Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE APRIL 20, 2021 Page 1 of 23

INSIDE Congress Members Call on Biden to

• MLC Collects Investigate Live Nation $40M for January, Makes First Rights BY TAYLOR MIMS Holders Payments Five members of Congress sent a letter to members of the last 10 years by threatening venues and forcing • Bad Bunny’s 2022 the Biden administration on Monday (April 19) asking the bundling of artists with ticketing services. In 2019, Concert Tickets Setting Records On them to investigate Live Nation’s “potentially unfair, Live Nation reached a settlement with the DOJ’s an- Scalper Sites deceptive, and anticompetitive practices.” titrust division agreeing to extend the 2010 consent In the letter addressed to U.S. Attorney Gen- decree governing the merger of Ticketmaster and • Here’s How eral and Federal Trade Commis- Live Nation to 2025 and clarifying rules regarding ’Fearless (Taylor’s Merrick Garland Version)’ Performed sion acting chair Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, U.S. threats and retaliation against venues that don’t sign In Its First Week Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Frank Pallone Jr. (D- with the ticketing giant. Compared To Taylor NJ), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Jan Schakowsky (D- “We believe the prior administration’s decision Swift’s Original IL) and David Cicilline (D-RI) urge the Biden to extend the consent decree in 2019 to 2025 was ‘Fearless’ Administration to take a stronger hand of antitrust insufficient to protect consumers,” Monday’s letter • Lil Wayne Signs enforcement in the live events ticket marketplace, reads. “In its decision, DOJ did not demonstrate why With UTA in All Areas particularly in its oversight of the longtime Live extending the consent decree with only minor modifi- Nation-Ticketmaster monopoly. cations would prevent [Live Nation] from continuing • Apple Will Allow Podcasters to Offer The members of Congress suggest evidence that anticompetitive conduct. Rather than double-down Subscriptions to Fans the 2010 merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster has on a failed approach, DOJ must now take steps needed “strangled competition in live entertainment ticket- to restore competition to the ticketing marketplace.” • Jim Steinman, Rock ing” is “overwhelming” and has harmed consumers. Live Nation has declined to comment on the letter Legend Behind Hits for Meat Loaf, Bonnie The letter points to a 2018 Government Account- from the representatives. Tyler & More, Dies ability Office report, which concluded that Live The letter comes at a time when the general atti- at 73 Nation holds more than 80% of the U.S. venue ticket tude towards entrenched economic power is shift- sales market. It goes on to add that the Department ing away from conglomerates like Live Nation and of Justice has found that the promoter has repeatedly Biden has indicated he may be taking a harder line on violated the terms of the agreement over the course of (continued)

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IN BRIEF

against monopolistic behavior. In March, purchased resale tickets via StubHub or tracing where necessary” and enable social Biden announced his intent to nominate Vivid Seats shut out of the show. Ticket- distancing with an algorithm capable of antitrust scholar Lina Khan for commis- master’s SafeTix technology has since been measuring. It also gives artists more control sioner of the Federal Trade Commission, used for various other events including NFL over their tickets instead of yielding them to whose theories of more aggressive antitrust games and Madonna’s Madame X tour with- the secondary market. enforcement have won over academics, out major issues. As touring returns, the demand for tickets and appointed big tech critic Tim Wu to The SafeTix technology is geared to- is up as seen with Bad Bunny’s El Últi- his National Economic Council to focus on ward preventing fraud by creating unique mo Tour del Mundo tour which sold out in technology and competition on the National barcodes that refresh and prevent resellers record time. According to Billboard report- Economic Council. Sen. Amy Klobu- from selling multiple consumers the same ing, the tour has also seen the highest ticket char (D-MN), a vocal Live Nation critic, is ticket. It is also up not up to Ticketmaster market up in history with secondary sites also releasing a book later this month exam- when the non-transferable feature is used. selling tickets for more than 10-times their ining antitrust in America, called Antitrust: The ticketer provides that option for artists face value. Taking On Monopoly Power From the Gilded and promoters to implement as they deem Read the full letter here: Age to the Digital Age. appropriate. Dear Attorney General Garland and Acting A major concern for the members of The Congress members go on to state that Chairwoman Slaughter: Congress is Live Nation’s growing con- they believes Live Nation will use technol- We write in support of strong antitrust trol over the secondary market. The ogy like SafeTix to make entry safer during enforcement by the Biden Administration, letter highlights the company’s use of and after the pandemic, while also compel- including the live event ticket sales market- its SafeTix technology that prohibits the ling concertgoers to register an account place. The evidence is overwhelming that the release and transfer of tickets outside of with Ticketmaster. The first part could be a 2010 merger between the world’s largest con- Ticketmaster’s platform, effectively shut- good thing, but comes at a cost. “While local cert promoter, Live Nation, and the biggest ting out other secondary ticketing plat- governments should work with local venues ticket provider, Ticketmaster, has strangled forms. SafeTix gives Ticketmaster a major to ensure common sense public health competition in live entertainment ticketing advantage because it grants the company protections for fans, such as mask-wearing and harmed consumers and must be revisited. control over the entire lifespan of the ticket, and social distancing,” the letter states, “we According to the Government Accountabil- from sale to show night, with a digital cannot allow Ticketmaster to leverage the ity Office’s (GAO) 2018 report, Live Nation ledger showing every time the ticket is pandemic to choke off competition by elimi- Entertainment (LNE), holds more than 80 sold or transferred, along with the identity nating ticket transfer.” percent of the venue ticket sales market. The of everyone participating in the transac- Ticketmaster president Mark Yovich says Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held an tion. SafeTix’s non-transferability op- Ticketmaster’s technology like SafeTix and important workshop in 2019 that examined tion was used for the first time in 2019 at Presence could be used to help venues and the ticketing industry and heard concerns on a Black Keys concert at the Wiltern in artists return to concerts with the “ability LNE’s anticompetitive behavior from actors Los Angeles that saw hundreds of fans who to explore integrations to allow contact throughout the industry. These important

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ISSUE DATE 5/15 | AD CLOSE 5/5 | MATERIALS DUE 5/6 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE APRIL 13, 2020 | PAGE Page 4 5 OF of 1923

ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] IN BRIEF SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country federalA reviews,lbu combinedms; withBrett troubling Yme-oungfor potentially ‘Catc unfair andh deceptive’-es practices.Fifthto Airplay resume. Indeed, the governors of New dia reports and state sponsored reports, show One recent example we are concerned York and New Jersey recently announced the that more canLea be doneder; to investigate Travis poten- aboutDenning is the introduction Makes of a smart phone Historyeasing of restrictions on live events in large tially unfair, deceptive, and anticompetitive ticketing product, known as “SafeTix,” which venues. When live events return in earnest, it practices in the ticket industry. was purportedly created to fight fraud. How- is imperative that consumers have access to a SamSince Hunt the’s merger,second studio we have full-length, witnessed and how first in overever, five LNE years, is Southsideusing this programsales (up to 21%) ensure in the that tracking market week. Onthat Country is transparent, Airplay, it fair,hops and 18-15 competi (11.9 mil-- (MCApitfalls Nashville/Universal of the Department Music of Justice’s Group Nashville), (DOJ) debutstickets at No. can 1 on only Billboard be resold’s lion or giftedaudience within impressions, the tive.up 16%). We know that LNE is not sitting idle Topconsent Country decree Albums has failed chart datedto protect April competi18. In its -first Ticketmasterweek (ending April system. 9), it Ticketmaster has also during this lull. Your agencies must guard earned 46,000 equivalent album units, including 16,000 in album sales, ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITH YOUNG Brett Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cordingtion and to consumers. Nielsen Music/MRC The DOJ Data. itself has found used “SafeTix” to cancel andresold total tickets Country min Airplay- No.against 1 as “Catch” one company (Big Machine dictating Label the Group) conditions ascends thatSouthside LNE has marks repeatedly Hunt’s violatedsecond No. the 1 termson the utes before showtime. Media reports tell of of2-1, the increasing return of 13%live toevents 36.6 million and cannot impressions. permit chartof the and agreement fourth top over 10. theIt follows course freshman of the last LP patrons who purchased tickets on a competing LNEYoung’s to mask first its anticompetitiveof six chart entries, instincts “Sleep With- Montevallo10 years by, whichthreatening arrived venues at the summit and forcing in No - resale platform being literally left out in the underout You,” the guise reached of public No. 2 in health. December 2016. He vemberthe bundling 2014 and of artistsreigned with for nine ticketing weeks. Toservices. date, street while the show went on without them. followedWe strongly with theurge multiweek the DOJ No. and 1s FTC “In Case to You Montevallo has earned 3.9 million units, with 1.4 Didn’t Know” (two weeks, June 2017), “Like I Loved millionThese practices in album sales. have enabled Ticketmaster to If true, these reports may support claims of protectYou” (three, consumers January future 2018), access “Mercy” to (two,live events August maintainMontevallo its hascontrol spent of 267 more weeks than on the 80 list, percent tying unfair and deceptive practices by LNE. by2018) immediately and “Here launching Tonight” (two, an investigation April 2019). Lukeof the Bryan primary’s Crash ticketing My Party sale as themarket sixth-longest- and to Throughout the coronavirus disease of 2019 of LNE’s“Catch” potentially completes unfair, his longest deceptive, journey and to No. 1, runninggrow its titles position in the in chart’s the secondary 56-year history. market. (COVID-19) pandemic, LNE has rebranded anticompetitivehaving taken 46 practices. weeks to reach the apex. It out- WeOn believe the all-genre the prior Billboard administration’s 200, Southside deci ar- - its anticompetitive ways under the guise paces the 30-week climb of “Here Tonight.” rives at No. 5, awarding Hunt his second top 10 On Hot Country Songs, “Catch” pushes 7-5 for HUNT YOUNG aftersion theto extend No. 3-peaking the consent Montevallo decree. in 2019 to of protecting the public health. As reported a new high. 2025Hunt was first insufficient released the toEP X2Cprotect, which consumers. debuted in Billboard Magazine, “Ticket transfer MLC Collects andIn its peaked decision, at No. DOJ 5 on did Top not Country demonstrate Albums why in Augusttechnology 2014. Following used to restrict COMBS fans from ‘DOES’ reselling IT AGAIN Luke Combs’ “Does to Me” (River House/Columbia Montevalloextending the, Between consent the decree Pines: Acousticwith only Mixtape minor startedtickets at its to No. high 7 highdemand in showsNashville), will now featuring be Eric Church$40M, ascends 11-8 for on Country January, Airplay, up 10% to Novembermodifications 2015. would prevent LNE from con- used to make ‘entry safer’24.7 by millionrequiring in audience. most The song is Combs’ eighth straight career-opening Montevallo produced five singles, four of which hit the pinnacle of Country top 10, following a record run of seven consecutive out-of-the-gate, properly Airplay:tinuing “Leaveanticompetitive the Night On,” conduct. “Take Rather Your Time,” than “Houseperson[s] Party” entering and “Make a concert promoted venue No. to register1 singles. Makes First Rights Youdouble-down Miss Me.” “Breakon a failed Up in approach, a Small Town” DOJ peaked must at No.an 2.account with Ticketmaster.”[1]Church Whileadds his local 15th Country Airplay top 10. nowHunt take co-penned steps needed all 12 to songs restore on competitionSouthside, including governments “Body Like should a Back work with local venues Holders Payments Road,”to the ticketing which was marketplace. released in 2017. The smash hit ruledto Countryensure common Airplay for sense THATpublic TOOK health QUITE protec ‘A- FEW’ MONTHS Travis Denning shatters the record for threeNot weeks satisfied and the with airplay-, its near streaming- monopoly and of sales-based the tions Hot for Country fans, such Songs as mask-wearingthe most weeks and it has taken to penetrate the Country Airplay top 10 as “After chart for a then-record 34 frames. It now ranks second only to Bebe Rexha and a Few” (Mercury Nashville)BY climbsED CHRISTMAN12-10 in its 57th week, up 4% to 21.4 mil - Floridaprimary Georgia sale of Linetickets,’s “Meant LNE tohas Be” tightened (50 weeks atop thesocial latter distancing, list in 2017-18). we cannotlion inallow radio Ticket reach.- its“Downtown’s grasp on the Dead,”secondary which market, is also makingon the new it set, reachedmaster toNos. leverage 14 and the15 pandemicThe song to chokesurpasses off two tracks that tookn Friday, 50 weeks the each Mechanical to enter the Licens top 10:- onone Hot of Countrythe largest Songs ticket and resellers Country inAirplay, the United respectively, competition in June 2018. by eliminating“Kin- Easton ticket Corbin transfer.’s “A Girl Like You,” whiching reached Collective No. 10 (MLC), in January which 2018 of be-- folks”States. led The Country company Airplay is now on Feb.leveraging 29, becoming its Hunt’s Although,seventh No. sadly, 1. It hit the pandemicfore peaking continues at No. 6 that February, and Aaronficially Watson launched’s “Outta Jan. Style,” 1, made which its No.position 3 on Hot in theCountry primary Songs. channel to drive out to prevent a return to packedachieved venues, its No. hope 10 high in December 2017.first distribution of mechanical Latest single “Hard to Forget” jumps 17-9 on Hot Country Songs. It’s his “After” is Denning’s second Country Airplay entry. “David Ashley Parker competition in the resale market and allowing is on the horizon that live events will begin royalties to rights holders for the month of O ETHAN MICHAEL YOUNG: VIA MARTIN/NHLI GETTY HUNT: IMAGES. IMAGES MILLER/GETTY 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. GENE SMITH ...An Ad Man...

