The Concert Business Was Expecting a 'Hot Vax'

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INSIDE The Concert Business Was

• Split Decisions: Expecting a ‘Hot Vax’ Summer, Olivia Rodrigo Has Given Up Millions in But It’s a Hot Mess Instead Publishing Royalties BY DAVE BROOKS • Bonnaroo 2021 Festival Canceled Back in March, veteran country concert pro- to wear masks or prove they’ve been vaccinated pose • Wave and Riot moter Louis Messina was thrilled when George even greater risks. (T-Mobile Arena doesn’t currently Games Bring Virtual Strait sold out his Aug. 13 and 14 comeback shows require either.) Metal Band Pentakill at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. On the nights of the Since April, when sold out an arena to Online Stage Bad Bunny concerts, however, Messina noticed that the no-show tour in record time, promoters, artists and fans • In Its Debut Year, rate was a staggering 20%, far higher than the 1% to alike were expecting the concert business to return ARC Music Festival Is 2% he says is typical for the venue. And no-shows this summer, get back to normal by 2022 and thrive Featuring All Flavors don’t only mean less revenue from food and merchan- on pent-up demand. Instead, uncertainty is back: of House in the Genre’s Hometown dise — they make promoters nervous about future COVID-19 cases are rising, vaccines don’t provide ticket sales. perfect protection, and parents of children under 12 • CMA & ACM For over a year, Messina, who partners with AEG, may be worried about catching the virus at a show and Respond to Bobby had kept tours off the road, paying his staff $9 million spreading the delta variant at home. That uncer- Bones’ Claims About ‘Manipulated’ in salary without any revenue coming in (money he tainty seems to be affecting demand: There’s growing Awards Show Voting later recouped from the Shuttered Venue Operators evidence that ticket sales are slowing for indoor arena Grant program). Now the concert business is back to concerts. • Walker Hayes’ work, but a significant number of fans aren’t ready to Messina’s suggested solution: Require fans, artists ‘Fancy’ Applebee’s Ad Reinforces Brand show up. and crew members who enter concert venues to show Interest In Country “People’s fears haven’t subsided as much as we they’ve been vaccinated. “If we don’t do something Music had hoped,” says Messina, “and they’re walking away about this slowdown in the business,” he says, “we’re from events.” Breakthrough cases are driving concern no longer going to have a business.” But that’s easier • BILLBOARD 200 about contracting COVID-19, even among the vac- said than done, since there’s still plenty of pushback CLICK cinated, and concerts where attendees aren’t required (continued)

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against vaccine and mask mandates, which change their laws, but I cannot skip much amphitheater/stadium tour that started have been highly politicized. Requiring vac- more than that,” says Messina. “This issue Aug. 23 has plummeted as cases of the delta cines is now banned by executive order or has been so politicized that it’s impos- variant spike, according to concert data site legislation in 20 states. sible for some artists to take a side.” That’s TicketIQ, with prices for many shows drop- Still, hundreds of U.S. venues have already especially true in genres like country, where ping by 40%. The Eagles, who can typically enacted such mandates and thousands some artists have significant conservative sell out a tour in days, took much longer more are on the way. In August, promotion fan bases. than usual to fully sell their 21-date Hotel giants Live Nation and AEG Presents said Part of the problem is that no one wants California tour. they would require fans to show proof of to play the heavy — especially to fans who A vaccine mandate is still a worthy goal vaccination to attend shows at venues they have already purchased tickets. “It’s even — it could have significant public health own, as well as at concerts and festivals more difficult when the concert was -an benefits and reassure fans that promoters they produce. And most of the more than nounced without a vaccine requirement are doing everything they can to keep events 7,000 independent venues that received and we’re trying to implement them after safe. But there’s an increasing acknowledge- government assistance under the Shut- the fact,” says Red Light Management ment that the idea the pandemic would end tered Venue Operator Grants program have founder Coran Capshaw. “There has to be swiftly and definitively may have been wish- joined regional groups that mandate vaccine a cultural moment when most people in the ful thinking. requirements for concerts. business overwhelmingly support this idea.” “We’re going to get to a point where we That still leaves most arenas and stadi- A concert-business vaccine mandate learn to live with the virus,” says Capshaw, ums, though. In the United States, about 100 would significantly decrease the chances who thinks promoters will be able to incen- to 200 arenas and 30 to 50 stadiums host the of fans contracting COVID-19 at shows, tivize fans to get vaccinated and use data to vast majority of the tours that play venues and potentially make ticket buyers more minimize viral spread. “We’re having really of that size, and without a national mandate, confident. But even that wouldn’t provide good business out there.” Capshaw believes promoters that want to book them face an the kind of 100% protection that some that some of the tour cancellations attrib- array of state and regional regulations. New promoters were hoping would bring the uted to COVID-19 may have less to do with York and California currently require events pandemic to a definitive end. While vaccines caution than with soft sales in a crowded of 5,000 or more to check the vaccine status provide significant protection against the market. In some cases, when too many of attendees, for example, while the gover- kinds of serious COVID-19 cases that can shows went on sale at once or there wasn’t nors of Texas and Florida have issued execu- lead to hospitalization or death, they don’t enough time to sell enough tickets to make tive orders that ban such mandates. The offer complete immunity from contracting the tour profitable, “tying it to COVID isn’t touring industry can’t resume at full scale or spreading the virus. That means going appropriate. It’s bullshit. We have enough without these venues, which account for up to a concert still comes with some risk, challenges in this business; we don’t need to to $10 billion in ticket sales each year, Bill- which is affecting consumer confidence. do that.” board estimates. Demand on the secondary market for Dead The roaring comeback that some industry “I can skip Texas and Florida if they don’t & Company’s highly anticipated 29-date executives envisioned may not come to pass,

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BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE APRIL 13, 2020 | PAGE Page 4 5 OF of 1924

ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] IN BRIEF SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country but ACapshawlbu saysms; that “early, Brett well-attended Young added writing ‘Catc splits onh her’-es songs due Fifth to $2.4 Airplay million in global publishing royal- shows” give him hope that a recovery is be- similarities between her work and other ties, Billboard estimates, accounting for ginning. “I’mLea optimisticder; that the Travis full picture previouslyDenning released songs. Makes In July, Ro- Historystreaming, sales, and some airplay activities will show we’re making progress.” drigo shared credits on her second single, from MRC Data, but excluding synchroniza- A version of this article appears in the Aug. “deja vu,” with Taylor Swift, Jack An- tion payments, radio airplay from outside Sam28, 2021, Hunt issue’s second of Billboard. studio full-length, and first in overtonoff five, andyears, SouthsideAnnie Clark sales (also (up known 21%) in as theSt. tracking the week. U.S, On and Country general Airplay, licensing. it hops This 18-15 means (11.9 mil - (MCA Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville), debutsVincent at No. 1) on for Billboard its reminiscence’s lion audience of Swift’s impressions, Williamsup 16%). and Farro share about $1.2 million Top Country Albums chart dated April 18. In its first “Cruelweek (ending Summer” April 9), from it 2019’s Lover. in royalties so far for “good 4 u,” the same earned 46,000 equivalent album units, including 16,000 in album sales, ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITH YOUNG Brett Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cordingSplit to Nielsen Decisions: Music/MRC Data. That also followed Rodrigoand total grant Country- Airplay No.amount 1 as “Catch” also shared (Big Machine by Nigro Label and Group) Rodrigo. ascends Southside marks Hunt’s second No. 1 on the ing Swift and Antonoff writing credits on 2-1,Although increasing the 13% addition to 36.6 ofmillion Williams impressions. and chartOlivia and fourth Rodrigotop 10. It follows freshman Has LP the album cut “1 step forward, 3 steps back” FarroYoung’s was retroactive, first of six chart sources entries, say “Sleepthe Para With- - Montevallo, which arrived at the summit in No - before SOUR’s release for including an in- moreout You,” team reached had been No. in 2 touchin December with Rodrigo’s 2016. He vember 2014 and reigned for nine weeks. To date, terpolation of Swift’s 2017 Reputation track aboutfollowed the withsingle the prior multiweek to its No.release. 1s “In Case You MontevalloGiven has earned Up 3.9 millionMillions units, with 1.4 Didn’t Know” (two weeks, June 2017), “Like I Loved million in album sales. “New Year’s Day.” (Fans have also noted You”With (three, “deja January vu,” which 2018), earned “Mercy” at (two, least August $1.3 inMontevallo Publishing has spent 267 weeks on the list, tying similarities between the guitar riff on the al- million2018) and in worldwide“Here Tonight” publishing (two, April royalties 2019). Luke Bryan’s Crash My Party as the sixth-longest- bum’s opener “Brutal” and Elvis Costello’s ($1.26“Catch” million completes of which his waslongest made journey in the to No. 1, runningRoyalties titles in the chart’s 56-year history. 1978 hit “Pump It Up,” but Costello tweeted U.S.), havingBillboard taken 46estimates, Swift’s weeks to reach the writing apex. It out- On the all-genre Billboard 200, Southside ar- paces the 30-week climb of “Here Tonight.” in response, “this is fine by me. It’s how team was retroactively granted 50% of the rives at No. 5, awarding Hunt his second top 10 On Hot Country Songs, “Catch” pushes 7-5 for HUNT YOUNG afterBY KRISTIN the No. 3-peaking ROBINSON Montevallo. rock & roll works” and will not be seeking songwritinga new high. credit for the single. Swift has Hunt first released the EPX2C , which debuted writing credit.) 25%, Antonoff has 20%, and Clark has 5% and peaked atlivia No. Rodrigo 5 on Top hasn’tCountry been Albums shy in AugustAll 2014. of these Following interpolations COMBS have ‘DOES’ proven IT AGAIN Lukefor theCombs interpolation’ “Does to Me” of (Rivertheir workHouse/Columbia on “Cruel Montevallo, Betweenabout sharing the Pines: her Acoustic musical Mixtape influ- startedcostly at itsfor No. Rodrigo. 7 high inAlthough Nashville), most featuring of the al Eric- ChurchSummer.”, ascends This 11-8 totals on Country out to be Airplay, at least up 10% to November 2015. 24.7 million in audience. The song is Combs’ eighth straight career-opening ences on her Billboard 200-top- bum was written by Rodrigo and co-writer/ $325,678 in global publishing royalties for 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: “Leaveping the debut Night On,”album, “TakeSOUR Your. And Time,” “Houseproducer Party”Daniel and “Make Nigro ,promoted the duo nowNo. 1 cedessingles. Swift, $260,542 for Antonoff, and $65,135 for YouOsince Miss its Me.”release, “Break she’s Up been in a Small sharing Town” with peaked at No.half 2. of the publishing revenueChurch for adds “good his 4 15th CountryClark. Airplay Rodrigo top 10.and Nigro split the remain- themHunt a co-pennedgood deal too.all 12 songs on Southside, includingu,” “deja“Body vu” Like and a Back two thirds of it for “1 step ing 50% of royalties equally, meaning both Road,”Last which week, was Olivia released Rodrigo in 2017. retroac The -smash hit ruledforward, Country 3 Airplaysteps back” for withTHAT these TOOK other QUITE ‘A FEW’pocket MONTHS at least Travis $598,575 Denning each shatters in total the record pub- for three weeks and the airplay-, streaming- and sales-based Hot Country Songs the most weeks it has taken to penetrate the Country Airplay top 10 as “After tively added Paramore’s Hayley Wil- writers who were likely inspiration but had lishing revenue globally. chart for a then-record 34 frames. It now ranks second only to Bebe Rexha and a Few” (Mercury Nashville) climbs 12-10 in its 57th week, up 4% to 21.4 mil - Floridaliams and GeorgiaJoshua Line Farro’s “Meant to tothe Be”songwriting (50 weeks atop thenothing latter list to in do 2017-18). with the songslion in directly. radio reach. Though “1 step forward, 3 steps back” credits“Downtown’s for “good Dead,” 4 u” which due to is an interpolaalso on the new- set, reachedIn the Nos. case 14 of and “good 15 4 u,”The Williams song surpasses and two trackshasn’t that reached took 50 the weeks same each level to enterof success the top 10: ontion Hot of Country the band’s Songs “Misery and Country Business,” Airplay, which respectively, Farro in Junenow 2018. make “Kin just- as muchEaston in Corbin publishing’s “A Girl Likeas You,”the other which two reached singles, No. it10 has in J anuarystill earned 2018 be - folks”hit No. led 28 Country on the AirplayHot 100 on chart Feb. 29,in Januarybecoming Hunt’sroyalties seventh as No. Rodrigo 1. It hit and foreNigro, peaking holding at No. a col 6 that- February,more than $258,379 and Aaron Watson in publishing’s “Outta Style,” royal -which No.2008. It 3 on Hot was Country the second Songs. time since SOUR’s lective 50% ownership ofachieved the composition. its No. 10 high in Decemberties, Billboard 2017. estimates. The song is one of 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 release that the 18-year-old Rodrigo has The single to date has generated at least the few from SOUR solely written by Ro- eighth top 10, having corralled 8.2 million U.S. streams (up 96%) and 5,000 in From Powder Springs” traveled to No. 32 in September 2018. ETHAN MICHAEL YOUNG: VIA MARTIN/NHLI GETTY HUNT: IMAGES. IMAGES MILLER/GETTY WE’RE BACK, LIVE IN MIAMI

