April Essence states that all in-person events who expressed support for what he called 16-30 and focus on works created by artists will be in strict adherence to guidance from “antifascist protesters fighting for freedom in times of crisis and oppression. Carnegie local health agencies and will be held in of expression.” plans to announce the festival programming partnership with the City of New Orleans in late March. Carnegie is maintaining plans and the State of Louisiana. for its annual summer youth ensemble resi- The entire festival will be broadcast dences at SUNY Purchase this summer. on essencestudios.com on both weekends of the event scheduled to take place June 25- 27 and July 2-4. The hybrid style festival follows Essence’s virtual format in 2020 due to the global pandemic. The 100% Black-owned media company typically hosts an event welcom- ing more than half a million people over Fourth of July weekend, but reached a more global audience with its online content last year. According to Essence, the 2020 edition of the festival of culture has reached more than 45 million full-stream views to date. Talent for this year’s festival is expected Page 23 of 30

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soon. In the meantime, ongoing updates and unique storytelling ability, the devoted fan week, and from under 300 downloads sold additional information can be found here. base he’s built, and his show-stopping live to 1,000, according to MRC Data. performance matched with an instantly rec- The current interest in “Rasputin” signals ognizable voice made him a must-sign.” a new era of charting for Boney M. The Adam Melchor “Working with them has been an absolute German-Caribbean ensemble first made dream, because we run creative ideas by impact with “Daddy Cool, “Ma Baker,” and Signs to Warner each other all day every day, but at the same “Rivers of Babylon,” all of which hit the U.S.- time we’re all just friends, and for every text based Billboard Hot 100 in 1976-78, peaking Records, Debuts or call about music, there’s two about how at Nos. 87, 96 and 87, respectively. we’re doing,” Melchor says of the Warner The group has also enjoyed enduring ‘Begin Again’ Records crew. “They don’t want me to be success with holiday fare, including “Mary’s anyone but myself and I was never good at Boy Child,” which preceded “Rasputin” on Video: Exclusive being anyone else anyway so to me, it’s a the Global Excl. U.S. chart, reaching No. 167 perfect fit.” last month. BY GAB GINSBERG Next up is Melchor’s project Melchor (Notably, Boney M. was founded by Frank Lullaby Hotline, Vol. 1, due March 19. The Farian, who went on to form Milli Vanil- inger-songwriter Adam Melchor hazy “Last Time,” which was released in li. Less controversially, he subsequently has signed to Warner Records, January, as well as “Begin Again,” will both founded No Mercy, whose “Where Do You in partnership with R&R Re- appear on the set. Go” hit No. 5 on the Hot 100 in 1996.) cords, Billboard can exclusively Check out the video for “Begin Again” The global chart arrival of “Rasputin” Sannounce today (Feb. 19). below. marks the greatest chart heights yet for The Los Angeles-based artist has also the 43-year-old song. Two weeks earlier, it unveiled a breezy, self-love anthem titled entered the LyricFind U.S. and LyricFind “Begin Again,” along with an official video. Inside Boney Global rankings, propelled by its TikTok “‘Cause I know I did it to myself/ I let it go profile. to hell/ And I will go try but I can tell/ It’s M’s ‘Rasputin’ Only 11 non-holiday songs from dur- just nobody else/ You said all good things ing the 20th century have appeared on the must end/ Tell me they begin again,” he Resurgence, Global Excl. U.S. chart since its September sings over upbeat acoustic guitar. 2020 launch. Four were released in the “The first line is about a broken tooth, From Dancefloors 1970s, dating to Queen’s 1975 behemoth and later in the song it comes up again and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” with that song and again every time I smile,” Melchor tells Bill- to TikTok to classic hits by Fleetwood Mac, Michael board of the track. “It’s a reminder that the Jackson, Nirvana and others maintaining things that cause us pain are also the things Billboard’s Global their popularity and finding new genera- that are a part of our identity, and those tions of fans. same parts can make you happy. I’ve spent Charts “Rasputin” is an outlier in that respect, as my whole life laughing about my mistakes it is the only of those 11 songs to have missed later, and this song is a look into that laugh- BY ERIC FRANKENBERG the Hot 100 entirely. That makes it the old- ter.” est Global Excl. U.S. chart hit without any Aaron Bay-Schuck, co-chairman and CEO mong a dozen debuts on the Hot 100 history. After those 11, to find the of Warner Records, calls Melchor “one of latest Billboard Global Excl. U.S. next such Global