Billboard mourns the loss of our colleague. He will be missed and remembered by the entire industry for his dedication, passion and love of the business and our brand.

BB House_Gene Smith Memorial_06_042421.indd 1 4/19/21 12:24 PM Page 7 of 23

IN BRIEF

January, paying out $24 million out of about are unclaimed if you consider the $11 mil- currently pending distribution, including by $40 million collected from digital services. lion in royalties that have yet to be matched matching uses to registered musical works “The completion of The MLC’s first to songs; and the $4.9 million where songs and identifying rights holders who have monthly processing of royalties and the pay- have been matched to recordings, but not all not yet claimed their shares of matched ment of more than $24 million in royalties the publishers have been identified. royalties. The MLC encourages its Mem- directly to rightsholders represents another In instances where songs have been bers to check and update their data in The step toward realizing the promise of the matched to recordings but the claims don’t MLC Portal, and rights holders who are Music Modernization Act,” Alisa Coleman, add up to 100% of that song, the MLC makes not Members to join The MLC and register chair of the MLC board of directors, said in payment to the rights holders of the known their songs.” a statement. portions of a song, while the unknown por- Ahrend says he expects improvement What’s more, the MLC is also holding tion of a song would also fall into the $4.9 each month. One thing that will improve another $4.9 million in royalties where million category of royalties. This pool of matching efforts will be new membership. songs have been matched to royalties, but royalties includes unmatched portions of Since the beginning of January, more than where publishing ownership stakes are as of songs that also are owned by publishers that 1 million have been added to the database yet unclaimed. It is holding onto another $11 are in direct deals, but only the portion that and now the membership pace is moving million in royalties that is neither matched may be owned by publishers that don’t have along at a clip of over 1,000 new members a to songs nor to publishers, for a total of $15.9 direct deals. That means those publishers month. “Those registrations alone will drive million awaiting identification so the funds need to register their share with the MLC so improving” matching, Ahrend said. “Also, can be distributed. they can be paid their portion of royalties. we will continue to improve our internal Overall, the MLC said that the mechanical The unmatched royalties ($11 million) and processes.” pool of revenues amounted to slightly more the unclaimed royalties ($4.9 million) accu- Ahrend reported that the members’ indi- than $53 million in royalties, which means mulate interest until the songs are matched vidual portals were expected to go live with that direct deals between services and pub- and claimed. statements Monday (April 19). lishers account for approximately $13 mil- According to knowledgeable sources, In a complete accounting, the MLC re- lion. The Music Modernization Act and its matching 80% of royalties to songs and then ported that about $500,000 of the matched regulations allow the services to carve out, paying 70% of collected royalties to publish- royalties are on legal hold, likely because of or withhold, that portion of royalty funds ers is pretty much in line with industry aver- disputes over ownership stakes in a song. By from the MLC and instead pay them directly ages on the first pass-through of matching. policy, the MLC doesn’t resolve disputes; it to the publisher. What amount is actually Subsequently, those percentages drop as is up to the stakeholders of a song to come paid to the publishers for those direct deals songwriting ownership on newer songs are up with a resolution. is unknown because a publisher with a di- finalized and registered with the various in- rect deal might negotiate a rate higher than dustry databases that fulfilled this function the statutory rate; and if they do, that higher before the creation of the MLC. Bad Bunny’s 2022 amount comes out of the service’s pocket, “Thanks to the hard work and diligence of not the mechanical pool. our team, and the cooperation and support Concert Tickets But even though the MLC doesn’t collect of our many partners, we have now begun those funds, it still gets the play reports for fulfilling our important mission of ensuring Setting Records songs that are involved in those direct deals that rightsholders receive their proper share and goes through the process of matching of the blanket mechanical royalties paid by On Scalper Sites royalties to songs and publishers since some DSPs,” Kris Ahrend, CEO of the MLC, said of the other owners on a song might not be in a statement. BY DAVE BROOKS party to a direct deal. In an interview, Ahrend added it was “a Consequently, the MLC says it matched significant team effort” to get songs matched ad Bunny sold more than 80% of the royalties reported to the musical and payouts happening, with wire transfers 600,000 tickets to his 2022 El works with songs in its public database, for members who signed up for that service Ultimo Tour Del Mundo in the which, according to public statements by receiving payment on Friday. past week, generating $64 mil- organizations like Music Reports Inc., a “We now have 75 people working for us, Blion to $85 million in revenue, according competitor to the Harry Fox Agency, is how and that doesn’t count board and commit- to Billboard estimates, for a 35-date tour that much it typically matches on its first pass- tee members, so a ton of work has gone into is one of the fastest selling in history. But through of play reports. getting us this far,” he added. scalpers are on track to make at least that Even with the 80% match, the MLC’s re- The organization further said in a state- much, or even double. ported payouts means that about 30% of the ment that it “will continue its attempts The resale market could earn $133 million $53 million in the mechanical royalty pool to reduce the amount of royalties that are in revenue and potentially $120 million in Page 8 of 23

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profit if current price averages hold, accord- the average price is high, fans can still rely In the week ending April 15, Fearless (Tay- ing to data obtained by Billboard. on “get in prices,” meaning the cheapest lor’s Version) launched with 291,000 equiva- The average ticket price for Bad Bunny’s price available at the show. These tickets are lent album units, according to MRC Data, tour is now 10 times the original listed price, typically the upper sections and least desir- while the original Fearless earned 6,000 frustrating fans who logged in Thursday able tickets. For Bad Bunny’s El Ultimo Tour units, down 19% from the prior chart week. for 480,000 presale tickets and tried again Del Mundo, they range from $214 at Centre Although the original Fearless was up 15% Monday to buy up remaining inventory, only Bell in Montreal, Canada, to $1,206 at the from the prior chart frame in pure album to see tickets bought up and relisted at mas- Payne Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. sales, with fewer than 1000 copies sold, its sive markups. total of 7.71 million on-demand streams of its Data provided by ticket data and distri- songs represented a 21% drop from the prior bution company TicketIQ shows that the Here’s How week’s on-demand streams (9.58 million). average cost of a ticket to Bad Bunny’s tour By comparison, the new Fearless (Taylor’s on resale sites is $2,473, “making it the ’Fearless (Taylor’s Version) scored 179,000 pure album sales most expensive tour we’ve ever tracked,” and 142.98 million on-demand streams of its CEO Jesse Lawrence tells us. Primary Version)’ songs in its first week of release. tickets sold directly by the venue and tour Fan interest in hearing Swift’s new rein- were $239 for most seats, with some marked Performed In terpretations of her old songs, more than down as low as $69. a decade after first recording them, is one After tickets completely sold out Monday, Its First Week factor in Fearless (Taylor’s Version) dwarf- some fans took to Twitter to voice their ing the equivalent album units total for the frustration that tickets were being sold at Compared To original Fearless in their first head-to-head such high markups, meaning huge profits charts frame. Another is that there are more for scalpers. A $480 pair of face value tickets Taylor Swift’s songs on Fearless (Taylor’s Version): the six (not including fees) is already an expensive “From the Vault” songs at the end of the night out for most couples, but a $5,000 set Original ‘Fearless’ track list — which Swift originally recorded of tickets is far beyond the budgets of most for the 2008 album but did not make the cut fans. BY JASON LIPSHUTZ — help contribute to the equivalent album TicketIQ numbers show that an average units total for the re-recorded LP. 1,542 tickets per show have been listed on ith the release of Fearless “You All Over Me,” which features back- the secondary market — spread out across (Taylor’s Version), Tay- ing vocals from Maren Morris, was released 35 shows, that’s about 53,970 tickets bought lor Swift has begun the on Mar. 26 and has 20.89 million on-demand up by resellers and then posted on sites on process of rolling out the streams through Apr. 15. Meanwhile, “Mr. StubHub, Vivid Tickets and Ticketmaster re-recordedW versions of her first six studio Perfectly Fine” is the biggest Hot 100 hit of Plus, the Ticketmaster-owned resale site. albums, an undertaking that she announced the “From the Vault” songs thus far, hitting “It seems that between the pent-up Covid in 2019 following the acquisition of those al- No. 30 on this week’s chart. demand generated by a first ever Spanish- bums’ master recordings by Scooter Braun’s The first week of release for Fearless (Tay- only No. 1 LP, and his ability to stay visible in Ithaca Holdings that year. And her quest lor’s Version) also included casual listeners a broader pop-culture,” including appear- started off with a bang: the new version of being pushed to the re-recorded album by ance at Wrestlemania 37 early this month in Swift’s 2008 sophomore LP debuts at No. 1 some of the biggest streaming services. Am- Tampa, Florida, fans are “seeing the perfect on the Billboard 200 chart this week, with azon Music and YouTube led to the re-re- storm for Bad Bunny demand,” Lawrence the biggest week of 2021 for any album. corded Fearless upon user searches, while said. As earlier reported, Fearless (Taylor’s songs from Taylor’s Version also appeared For context, Bad Bunny tickets are now Version) is the only No. 1 album of its kind, prominently on new music playlists from selling for 126% more than the average re- as a re-recorded version of another album Spotify and Apple Music, among others. sale price for Harry Styles’ 2020 tour priced (and one that had previously reached No. 1 As Swift celebrates her ninth No. 1 album at an average $1,095 on resale sites, 214% itself, in 2008). And with the release of Fear- on the Billboard 200 — as well as the big- more expensive than The Rolling Stones’ less (Taylor’s Version), we can also now gest week for a country album since 2015 2017–2019 No Filter Tour with average begin to view how the re-recorded album — the music industry will begin monitoring tickets priced at $786, and 296% more ex- will impact general listenership of the how wide the gap in listenership remains pensive than Phish’s planned 2021 Summer original Fearless, which spawned hits like between Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and the Tour. “You Belong With Me,” “Love Story” and original issue of Swift’s 2008 album. One po- TicketIQ’s blog details fans options for “Fifteen” and earned Swift the album of the tential indicator could be the streaming per- buying tickets and Lawrence says that while year Grammy award in 2010. formance of “Love Story (Taylor’s Version),” Page 9 of 23