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drigo. But after sharing those credits, she and we have run out of options to try to audience members engage with the band holds 33.34% composition ownership, while make the event happen safely and in a way and each other through live chat and vot- Swift also holds 33.34% and Antonoff holds that lives up to the Bonnaroo experience. ing, see themselves live onstage alongside 33.32%. So far, each have earned about Please find ways to safely gather with your Pentakill and influence the performance in $86,000 from the song’s publishing. Bonnaroo community and continue to radi- real-time. The album will arrive on stream- Combined, that adds up to more than ate positivity during this disappointing time. ing services following the show. $2 million in publishing royalties given WE WILL SEE YOU ON THE FARM IN “Riot Games is an ideal Wave collaborator up by Rodrigo and Nigro. But aside from JUNE 2022!” as they have been an innovator in using mu- building good will with these other notable All tickets that were purchased through sic and emerging technologies to build and writers, Rodrigo has possibly avoided much Front Gate Tickets will be refunded in as extend their worlds beyond games,” Wave more costly copyright infringement lawsuits little as 30 days, to the original method of COO Jarred Kennedy said. “Wave has sat at with some of the biggest names in music. payment. the intersection of music and gaming since Previous infringement cases have ended Just Monday, Bonnaroo’s organizers had its inception, and we’re excited to work badly for many defendants, namely Robin announced they were reducing camping with Riot to help shape the future of virtual Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” trial which result- capacity at the event, due to rains from the performance.” ed in a hefty penalty of $7.3 million (later now-downgraded Tropical Depression Ida. The Los Angeles-based Wave has reduced to around $5 million), paid to the Bonnaroo is promoted by Live Nation. hosted more than 50 virtual concerts, called estate of Marvin Gaye for the interpolation Among this year’s Bonnaroo performers “Waves,” with artists like Dillon Fran- of “Got to Give It Up.” The highest judgment were Deadmau5, Foo Fighters, Lizzo, Megan cis, Alison Wonderland and Tinashe, for a copyright infringement case involv- Thee Stallion, My Morning Jacket, Run the where artists perform as avatars in imagina- ing music in history, the “Blurred Lines” Jewels, Young Thug and Tyler, The Creator. tive virtual settings. The company names suit has been the impetus for many artists Warner Music Group an investor and and writers in the last few years to settle China’s Tencent Music Entertainment disputes out of court. Wave and Riot a strategic partner. Additional reporting by Ed Christman. Meanwhile, Riot Games has been steadily Games Bring making inroads in the music industry. In July, the company debuted Riot Games Bonnaroo 2021 Virtual Metal Band Music, a music label arm that will release projects from virtual stars including Pen- Festival Canceled Pentakill to Online takill as well as hip-hop group True Damage and K-pop girl group K/DA. The label’s first BY JESSICA NICHOLSON Stage official release was Sessions: Vi, a collec- tion of music for gaming streamers to use in his year’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts BY TATIANA CIRISANO their videos without having to worry about Festival, which was slated for copyright strikes. Sept. 2-5 at Great Stage Park in irtual entertainment company Having released two albums, I: Smite and Manchester, Tenn., has been can- Wave has turned artists like The Ignite and II: Grasp of the Undying, Pentakill Tceled due to waterlogged areas and flooded Weeknd and John Legend into has reached the top 10 of Billboard’s Hard campgrounds, organizer’s announced on avatars to perform virtual con- Rock Albums chart, topped the iTunes metal Tuesday, Aug 31. certs.V Next, the company is working with a and rock charts and scored features with “We are absolutely heartbroken to an- band whose members are avatars to begin metal musicians like Tommy Lee, Nine Inch nounce that we must cancel Bonnaroo,” with. Nails alumnus Danny Lohner and Noora organizers said in a statement. “While That would be Pentakill, the chart- Louhimo of Finnish band Battle Beast. this weekend’s weather looks outstanding, topping virtual heavy metal band created by “Wave is a great partner for us as we currently Centeroo is waterlogged in many games publisher Riot Games for its flag- continue to expand our music efforts,” Riot areas, the ground is incredibly saturated on ship title League of Legends. Today (Sept. Games Music head Toa Dunn said. “We aim our tollbooth paths, and the campgrounds 1), Wave and Riot Games are announcing a to push the envelope in storytelling and vir- are flooded to the point that we are unable partnership that will begin with an immer- tual artistry, and strive to break new ground to drive in or park vehicles safely. sive virtual concert from Pentakill on Sept. in the virtual world for gamers and music “We have done everything in our power 8 premiering their new concept album Lost lovers alike.” to try to keep the show moving forward, Chapter. Lost Chapter: An Interactive Album Expe- but Mother Nature has dealt us a tremen- Dubbed Lost Chapter: An Interactive rience premieres on Sept. 8 at 4:30 p.m. EST dous amount of rain over the past 24 hours, Album Experience, the event promises to let at wave.watch/pentakill. O N S A L E SEPT. 18, 2021

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On September 18th Billboard will provide CONTACT readers with an exclusive backstage Cynthia Mellow | 615.352.0265 pass into the newest and latest renovated [email protected] venues around the world. This special Joe Maimone | 212.493.4427 feature will assess the architecture, [email protected] production capabilities, sound, capacity Lee Ann Photoglo | 615.376.7931 level, fan amenities, and more that entice [email protected] talent to these highly anticipated venues. Ryan O’Donnell | +447843437176 Take this opportunity to advertise your venue [email protected] and reach key touring industry decision- makers as they plan tour schedules and map Marcia Olival | 786.586.4901 out must-play venues. [email protected]

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four-stage event with a roughly 20,000-per- it’s offering a different type of experience In Its Debut son capacity that would represent the entire predicated on less commercial sounds — on spectrum of modern house music, with an they hope will will attract a mature type of Year, ARC emphasis on the Chicago veterans who pio- dance music fan. They say ticket sales have neered the sound — ones who don’t always come not only from Chicago and the greater Music Festival get the shine they deserve when playing Midwest, but throughout the United States other large-scale festivals. and into Europe and South America. Is Featuring All “You see a lot of festivals that incorpo- And while they acknowledge planning rate legends and innovators of a scene, and a large-scale live music event during the Flavors of House they’re sometimes relegated to side stages pandemic and launching it amidst fluctuat- or lower parts of a lineup — places where ing city, county and statewide regulations in the Genre’s their impact in the culture of music is not around public health has been an unprec- properly reflected,” says Curley. “That has to edented challenge, bringing ARC to life Hometown do with many things — artist billing, ticket during COVID-19 has also made it possible sales, artist’s profile size — but part of our for ARC to book acts that may have not been BY KATIE BAIN mission was to take all the artists that are available if the regular touring season was part of the Chicago house music community happening in Europe. n the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, house through the years, people without whom “I do think that this year, you saw artists music was forged in Chicago. In the this sound would not be around, and put that decided to come over to the U.S. earlier Midwest metropolis, Frankie Knuck- them right next to the larger artists that are than they would have in times when they les and other musical pioneers created playing this music nowadays.” may have had other plans,” says Curley. Ithe genre that would, in time, travel over the Thus, a lineup that had initially featured “But I also think we’re establishing ARC as Atlantic and mutate into a dizzying variety stars of the European house scene is now a flagpole in this house and techno touring of sub-genres. These flavors of house — crowded with Chicago legends, including community. That was one of our goals — to progressive, acid, tech house, big room and Derrick Carter, DJ Heather, DJ Pierre and build a flagship event artists can plan their beyond — would, eventually, make their way Gene Ferris, alongside current scene stars years around.” back over the ocean to become the prevail- like Bob Moses, Camelphat, Fisher and Certainly the European element of ARC’s ing sounds of the modern mainstream U.S. Zhu, as well as underground house and tech lineup is a welcome addition to the Midwest dance scene. house acts like The Martinez Brothers and market, which doesn’t have the same num- This weekend, in its debut year, Chicago’s the Michigan-born, Ibiza-based Seth Trox- ber of house and techno focused events as ARC Music Festival will wrangle these many ler (who will go back to back with Carter in New York and Los Angeles. (That said, over flavors of house onto a single lineup, for an a set Curley calls “a meeting of the Midwest in techno’s birthplace of Detroit, Movement event its founders hope will become a tent- minds”), and even the progressive sounds of Festival has been holding it down for the pole stop on the global dance music circuit. Eric Prydz, who for the first time ever will local scene and the global stars of the genre Happening in Union Park this Sept. 4-5, be playing under all three of his artist names for annually since 2007.) ARC is being produced by the Chicago- (Prydz, Pryda and Cirez D) at one event. For Chicago, however, ARC represents based Auris Presents, a production com- Late night sets will happen at marquee Chi- both a full circle and an expansion, with the pany launched in 2020 by partners Nick cago venues including Spybar, Prysm and sound that was created in the city getting Karounos, a veteran venue owner and fes- Concord Music Hall. featured in all its forms at a site less than tival producer, Stuart Hackley, the founder While its offerings are unique, ARC Music two away from The Warehouse, the venue of national event company Loud Crowd Festival does have competition, with the where Knuckles drew early believers of the and John Curley, who hails from electronic event happening on the same weekend as music, and from which the genre took it’s promoter Paradigm Presents and who’s been the longstanding Chicago electronic festival name. For artists who make the music and a staple in the Chicago dance music scene North Coast — which is taking place Sept. are coming to town to play it, that’s a special since the early ‘90s. 3-5 at the waterside Huntington Bank opportunity. Planning for ARC began in May of 2020, Pavilion, and which this year features more “When they come to Chicago, they know with the producers initially putting togeth- than 60 acts, including headliners like Rezz, they’re coming into the birthplace of house er, Hackley says, “Something smaller-scale Kaskade, Griz and Louis The Child. music,” says Curley. “They’re excited about with a very niche — very underground Eu- While it may seem dubious for a first-time it, and you can see that in their sets.” ropean lineup. Then we took a step back and festival to compete with a similarly sized said, ‘This is really cool, but is this the scale and more well-established show featuring we want to do? We think we can go bigger.’” fellow house music stars, Curley and Hack- The enhanced vision became to put on a ley believe ARC will succeed, given that PROMOTION

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ON SALE 10/8 Billboard will publish its inaugural LATIN GRAMMY® AD CLOSE 10/1 Voter Guide E-Newsletter,showcasing the music MATERIALS DUE 10/6 and artist that made an impact during the eligibility period for the 22nd Latin GRAMMY® Awards.