Excl. U.S. entry chronolog- those rare artists who is as kind and gener- chart (dated Feb. 20), a golden ically, we have to scroll to 2013’s “Why’d You ous as he is talented.” oldie, and one that was never Only Call Me When You’re High?” by Arctic “His understanding of the human experi- aA chart hit upon its original release, ar- Monkeys, which has so far charted for a ence and ability to translate that into song rives: Boney M.’s “Rasputin,” at No. 168. week, at No. 200. is extremely special,” Bay-Schuck says, Bolstered by the #Rasputindancechal- “and we’re lucky to have him in the Warner lenge on TikTok, the 1978 disco track logs its Records family as he begins the next chapter fourth consecutive week of rising streams of his already notable career.” and sales across the globe. Over five weeks, “We’ve been fans of Adam’s from his first comparing the week ending Jan. 14 to the support slot at the Troubadour to his sold- week ending Feb. 11, “Rasputin” has surged out headline show there,” adds Gabz Land- from 2.2 million streams outside the U.S. in man, vp of A&R at Warner Records. “Adam’s that first frame to 7.5 million in the latest Page 24 of 30

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singing. Literally the first thing that came theme song stuff for films. Lots of produc- Glass Animals out was the hook. tion for other people, which is really, really It’s so bonkers. It never happens like that. fun. I’ve been working on some tracks for on the Rise of [Laughs.] If you spend enough time in a stu- a certain artist who I’m a huge fan of. I’m dio f—king around, eventually all the notes really excited. ‘Heat Waves’: will form some kind of catchy sequence. A version of this article originally appeared What sort of headspace were you in in the Feb. 20, 2021, issue of Billboard. ‘It’s Bizarre But when you wrote it? It was late at night. I was in a weird Amazing’ place. There’s a certain time of year where One To Watch: I always start to feel a bit s—t, because I lost BY GAB GINSBERG someone really important to me, and ‘round How Celeste’s their birthday, I start to feel a bit weird. lass Animals’ biggest single to Their birthday is in June, by the way. It was Strong Synch date — a hazy, captivating track coming up to that period and it was late at called “Heat Waves” — was born night. Hence the lyric. [“Late nights in the Game Helped in just one hour during a late middle of June.”] So I was sitting back and Gnight studio session in May 2018. feeling nostalgic and reflective. Her Reach U.S. Frontman Dave Bayley had been tinkering “Heat Waves” is Glass Animals’ first in a basement studio for hours, with light- Hot 100 entry. How does it feel? Audiences ning yet to strike. “I’d been writing all day It’s quite strange! But it’s always strange, and not really getting anywhere. Then I was releasing a piece of personal music. That’s BY MIA NAZARENO like, okay, one more,” he tells Billboard by why I was really nervous around releasing Zoom. [“Heat Waves”], just because it was person- hile writing her debut, Not One more turned out to be “Heat Waves,” al. It’s like your kid has gone off to college Your Muse, Celeste was the fourth single from Glass Animals’ third or something. It’s going to do some stuff ... inspired by snapshots album, Dreamland, released in August 2020. you don’t know what it’s gonna do, it’s out from her adolescence into The melancholy song would eventually of your control! You’re not responsible for youngW adulthood. As a result, the album that become the group’s first Billboard Hot it anymore. It’ll sink or swim. Knowing it arrived last month doubles as a coming-of- 100 entry, reaching a No. 69 high on the Feb. was written in that little moment, it’s like age story that explores “the most romantic 20-dated chart. my little secret’s out. Sometimes it freaks interactions I’ve had from being a teenager Meanwhile, the London-based group me out thinking about it. It’s bizarre but until being 23,” says Celeste. (comprised of Bayley, Drew MacFarlane, amazing. Now, the 26-year-old Brighton, England Edmund Irwin-Singer and Joe Seaward) You put the winner of a “Heat Waves” native is enjoying the success of being so hasn’t been at all idle. Over the past year, remix competition on Dreamland (+ Bonus open: Not Your Muse debuted at No. 1 on the aside from releasing Dreamland (and its de- Levels). How did you get that idea? Official UK Albums chart. Meanwhile, the luxe version) in August, Glass Animals have When we lost touring, which was about soul singer born Celeste Epiphany Waite rolled out lockdown-filmed music videos exactly a year ago, I was initially totally like, has gained momentum stateside, too, from and a covers EP, put on virtual performanc- “What are we gonna do? We’re screwed!” remotely teaming up with Grammy-winning es, held a remix competition, and much, Then after about a week of that, of face- producer FINNEAS on “I Can See the much more. palming, I