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the first song unveiled from the re-recorded Being III. firm eMarketer, Spotify is expected to album. Between its Feb. 12 release and Apr. On the management front, he continues pass Apple Podcasts in U.S.-based monthly 15, the new rendition has earned 46.24 mil- to be represented by his longtime partner podcast listeners this year, with 28.2 million lion on-demand streams, compared to 19.09 Mack Maine. listeners every month, compared to Apple’s million streams for the original “Love Story” 28 million. over that time frame. Apple may be the first major platform to That’s a relatively small sample size, but Apple Will Allow offer a podcast subscription service, but it as Swift remains hard at work on her next seemingly won’t be the last, as Spotify has re-recorded album, no doubt she’ll also be Podcasters hinted it is considering its own subscrip- keeping an eye on whether Fearless (Taylor’s tion offering for its popular (and exclusive) Version) continues to outpace the origi- to Offer podcasts. The company has surveyed users nal Fearless with that level of consistency. about a podcast subscription that could cost Subscriptions to anywhere from $3 to $8 a month, and offer “access to exclusive interviews and pod- Lil Wayne Signs Fans casts.” The move for Spotify — which has heavily invested in podcasts over the past With UTA in All BY MICAH SINGLETON three years — could help lead the company to sustainable profitability, if the endeavor is Areas uring its Spring event today successful. (April 20) Apple announced a Apple says podcast subscriptions will be BY CARL LAMARRE new subscription offering for available to both podcast creators and fans podcasters on its platform that in 170 regions and countries in May. il Wayne has signed with UTA for Dwill allow podcasters to offer individual sub- worldwide representation in all scriptions to fans starting next month. areas, the parties tell Billboard. He Subscriptions will offer support for ad- Jim Steinman, joins the agency from CAA, where free listening, exclusive content, and early Lhe had been repped since 2018. access to new shows. The first slate of pod- Rock Legend Last year, Lil Wayne released his Bill- casts offering subscriptions will come from board 200 chart-topper Funeral — his fifth podcast producers including Sony Music Behind Hits for No. 1 album. According to Nielsen Music/ Entertainment, NPR, The Los Angeles Times, MRC Data, Funeral debuted with 139,000 and The Athletic. Meat Loaf, Bonnie equivalent album units earned. Following “We are proud to lead the next chapter that release, Wayne stormed back on the of podcasting with Apple Podcasts Sub- Tyler & More, Dies mixtape circuit with his third installment scriptions,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice of No Ceilings last November. The project president of Internet Software and Services at 73 featured Drake and Young Thug. said in a statement. “We’re excited to intro- Throughout his career, Lil Wayne has duce this powerful new platform to creators BY HERAN MAMO scored three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles around the world, and we can’t wait to hear with “Lollipop” (2008) and two featured what they make with it.” im Steinman, the composer, lyricist spots in Jay Sean “Down” (2009) and DJ Apple has also redesigned its Podcasting and record producer behind hits Khaled’s “I’m the One” (2017). He also has app, with improved search and resigned for Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler and Cé- the third-most Hot 100 hits behind Drake show pages. The updated app will also line Dion, has died, Connecticut’s Of- and the cast of Glee with 170. According to introduce a new feature called Channels, Jfice of the Chief Medical Examiner confirms figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, Lil which will let podcast creators bundle their to Billboard. He was 73. Wayne has grossed $110.9 million and sold shows together on a single page with their The cause of death has yet to be disclosed. 1.975 million tickets. own artwork and descriptions to make it Steinman was best known for his work This year, Wayne released several songs, easier for users to find their content. on Meat Loaf’s 1977 debut studio album Bat including “Ball Game,” “Ain’t Got Time” and Apple’s Podcast division helped popular- Out of Hell, which is one of the best-selling “Green & Yellow,” his ode to the Green Bay ize the format when podcast support was albums of all time and is certified 14 times Packers. Earlier this month, he supplied ris- added to iTunes in 2005, but in recent years platinum by the RIAA, where he wrote the ing Chicago rapper Calboy a guest verse on it has given up a massive lead to Spotify, songs “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” (No. 11 “Miseducation.” Currently, Wayne is work- which has grown furiously over the past on the Billboard Hot 100, 1978), “Paradise ing on his new album, I Am Not A Human few years. According to market research by the Dashboard Light” (No. 39, 1978), Page 10 of 23

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and “You Took the Words Right Out of My a nod at the 1999 Tony Awards for best origi- fit.” As Cindy Mabe, UMG Nashville presi- Mouth” (No. 39, 1979). nal score. He also wrote the book, music dent says: “Kacey’s music has never had He also worked on its sequel LP and Meat and lyrics for Bat Out of Hell: The Musi- boundaries.” Loaf’s first-and-only Billboard 200 No. cal in 2017 based on Meat Loaf’s best-selling Musgraves has scored three top 10 albums 1 album Bat Out of Hell II: Back into album. on the Billboard 200 and three No. 1 debuts Hell, which contains the singer’s first-and- He also penned Barry Manilow’s No. 18 on the Top Country Albums chart, including only Hot 100 No. 1 hit (which Steinman hit “Read ‘Em and Weep” and Barbra Strei- 2018’s acclaimed Golden Hour. The ac- penned), “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I sand’s No. 50 song “Left in the Dark.” claimed release also won album of the year Won’t Do That).” The song also won a 1994 Steinman was inducted into the Songwrit- at the Grammys, Country Music Association Grammy for best rock vocal performance, ers Hall of Fame in 2012. Awards and Academy of Country Music solo. Steinman earned two nominations for Awards. the single that year: one for song of the year and another for best rock song. Kacey Musgraves’ He eventually earned his first-and-only Cedella Marley Grammy win for album of the year at the New Album To 1997 Grammys for his work on Dion’s fourth Launches Joint English-language album Falling for You. Be Released by Steinman wrote the power ballad “It’s All Venture Tuff Gong Coming Back to Me Now,” which was origi- Interscope and nally recorded by the girl group Pandora’s Collective With Box before Dion made the song famous UMG Nashville through her cover, which was featured Universal on her Falling for You LP and eventually BY LYNDSEY HAVENS reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 in 1996. BY DAN RYS Steinman is also responsible for helm- n Tuesday (April 20), Interscope ing Tyler’s first-and-only Hot 100 No. 1 hit Records and UMG Nashville an- edella Marley, the oldest daugh- “Total Eclipse of the Heart” from her fifth nounced a partnership through ter of Bob and Rita Marley, is studio album Faster Than the Speed of which the labels will jointly launching a new joint venture Night, which Steinman produced. “To- Orelease Kacey Musgraves’ upcoming fifth with the Universal Music Group tal Eclipse of the Heart” earned a 1984 album due out later this year. Ccalled Tuff Gong Collective, the parties Grammy nod for best pop vocal perfor- A source tells Billboard the partnership announced today (appropriately, and un- mance female, while Faster Than the Speed is currently only for one album and will see coincidentally, on 4/20). of Night earned a nod for best rock vocal the labels collaborate on marketing, radio The venture — which takes its name performance, female that year. Tyler’s promotion and international marketing. from Bob Marley’s nickname growing up in classic reigned at the No. 1 spot, while Air “Kacey is one of the most powerful story- the Trenchtown neighborhood of Kingston, Supply’s “Making Love Out of Nothing at tellers in music today, a true albums artist Jamaica — will cover recorded music, film All” — which Steinman also wrote — se- who creates potent song collections that are and television projects, with Cedella, who cured the No. 2 spot on the Hot 100 in timeless,” John Janick, Interscope Geffen also functions as CEO of the Bob Marley October 1983. Three more versions of “Total A&M chairman & CEO, said in a statement. group of companies, overseeing it and her Eclipse of the Heart” appeared on the Hot “We are truly delighted to have her as part own son, Soul Rebel, coming aboard as 100: Nicki French’s cover (No. 2, 1995), of our Interscope Records family and look creative director. the Glee cast version featuringJonathan forward to working alongside the UMG In addition to the announcement of the Groff (No. 16, 2010) and The Voice season 13 Nashville team and her manager Jason venture itself, Tuff Gong is partnering with winner Chloe Kohanski’s rendition (No. 99, Owen to deliver this important project to Island Records imprint 4th & Broadway to 2017). audiences around the world.” make its first artist signing, Young Devyn, a Steinman also co-wrote and produced UMG Nashville CEO & chairman Mike rising Trinidadian MC from Brooklyn. Tuff Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” from the Dungan added, “This artist and her music Gong will represent Devyn’s catalog in the 1984 Footloose soundtrack, which topped have thrived in so many diverse environ- Caribbean as part of the deal. the Billboard 200 that year and earned ments. Kacey, the music, and the career “I’m thrilled to embark on this next chap- him a 1985 Grammy nomination for best deserve the broadest base of experience and ter of my father’s legacy, continuing to bring album of original score written for a motion expertise. We have discussed some type of art and music to the world,” Cedella Marley picture or a television special. His work on cross label partnership for her music for a said in a statement announcing the venture. the 1988 musical Footloose also earned him couple of years now and this is the perfect “Tuff Gong Collective will allow us to find Page 11 of 23

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new creative platforms to introduce new bean, for us as Jamaicans it carries a rich generations to my father’s music but will Cedella Marley spiritual history. We come from a place also give us the ability to cultivate the next where the music is the story of the people generation of music artists and creators.” Says Family’s — it’s how we pray and party and how we Added LaTrice Burnett, executive vp celebrate. Especially when we listen to of Island Records and the president of 4th New SiriusXM the riddims of the drums that come out of & Broadway, “We’re thrilled to work with West Africa and Calypso, the chanting style Cedella to continue to evolve and build on Channels Are in of the lyrics. If you listen to reggae music, the long-standing relationship between the you sense that kind of vibe. Quite literally, Marley family and Island Records.” the Blood: ‘AI Is the vibration that you can probably feel in That relationship dates back to the early your house, depending on the sound system 1970s, when Island founder Chris Black- Good, But I and I you have. You know how when you sit down well signed a young Bob Marley and the you can feel the ground vibrating and that Wailers and produced their first internation- Is Even Better’ comes from the drums and bass and the al album, Catch A Fire, which was released beat. That is what I hear when I listen to my in 1973. Marley would go on to release nine BY GIL KAUFMAN father’s music and reggae music in general. studio albums and two live albums on Island Do you remember him listening to the during his lifetime; now, 40 years since Bob ith great power comes kind of music on the new channels when Marley’s death, his grandson (and another great responsibility, and you were growing up at home or in the of Cedella’s sons) Skip Marley is currently nobody knows that better studio? signed to Island, with plans to release his Cedella Marley, the eldest Marley: Calypso music was a big part own debut album on the label. ofW late reggae icon Bob Marley and wife of Jamaican culture. That was something Last year, the label alongside the Marley Rita’s musical brood. The singer, clothing that was an ordinary thing, but Afrobeat [is] family and publisher Primary Wave planned designer and CEO of Tuff Gong Internation- something that is fairly new to most of us. a year’s worth of celebrations — some of al says keeping her father’s flame alive is a We’re talking about people Daddy used to which were curtailed by the pandemic — burden she’s happy to take, on and expand- listen to [who] he was inspired by. It wasn’t to celebrate what would have been Bob ing the family’s presence on the SiriusXM something that was widely available to us, Marley’s 75th birthday, including reissues, lineup is part of stoking that legacy. but when he would tour around and come a multi-part mini-documentary, a photo “If we go back to the Wailers in the home and have a record he wanted to play book, covers and live releases, a dedicated 1960s and if we talk about [Marley] albums for us ... Fela, Miriam Makeba, Harry Bela- SiriusXM satellite radio station and more. like Exodus and Uprising and Kaya, you fonte ... The inspirations were always there. The Tuff Gong Collective deal will also can definitely hear the influences,” Marley How can the songs people are listening mean that the family will work on film and tells Billboard about the effect West African on these channels inform what they hear TV projects with UMG’s Polygram Enter- and Calypso styles had on her dad’s music. in Bob’s music and the music you heard? tainment division, including an animated Those sounds can be heard on two newly Can you hear that through line now, even film with Walt Disney written by Kenya launched SiriusXM streaming channels, in music you didn’t hear growing up? Barris that “is intended to be a love letter Tuff Soca and Tuff Beats, which, respec- Marley: Sure, I can hear it, and I want to the late Marley’s legendary music and to tively, focus on the style that originated in to say this too: About three years ago, we the people of Jamaica,” according to a press Trinidad and Tobago, fusing African and started to work on this mashup, fusion release. UMG’s head of film and televi- East-Indian influences and on the Afrobeat project that involves African artists and pro- sion development and production David sound that merged jazz and the melodies ducers revisiting and re-imagining Daddy’s Blackman, alongside Cedella Marley and of West Africa in the music of such icons as music. So we have tracks like “Jammin’” Principato-Young Entertainment’s E. Brian Fela Kuti in the 1970s. that features [Nigerian singer] Tiwa Savage Dobbins, will produce the project. Marley described to Billboard how the and other artists that will be on that yet-to “I’m excited to work with Cedella and the music and the rhythms on the channels help be-titled album. I don’t know if I will call TGC team to bring to life the rich stories form the connective tissue of Bob’s inspira- it Africa Unite ... We have Sarkodie from and the abundance of creativity rooted in tions and why the family has jumped feet Ghana, Davido from Nigeria, Afro B from the Marley universe,” Blackman said in a first into programming both of them. Ivory Coast and Rema from Nigeria. statement. “Cedella exemplifies the Marley Can you talk about what influence When we launched Tuff Beats and Tuff tradition, shining a light on diverse stories West African and Calypso music had on Soca, it was more to give that music a plat- rooted in resilience and determination that Bob’s sound? form because they just don’t have it. An hour resonate with audiences globally.” Marley: Like all indigenous musical of hearing Calypso music is not enough for forms the music of Africa and the Carib- me personally! With this new project with Page 12 of 23