This special issue will highlight the artists, CONTACT: producers and other creative professionals Marcia Olival | 786.586.4901 | [email protected] whose work is in contention this year, including for Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, *Special rates available for independent artists and companies. Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist.

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Though Bones did not say which spe- have so larger companies cannot manipu- CMA & ACM cific songs he felt were undeserved chart- late the vote. The organization also works toppers, he did mention Luke Combs and with its accounting firm, Deloitte, to review Respond to Maren Morris as artists whose songs he felt voting patterns to determine if bloc voting should have had longer stints at No. 1. has occurred, even within the limited voting Bobby Bones’ “For example, a Luke Combs song could members. If it has, those votes are elimi- be No. 1 for 10 weeks, but because of politics, nated. Furthermore, the majority of CMA Claims About the label will go, ‘Ah, let’s let somebody members are individuals without company else get in that spot,’ and they’ll move Luke affiliations. ‘Manipulated’ Combs to No. 2 and he’ll sit there for a few The ACM caps corporate accounts at 100 weeks. The same thing with like a Maren total members, regardless of the number Awards Show Morris.” of employees and inclusive of all imprints. Billboard reached out to several label rep- Similarly to the CMA, a third party auditor Voting resentatives regarding Bones’ statements, monitors the voting process and any unusual though no labels would comment on Bones’ voting patterns are flagged and investigated. BY JESSICA NICHOLSON statements as of press time. When contacted by Billboard, a repre- On Tuesday (Aug. 31), Bones returned sentative for Bones said he had no other adio and television personal- to TikTok to say he was “surprised at all the comments to add to his previous TikTok ity Bobby Bones — host of the controversy” his comments were causing statements. An iHeartRadio representative Premiere/iHeartMedia nationally and to highlight a story from today’s Coun- did not reply to a request for comment. syndicated radio program The try Insider that featured some anonymous —Assistance on this story provided by RBobby Bones Show — took to social media radio sources agreeing with Bones’ assess- Melinda Newman on Sunday to allege that voting for the Acad- ment, while others disagreed or said the emy of Country Music and Country Music issue was far more complicated. Association Awards are “manipulated” by In a separate TikTok post, Bones also Walker Hayes’ labels and that behind-the-scenes dealings alleged that bigger labels have an advantage at country labels affect which songs reach when it comes to voting for winners for the ‘Fancy’ Applebee’s No. 1 and for how long, claiming that half of CMA Awards and ACM Awards because of chart-topping country hits are illegitimate bloc voting and the ability to “manipulate” Ad Reinforces No. 1 hits. His comments have drawn con- votes. siderable feedback in the country commu- “Let’s say you work for Record Label A, Brand Interest In nity and refutation from the awards shows. which has 3,000 people that works there In one TikTok post concerning country and they have an artist up for entertainer Country Music radio chart-toppers, Bones takes country of the year, and Record Label B has 250 record labels to task, saying, “Here’s the people that work there and they have an BY TOM ROLAND truth about No. 1 songs: It’s politics. They artist up for entertainer of the year,” Bones trade them out like baseball cards. A record alleges. “Well, what Record Label A does ince Aug. 23, the current Walker label will talk to another record label and is they organize everyone to bloc vote, so Hayes single, “Fancy Like,” has go, ‘OK, I’ll give you this No. 1 on this date; those thousands of votes go to their artists, been in heavy rotation... on TV. you give me that No. 1 on that date.’ Which and then Record Label B, that doesn’t have Following its release on really, it just should be the song that’s the near the number of workers or voters, are SJune 4 and a summer blow-up led by most wanted, the most listened to, the song kind of screwed unless somehow they get TikTok videos that feature Hayes and that people demand ... and so when you hear votes from everybody else. But bloc voting daughter Lela dancing on the family’s front someone talk about a No. 1 song, I would say is done in the awards shows, but not illegal porch, the song emerged in an Applebee’s half of them aren’t legitimate No. 1 songs. actually.” commercial during daytime hours and saw They have to be good to get to the top 10. He then goes on to praise the CMA and plenty of repeat action throughout the past There’s a lot of research done into these ACM organizations for trying to keep it “as week. It’s the latest development for an un- songs. But when it gets to being a No. 1 song, legit as possible.” likely hit that topped Billboard’s Hot Coun- it’s people going, ‘OK, I’ll give you this; you Despite Bones’ assertions, both the CMA try Songs chart on July 19 and continues to give me that.’ And it’s everybody trying to and ACM tell Billboard they have rigorous climb on Country Airplay, reaching No. 23 create as many No. 1s as possible, because restrictions in place that prohibit bloc vot- on the chart dated Sept. 4. everything’s the same. Everybody gets a ing. The CMA caps all companies in terms It’s also the latest installment in a parade participation trophy at No. 1.” of the number of voting members they can of music-centered ads that the restaurant ON SALE OCTOBER 9 TOP LATIN POWER PLAYERS On October 9th, Billboard will profile the most influential people in Latin music, from record label executives, music publishers and management companies to radio and television stations and live entertainment

Join Billboard in congratulating this year’s Latin Power Players.

ON SALE 10/9 | ISSUE CLOSE 9/29 | MATERIALS DUE 9/30

TO ADVERTISE, CONTACT:

Marcia Olival | 786.586.4901 | [email protected]

Joe Maimone | 212.493.4427 | [email protected]

Lee Ann Photoglo | 615.376.7931 | [email protected]