realized we can do whatever. Change” (he was moved by Celeste’s 2020 Below, Bayley talks about the band’s most There’s no rulebook now. BRITS Awards performance and the pair recent success story in “Heat Waves” — I thought of putting the sounds [we] use started texting soon after) to landing several which, like its name, continues to rise. to make songs on an [open-source] website high-profile synchs. How did “Heat Waves” come together? for people, and loads of stuff came back. I Most recently, Celeste performed a rendi- Normally, writing a song takes a good day thought the guy who won was probably like tion of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” for to get into shape, but this happened in an some 45-year-old jazz wizard, turns out he’s a commercial that aired during this year’s hour late at night. The guitar came first. I a 15-year-old kid from Hull in England. I Super Bowl. Brigitte Green, VP of film and was like, “I’m going to write this long chord was totally embarrassed. His version is far TV creative licensing at Interscope who pattern.” I was fumbling. After 10 minutes of superior. helped secure Celeste’s placements in Ted looking into space and plucking the guitar, I What else is in store for you this year? Lasso and Grey’s Anatomy, says her job is hit those eight chords, and I was like, “Ooh, I’ve been doing stuff aside from Glass made easier because Celeste’s voice is “time- that’s it.” As soon as I had [that], I started Animals, writing songs for other artists, less. She sings about broad themes of love Page 25 of 30

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that are incredibly relatable.” “Vida de Rico,” Camilo, Jan. 30 From her musical upbringing to acco- Guaynaa & “Despeinada,” Ozuna x Camilo, Feb. 6 lades and chart-topping acclaim, here’s how “Bichota,” Karol G, Feb. 13 Celeste became one to watch. Sebastian Yatra’s ”Chica Ideal,” Guaynaa & Sebastian Yatra, Celeste’s musical education started Feb. 20 when she was 3, sitting in the back seat of ‘Chica Ideal’ Tops Over on Hot Latin Songs, which blends her grandfather’s car listening to Aretha airplay, digital sales and streaming data, Franklin, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. Latin Airplay “Chica” lifts 19-13 despite a 5% dip in (She was particularly impressed by Simone’s streams. “I Put a Spell on You.”) But growing up, Chart Celeste resisted formal training. “As soon as there was a heavy hand from music teach- BY PAMELA BUSTIOS Black Music & ers, I was put off by it,” she says. “I fought against doing music, but it always came uaynaa and Sebastian Yatra’s Entertainment back.” In college, she formed a band with “Chica Ideal” takes over atop school friends and landed her first gig at a the Latin Airplay chart as the Walk of Fame local venue, with each of them earning “a duet rises 8-1 on the Feb. 20 sur- tenner” (about $14 U.S.). “It felt like a lot of Gvey. The pair ascends with a robust 40% in Announced money when we were 16.” audience impressions, to 11 million, earned While Celeste — whose manager Duncan in the week ending Feb. 14, according to With First Three Ellis secured her recording contracts with MRC Data. Polydor (United Kingdom) and Interscope The greatest audience gains in the track- Inductees (United States) in 2018 — won the 2020 ing week for “Chica Ideal” were in New BRIT Awards’ Rising Star honor (past York and San Juan, P.R., with increases of BY PAUL GREIN winners include Adele, Florence + The 950,000 in audience on WSKQ and 300,000 Machine and Sam Smith), U.S. audiences on WPAT New York and 935,000 on WODA uincy Jones, James are discovering the soul singer through and 239,000 on WMEG San Juan. Brown and Otis Redding were high-profile synchs in TV and film. She has As “Chica Ideal” hits No. 1 on the Latin- chosen as “foundational in- scored placements in Grey’s Anatomy, Dis- format Latin Airplay chart, Guaynaa se- ductees” for the Black Music & ney/Pixar’s Soul, Netflix’s Bridgerton and, cures his first leader on any Billboard chart; QEntertainment Walk of Fame, which will be most notably, Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the a feat that also echoes the Latin Pop installed in the historic downtown Atlanta Chicago 7, for which Celeste earned a Gold- Airplay chart (2-1) and the Latin Rhythm area on the sidewalks of Martin Luther King en Globe nomination for best original song Airplay chart (6-1). The Latin Airplay Jr. and Northside drives. The Walk of Fame (“Hear My Voice”). “Her music is cinematic, coronation is his best showing on any Bill- will be unveiled at a formal induction cer- so when cut to picture, it helps elevate the board chart following ‘Rompe Rodillas,” a emony during Black Music Month in June. visuals,” says Green. No. 17 peak on Latin Pop Airplay. Jones, 87, is the only foundational induct- On Jan. 29, Celeste released her first al- Yatra collects his eighth Latin Airplay No. ee who is still living. Redding died