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Daddy — which will also be featured on the p.m. ET on the CEEK VR app streaming work with Roger Waters, Elton John, Rod Afro Beats channel — when you feel a circle platform.] It’s still a family affair. When I Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Cetera, Dun- coming together, it’s like a vision of what pick up the phone and I say, “I want you to can Sheik, Bon Jovi and more. Tuff Gong should be — which is just bring- do this,” and I get it. [Laughs] “A while back, when I was making mul- ing good music to people who want to listen. Well, you’re the oldest, so they have to tiple albums a year, there was a group of The first single will drop this summer. listen to you, right? people that I did work for and did work for What are some of the favorite artists Marley: Yes, I am. But it’s a feel-good me that I both depended on and respected,” you’ve heard so far who excite you? project because it’s music. Leonard said in a statement. “It was a bit Marley: [Trinidadian singer] Michael How does it feel that Bob’s music and like an extended family, and really, there’s Montano is one of my favorites, and of influence is still so prevalent in 2021 that been nothing like it since. When I met Larry course, he used to tour with us back in the he has three channels on SiriusXM? Why [Mestel] and Adam [Lowenberg] and the day. And of course Davido, but what is really do you think that is? formidable team at Primary Wave it was cool is that I — like the other listeners — get Marley: Because the message of Daddy’s clear that it was all about music and the to discover popular songs from other parts music has proven to be timeless. I feel like possibilities. It was almost shocking and of the world that I wouldn’t otherwise get every generation for the last 40 years has immediately reminded me of those years to hear. It’s almost like I’m learning from discovered its own connection to the music that were so productive for me. Honestly, I listening to these channels. It’s good when and brought it into their lives. And they pass couldn’t wait to become a member of their you can learn and still feel good. it on to their children ... this is true not only vision.” Tell me about your show, “Nice Time,” in Jamaica and America, but all over the Leonard worked on five Madonna albums and vibe you’re going for? world, including Africa. When I used to tour — including Billboard 200 No. 1s True Marley: The vibe of “Nice Time” is just and anywhere in the world you go, you meet Blue and Like A Prayer — between 1986 and what it says: about having a nice time and I people who say,”I love Bob Marley. I love 1998, and performed with her as a keyboard- just play music that I really like. Sometimes his music.” Sometimes his songs have been ist and musical director at Live Aid 1985 and I remix it myself and have fun with them. translated and performed in every language, on her The Virgin Tour and Who’s That Girl That’s just an hour, and then I have to figure in every genre it’s a good thing. There’s Tour. He also has worked on a series of film out curating the other 23 hours! [Laughs] I nothing wrong with having more Marley in scores and soundtracks, including Madon- am heavily involved in [the programming]. I your life. na’s 2008 documentary I Am Because We didn’t want it to just be a channel that is just Are, as well as Moulin Rouge, Shrek, Legally a name and not a person. AI is good, but I Blonde and more. He’s also released a solo and I is even better. Primary Wave album, and the Primary Wave deal includes How involved is the rest of the family his future works. in the programming and song selection? Buys Madonna Primary Wave, for its part, has been in Marley: The [show] from Jamaica is acquisition mode of late, having picked up curated by DJ Jel [Trinidad] and ZJ Sparks Co-Writer Patrick all or part of the catalogs of Wilson Phillips, [Jamaica], so they do the Tuff Soca shows. Sun Records, Stevie Nicks, KT Tunstall, Leo The Tuff Beats shows we have DJ Brooke Leonard’s Catalog Sayer, The Four Seasons and Olivia Newton- Bailey from Ghana. Now people are con- John in just the past six months. tacting us and asking about being a part of BY DAN RYS “I am extremely excited to welcome Pat- it — “What can I do?” — so I think we’ve rick Leonard to Primary Wave as he fits in opened up an avenue for the DJs and artists rimary Wave has acquired the perfectly with our family of artists,” said Pri- themselves. recorded-music, music publishing mary Wave CMO Lowenberg in a statement. I push everyone [to be involved] because and master recording producer “I’m thrilled to begin developing innovative I think our music, with this format, it’s rights to Patrick Leonard’s initiatives to help continue making the pub- a way for us to reach a lot more people. Pcatalog in a “multi-million-dollar deal,” the lic aware of Patrick’s musical genius.” When I’m curating, I go to Ziggy, Steve and company announced today (April 20). Damian and say, “OK, what do you think The deal will encompass Leonard’s share about this?” For our 4/20 show, which is of hits by the likes of Leonard Cohen (“You actually Steven’s birthday, I got Damian to Want It Darker,” “It Seemed The Better curate Ghetto Youth’s Set-Up Shop one-hour Way,” “If I Didn’t Have Your Love”), Jewel show and Steve’s Kaya Fest show, and we’re (“Hands”), and his songwriting royalties reflecting on Steve’s [2011] Revelation Pt. for classics by Madonna (“Like A Prayer,” 1 — The Root of Life album, which is 10 years “Frozen,” “La Isla Bonita”). Leonard’s old. [The virtual performance will air at 4 production and writing credits also include Page 13 of 23

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the last several years now... for whatever Mendes’ “Senorita,” Cardi B’s “Thru Kurt Vile Signs reason I often find myself staring into it Your Phone,” BTS “Airplane Pt 2,” and Be- (true story!). So when I was approached by yonce’s “Save The Hero.” With Verve the label to be signed I was surprised and “After meeting with Ali and her team, honored to be sure... but I had already felt Lylette and I knew instantly that her songs Records for Major that subliminal enchantment and I knew had to be part of our first acquisition for our it was a, well... sign! I think my previous new partnership with MERS,” Influence Label Debut album Bottle It In is my deepest record Media co-managing partner Lynn Hazan and I’m still really proud of it. I’m excited said in a statement. BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN to release its follow-up on Verve. It’s been Though terms of the deal were not dis- a crazy f***in year and I’ve got hundreds closed, when Influence Media launched the inger-songwriter Kurt Vile has of songs and ideas in the can, on paper, company said it had up to $100 million in signed with UMG’s Verve Records, and in tape recorders all strewn about the funding to invest in the recording and pub- the label tells Billboard. “kv zone”... nuggets recorded before-and- lishing rights of commercially proven songs. The deal marks Vile’s first sign- after pandemic times... in studios and from For her part, Tamposi said in a state- Sing to a major label after a career spent at home... music past, present and, yup, we’re ment, “I take great pride in my songs, so it’s independents. His last six solo albums were still rolling. It’s gonna be heavy, it’s gonna be great to have a trusted team like Lylette and released by Matador; prior to that, he was beautiful... and it’s gonna be out there.” Lynn at Influence Media to help find new with Mexican Summer for a brief period. Vile is managed by Reynold Jaffe at An- opportunities to share my music with new Verve will put out Vile’s next album in other Management Company. audiences. I never thought I’d be able to en- 2022. ter into an amazing partnership like this so “I’ve been a massive fan of Kurt’s for years early in my career, so I hope to inspire other and feel beyond lucky to have him join the Influence Media young musicians to follow their dreams — Verve roster,” said Verve/Impulse Records the rules for what you can achieve are still executive vp Jamie Krents in a statement. Buys Ali Tamposi being written.” “Simply put, he’s one of my favorite artists and songwriters of any era and he makes Catalog, Including timeless records. Verve Records has always Watch: Billboard been a home for unique artists of integrity Stake In Songs By and creativity, and we couldn’t be happier to Launches New welcome Kurt to the Verve family.” Camila Cabello, Vile was lead guitarist for rock band The DJ-Focused Series War on Drugs from 2005 to 2009 before BTS and More leaving the group to focus on his solo ‘Mash Up the career. He has released a total of eight BY ED CHRISTMAN studio albums (including Lotta Sea Lice, his Charts’ album-length collaboration with Courtney nfluence Media Partners, which Barnett) that have sold a collective 310,000 launched as a stand-alone fund BY KWASI BOADI copies, according to MRC Data, which also earlier this year with the backing of reports sales of 231,000 digital downloads the Michigan Municipal Employees nyone who has tried their hand and 184.2 million on-demand U.S. streams. IRetirement System, has invested in select at mixing songs on their DJ Vile’s 2015 single “Pretty Pimpin’” peaked copyrights from the song catalog of Ali friend’s Serato knows that there’s at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Air- Tamposi. a lot more to the art of the mash- play chart in March 2016. His most recent “Ali Tamposi is one of music’s most suc- upA than meets the eye. The audible sleight release, last year’s EP Speed, Sound, Lonely cessful writers working today,” Influence of hand that was practiced by some of our KV, featured a duet with the late John Media founder and co-managing partner favorite DJs was a centerpiece of the pre- Prine. Lylette Pizarro said in a statement. “We pandemic club scene. We’re still some time “I’ve admired the Verve logo on the back feel honored and privileged to become the away from a full-fledged return to flashing (and front!) of many a Velvet Underground custodians of her masterful works, and we LED lights and group chants from the dance album since my teens,” said Vile in a state- are committed to building on her growing floor, but in the meantime, Billboard is ment on the Verve signing. “In particular legacy.” here to celebrate the DJs who ushered us the logo on the back of the vinyl boxset of The deal includes Tamposi’s stake through some of our most memorable nights the Quine Tapes has been haunting me for in Camila Cabello’s “Havana,” Shawn with the launch of its latest series “Mash Up Page 14 of 23