Cynthia Mellow | 615.352.0625 | cmellow.billboard.com

Ryan O’Donnell | +447843437176 | cmellow.billboard.com

*Editorial content subject to change. Page 13 of 24

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chain has offered in recent years. Those people are looking for no matter where they days. “It’s completely mind-blowing that a campaigns have tapped country titles by live across the country.” song can do that.” the likes of Glen Campbell, Toby Keith, Zac Plenty of observers expected the com- “Someone did a poll of Gen Z-ers recently Brown Band and Sammy Kershaw along- pany would be looking at “Fancy Like” as a and asked about the idea of selling out,” side pop fare by John Sebastian, James potential vehicle once it hit the mainstream. adds Jelen. “They didn’t even know what Brown, Eric Carmen and Smash Mouth. Walker, after all, celebrates the casual-din- that was.” “I had no idea that people would actually ing brand and a couple of menu items in the The Hayes-Applebee’s relationship is hear the song, do the dance, spread the song first verse of the chorus. But when the com- a bit of an outlier. The lyrics spurred the like wildfire,” Hayes says of “Fancy Like.” mercial emerged, it actually went against company to put the Oreo shake, dropped And, he adds, “I had no idea Applebee’s the typical way of thinking in advertising from its offerings during the pandemic, back would be so receptive.” synchronization. on the menu. Also in the artwork are a photo Applebee’s is hardly the only advertiser “When it came on, I kind of laughed of Walker and Lainey, as well as a TikTok showing interest in country music. Just because there’s always these sorts of things screen grab. Both parties have expressed since the start of 2021, at least eight ad- that pop up, and they’re sort of like ‘unicorn’ openness to extending a relationship that’s ditional campaigns have featured country moments,” says Warner Chappell Nashville mutually beneficial. Hayes’ country/hip- performances for their soundtracks: director of sync licensing Katie Jelen. “Writ- hop hybrid sound is connecting the chain Federal Express employed Willie Nelson’s ers and artists will always use them as an to a variety of demographics, while the “Always on My Mind” example for like years to come. Here I am Applebee’s deal brought in cash when Hayes T-Mobile launched an ad with Florida always telling writers, ‘Don’t write songs wasn’t touring – and the money comes in Georgia Line’s “I Love My Country” about brands because brands don’t want to faster than performance royalties, which Zillow incorporated the falsetto hook use songs with their names.’ And then this usually arrive about nine months after the from Eddy Arnold’s “The Cattle Call” into a song does what it does, which is, again, it’s a actual broadcast date. Additionally, the TV new commercial unicorn. It’s a perfect storm. I was like, ‘Oh, airings reinforce a hook that was already Apple applied Kitty Wells’ “Searching great. Here we go.’ “ getting good rotation on radio and stream- (For Someone Like You)” to a haystack- Hayes’ perfect storm is a personal story. ing playlists. themed spot Before their marriage, he and wife Lain- “I definitely don’t think it’s going to hurt Ram Trucks introduced a Chris Staple- ey often had date nights at Applebee’s, it, having it in the commercials, getting ton cover of Al Green’s “I Am a Ram” and the family still visits regularly. Hayes those spins,” says Hayes. “Careerwise, it’s a Squarespace inverted Dolly Parton’s “9 to actually had doubts during the vocal session dream come true for an artist, especially of 5” as “5 to 9” for an ad that debuted during about using that lyric, fearful it would actu- my status, to have this massive appeal and to the Super Bowl ally hurt the commercial potential of “Fancy get this many impressions. I mean, a man- Airbnb licensed John Denver’s “Thank Like.” But he left it in because it related so agement team or a booking agency would God I’m a Country Boy” closely to his own life. And that authenticity just kill for this much exposure.” Coors Light featured Johnny made a difference. This article first appeared in the weekly Lee’s “Lookin’ for Love” “There are lots of artists that do songs Billboard Country Update newsletter. That all comes atop other recent uses about other brands,” says Yashinsky. “This Click here to subscribe for free. of country music for advertising, includ- one came from the heart; it came with a ing The Highwomen’s “Crowded Table” history with his wife. We’re always look- in a Campbell’s spot, Carrie Underwood’s ing for great songs that fit, with that sort of “Favorite Time of Year” in a Ring holiday toe-tapping appeal that connects with our ad, Miranda Lambert’s “The House That guests and makes people feel good.” Built Me” with Masimo medical equipment Artists haven’t always been looking and Hank Williams’ “Hey, Good Lookin’ “ in for brands. In the late 1980s, Steve Win- a Perdue chicken campaign. wood lip-synced then-current single “Don’t “Especially now during the pandemic, and You Know What the Night Can Do?” in a hopefully as we get post-pandemic, it brings Michelob ad. Music executives debated in out an element to people of normalcy,” says a Billboard story at the time whether licens- Applebee’s vp/chief marketing officer Joel ing songs for corporate use was a smart Yashinsky of the country genre. “I think that financial move or simply selling out. speaking to normal elements of life is what “We’re selling out shows is what we’re do- people are looking for today. Country music ing,” says Hayes, noting that he recently sold artists are down-to-earth, salt-of-the-earth out a club in San Jose, Calif., in four minutes types of folks, and I think that’s something that would have previously required several Page 14 of 24

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Group LLC / Republic Records. It’s his say they hope the space will provide an out- How G-Herbo’s first project under the new deal and was let for kids to channel their energy and stay distributed by Ingrooves Music Group. The out of trouble. Newest release, Herbo’s highest-charting project to “Having the ability to control our profit date, debuted at no. 5 on the Billboard 200 and loss statement allows us to make invest- Partnership With chart last month. ments in things that allow us to help grow “It was [about] us being able to work with our own community and not sit back [wait- Republic Records a company who had the relationships that ing] for others to do it,” Bowden says. were going to ultimately allow our part- “Mentorship is at the core of what we’re Is Helping Him ners to flourish,” Machine Entertainment really trying to do,” Mikkey Halsted adds. Group’s co-founder Joseph “JB” Bowden “[The kids will] be able to touch Herb, Give Back to says of the new partnership with Republic. Joseph, me, our partner Ghian. They’ll be “[Ingrooves has the] technology that will able to touch Damion, and all the executives Chicago allow us to have a level of transparency with and heavy hitters that come in. It’s really the artist that we work with to allow them important just to be a beacon of hope in that BY JEWEL WICKER to be able to understand themselves, not just community.” as an artist, but as a business person.” Herb says he views the programs aimed amion Presson was still set- One of the things that encouraged G at Chicago kids, in addition to his mental tling into his position as svp Herbo to sign with Republic Records was health work, as a part of his larger purpose. of talent relations at Republic the label’s willingness to invest in the rap- “I want to be known as an artist that shows Records early last year when, per’s mental health and hometown initia- other artists, or just people in general, how Damid a global pandemic and lockdown, he tives. “I’ve never been an artist that caught to create [their] own legacy, and [their] own decided he wanted to recruit Chicago rap- a big record. I’m still working on [that],” he destiny when it comes to what [their] pur- per G Herbo to the label. At the time, Herbo says. “By ‘our way,’ I mean [we get to focus] pose is,” he says. was in a partnership with Epic Records and on just the importance of what I do for men- And, he believes staying authentic to indie label Machine Entertainment Group, tal health along with my music.” (Regarding these passions will also lend itself to contin- through which he had just released his third that last point, he also notes his Swervin’ ued musical success, too. “I like to use the studio album PTSD. Through Stress initiative, which is aimed at term escalator-style. I always grow slowly “I happened to see Herb quite a bit on In- providing therapy services to Black people but surely,” he says. “I feel like I’m going to stagram. I think because of the volume that who have experienced trauma.) grow and break as a global superstar being I kept seeing him, repeatedly, I said, ‘There’s With the label’s support, the Chicago myself. I don’t have to put myself in any un- something here. I need to explore what this rapper and the indie label Machine Enter- comfortable environments or be some kind is and why I keep seeing him,’” Presson says. tainment Group also plan to finally break of artist that I’m really not. I feel I’m going “He’s the culture.” ground on a 10,000 square foot multime- to be able to have those big records that give Presson, who previously worked as a dia center for local kids. The facility will me the global recognition that every artist marketing director for Reebok, fostering occupy the shuttered Anthony Overton wants.” partnerships with entertainers includ- Elementary School in Chicago’s Bronzeville Presson says he sees Herbo as one of ing Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, Future and neighborhood. Machine Entertainment Republic’s next big artists, and a way for the Travis Scott, says he reached out to Machine Group’s Bowden bought the building in label to increase its presence in hip-hop. Entertainment Group less than a year ago 2014 through his Washington Park De- “Republic has a long-lasting track record with the hopes of forging a partnership with velopment Group, according to Chicago of global superstars [but] outside of Pop the label and Herbo. “Hearing about how Reader. (Bowden’s partner in the real estate Smoke, we didn’t really have anything in Machine Entertainment Group actually development group is Ghian Foreman, the hip-hop space — and I think that Herb conducts business, they have a very unique who also serves as Chicago’s police board brings something totally different,” he says. way of looking at the business and how they president.) “I think [25] is a breakout album. [It’s] going interact and deal with artists. [They give] The former school occupies four and a to set Herb up for his trajectory to be in the artists the autonomy to really be them and half acres and two buildings, which will be same mentions as the Post Malones and be true to their art,” he says. “I was really used to house various programming that Weekends. And, that’s what we’re here for. attracted to the business acumen that these will introduce local youth to DJing, mer- We’re here to sign superstars.” guys have, and the vision that they have set chandising, music engineering, and graphic forth for Herb.” design. The space is also set to include a Earlier this year, Herbo re- tech incubator, as well as trade courses. leased 25 through Machine Entertainment Herbo and Machine Entertainment Group Page 15 of 24