in 1967; bum, Not Your Muse — and later celebrated 1 with his 16th entry. He logged his previous Brown in 2006. In addition to these three its No. 1 debut with her boyfriend and cake best also through a collaboration, “TBT,” inductees, who are such towering figures while in lockdown in their London flat. with Rauw Alejandro and Manuel Turizo that they will bypass a voting process, 35 Now, she’s already writing her next album (July 2020). Black artists are competing in seven catego- with hopes of touring in 2022. “I’ve got the “Chica Ideal” becomes the eighth title ries to join them. time and literally can’t leave the country,” to top Latin Airplay in 2020 thus far. Let’s The Walk of Fame is designed “to honor she says, “so I may as well get on with it.” recap the lucky eight winners: iconic individuals and organizations that A version of this article originally appeared Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1 have impacted Black culture and community in the Feb. 20, 2021, issue of Billboard. “Hawai,” Maluma & The Weeknd, Jan. 2 alongside those who continue to lead us into (5 weeks at No. 1) the future,” according to a statement. “Dakiti,” Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, Jan. 9 There are separate male and female (2 weeks at No. 1) categories in both hip-hop and mainstream “Mi Nina,” Los Legendarios, Wisin & (the Walk of Fame’s term to describe R&B Myke Towers, Jan. 6 that is not hip-hop). But there’s just one “La Nota,” Manuel Turizo, Myke Towers combined male/female category for legacy & Rauw Alejandro, Jan. 23 artists, gospel and music & entertainment Page 26 of 30

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moguls. (The legacy artist award is designed Music & entertainment mogul: Sean board’s radio airplay charts. for artists who began their careers prior to Combs, Dr. Dre, Queen Latifah, Will Smith, The song ascends to No. 1 on the Adult 1980. The other categories are for artists Jay-Z Pop Airplay survey (dated Feb. 20), after it who have been active for at least 25 years.) The Walk of Fame was created by Michael topped Pop Airplay for eight weeks begin- There is no jazz category, nor are there Mauldin and Demmette Guidry, founders ning in October and Rhythmic Airplay for designated categories for groups or duos. of Black American Music Association, and three weeks starting in November. As a result, three groups or duos — Out- Georgia State Representative Erica Thomas “Mood,” released on RECORDS/Colum- Kast, Run-D.M.C. and Public Enemy — are and Catherine Brewton, founders of the bia, is one of just nine songs to have led all vying for the male hip-hop award. Georgia Entertainment Caucus. Mauldin is a three lists in the 25 years that they’ve coex- Four of the five artists nominated for leg- former Columbia Records president of Black isted. (Pop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay acy artist — Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Mi- music. began in 1992 and Adult Pop Airplay first chael Jackson and Stevie Wonder — rose The names were announced on Thursday appeared in Billboard’s pages in 1996. The to fame on Motown Records. (The fifth (Feb. 18) at a private reception at The Gath- charts reflect weekly plays on mainstream artist nominated in that category is Chaka ering Spot Atlanta hosted by V-103’s Kenny top 40, rhythmic and adult top 40 stations, Khan.) Burns. Attendees included the four princi- respectively, according to MRC Data.) All five of the nominees in the music & pals listed above plus Ludacris, Dallas Aus- While “Mood” joins that exclusive club, entertainment mogul category are mid-ca- tin, gospel artist Isaac Carree, actor and TV it boasts unique further success, as it also reer hip-hop artists who have also been en- personality Miss Lawrence and Chaka Zulu, rose to No. 8 on Alternative Airplay and terprising entrepreneurs. (None of them are Spotify’s head of artist & talent relations. No. 10 on Rap Airplay, in November and also nominated for hip-hop awards.) Queen The evening included a performance by December, respectively. It’s, thus, the first Latifah is the only woman in that category, R&B artist Jac Ross and a surprise perfor- song to have topped Adult Pop Airplay, Pop squaring off against Sean Combs, Dr. mance by Cee Lo Green of “Jesus Is Love.” Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay and reached Dre, Will Smith and Jay-Z. Green also shared a new poem inspired by the Alternative Airplay and Rap Airplay Jackson is the only deceased artist nomi- the event entitled “To Know the Difference top 10; none of the other eight songs even nated in any category (not counting the two Between Being Black and Dark.” made the Alternative Airplay or Rap Airplay posthumous “foundational inductees”). It’s Also in attendance were artist D.L. Warf- charts at all. interesting that Jackson must compete for a ield, who together with sculptor and histo- Here’s a chronological look at the songs spot on the Walk of Fame in the legacy artist rian Ed Dwight created the “Crown Jewel” that have hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Pop category, rather than be “grandfathered” in emblem that will be embedded on the Walk Airplay, Pop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay with Jones, Brown and Redding. The other of Fame representing each inductee. charts: three titans broke through before Jackson The Georgia Entertainment Caucus is an “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” Ricky Martin, 1999 did, but not by much in Redding’s case. Red- Atlanta-based organization that focuses on “Mirrors,” Justin Timberlake, 2013 ding landed his first big crossover hit, “I’ve bridging the gap between the Georgia politi- “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now),” cal sector and the entertainment industry. Pharrell, 2013 in May 1965, just four and a half years before “Happy,” Pharrell Williams, 2014 The Jackson 5 broke through with “I Want “All of Me,” John Legend, 2014 You Back.” 24kGoldn & Iann “Am I Wrong,” Nico & Vinz, 2014 Here’s a complete list of the nominees: “Uptown Funk!,” Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mainstream male: Charlie Wilson, Phar- Dior’s ‘Mood’ Mars, 2015 rell Williams, Usher, Maxwell, Babyface “Havana,” Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug, Mainstream female: Beyoncé, Janet Makes Crossover 2017-18 Jackson, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Anita “Mood,” 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior, 2020-21 Baker History on Radio “Mood” crowned the airplay-, sales- and Hip-hop male: Nas, OutKast, Run- streaming-based Billboard Hot 100 for D.M.C., LL Cool J, Public Enemy Airplay Charts eight (nonconsecutive) weeks in October- Hip-hop female: Lauryn Hill, Missy El- January. It leads the multi-metric Hot Rock liott, MC Lyte, Lil’ Kim, Da Brat BY GARY TRUST & Alternative Songs and Hot Alterna- Legacy artists: Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, tive Songs charts for a 24th week each this Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Chaka ith its opening guitar riffs, week, after it ruled Hot Rap Songs for 17 Khan rapped and sung verses and frames. Gospel: The Clark Sisters, Kirk Franklin, hooky chorus, 24kGoldn’s The 20-year-old artist, born Golden Lan- BeBe & CeCe Winans, Shirley Caesar, Don- “Mood,” featuring Iann dis Von Jones, told Billboard last year that ald Lawrence DiorW, scores a first in the history of Bill- his influences range from Miles Davis to Page 27 of 30

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Michael Jackson and that by middle school Solange also did her part to help out, he was compiling eclectic playlists. Beyoncé, Solange, offering up an unspecified, but “significant As for “Mood,” “I knew [it] was a hit, but donation” to Mutual Aid Houston. “Sending I didn’t think it was going to be this big, Kacey Musgraves, so much love back homeand im committed to keep it 100,” he marveled. “I put my kid to doing more... my heart breaks man thank out into the world, and [he] got a college Selena Gomez you for all the endless work u guys are doing degree and a job at 14. He’s exceeding my on the ground,” the singer wrote in a tweet expectations.” & More Helping accompanying a note from Mutual Aid Houston, which read, “We are so grateful Texans Impacted to @solangeknowles for her significant Cardi B Ties Taylor donation to our post-freeze housing relief by Winter Storm efforts. The Houston love is REAL. #Hous- Swift for Most tonFreeze.” Blackouts Rapper Lil Jay stepped up as well, offer- Streaming Songs ing San Antonio residents 300 free meals BY GIL KAUFMAN on Thursday night. “SAN ANTONIO 300 No. 1s Among FREE MEALS!!! ALL YOU HAVE TO DO ouston natives Beyon- IS SWING BY N SAY U WIT LIL JAY!!! Women cé and Solange Knowles are WE WILL B HERE TILL WE SELL OUT among the artists stepping up MEDICAL AREA HURRY STAY SAFE,” he BY KEVIN RUTHERFORD to help the millions of Texans tweeted. Hwho’ve been left in the dark following a In her inimitable playful style, Golden, or the fourth time, Cardi B is massive blackout triggered by a devastat- Texas, native Kacey Musgraves began No. 1 on Billboard’s Streaming ing winter storm earlier this week. Bey has selling a T-shirt on Thursday that ben- Songs chart. teamed with Adidas via her BeyGOOD char- efits a number of charities, including “Up,” the rapper’s latest single, ity to help Houstonians through via frequent the American Red Cross of Central & Fdebuts atop the list dated Feb. 20 with 31.2 non-profit partner Bread of Life. South Texas, Casa Marianella and Feed million U.S. streams in the tracking week “Visit @BreadoflifeH for more informa- the People Dallas. The $29.99 shirt, which ending Feb. 11, according to MRC Data. tion on assistance. We send our prayers to reads “Cruzin’ for a Bruzin’,” is a pointed Cardi B first ruled Streaming Songs with those