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the Charts.” And you guessed it, NFTs are also in- will also make appearances as the festival Created in partnership with Jack in the volved. On April 23 the platform will launch returns. Fans can expect sets from veteran Box, the weekly series will pit a pair of DJs a non-fungible token called Music for Future icons like Rick Ross, Gucci Mane, T-Pain, in a friendly competition to see who can Dance Floors, a 10-track compilation featur- Curren$y, Fetty Wap and Wale too. create the best mashup of two songs from ing contributions from Boys Noize, Char- “We can’t wait to reunite together in across the Billboard chart portfolio. In this lotte de Witte, Sama’ Abdulhadi and Sasha. the pits we’ve all grown to love (and miss) week’s inaugural episode, we have “artre- A partnership with the Hong Kong-based so much,” producers said in a statement. preneur” and Club House Global co-founder payment and cryptocurrency platform cryp- “Many of you, like us, have been looking for- Jasmine Solano facing off with Brittany Sky, to.com, the project will also include contri- ward to Rolling Loud for months now. And a multi-hyphenate DJ, producer, and con- butions from the digital artist Leif Podha- although we may need to wait a little bit tent creator hailing from Queens, New York. jsky, who in a press release notes that NFTs longer, trust that this comeback and reunion To craft their genre-bending mashups both have”breathed new life into what it means will be even stronger.” DJs will be mixing Jazmine Sullivan’s chart- to create artwork and collect music in the For the 2021 edition, Rolling Loud will topping R&B breakup anthem “Pick Up modern age.” honor all passes for fans who held on to Your Feelings” with “Ropa Cara,” the latest “It’s clear that, even in the midst of a their 2020 tickets, and will grant refunds single from rising Latin Pop hitmaker and pandemic,” Beatport’s CEO Robb McDan- to ticketholders who are no longer able to Hot Latin Songs Chart mainstay Camilo. iels says in a statement “the DJ/Producer attend. Limited tickets for the 2021 festival A DJ’s harshest critic is the crowd on the community is willing to lead the industry will be available for sale at a date to be an- other side of the booth and it’s with that towards embracing new technology and nounced. in mind that the job of determining the innovative mediums for engaging with their “We want to extend a massive thank you winner of this week’s virtual bout is left in fans, and the world of crypto currencies and to all of our ragers who have held on to their your hands! After you check out the video non-fungible tokens are a clear example of tickets,” the statement said. Rolling Loud above, be sure to let us know who won the this fact.” said information on how to obtain a refund competition in the poll below. Before you for 2020 passes will come later this month. vote, keep in mind that if the competition’s “We are also working on sweetening the too tight and you’re having trouble pick- Post Malone, deal for those of you who choose to keep ing between our two contestants, you can your tickets in addition to the rage pack you always opt for option three and “Refuse to Megan Thee already earned from the last reschedule.” Choose.” Since having to cancel its 2020 event due Stallion & More to the global coronavirus pandemic, Rolling Loud has attempted to move its signature Beatport to Lead Rolling festival several times. The festival has ac- knowledged the issues this may have caused Accept Bitcoin Loud Miami 2021 for fans who have booked and rebooked travel. “For those of you who made hotel Payments Starting Lineup and/or travel reservations in May, we hear your travel concerns and realize that this In June, Eye NFT BY TAYLOR MIMS is not an ideal situation. Thankfully, many major airlines are not currently charging Launch olling Loud festival will return change fees, and most Miami hotels have to Miami for the first time since policies in place that allow for refunds,” BY KATIE BAIN 2019. The hip-hop festival usually Rolling Loud said in the statement. occurs in May but will move to During the pandemic, with no live show he future is now. Or at least, the RJuly 23-25 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami possibilities in sight, Rolling Loud pivoted to future is June. Gardens. the world of livestreaming, drawing millions That’s when Beatport, the elec- Returning headliners from last year’s line- of unique viewers. Rolling Loud has hosted tronic music store for DJs, pro- up include Post Malone and A$AP Rocky. three multi-day “Loud Stream” festivals Tducers and dance fans, will start accepting This year’s festival will also see perfor- on Twitch, with headliners such as Trip- payments in Bitcoin in addition to dollars. mances from Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, pie Redd, Swae Lee, Gunna, Ski Mask The This development will make the online store 21 Savage, DaBaby, Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert Slump God, Fetty Wap, and Lil Skies. The the first major digital music retailer to ac- and Playboi Carti. Roddy Ricch, Rod Wave, festival also uses its official Twitch channel cept Bitcoin, which currently trade for more Lil Tjay, Pooh Shiesty, Polo G, Ski Mask to drive and comment on rap culture, wel- than $55,000 apiece. The Slump God, City Girls and Coi Leray coming special guests to weekly program- Page 15 of 23

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ming including The Rotation, The Leak, Got Give It to Ya” returns at No. 46, a new peak, the business in the era I did and you try to Bars? and more. after it hit No. 68 in April 2003. “Party” tell anybody anything, they say, ‘stay in your enters Streaming Songs at No. 45 (9.2 mil- lane,’” says Stone in a wide-ranging Zoom lion, up 402%) and Digital Song Sales at No. chat with Billboard in which she proudly DMX Scores 3 (15,600, up 638%), while “X” arrives on the notes that she’s agent-less these days, lists at No. 35 (10 million, up 486%) and No. which explains why she’s bursting out of Highest-Charting 7 (10,700, up 763%), respectively. the boxes Hollywood tried to confine her to Before this week, DMX had last appeared for decades. Stone says she’s been writing Hot 100 Hit as on the Hot 100 in July 2004, as featured on songs for years — including what the self- Yung Wun’s No. 76-peaking “Tear It Up,” proclaimed “huge” hip-hop head describes ‘Ruff Ryders’ also featuring Lil Flip and David Banner. as a “duffel-bag” full of unheard rap and pop As a lead artist, he had last appeared on the lyrics — but that she long considered that Anthem’ Returns chart in October 2003 with “Where The her “side hustle.” Hood At” (No. 68 peak). Stone ticks off a list of songs she’s written BY XANDER ZELLNER (or co-written) that we may not know about, including one about her eldest son, Roan, hree of DMX’s seminal tracks re- How Sharon the 2016 smoldering ballad “For You,” per- enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart formed by Schiller with Tawgs Salter which (dated April 24), with his ‘90s Stone’s was on a No. 1 album in Germany. She also classic “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” re- notes a 2012 co-write on an epic romantic Tturning at No. 16, marking the late rapper’s Songwriting Side ballad with Argentinian pop star Beto Cue- best career showing on the survey. vas called “Eterno,” as well as a few tracks The groundbreaking rapper (real name: Hustle Helped she wrote in the early 2000s with Grammy- Earl Simmons) died April 9 in White Plains, nominated Swedish songwriter Jörgen New York, after suffering a heart attack on Hayley Sales Find Elofsson (known for Kelly Clarkson’s April 2. He was 50. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”). “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” originally reached Her Groove “I’ve written classical, rap, country No. 94 on the Hot 100 in February 1999. It music... I just wrote a super beautiful song now outpaces The Lox’s “Money, Power & BY GIL KAUFMAN for Diana Krall and her husband [Elvis Respect” (on which DMX was featured with Costello],” Stone says of her previously quiet Lil Kim), which climbed to No. 17 in May f you thought Sharon’s Stone’s most but clearly prolific second gig. Piano-based 1998, to become DMX’s highest-charting basic instinct was to play fierce wom- pop singer Sales, on the other hand, has song among 15 Hot 100 entries. en on screen, then clearly you haven’t been plugging away at a music career for “Anthem” also enters the Streaming Songs heard “Never Before.” The Oscar- half her life and the opportunity for her first chart at No. 14, up 477% to 16.6 million U.S. Inominated Casino legend — who recently co-write was like an unexpected gift from streams in the week ending April 15, accord- released her gripping memoir, The Beauty the lyrical heavens during a trying time. ing to MRC Data. Plus, with a 738% surge of Living Twice — is also an accomplished After losing her first recording deal with to 16,400 sold, the track debuts at No. 2 on songwriter who has been stealthily plying Universal in her native Canada a decade Digital Song Sales. It also drew 1.6 million her trade for years. ago and then being pushed into a recording in radio airplay audience in the week end- Though she first made musical noise in limbo, the singer says her initial success in ing April 18 (among the 1,300 stations that 2005 with “Come Together Now,” a benefit the music biz crashed hard during a period report to the all-format Radio Songs chart). for victims of Hurricane Katrina she co- where she was contractually barred from The single was produced and co-written wrote featuring Celine Dion, Wyclef Jean, releasing new music. Then, amid her floun- (with DMX) by Swizz Beatz and appears on Patti LaBelle and others, Stone tells Bill- dering, the singer/actress says an actor friend DMX’s debut LP It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, board that she’s been writing songs in quiet told her they knew someone who was look- which re-enters the Billboard 200 at No. for many years, just waiting for the right ing for the right person to co-write a song 46 with 14,000 equivalent album units (up moment to share her talents with a wider with, something Sales had never tried before. 485%). The set debuted at No. 1 in June 1998 audience. That time is now thanks to singer “So I pick up the phone and it’s Sharon and had last appeared on the chart in May Hayley Sales, whose modern jazz vocal and I almost fell into a bush I was so ex- 2000. ballad “Never Before” is a moving tribute cited,” says Sales, calling from her parent’s Additionally, DMX’s “Party Up (Up in to the Tin Pan Alley era courtesy of Stone’s blueberry farm on Vancouver Island where Here)” re-enters the Hot 100 at No. 40, after evocative lyrics. she’s finishing songs for the long-awaited it reached No. 27 in April 2000, and “X Gon’ “When you are me and you come up in follow-up to her 2010 folk pop album, When Page 16 of 23