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for his inevitable removal,” argues Rosen- moved by them,” TikTok said in a statement. Britney Spears’ gart. “The only difference is that the former Colombian star J Balvin will be the premier is in his daughter’s best interests, while the speaker at TikTok Latinx Creatives. Attorney latter severely undermines those interests.” MACRO will advise on the selection of In a statement to The Hollywood Report- speakers, programming content and profes- Demands Dad’s er, Rosengart reiterated that the situation sional and business-building opportuni- reeks of quid pro quo. “Britney Spears will ties for program participants. In addition, Immediate not be bullied or extorted by her father,” he TikTok and MACRO will create a grant for says. “Nor does Mr. Spears have the right to a select group of Latinx creators and music Resignation From try to hold his daughter hostage by setting artists. the terms of his removal. This is not about “Building on the success of our MACRO Conservatorship him, it is about the best interests of his x TikTok for Black Creatives program, we daughter, which as a matter of law, mandate are thrilled to again partner with TikTok to BY ASHLEY CULLINS his removal. Even putting aside the legal identify and develop the next generation of issues requiring his prompt removal, if he Latinx entertainers,” Stacey Walker King, eeks after Britney Spears’ loves his daughter, Mr. Spears should resign MACRO’s chief brand officer, said in a state- father announced in a now, today, before he is suspended. It would ment. “As a company, we have had much court filing he’d be will- be the correct and decent thing to do.” success in championing storytellers and ing to step away from her A hearing on the petition is currently giving them a platform to tell their stories conservatorshipW at some point, the singer is set for Sept. 29. Representatives for Jamie and build businesses. We look forward to again telling an L.A. judge that he needs to Spears have not yet responded to a request discovering new talents through this indus- be removed as soon as possible. for comment. try leading program.” In a supplemental petition to suspend and This article was originally published According to TikTok, popular Latinx remove Jamie Spears filed Tuesday (Aug. by The Hollywood Reporter. community hashtags — including #Latino, 31), Britney’s attorney argues that an Aug. #Latina, #Familia, #Hispanic — generate 12 filing is further proof Jamie is concerned “significant” community engagement and about his own well-being instead of his TikTok Teams have accumulated more than 10 billion daughter’s. video views, which grew +185% since Latinx “The thrust of his response is that al- With MACRO to Heritage Month 2020. though (i) he expressly recognizes that a Through TikTok Latinx Creatives, emerg- ‘public battle’ regarding his departure would Launch Incubator ing creators and music artists will partici- not be in Ms. Spears’s best interests and (ii) pate in educational events, workshops and for that reason, he even intends to support Program for Latinx community-building forums with Latinx ‘an orderly transition,’ his idea of ‘orderly’ is entrepreneurs and celebrities across music to hang on until someone first brands him Creatives and entertainment, culture and business. ‘father of the year’ and awards him a gold From now until Sept. 8, Latinx TikTok star for his ‘service,’” writes Rosengart in the BY GRISELDA FLORES creators who meet the eligibility criteria filing, which is embedded below. “In other can apply for the program here. Finalists words, although Mr. Spears has, at last, been ikTok and MACRO — a media will be named later this month. forced to recognize that it is best for his company that represents the TikTok Latinx Creatives launches seven daughter if he departs now, he claims the voice and perspectives of Black months after TikTok and MACRO an- right to drag his feet because it is best for people and persons of color — nounced TikTok for Black Creatives in him to cling to this conservatorship until he Thave teamed up to launch a new incubator February. According to TikTok, nearly two feels sufficiently-vindicated.” program called TikTok Latinx Creatives in dozen creators who were part of the three- Rosengart argues that Jamie is trying to an effort to help further grow the Latinx month inaugural program have gone on to redeem his image and use his remaining creative community on the platform. music, film, and brand-related projects. leverage to ensure the pending account- The 10-week program announced ahead ing is approved, which includes about $2 of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. million in fees to third parties including his 15) will focus on nurturing and develop- attorneys. ing 150 talented Latinx creators and music “A ‘transition’ can just as easily occur artists. “We’re driven to spotlight and sup- while Mr. Spears is suspended, as opposed port Latinx talent with a platform that am- to while he lingers as conservator waiting plifies their voices and a community that is Page 16 of 24

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ing his debut project in the new position rap, hip-hop, R&B, smooth R&B. Being able DJ Tay James, this March. Most recently, James worked to be tapped in and know what people are on Skrillex’s newly released track with moving to is a benefit to me. Justin Bieber’s Bieber and Toliver, titled “Don’t Go,” which How much of a role did you play in or- dropped on Aug. 20 and debuts this week at chestrating Justin’s feature on Wizkid’s A&R, Talks No. 69 on the Hot 100. “Essence” remix? How was that collabo- Below, James breaks down his own foun- ration born? Orchestrating dation in music, and the making of Bieber’s It’s a great story. We were on our way to latest hit songs — including “Peaches” and a birthday vacation weekend for Allison Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ the his feature on the “Essence” remix. [Kaye], his manager. While on the plane How did you start DJ’ing? Was it always over, I was like, “Yo, bro, this [‘Essence’] is Remix — ‘We your dream to become a huge A&R for a one of the hottest records. I feel like you huge star? should listen to this.” I played it and in- Played It Nonstop’ My love for music started at such an early stantly he loved it. That became the song of age. My father used to make mixtapes for his the weekend. We played it nonstop. BY DARLENE ADEROJU friends. He had a massive record collection. One of the guys who happened to be on I fell in love with DJ’ing when I learned the vacation with us was Mike G, Wizkid’s J Tay James is the A&R ge- how to blend one record into the other, that agent. We went right to work, like, “Hey, I nius behind countless Justin unlocked something in my head. think Justin wants to hop on this, let’s make Bieber records — including I had to be beg my brother [to teach me]. sure Wiz is cool with this. Let’s make sure “Peaches,” featuring Daniel Finally, one day, he came over and started we get Wiz’s blessings.” Wiz was down. DCaesar and Giveon, a Hot 100-topping blending two records. I was 12 or 13. Once When we got back to the studio stateside, collaboration which James helped coordi- he showed me that, I would literally do that the first thing Justin cut was [his verse on nate. Most recently, James was the vision- day in and day out, in the morning before the] “Essence” [remix]. Me, him and Josh ary that brought Bieber onboard to appear school and then after school. Gudwin, his engineer and A&R as well, got on Wizkid’s chartbusting “Essence” remix, Throughout high school, I was DJ’ing into the studio. Justin wrote the record alongside fellow artist Tems. basketball games. I was an intern at a record within an hour, and he made the vocals. The remix to the global smash, which label called Unruly Records, which is a big Justin wrote everything and laid it down. first dropped on Aug. 13 — nearly one year Baltimore, DMV-based [Washington, D.C., Justin’s been in such a mode right now — it’s after the original “Essence” was released, in Maryland and Virginia] record label. I’m amazing to watch. October 2020 — is rapidly scaling the charts. forever grateful for that experience... by the This isn’t the first time Justin has col- This week (chart dated Sept. 4), it climbs time I got with Justin, it was a blessing to laborated with an Afrobeats artist. Is to No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop use my DJ ear to help him with music. this a new beginning for him musically, Songs chart, and No. 13 on the Hot 100. Would you say being a DJ has benefited in terms of breaking into other interna- DJ Tay James, whose personal success in- your work as an A&R? tional genres? cludes his own Las Vegas residency at Zouk The fact that I am a DJ — a world-re- Remember we also did “Despacito” [by Nightclub, has been working with Bieber nowned DJ, and I’ve DJ’d at almost every Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee], as far for more than 10 years — thanks to his good top club — I feel like with that experience as doing international music. We also col- friend DJ Boogie, né Ryan Marsh, who con- alone, it allows me to have a different type of labed with Alpha P and Omah Lay on the nected the duo in 2009. “They were looking ear. And the fact that I’m still DJ’ing. I know “Peaches” [Masterkraft remix]. We had a for a DJ and the first person they called was what people want to hear, what they’re vib- record [called “Loved By You”] with Burna [my friend Ryan],” James tells Billboard. “He ing to — the new songs, new genres. And I’m Boy on Justice, and now this new Wizkid. was like, ‘Hey, I got the perfect kid, he just also tapped in with DJs around the world, It’s something I know Justin is [proud of ] graduated from college’ and they gave me a telling me what’s working in the U.K., Aus- — he loves all types of music. He’s somebody call. I literally just graduated [from Hamp- tralia or Europe. that puts me on to everything to and that’s ton University] two months prior, and got For Justin for example, a lot of times why our relationship is so strong when it the call to work with Justin.” when we’re in the writing process, he’ll just comes to music. We know what each other James, who works closely with Bieber’s be like, “Hey, can you send me some beats?” likes. He put me on to [Nigerian singer] management team at SB Projects (which So, I’ll reach out to the producers that I Omah Lay. I never heard of Omah Lay until includes Scooter Braun and Allison Kaye) work with. I’m able to sort out the beats and Justin came into rehearsals listening to him. has been promoted to the official, personal pick which ones I know that he would relate For Justin, it’s like, “Let’s shine a light on A&R for Bieber, with the pop star’s Bill- to, from knowing the different sounds and international artists. Why not if I can help board 200-topping album Justice mark- genres — whether it’s Afro, reggaetón, emo- out? I would love to.” Doing music with in- Page 17 of 24