impacted by the winter storm,” read a reference to Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who the two-week No. 1 “Bodak Yellow (Money tweet from the singer’s BeyGOOD organiza- received massive blowback this week after Moves)” in 2017, followed by the Bruno tion. “BeyGood and Adidas are working with he was spotted flying off to a family vaca- Mars collaboration “Finesse” (one week, Bread Of Life to bring urgent relief to those tion in Cancun, Mexico, whole more than 2018) and 10-week ruler “Wap,” featur- suffering as a result of the winter storms,” seven million of his constituents were freez- ing Megan Thee Stallion, last year. it continues, encouraging those in Texas or ing in the dark without power. With four leaders, she ties Taylor any other state impacted by the storms to “All proceeds will directly support Texans Swift for the most among women in the apply for one-time assistance here. affected by the storm and also to homeless ranking’s eight-year history and also slots According to the Texas Tribune, the Texas immigrants seeking shelter and food,” wrote into a four-way tie alongside Swift, Justin power grid was “seconds and minutes” Musgraves in a tweet with an image of the Bieber and Travis Scott for the second- away form a catastrophic failure that could white T-shirt with black letters lambast- most No. 1s among all artists. Drake leads have plunged the state’s residents into the ing the Senator who was a major backer with nine. dark for months. The state — which has its of former president Trump’s border wall The rise of “Up” ends the four-week own independent power grid — has been with Mexico. Musgraves said she has also reign of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License,” hit by massive blackouts over the course donated to those impacted by the storm by which debuted atop the Streaming Songs of this week after a massive winter storm offering help via Mutual Aid in North Texas, tally dated Jan. 23 and had remained there tripped natural gas, coal and wind power writing, “My heart is breaking for my home since. plants offline due to spiking demand. As of state. I love y’all. Stay strong.” Concurrently, “Up” starts at No. 2 on the Thursday, more than seven million Tex- “I am devastated to see what is happening multi-metric Billboard Hot 100, Cardi B’s ans were under boil water advisories in the in my home state of Texas,” Selena Gomez fifth top two. wake of the storms that caused pipes to also took to Instagram to write. freeze, homes to flood and so far are tied to If you wish to donate to help those in need more than two dozen deaths from carbon in the Lone Star state, March For Our Lives monoxide poisoning and exposure. Texas has posted a resource guide with Page 28 of 30

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links to organizations providing aid on the Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1 ground. “Another Sad Love Song,” four, Sept. 18, 1993 Questlove “Breathe Again,” two, Nov. 20, 1993 “Seven Whole Days,” six, Feb. 5, 1994 to Direct Toni Braxton Ties “You Mean The World to Me,” seven, May 7, 1994 Documentary for Most No. 1s on “You’re Makin’ Me High / Let It Flow,” 13, June 22, 1996 About Sly Stone Adult R&B Airplay “Just Be a Man About It,” two, Sept. 9, 2000 “Hurt You,” with Babyface, four, Dec. 14, BY MIA GALUPPO Chart 2013 “Long As I Live,” five, June 9, 2018 fter making his feature directo- BY TREVOR ANDERSON “Do It,” three, Aug. 15, 2020 rial debut with Sundance-win- “Live out Your Love,” Kem featuring Toni ning doc Summer of Love, Ahmir oni Braxton expands her Braxton, two, Jan. 2, 2021 “Questlove” Thompson has set recent winning streak on Bill- “Gotta Move On,” featuring H.E.R., one (to hisA follow-up feature on Sly Stone. board’s Adult R&B Airplay chart date), Feb. 20, 2021 Questlove will direct the documentary and ties for the most No. 1s in the With the combination of “Live out Your about the influential artist, king of funk, and Tchart’s history as her track, “Gotta Move Love” and “Move,” Braxton also logs two fashion icon, with his partners Zarah Zohl- On,” featuring H.E.R., ascends from the leaders in one year for the third time, after a man and Shawn Geehis producing under runner-up spot on the chart dated Feb. 20. pair of chart-toppers each in 1993 and 1994. their Two One Five Entertainment banner. The single climbs with a 12% burst in plays Braxton was highly complimentary of the According to the announcement, the doc in the week at the radio format ending Feb. young talent. “H.E.R. is an incredible talent will follow the musician “who was break- 14, according to MRC Data, the largest gain who sings, writes, plays several instru- ing all the rules at a time when doing so was among the chart’s 30 songs. ments, produces and competes with no one extremely challenging, even dangerous. The With “Move,” Braxton secures an 11th No. but H.E.R.self,” the R&B legend tells Bill- pressure of