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the Bird Became a Book. Surrounded by mon and the Notorious B.I.G. from pitching fluffy newborn chicks and sounding full of tracks to everyone from DMC of Run-D.M.C. WME to Manage renewed hope, the ebullient singer describes — backstage at the Ellen show five years being blown away by Stone’s kindness, lack ago, where she teased him with a “very sexy the Estate of of pretentiousness and focus on what would club song” featuring the hook “I lionize best serve her voice. you/ Do you lionize me?” — to cooking up a Notorious B.I.G. Sales describes growing up on the farm long, lyrical 1800s-era Irish poem epic she loving Judy Garland and music from the wishes she could get on Ed Sheeran’s radar. BY TAYLOR MIMS 1940s, which concerned her hippie parents, But with Sales, Stone says her goal was to but which Stone immediately understood act simply as a “worthy conduit” to give the ME has signed a deal while picking up on the singer’s anxiety singer a Gershwin-esque song that would to manage the estate of about the musical failure to launch. Stone perfectly match her spirit. late rapper Notorious dug in deep with a series of questions to find With throwback lyrics that allude to B.I.G. The agency’s newly out where Sales wanted to go. “tussle and sweat” and getting up to “some- establishedW Legends group will partner with “She was having really tremendous thing naughty,” the pair definitely landed on the rapper’s mother Ms. Voletta Wallace trouble lifting off and I eventually said to a narrative that harkens back to a simpler and the family of the Estate of the Notorious her, ‘Okay, if all that was scrapped and you time based on a spare melody Sales made up B.I.G. had just one song that was going to define on the spot at Stone’s house. “We wanted to This announcement builds upon WME’s you and you’re going to walk out on stage, write a love song, but not a typical one,” says existing roster of marquee estates includ- tell me what that looks like,’” Stone says Sales. “Just a moment, just that velvet creep- ing Andy Kaufman, Eartha Kitt, Peter Tosh, in revisiting her attempt to get into Sales’ ing up every single inch of your skin when the CBGB brand and Ram Dass’ Love Serve frame of mind during the 2013 writing ses- you’re so in love and excited.” Remember Foundation. WME also works sion at her house. “What happens when you The result is a track that fits squarely into with longtime estate clients Agatha Christie, perform that song? What are you wearing? the Great American Songbook lane thanks F. Scott Fitzgerald, Donna Summer, August What does the stage look like, how is it lit? to straightforward lyrics and a heart-swoon- Wilson, Isaac Asimov, Edward Albee, Abe What’s the tone? Where are you performing ing melody that achieved their goal of telling Burrows and Terrence McNally. and what is the audience doing?” an elegant, no-fuss love story. “It just came Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a. Christopher Wal- Like a musical therapist, Stone began together and we were like, ‘Oh! Stop it!’” lace) was a four-time Grammy nominee building a narrative, asking Sales to start says Sales of the ease with which Stone’s lyr- who gained success as a solo artist after in the dressing room and make her way to ics and her music instantly connected. “We releasing his first single, “Juicy.” He soon the spotlight in a satin gown and imagine were both just in the right place to write followed it up with his debut album Ready singing that song in front of an audience. that song at that moment.” to Die in 1994, which peaked at No. 15 on That vision quest led to them realizing that For now, Stone says she has no interest the Billboard 200 chart. He then produced it needed to be a kind of modern romantic in trying to take center stage as a singer or two more hit singles (“Big Poppa” and “One standard, but one that didn’t predictably performer, but is eager to keep collaborating More Chance”) for the album, which helped center on the male gaze. “I was in this and writing with other artists as she hones revitalize the East Coast hip hop scene. terrible place and Sharon was asking me, her songwriting skills. “It’s Hayley’s song In 1995, Biggy Smalls formed protégé ‘Who are you and what do you really want and it’s her star... I just want to be that spirit group Junior M.A.F.I.A. which propelled to sing?’” says thirtysomething Sales, who guide that says, ‘if that’s the right thing rapper Lil Kim into the spotlight. describes herself as a lifelong hopeless let me help you make the right fork in the On March 9, 1997, the rapper was shot and romantic who has spent decades creating road,’” says the movie legend. killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. imaginary worlds that crumbled around her Sales filmed the video for the song — out His legacy has been kept alive via posthu- due to the contractual issue. now on Worldsound/Ingrooves/UMG — in mous releases including 1997’s Life After “What’s so cool is finding someone who her family bedroom, playing the entranc- Death, 1999’s Born Again and 2005’s Duets: is empathetic and in touch with their own ing melody on her childhood piano. “I’m The Final Chapter. The artist has over 28 story and then intuitively trying to find what insanely driven and bossy as hell, but I think million RIAA Certified albums sold and five my story was,” she says of Stone. The ac- especially this song and a lot of the upcom- billion streams worldwide. tress, who plays a bit of piano and harmon- ing record I’m trying to be as me as possible Documentaries and films have been made ica, says she doesn’t have any real formal and I’m incredibly vulnerable. There practi- chronicling Biggie’s life, including Fox songwriting training but just kind of feels cally is no armor, just chinks and I don’t Searchlight’s, Notorious, Netflix’s Biggie: her way through it by “directing” musicians want to lose that, even though the industry I Got a Story to Tell and Saban Film’s City and singers based on her musical gut. asks you to,” says Sales. Of Lies starring Johnny Depp and Forest That hasn’t stopped the “big fan” of Com- Watch “Never Before” below. Whitaker. All three films were produced by Page 17 of 23

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Voletta Wallace and B.I.G’s former manager gard especially notable for the practice, as “You” is Owen’s first top 10 since “Home- Wayne Barrow. Further cementing B.I.G’s well as Dolly Parton. made,” which reached No. 5 in March 2020. legacy, his childhood street, St James Place Swift’s updated Fearless becomes her The latter also became Owen’s eighth No. 1 in Brooklyn was renamed after him and he sixth No. 1 on Top Country Albums and first on Country Airplay. was inducted into the 2020 Rock and Roll since Red in 2012-13, after which she segued ‘GOOD’ GOING Country Airplay is led Hall of Fame. more fully to pop. Concurrently, the new for a second week by Gabby Barrett’s “The LP roars in as her eighth No. 1 on the all- Good Ones.” Her second consecutive career- genre Billboard 200. opening No. 1, which increased by 13% to With ‘Fearless With 291,000 units earned, Swift’s new 29.6 million, marks the first multi-week set scores the largest week for any album in leader by a woman since Maren Morris’ (Taylor’s Version),’ 2021. It passes the arrival of Morgan Wal- “The Bones” ruled for two frames in Febru- len’s Dangerous: The Double Album (265,000 ary 2020. Taylor Swift units, Jan. 23). Plus, Fearless (Taylor’s ‘HELL,’ YEAH Eric Church’s “Hell of a Version) earns the largest week for a View” becomes his 16th Country Airplay top Scores First Top country album since Luke Bryan’s Kill the 10. Church raises “Hell” 13-8, up 15% to 17.8 Lights opened with 345,000 units in August million in audience. Country Albums 2015. NOT A ‘NOBODY’ Plus, Dylan Scott adds Swift further scores the biggest debut his third Country Airplay top 10 as “No- No. 1 Since ‘Red’ streaming week for a country album by a body” climbs 12-9 (17.4 million, up 6%). He woman: 143 million on-demand streams of last hit the upper tier with “Hooked,” which BY JIM ASKER the new release’s tracks, shattering Maren snagged a No. 2 peak in September 2018. Morris’ former record of 24 million streams aylor Swift soars in at No. 1 earned by Girl in its first week in March on Billboard’s Top Country 2019. Morris helped hand over the mark: Miranda Lambert Albums chart (dated April 24) she’s featured on the new album’s “You with Fearless (Taylor’s Version). All Over Me (Taylor’s Version) (From the & Elle King Lead TReleased April 9, the set earned 291,000 Vault).” equivalent album units, with 179,000 in Over on the Hot Country Songs chart, Top-Selling Songs sales, in its first week, ending April 15, ac- which blends airplay, sales and streaming cording to MRC Data. data, Swift tallies 18 entries from her new Performed on Fearless (Taylor’s Version) includes 26 set, the most ever in a week by a woman tracks, including re-recordings of all 13 (besting her own prior high of 12 in Novem- 2021 ACM Awards songs on the original Fearless, which was re- ber 2012, thanks to the debut of Red). leased in November 2008. The new set also Leading her haul, Swift nets her 26th Hot BY KEITH CAULFIELD features six bonus songs added to a 2009 Country Songs top 10 as “Mr. Perfectly Fine reissue of Fearless (dubbed the Platinum (Taylor’s Version)” rockets 20-2. It drew 14.2 he 2021 Academy of Country Edition) and Swift’s 2010 single “Today Was million U.S. streams and starts atop Country Music Awards helped push a 317% a Fairytale.” Streaming Songs, marking her fifth leader. sales gain for the songs performed The new LP further houses six newly- On the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, “Fine” on the show, according to initial recorded “From the Vault” songs that were flies 90-30, becoming Swift’s 80th top 40 Treports to MRC Data. written for the original Fearless album but hit, the most among women and a sum Altogether, the songs performed on the were never released until now. surpassed overall only by Drake (119), Lil April 18 CBS broadcast sold 28,600 down- The original Fearless debuted at No. 1 on Wayne (84) and Elvis Presley (81, dating to loads on the day of the show in the U.S. – up the Top Country Albums chart dated Nov. the chart’s August 1958 inception). Plus, five 317% compared to the 6,800 they sold on 29, 2008. It proceeded to rule for 35 weeks, songs from the new album debut, upping April 17. the seventh-longest reign in the chart’s 57- Swift’s total to 136 career entries, extending Further sales gains are possible on April year history. her record for the most among women. 19. Any news on continued sales increases, Fearless (Taylor’s Version) is the only No. ‘MADE FOR’ THE TOP 10 Jake Owen as well as significant streaming gains for 1 album of its kind, an artist’s re-recording earns his 12th Hot Country Songs top 10 as the performed songs will be reported in the of one of its own (or another’s) albums. It’s “Made for You” jumps 11-4, up 65% to 6.5 mil- coming days. worth noting, however, that other country lion streams and 6% to 1,900 sold. On Coun- Here are the top 10 selling songs per- artists have long re-recorded songs from try Airplay, it surges 6-2 for a new high, up by formed on the show, on April 18, according their respective catalogs, with Merle Hag- 15% to 25.6 million audience impressions. to initial reports: Page 18 of 23

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Elle King and Miranda Lambert, “Drunk Banc of California Stadium, after the first (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home) (3,000 sold two shows sold-out in rapid time. ‘Grammys on on April 18; up 267%) According to reps for the act, more than Gabby Barrett, “The Good Ones” (2,300; up 50,000 tickets sold out in a matter of min- the Hill’ Awards 25%) utes. Little Big Town, “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” Another 25,000 tickets went on sale Returning to D.C. (2,000; up 360%) Monday, extending a run of shows that will Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris, “Chasing take place Nov. 12, 13 and 14 in downtown This Fall After You” (1,900; up 613%) L.A. Fellow ARIA Award-winning produc- Luke Combs, “Forever After All” (1,700; up ers Flight Facilities will support on all BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN 218%) dates. Chris Stapleton, “Maggie’s Song” (1,600; up “We are blown away by the response to he Recording Academy’s annual 887%) our Los Angeles stadium shows,” Rüfüs Du Grammys on the Hill Awards will Thomas Rhett, “What’s Your Country Song” Sol’s James Hunt tells Billboard via email. return to Washington, D.C. this (1,600; up 348%) “L.A. has become a second home to us and year, the organization announced Alan Jackson, “You’ll Always Be My Baby” we’ve shared so many special moments Ttoday. Last year’s edition was canceled as a (1,100; up 994%) together here over the years. The city and result of the coronavirus pandemic. Carly Pearce and Lee Brice, “I Hope You’re our fans here have given us so much and The in-person 2021 ceremony is slated to Happy Now” (1,100; up 867%) we can’t wait to show you what we’ve been be held Wednesday, September 22 at The Kenny Chesney, “Knowing You” (1,100; up working on.” Hamilton in D.C. Formal invitations and full 386%) Hunt and his bandmates Tyrone Lindqvist details – including health and safety proto- The ACM Awards are produced by Dick and Jon George have made good use of their cols – will arrive this summer. Clark Productions, which is owned by MRC. time off the road. The critically-lauded “The Recording Academy and our mem- MRC and Penske Media are co-parent com- outfit have written and recorded “plenty of bers continued to advocate for advance- panies of Billboard. new music which fans can expect to hear ments in music policy and crucial support soon,” reads a statement from their record for creators during the COVID crisis. We company, Warner Music Australia. did this in a completely new way—virtually,” Rufus Du Sol Adds Rüfüs Du Sol play in that space between said Harvey Mason Jr., chair and interim chill and epic highs, and their tunes have president/CEO of the Recording Academy, Third Los Angles touched all the right spots with fans and in a statement. “The return of live music, critics. gigs and touring is on the horizon, and we Concert, Promises Their third and most recent studio album, are eager to bring music back to Washington 2018’s Solace, set the Sydneysiders on a glob- and celebrate the accomplishments of the ‘Plenty of New al path. The album was nominated for two last 20 years with our congressional allies. Grammy Awards (for best dance/electronic It’s a score worth singing and celebrating.” Music’ to Come album and best dance recording) and three This year’s Grammys on the Hill Awards ARIA Awards (winning for best dance re- will honor two congressional leaders for BY LARS BRANDLE lease) and was voted as the best electronic their contributions to the creative commu- album of 2018 by Billboard’s Dance. nity, as well as one artist for their commit- or Rüfüs Du Sol, the California Solace peaked at No. 6 on Top Dance/ ment to advancing music initiatives, accord- desert and Socal’s major hub Electronic Albums chart and reached No. ing to a release. served as the ultimate getaway 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart and The annual Grammys on the Hill Awards during the pandemic, a home- the ARIA Albums Chart. is traditionally followed by a grassroots Faway-from home for creating music and Previous LPs Atlas (from 2013) advocacy day, when Recording Academy making new friends. and Bloom (2016) went to No. 1 in Australia. members meet with Congressional repre- Over the past 12 months, the Australian sentatives to discuss issues affecting music electronic act split time between studios in creators. Normally taking place in April, last Joshua Tree, where they cut the live album year’s Grammys on the Hill was canceled and film, Live at Joshua Tree; and Los Ange- and turned into a virtual, seven-week “Sum- les, a city that now feels like home. mer of Advocacy” that culminated with a It would seem, L.A. is happy to have them. District Advocate event on August 12. Rüfüs Du Sol this week added a third date to their November headline run at L.A.’s Page 19 of 23