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ternational artists, whether it’s Afrobeats or try they’re in. Not being biased, but that’s kill it. reggaetón or any artist, helps shine a light to why Justice is one of my favorite projects He’s writing a lot of this new music he’s something that some of Justin’s fans weren’t from him. working on right now. It’s amazing to see listening to. It’s a collaborative effort push- Do you think fans can expect more him grow as an artist and I’m excited for ing crossovers of culture. Afrobeats from Justin? What can you everyone to hear what we’ve been working The “Essence” remix is beautiful, but tease? on. It’s gonna be pretty dope. I’m excited to there has been some backlash from some [Laughs.] I know what we’re working on get back on tour, which starts in February. people. What are your thoughts on that right now, but I just expect Justin to help There’s a lot of things coming up and I’m and how do you respond to that? continue to push the culture forward any happy to get to it. We’re just blessed and I Not everyone’s gonna like everything way possible. He’s gonna be expanded to love what we do. that we do. All we wanna do is make great everything. That’s what he does. He loves Did you think Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” music and push the culture forward. There working with new music and new sounds. would be such a success? How much of a was some backlash, but at the same time My job is to help direct him in the best way I role did you play in orchestrating that song? there was a lot of great praises, especially in can in navigating through this. Yes. I knew it was gonna be a hit. When Nigeria. Why do you think it’s important for we start working on a project, sometimes we The numbers speak. People love it. People people to know what goes on behind the start a year or a a year and a half in advance. are influenced by it. It’d be one thing if we scenes musically? For example, Justin’s “Peaches” we worked on in the middle of did it out of the blue and didn’t have the feature on the “Essence” remix, but many the pandemic, I wanna say maybe eight blessing of Wizkid, but we did. Wizkid was people only see the singer and don’t months before the song came out. It was fully involved. He’s the one that put the know there’s a lot of people who work on done by August or September 2020. record together for us after we sent in the these projects. With this particular record, after I first vocals. If it was something we did out the At the end of the day, I always like to got it back from Justin and Harv, us as a blue and we weren’t tapped in like we are, I promote that it’s a team effort, especially group, our team, our family, we were all could [see that]. But at the same time, we’re over here. I thank Justin, Josh, Allison, dancing to this song at our own private trying to push the culture forward. That’s Scooter and all of our team for allowing me events within ourselves. Just seeing friends what we’re doing — and going to continue to be able to do what I do — use my ideas and family’s reaction to the song let me to do. and help with the music and projects. I have know this might be a hit. A lot of people love the song for sure. the path to do it and I just thank them... We Also, I think people forgot what real, live At the end of the day, it’s about love and came together in the pandemic and made instrumentation sounds like — and we’ve uniting people. If we can do that, if we can a great album, and we’ve been building off been able to capture that sound on Justice, help bring people to something or help that momentum. especially with this song. A lot of music in shine a light to artists who are killing it, who Congratulations on your DJ residency this day and age is heavily 808-produced, are doing their thing, why not? in Las Vegas. How proud of yourself are a lot of synth sounds. People forgot what a Music is the catalyst of everything. It’s all you and what’s the most fulfilling part real guitar, bass, or drums sounds like, With about uniting people. That’s what the whole about it? “Peaches,” I feel like it embodies of all of purpose of Justice was. Justice was an album I appreciate it, thank you. Being a kid that. The producer of “Peaches” — shoutout where we took genres from all around the from Baltimore and being able to go from to my boy Harv — he’s also Justin’s musical world and put it on one project, because it being a local DJ to being a DJ that DJs director and we’ve been working with Justin was a time of need. The world was hurting around the world to finally getting a Vegas for 10+ years. He was able to put this record [during that time, in March] — so let’s pull residency is probably one of the pinnacles of together and help define what the summer and bring everyone together. my career, honestly. As a DJ, it’s something was for us this past summer, and I feel like You just answered one of my questions, that everyone strives to get. It’s nice, it’s a “Peaches” is that record. which would’ve been, why now? It feels great feeling. I feel truly blessed. As far as me, my job was coming in when I like right now Justin is going super inter- As Justin’s personal A&R, what’s the big- talked to Scooter [Braun] and Allison [Kaye] national and diversifying his music. gest way you’ve seen him grow as an artist? and explaining that “Peaches” is a strong Bieber is not known for just America. It’s He’s been in such a mode and I love single, and should be one of the premiere South America, Africa, the U.K., Australia, seeing his energy. He literally wakes up, singles for the album. They put their trust Japan. With someone who touches so many eats breakfast, comes to rehearsals for two in me and believed the same thing. We went different parts of the world, I was so proud to three hours, leaves to go to the record- back to Def Jam and told them “Peaches” to be a part of a project that was able to ing studio and makes music. He gets done was gonna be the single. And look what it bring everybody together. You have people around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m., goes home and did. who love certain parts of the album because spends time with his wife [Hailey Bieber]. Did you also play a part in choosing Dan- it connects to them and the region or coun- He’s in such a mode and I love watching him iel [Caesar] and Giveon to be on the song? Page 18 of 24