explosive mainstream pop suc- 1 and ties Alicia Keys for the most champs board exclusively. “She represents her cess and the responsibility of representing since the Adult R&B Airplay list began in generation with the cool factor that only an Black America forced him to walk the fine 1993. Braxton’s return to the winner’s circle indigenous superstar possesses. From one line of impossible expectations.” is a long time coming: She previously led or star to another... she just got shine!” MRC Non-Fiction will finance the doc shared the rank among all artists for most H.E.R., too, adds to a consistently expand- and prodcue along with Network Entertain- No. 1s from 1996 until Keys surpassed her in ing No. 1 count. “Move” yields a fifth No. 1 ment’s Derik Murray and Brian Gersh. Com- 2008 and retained sole possession of the feat on Adult R&B Airplay. She previously led mon will executive produce via Star Child until now. the list with her debut entry, “Focus,” in productions with Derek Dudley and Shelby Here’s a look at the current standings for October 2018 and claimed a second leader Stone executive producing via ID8 Multi- most No. 1s on Adult R&B Airplay: that same month through a featured turn on media. 11, Toni Braxton Daniel Caesar’s “Best Part,” which reigned Said Questlove, “It goes beyond saying 11, Alicia Keys for four weeks. Her third and fourth lead- that Sly’s creative legacy is in my DNA — it’s 8, Charlie Wilson ers also came through guest spots, on Skip a Black musician’s blueprint. To be given the 7, Kem Marley’s “Slow Down” and Lonr.’s “Make honor to explore his history and legacy is 7, Maxwell the Most,” respectively, last year. beyond a dream for me.” 7, R. Kelly Questlove’s Summer of Soul premiered After Keys and Braxton, the next women at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where in line are Mary J. Blige and the late Whit- it earned both the audience award and the ney Houston, each with six No. 1s. grand jury prize in the U.S. doc competi- Braxton herself was the chart’s inaugu- tion sections. In a festival record-breaking ral leader, as her “Another Sad Love Song” deal for a non-fiction title, the movie sold topped the first Adult R&B Airplay iteration to Hulu and Fox Searchlight. on Sept. 18, 1993. MRC’s non-fiction arm most recently Here’s a rundown of Braxton’s No. 1 col- produced the Edgar Wright directed That lection as she steps back into the winner’s Sparks Brothers, which also bowed at Sun- circle: dance. Title, Artist (if other than Toni Braxton), MRC is a co-owner of Billboard through a Page 29 of 30

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joint venture with Penske Media titled P- competition and be as fair as possible.” MRC. It’s highly unusual for any awards show to BTS’ J-Hope This article originally appeared on The reverse itself, but it happens. The Recording Hollywood Reporter. Academy underwent a major streamlining Celebrates 27th of its awards categories in 2011, dropping the number of awards from 109 to 78 in Birthday By ‘SNL’ Gets a one fell swoop. One of the categories cut was best Latin jazz album. There was a Donating ₩150 Reprieve as significant outcry by such artists as Paul Simon and Herbie Hancock, and even Million to Charity Emmys Separate a class-action lawsuit filed by a group of Latin jazz musicians led by Bobby Sanabria, BY RANIA ANIFTOS Variety Talk & a four-time nominee in the Latin jazz cat- egory. The category was reinstated after a appy birthday, J-Hope! Sketch Categories one-year absence. The BTS superstar turned The Emmys’ reversal suggests that they 27 on Thursday (Feb. 18), and Once Again saw that would be comparing apples and decided to spend his big day oranges, but it is also a sign of Michaels’ Hgiving back. According to The Korean Her- BY PAUL GREIN power in television. Michaels has person- ald, J-Hope donated ₩150 million (about ally received 91 Emmy nominations and $135,000) to ChildFund Korea, which helps he Emmys reversed themselves has won 19 times. He was inducted into children with vision and hearing disabilities. on Friday (Feb. 19) and SNL cre- the Television Academy Hall of Fame in The South Korean musician is a longtime ator Lorne Michaels has reason 1999 in a class that also included Carl Rein- supporter of ChildFund Korea. Just last to be happy about it. er, Mr. (Fred) Rogers and MacNeil & Lehrer. year, he donated ₩100 million to the orga- TOn Dec. 4, The Television Academy an- (Michaels received a star on the Hollywood nization amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “I nounced its rule changes for the upcoming Walk of Fame that year too.) heard that the number of families in vulner- 73rd Emmy Awards competition. One was The original cast of SNL was inducted able situations is increasing significantly that separate awards for variety talk and into the Television Academy Hall of Fame due to the prolonged COVID-19 crisis, and variety sketch series were being