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he recorded in collaboration with Michelob (From the Vault”), feat. Maren Morris Justin Bieber, Ultra Pure Gold to toast to its first-ever or- No. 75, “You Belong With Me (Taylor’s Ver- ganic lager brewed with 100 percent renew- sion)” Maluma & More able electricity from solar power. No. 88, “Fifteen (Taylor’s Version)” During “Earth Day! The Musical,” Face- No. 94, “The Way I Love You (Taylor’s Ver- Joining Bill Nye book will roll out its #RestoreOurEarth- sion)” Challenge, which calls on international With 47 weeks atop the Artist 100, dating for Facebook’s viewers to share pictures, videos and other to the chart’s 2014 inception, Swift extends social media posts about the steps they’re her record over runner-up Drake (32). The ‘Earth Day! taking to combat climate change on Earth Weeknd (22), BTS (16) and Ariana Grande Day this year. (15) round out the top five most frequent The Musical’: “Earth Day! The Musical” will air Thurs- visitors to the summit. day at noon ET on Facebook Watch. DMX debuts at No. 2 on the Artist 100, Exclusive sparked by gains for his catalog in the first full tracking week after his death on April 9. BY HERAN MAMO Taylor Swift He re-enters three songs on the Hot 100, led by “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” at No. 16, now the ill Nye the Science Guy is calling Extends Record highest-charting song of his career. on Justin Bieber, Maluma and DMX also charts three albums on the Bill- more superstar musicians to raise Atop Artist 100 board 200, paced by The Best of DMX at No. awareness about climate change 2 (77,000 equivalent album units, up 544%). Bfor an Earth Day-centered Facebook Watch Chart, DMX Plus, Polo G surges from No. 51 to No. 6 on special, Billboard can exclusively reveal. the Artist 100, as his new single “Rapstar” “Earth Day! The Musical,” formed in part- Debuts at No. 2 launches at No. 1 on the Hot 100, marking nership with Facebook Watch and EARTH- his first leader. He peaked at No. 2 on the DAY.org, follows the TV science educator BY XANDER ZELLNER Artist 100 in May 2020 concurrent with the as he teams up with Bieber and more to chart start of his LP The Goat. share with their fans what part they can play aylor Swift jumps from No. 12 to The Artist 100 measures artist activity in restoring our Earth. Nye will also pass No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 across key metrics of music consumption, the mic to young climate activists discuss- chart (dated April 24), reigning as blending album and track sales, radio air- ing what work they’ve been doing to help the top musical act in the U.S. for play, streaming and social media fan interac- the planet, including Alexia Akbay, CEO and Ta record-extending 47th week thanks to her tion to provide a weekly multi-dimensional co-founder of Symbrosia, a Hawaii-based new album Fearless (Taylor’s Version). ranking of artist popularity. startup using seaweed to reduce livestock The set debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard For all chart news, you can follow @bill- methane; Jerome Foster II, the youngest 200 with 291,000 equivalent album units board and @billboardcharts on both Twitter member of the Biden White House Envi- earned, according to MRC Data, the largest and Instagram. ronmental Justice Advisory Council at age week for any album this year. The LP lands 18; and Xiye Bastida, a Mexican-Chilean Swift her ninth No. 1, tying Madonna for the climate activist and one of the lead organiz- second-most among women, after Barbra ers of the Fridays for Future youth climate Streisand’s 11. strike movement in New York. Swift also sends nine songs onto the Bill- Other A-list musical guests who board Hot 100 (with all from her latest LP will be featured in the special in- except her former No. 1 “Willow,” from last clude Ben Platt, Charli and Dixie year’s Evermore). Here’s a recap. D’Amelio, CNCO, Cody Simpson, Idina Hot 100 Rank, Title: Menzel, Jack Harlow, Steve Aoki, and Tori No. 30, “Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor’s Ver- Kelly. Zac Efron, Desus Nice and The Kid sion) (From the Vault)” Mero, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Karamo No. 52, “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” Brown, Nick Kroll and more are also slated No. 62, “Willow” to appear. No. 65, “Forever & Always (Taylor’s Ver- On Monday (April 19), Maluma surprised sion)” fans with his freshly minted Earth Day No. 71, “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” anthem “Rumba (Puro Oro Anthem)” that No. 72, “You All Over Me (Taylor’s Version) Page 20 of 23

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equivalent album units and streaming equiv- tions (a little over 32,000), Paul McCart- Ariana Grande’s alent album units. The new April 24-dated ney’s McCartney III (nearly 32,000; Jan. Top Album Sales chart (where Fearless 2, 2021) and Lana Del Rey’s Chemtrails ‘Positions’ Posts [Taylor’s Version] debuts to No. 1) will be Over the Country Club (just under 32,000; posted in full on Billboard’s website on April April 3). Positions also bows at No. 1 on the Big Vinyl Sales, 20. For all chart news, follow @billboard weekly Vinyl Albums chart. and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and At No. 3 on Top Album Sales, Brock- Jumps 79-2 on Instagram. Hampton’s new studio album Roadrunner: Of Fearless [Taylor’s Version]’s debut sales New Light, New Machine debuts with a Billboard’s Top of 179,000, physical album sales comprise little more than 15,000 copies sold. It’s just 98,000 of that figure (all in CD sales) while ahead of Carrie Underwood’s former No. Album Sales digital album sales comprise 81,000. The 1 My Savior, with 15,000 sold (down 51% album’s first-week sales were enhanced by in its third week). My Savior is also the Chart the availability of a Target-exclusive edition third-biggest selling album of 2021, with of the CD with expanded packaging. 114,000 copies sold. Ahead of it are Fearless BY KEITH CAULFIELD Fearless [Taylor’s Version] is due out (Taylor’s Version), with 179,000 and Morgan on cassette tape in June, with its vinyl LP Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album with aylor Swift’s Fearless (Taylor’s release slated for Nov. 19. It’s not unusual for 218,000. Version) debuts at No. 1 on Bill- some albums to have their vinyl and cassette DMX’s The Best of DMX, released in 2010, board’s Top Album Sales chart editions arrive months after a set’s initial makes its chart debut at No. 5 with 9,000 (dated April 24) with the year’s commercial release on CD and download – copies sold (up 733%). The greatest hits Tbiggest sales week, 179,000 copies sold in like Fearless [Taylor’s Version] – due to the album bows on the list in the wake of DMX’s the U.S. in the week ending April 15, accord- lengthy manufacturing time required. death on April 9. In total, the set has sold ing to MRC Data. Fearless (Taylor’s Ver- Speaking of belated physical arriv- 248,000 copies since its release. sion) captures the largest sales week for any als… Ariana Grande’s former No. 1 Posi- Luke Bryan’s Born Here Live Here Die album since Swift’s own Folklore debuted tions zooms 79-2 on Top Album Sales thanks Here re-enters Top Album Sales at No. 6 with 615,000 copies sold (chart dated Aug. to its vinyl LP and cassette tape release on with 8,000 sold (up 1,696%) after it was reis- 8, 2020). April 9. The album was initially released on sued on April 9 with six bonus tracks. The Also in the new top 10: Ariana CD and digital download, and via streaming album was first released as a 10-song album Grande’s Positions surges 79-2 thanks services, on Oct. 30, 2020. on Aug. 7, 2020. largely to the album’s vinyl release on April Positions sold 35,000 copies in the U.S. Cheap Trick’s new studio album In An- 9, Luke Bryan’s Born Here, Live Here Die in the week ending April 15 – up 1,614% other World arrives at No. 7 on Top Album Here returns to the top 10 after its deluxe compared to the previous week’s sales Sales with 7,500 copies sold. It marks the reissue, and albums from BrockHamp- (2,000). The majority of the album’s sales in highest-charting album and first top 10 for ton, DMX and Cheap Trick debut in the the most recent week were from its vinyl LP, the band in the 29-year history of the Top region. with a little over 32,000 sold via the format Album Sales chart. In Another World is also As earlier reported, Fearless (Taylor’s (across a couple of colorful variants, includ- the week’s top-selling rock album. Version) also opens at No. 1 on the Billboard ing a glow-in-the-dark version exclusive to On the Billboard 200, In Another 200 chart. The new set is Swift’s ninth No. 1 Target). World debuts at No. 142, marking the group’s on both Top Album Sales and the Billboard Meanwhile, Positions’ CD sales totaled 22nd chart entry – dating back to 1977’s In 200. nearly 2,000 for the week, its cassette sold Color. Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks 900 copies, while downloads comprised Back on Top Album Sales, Harry Styles’ the top-selling albums of the week based under 200 copies. Positions tallies the third- former No. 1 Fine Line is pushed down only on traditional album sales. The chart’s largest sales week for a vinyl album since 5-8 despite a gain, selling 7,000 copies (up history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first MRC Data began tracking sales in 1991. 7%). Demi Lovato’s Dancing With the Devil… week Billboard began tabulating charts with Strikingly, three of the top five biggest The Art of Starting Over falls 1-9 in its second electronically monitored piece count infor- vinyl sales weeks in the MRC Data era have week with a little over 6,000 sold (down mation from SoundScan, now MRC Data. all occurred in the last four months. The 83%). Taylor Swift places a second title in the Pure album sales were the measurement biggest vinyl week is owned by the opening top 10, as her previous No. 1, Evermore, rises solely utilized by the Billboard 200 albums frame of Jack White’s Lazaretto (40,000; 26-10 with 6,000 sold (up 67%). chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, June 28, 2014-dated chart). It’s followed by after which that chart switched to a meth- the debut vinyl stanzas of Pearl Jam’s Vi- odology that blends album sales with track talogy (nearly 34,000; Dec. 10, 1994), Posi- Page 21 of 23

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“Jemele Hill Is Unbothered” by Spotify For a complete list of nominees and to BTS, Billie Eilish Studios, “The TransLash Podcast With vote for the People’s Voice Awards, vis- Imara Jones,” “Who We Are: A Chronicle of it http: vote.webbyawards.com. Voting is & Cardi B Among Racism in America” by Vox Media and “The open now and continues until May 6 at 11:59 Brown Girls Guide to Politics” by Wonder p.m. PT. Nominees for 2021 Media Network. Webby nominees are selected by the Webby Awards International Academy of Digital Arts and Luther Vandross’ Sciences. Members include Swizz Beatz and BY PAUL GREIN Timbaland, founders of Verzuz, and D-Nice, 70th Birthday DJ and founder of Club Quarantine. TS, Billie Eilish, Cardi B, John All nominees are eligible to win two dis- Saluted with Mayer and Rosalía are among tinct awards: The Webby Award, selected by the nominees for the 25th annual the Academy, and The Webby People’s Voice Google Doodle Webby Awards. The Webbys, Award, voted on by Internet fans around the Bwhich were founded in 1996, honor excel- world. Animated Video, lence on the Internet, including websites, Winners will be announced at a virtual video, advertising, media and public rela- show on May 18. Fans can watch the show, New RIAA tions, apps, mobile and voice, social, pod- hosted by actress Jameela Jamil, at Webby- casts and games. Awards.com. Clever, five-word acceptance Certifications Nominees for music, general (virtual & speeches are a hallmark of the show. remote) are “Diplo vs. The World” (Goodby “Since its inception in 1997, The Webby BY GAIL MITCHELL Silverstein & Partners), “Adult Swim Festival Awards has celebrated inspiring Internet Goes Global” (Adult Swim), “She Can STEM talent and visionary innovation,” said Claire n celebration of what would have been Concert” (Deloitte Digital), “Moses Sum- Graves, president, The Webby Awards, in a R&B mastermind Luther Vandross’ ney - Live from Planet Afropunk” (Moses statement. “The 25th Annual Webby nomi- 70th birthday today (April 20), Sony Sumney) and “Kiswe Powers BTS’ Innova- nees represent far more than innovation. Music Entertainment’s catalog divi- tive Virtual Concert ‘Map of the Soul ON:E’” Despite so much adversity this year, the Ision Legacy Recordings reveals new RIAA (Purpose Worldwide). creators behind our nominated work have certifications for four of his most memo- Other music and entertainment stars who found new and exciting ways to use their rable singles. are nominated for Webbys include Megan platforms and creativity to help the world The quartet includes “Dance with My Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, Keke Palmer, Bon stay connected.” Father” (platinum), “Here and Now” (plati- Jovi, RZA, Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey, Media organizations in contention for num), “Endless Love” (platinum) and “A James Corden, Stephen Colbert, Trevor Webby media company of the year, pre- House Is Not a Home” (gold). Noah and Samantha Bee. Legends who are sented to the media company that performs In addition, Never Too Much — the Gram- on the nominations list include Frank Sina- best across all Webby Awards categories, my-winning singer-songwriter-producer’s tra and The Rolling Stones. Nominated com- are HBO, Comedy Central, Condé Nast, Nat 1981 Epic Records solo album debut — turns panies include Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty. Geo, ViacomCBS, CNN and Vox Media. 40 this year. In honor of that anniversary, To honor the ways people have stayed Organizations receiving four or more the video for the album’s title track and connected through the Internet during the nominations this year were Google (22), Vandross’ first solo hit (No. 1 on Billboard’s COVID-19 pandemic, The Webbys an- HBO (20), Comedy Central (19), Condé Nast Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs; No. 33 on the Hot nounced nominees across a new suite of (16), National Geographic (15), Spotify (14), 100) — has been upgraded to an HD version categories for virtual events, remote experi- CNN (11), ViacomCBS (11), Vox Media (10) that’s now available. ences and virtual reality and 360. Nominees The Washington Post (9), Disney (9), Netflix “Never Too Much” also doubles as include Global Citizen’s One World: To- (9), Annapurna Interactive (8), FRONT- the soundtrack for an animated Google gether at Home, the 2020 MTV Video Music LINE (7), ABC News (7), BBC (6), Crooked Doodle as the site’s contribution to today’s Awards, Adobe MAX, Rock the Runoff Virtual Media (6), Tastemade (4), NPR (4), MTV (4) celebration. Concert, Vote With Us Virtual Rally and The and Apple (4). Acknowledging Google’s salute, the Daily Social Distancing Show With Trevor The Webby Awards received nearly 13,500 Luther Vandross Estate commented, “It is a Noah. entries from all 50 states and 70 countries true reflection of Luther Vandross’ musi- This was also a notable year for podcasts worldwide, according to a statement. From cal legacy around the world to be honored that promote diversity and inclusion. Nomi- the thousands of global entries submitted, by Google with an animated Doodle that nees include “Hear to Slay” by Luminary, fewer than 10% were selected as nominees. fittingly captures the joy Luther has brought Page 22 of 23

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the world. Luther made each of his songs Singles Chart. about one simple, universal subject — love; London Grammar The U.K.’s Official Charts are published an emotion and feeling common to the late Friday, local time. human experience no matter who you are, Hurtling to U.K. where you’re from or what you look like. No one else has expressed this emotion in song Chart Crown With Season Two of Lil to the level Luther did for over 35 years, and to have Google broadcast that around ‘Californian Soil’ Dicky’s ‘Dave’ to the world is a wonderful showcase of his im- measurable talent.” BY LARS BRANDLE Feature Lil Nas Peaking at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Al- bums and No. 19 on the Billboard 200, Never ondon Grammar are digging out X, Hailey Bieber, Too Much also includes a cover of the Burt another U.K. No. 1 with Californian Bacharach and Hal David composition “A Soil (Ministry of Sound), their Kendall Jenner House Is Not a Home.” Originally recorded third album. by Dionne Warwick in 1964, the newly LThe alternative-pop trio’s new set bolts to BY GIL KAUFMAN minted RIAA gold single is the aforemen- the lead on the midweek chart by outsell- tioned album’s only song not written by ing the rest of the Top 5 combined, the OCC he second season of the Lil Vandross whose seven-minute version of reports. Dicky FX comedy Dave will fea- the song became one of his all-time classics. Californian Soil is the market leader for ture cameos from Lil Nas X, Doja Setting the stage for Vandross’ velvety, el- sales (physical and digital) in the first half Cat, Kendall Jenner, Lil Yachty egant tenor and subsequent stardom, Never of the week, and should give the group their Tand J Balvin, among others. The often Too Much earned the singer his first two second leader following 2017’s Truth Is A cringe-inducing chronicle of the aspiring, Grammy Award nominations: best new art- Beautiful Thing. London Grammar’s self- neurotic rapper who can’t stop oversharing ist and best male R&B vocal performance. titled debut reached No. 2 on the weekly about his underwhelming qualities is slated Of the three newly platinum-certified chart in 2013. to return on June 16 at 10 p.m. on FXX with singles, 1989’s “Here and Now” gave Van- It’s an all-new Top 5 on the Official two episodes and stream the next day on FX dross his first Grammy for best male R&B Chart Update, which sees AJ Tracey’s on Hulu. vocal performance. Prior to that, the track second studio album Flu Game (Revenge The show, which became FX’s most- became the singer’s fifth No. 1 R&B single and Records) at No. 2 (it’s the most-streamed watched comedy series ever in its first first top 10 hit (No. 6) on the Hot 100. That album of the week so far); followed by The season last year, will also feature guest spots was followed in 1994 by another signature Offspring’s first new album in almost a de- from CL, Hailey Bieber, Benny Blanco, Kyle cover: his duet with Mariah Carey on “End- cade, Let The Bad Times Roll (Concord); vet- Kuzma, Rae Sremmurd (Swae Lee & Slim less Love.” Initially made famous by its writer eran Irish rock singer Imelda May’s sixth Jxmmi), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, series pro- Lionel Richie and Diana Ross in 1991, the LP 11 Past The Hour (Decca); and blues-rock ducer Kevin Hart and more. The series stars Vandross/Carey reinterpretation reached No. band Greta Van Fleet’s sophomore LP, The co-creator/executive producer/writer Dicky 2 on the Hot 100. Certified gold in October Battle at Garden’s Gate (EMI), respectively. (born Dave Burd) as Dave, along with Taylor 1994, “Endless Love” was nominated for a Taylor Swift’s current leader Fearless Misiak as Dave’s girlfriend Ally, GaTa as his Grammy the next year in the newly-created (Taylor’s Version) (EMI) looks likely to lose hype man GaTa, Andrew Santino as Dave’s category best pop collaboration with vocals. its crown after one week. It slumps 1-7 on manager and roommate Mike, Travis Ben- In remembrance of the singer’s late dad, the midweek chart. nett as childhood pal and producer Elz and “Dance with My Father” is the title track Meanwhile, a boxed set reissue of Jethro Christine Ko as Ally’s roommate Emma. from Vandross’ 2003 final studio album. The Tull’s A (Rhino) could catapult the 1980 According to a release, in season two singer’s first and only album to debut at No. album into the Top 10 for the first time. It’s Dave is still convinced he’s destined for rap 1 on the Billboard 200, it also became his at No. 8 on the chart blast. stardom, maybe. “With the pressure mount- eighth No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Al- Rounding out the Top 10 is 300 Entertain- ing as he records his debut album, he has bums chart. Co-written with Richard Marx, ment’s Slime Language 2 album, credited to decide if he’ll sacrifice friendships, love, “Dance with My Father” won Grammys for to Young Thug, Slimer Life and Gunna. and his own sense of self in order to make song of the year and best male R&B vocal Over in the singles chart race, Lil Nas his dream come true,” reads a statement. performance in 2004 before being certified X maintains his lead with “Montero” (Call “Simultaneously exasperating and inspiring gold the following year. Me By Your Name)” (Lil Nas X). It’s at No. to his friends, Dave vows to leave no stone Vandross passed away at the age of 54 on 1 on the Chart Update and is on track for a unturned on his quest to become the next July 1, 2005. fourth straight week atop the Official U.K. superstar.” Page 23 of 23

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Season one was packed with guest spots 50 is as an artist.” as well, including drop-bys from Justin 50 Cent to Star “50 is part of the Lionsgate family and Bieber, YG, Macklemore, Trippie Redd, time and again has proven to be a compel- Kourtney Kardashian, Tierra Whack, Ma- In & Executive ling presence as an actor,” stated Lionsgate’s deinTYO and Gunna, among others. motion picture group president of produc- Produce ‘Free tion, Erin Westerman. Aaron Edmonds and Scott O’Brien are BTS Revisits Agents’ Thriller overseeing the project for Lionsgate. Deon Taylor last directed thrillers Fatale, ‘Map of the Soul BY BORYS KIT which starred Michael Ealy and Hilary Swank, and Black and Blue, with Naomie ON:E’ Concert urtis “50 Cent” Jackson has come Harris and Tyrese Gibson. Among the aboard to star in and executive projects Hidden Empire has in development in New Concept produce Free Agents, a sports are Freedom Ride, a biopic on civil rights heist thriller that Deon Taylor will activist and Congressman John Lewis, and Photobook Cdirect for Lionsgate. psychological thriller Silent John, to be Taylor wrote the script with Joe Bockol directed by Aisha Tylder. BY HERAN MAMO and came up with the story. He is also pro- In addition to his Starz credits, Jackson ducing with partner Roxanne Avent Taylor executive produced the legal drama For fter nearly 1 million people via the duo’s Hidden Empire Film Group, Life and appeared in a recurring role. He across the globe watched BTS’ the indie banner that focuses on Black also starred in such hits as Den of Thieves. virtual Map of the Soul ON:E storytelling. Jackson is repped by APA and attorneys concert in October 2020, the Agents, described as a high concept Eric Feig and Stephen Savva. K-popA group is ready to flip back through sports action heist thriller, tells of a group This article was originally published those memories in their new photobook. of professional football players who come by The Hollywood Reporter. On Tuesday (April 20), BTS shared together to steal from the team owners who solo cuts from their Map of the Soul ON:E as exploiting them. concept photobook and a 49-second video The story focuses on a journeyman player of the seven sparkling members coming who gets his last shot at his dream but just together as one under a shower of confetti as he starts to find some on field success, is while the “We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal” lured into a dangerous crime ring with some lyric “Yeah we are not seven, with you” of his teammates that threatens his dream, plays as the closer. his family, and his safety. Their two-day virtual concert last Jackson will play the leader of the ring, fall, which featured impressive 23-song a veteran linebacker who pulls the young setlists, drew a total of 993,000 viewers from player into his dangerous scheme to get 191 countries, according to a post-concert back at league owners. release. “Kiswe Powers BTS’ Innovative The casting builds on the studio’s rela- Virtual Concert ‘Map of the Soul ON:E’” is tionship with Jackson, who is the executive nominated in the music, general (virtual producer of the Power Universe franchise, & remote) category at the 2021 Webby made by Lionsgate-owned cable network Awards. Starz. The crime series franchise currently “The concert crossed countless emotions. includes the hit series, Power Book II: Ghost, Our first march began with seven boys who as well as the series Black Mafia Family and gathered for a small dream. And together, the next Power-verse installment, Power we will march on forever, each of us waving Book III: Raising Kanan. flags of various colors and singing different “50 has been legendary in all ways I have stories in different languages. BTS is not a been extremely impressed by his amazing story of only seven, but is about you, me and energy on screen and his ability to light up everyone,” the septet wrote in their post- every scene he is in,” said Deon Taylor in a concert statement. statement. “I truly believe this extremely Watch BTS’ official preview for their “Map complex role will truly allow the world to of the Soul ON:E” concept photobook below. understand just how unbelievably talented