recombined in 2017. support for disabled children is urgently into one category: outstanding variety series. As noted above, HBO’s Last Week Tonight needed,” he said in a statement, accord- Saturday Night Live has won the Emmy With John Oliver has won for outstand- ing to Koreaboo. “I hope this donation will for outstanding variety sketch series the ing variety talk series the last five years further expand social interest in supporting last four years running, but with the rule running, but it’s not for lack of competi- children with disabilities.” change, it would have had to compete with tion. This year, the other nominees in In 2019, J-Hope donated ₩100 mil- talk shows too, like five-time winner Last that category were The Daily Show With lion to ChildFund Korea, and in 2018, he Week Tonight With John Oliver. Trevor Noah, Full Frontal With Samantha donated ₩150 million, according to NME. It no longer will. The Academy released a Bee, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show As a result of his generosity, in 2019, he statement that says: “The Television Acad- With Stephen Colbert. Against competition joined ChildFund Korea’s Green Noble Club, emy’s board of governors has reviewed its like that, SNL would have been lucky to be which honors those who make notable con- recent decision to merge the Variety Series nominated. tributions to the charity. program categories and has determined The competition in its own category, Variety Talk and Variety Sketch Series will outstanding variety sketch series, was remain separate categories for the 73rd much lighter. Only two other shows were Emmy Awards. nominated in the category this past year, “While the Academy remains concerned HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show and Com- about the number of series produced and edy Central’s Drunk History. the relatively small pool of entries in the Saturday Night Live has won 87 Emmys Variety Sketch genre, it acknowledges that since it launched in 1975, more than any the differences between Variety Sketch and other show in Emmy history. It won six Talk programs merit separate consideration. awards last year, including awards for guest As the Academy continues to engage with actors Eddie Murphy and Maya Rudolph. industry leaders and constituents, it will al- ways endeavor to uphold the integrity of the Page 30 of 30

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“Usse-wa” at bay. Kanjani Eight Meanwhile, J-pop group Awesome City Club scores its first-ever top 10 with “Wa- Debuts at No. 1 surena,” a song accompanying the mov- ie Hanataba mitaina Koi wo shita (“Loved on Japan Hot 100, Like a Bouquet of Flowers”), a love story starring Kasumi Arimura and Masaki Suda. Awesome City Since being released on Jan. 27, the track has steadily climbed 54-20-10 on the Japan Club Scores First Hot 100, with points for streaming and radio fueling the ascension. Top 10 The trio released its third studio al- bum Grower on Feb. 10, which also helped BY BILLBOARD JAPAN lift the album’s first track into the top 10. The pop group breaks into the mainstream anjani Eight’s “Kimitomi- with this bittersweet ballad that takes full taisekai” debuts at No. 1 on this advantage of the dramatic quality of their week’s Billboard Japan Hot 100, characteristic male-female twin vocals. selling 218,927 copies in its first The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines Kweek. physical and digital sales, audio streams, The track is the theme of the television radio airplay, Twitter mentions, YouTube series Familiar Wife (starring Kanjani mem- and GYAO! video views, Gracenote look-ups ber Tadayoshi Ohkura), which is a Japanese and karaoke data. remake of a South Korean romantic fantasy See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, drama. dated Feb. 8 to 14, here. On the tally dated Feb. 8 to 14, the now five-member group’s 45th single was pow- ered by the physical metrics of the chart’s methodology, leading sales and look-ups this week. The track also came in at No. 5 for Twitter mentions, No. 33 for video views, and No. 87 for radio airplay. While the sales figures for “Kimitomi- taisekai” dropped by about 115,000 copies from the group’s previous single “Re:live” (334,392 copies), Twitter mentions for the current track went up, reflecting the influence of segments on a number of TV programs documenting the members’ indi- vidual and collective efforts that went into creating this track during an unprecedented year. Yuuri performed on the popular live music program Music Station recently, breathing new life into his hit song “Dry- flower,” which holds at No. 2 for the third straight week on the Japan Hot 100. The track increased figure-wise in all metrics the song is currently charting, including down- loads (from 17,027 to 23,211 weekly units), streaming (from 12,726,444 to 13,714,586 weekly streams), and video (from 3,975,470 to 4,453,918 weekly views), keeping Ado’s