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Justin’s idea was bringing Daniel Caesar on. I connected Justin with Giveon, and he R. Kelly Trial: Bob Marley and and Giveon worked on “Peaches” together. They’ve been working on a few other songs Non-Fan of Singer The Wailers’ together as well, and when “Peaches” came around it was the perfect match. Justin had Describes Still ‘Capitol Session the great idea of putting Daniel on — so now you got two of the top R&B acts on one Falling Prey to ‘73’: How the Lost record, with a pop superstar who can sing R&B as well. I feel like all three of them Him Footage Came to together just meshed and blended very, very well. BY ASSOCIATED PRESS Light Were there any other artists you thought would be a good fit for “Peaches,” or was it woman who wasn’t a fan of R. BY PATRICIA MESCHINO always those three you imagined? Kelly ended up getting exposed I thought it was perfect for them. When to a sexually transmitted disease n 1989, British filmmaker, archivist I first heard the record it was with Giveon after he enticed her to join him and historian Martin Disney was and Justin. Justin felt like it would be spe- onA the road, she testified on Tuesday at the asked by Polygram — who had re- cial if we add Daniel to the mix and he was R&B entertainer’s sex-trafficking trial. cently purchased Island Records — to right. The witness, taking the stand without Isift through extensive footage of Bob Marley I was looking at the charts and it says using her real name, said she was 19 when and The Wailers in preparation for the the “Essence” [remix] is No. 16 on the Bill- her older half sister invited her to a Kelly Marley documentary Time Will Tell. While board chart, up 28 spots, new peak and this concert in San Antonio in 2017. Her sibling combing through piles of footage in various was earlier this week, and it’s only gonna get was a fan of his music, she said, but “I was formats, Disney was especially intrigued better and better. That goes back to what I not.” by a three-minute segment of 16mm black was saying with being able to shed light and The sisters were invited to a backstage and white film, without sound or labeling, push the culture, influence people and bring after-party — the beginning of a brief rela- featuring an early ‘70s performance by The a brand new audience to Afrobeats that tionship that had elements also described by Wailers. probably wasn’t paying attention to it, or other victims alleging sexual abuse by Kelly No one seemed to know where or when didn’t know what Afrobeats was. Now, you when they were still in high school. Kelly this performance was taped or if additional have a whole influx of people who are gonna paid for woman’s flights and hotel rooms to footage existed, so Disney embarked on a have eyes on Wizkid and Tems and listen his concerts in cities where he demanded fact-finding mission that spanned over two to and support their music. That’s what it’s sex from her in hotel rooms and other loca- decades. He learned that British producer about, being a culture narrator. tions. Denny Cordell — who co-founded Shelter I love seeing the exposure and main- A prosecutor asked whether he told her Records with Leon Russell in 1969 and stream attention for Wizkid and Tems, he had herpes or wore condoms. “No, he owned a state-of-the-art mobile broadcast Afrobeats and in your words, the culture. did not,” she responded. Earlier in the trial unit — was involved. Cordell passed away I definitely think the “Essence” Remix — now in its third week — the jury heard in 1995, so Disney tracked down his son will keep climbing the charts. Do you Kelly’s personal physician describe treating Barney, who remembered The Wailers being think it’ll make it to No. 1? him for herpes for several years and from around his father in Los Angeles. His son Man, it’ll be a blessing if it his top 10. If another woman who claimed he gave her recalled a session his father filmed with The I’m not mistaken, it’ll probably be the first herpes from unprotected sex. Wailers at the Capitol Records’ Tower, but Afrobeats, Nigerian record to do that. If that Kelly, 54, has repeatedly denied accusa- Barney had never seen the footage. Disney happens, that’s a blessing in its own. tions that he preyed on victims during a 30- continued his search, traveling to New York year career highlighted by his 1996 smash and California, eventually retrieving seven hit “I Believe I Can Fly.” His lawyers have and a half hours of film from the four-cam- portrayed his accusers as groupies who are era shoot Cordell had organized. Disney and lying about their relationships with him. editor Tim Dollimore spent several months collaborating over Zoom, painstakingly repairing, syncing and condensing seven hours of material shot from two cameras and a live mix from four cameras into a cohesive 60-minute presentation. Page 19 of 24

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Their diligence has unearthed a mo- Peter Tosh on lead vocals and guitars; The mentous artifact: Bob Marley and The Wailers’ mentor Joe Higgs on percussion Justin Bieber to Wailers’ The Capitol Session ‘73, which will and backing vocals; Earl “Wya” Lindo on be released on Sept. 3, via Tuff Gong and keyboards; and brothers Carlton Barrett Perform at 2021 Mercury Studios, on CD/DVD, CD, 2 LP col- and Aston “Family Man” Barrett on drum ored vinyl and digital audio formats; it will and bass, respectively. The Barrett broth- MTV Video Music stream exclusively via the Amazon Prime ers played with Bob until his death in 1981. hosted music documentary channel, The Family Man, now 74, who stopped touring Awards Coda Collection. with The Wailers after suffering a series of “For over two decades I have been tend- strokes in 2017, is the only surviving member BY MIA NAZARENO ing, researching and gently waving the of this extraordinary ensemble. banner for prepping the seven hours of The Wailers were still a vocal trio at the ustin Bieber is set to take the Capitol footage for the release it so richly time (with Island’s release of Natty Dread in stage for a performance at the 2021 deserves,” said Disney, who has worked on 1974, Marley received top billing and from MTV Video Music Awards airing almost every film made about Marley as thereon, The Wailers referred to his backing live on Sunday, Sept. 12, the net- a researcher, producer, or consultant. “As band) but Marley is undeniably the film’s Jwork announced Wednesday (Sept. 1). we were editing, we felt like no time had focal point. He takes commanding lead on The “Peaches” singer is the newest addi- passed, it sounds so fresh. In a way the film nine of the twelve songs selected from Catch tion to a growing lineup of big acts, which made itself, we just pushed it, to get that A Fire and Burnin’, conveying a range of includes Olivia Rodrigo, Lorde, Shawn feeling right and show how raw, ad hoc, and moods: playful on “Stir It Up”, anguished Mendes, Kacey Musgraves, Machine Gun relaxed it all was.” on “Burnin and Lootin” and meditative on Kelly, Chlöe, Twenty One Pilots, Lil Nas X, The year 1973 marked a turning point “Rasta Man Chant,” with all three Wailers Camila Cabello, Foo Fighters, and Doja Cat, in The Wailers’ trajectory: they released seated, playing conga drums, delivering who is also doubling as host for the awards their first albums for Chris Blackwell’s inspired, soulful harmonies; Marley and show. Island Records, Catch A Fire (April 13) Tosh share lead on “Get Up Stand Up,” the Bieber’s last performance at the VMAs and Burnin’ (Oct. 19), which were essen- enduring protest anthem they co-wrote. was six years ago, when he sang a rendition tial in expanding the international fanbase “This film is like a master class with Bob of his 2015 hit “What Do You Mean?” This for reggae after the landmark Jamai- in charge. Bunny left The Wailers in Eng- year, the pop star is anticipating a big can film The Harder They Come and its land, Peter was already plotting to leave, so comeback on stage while also leading the soundtrack, released the previous year. Two Chris Blackwell identified Bob as being the way with seven nominations, including the of The Wailers’ three founding members right front man, the driving force,” com- artist of the year; best pop; collaboration of exited the group in 1973, Bunny Livingston ments Disney, who is also film’s executive the year for “Peaches” featuring Giveon and (later Wailer) in April and Peter Tosh in producer, alongside Barney Cordell. “Denny Daniel Caesar; and video of the year for December. The Wailers were booked for 17 created a wonderful session, with a small, his collab with DJ Khaled and Drake on dates opening for Sly and The Family Stone appreciative audience enjoying a private “Popstar.” beginning in October 1973, but they only performance from six of Jamaica’s greatest While Bieber released his sixth studio performed on four shows before they were musicians and the sound at Capitol is just album Justice in March with lead single fired because they didn’t connect with Sly’s fabulous.” “Peaches” debuting at the top of the Bill- audience. Stranded in Las Vegas, The Wail- “One of the most fascinating things for board Hot 100, he currently is enjoying ers called Jamaican attorney Gus Brown me was gaining insight into these human his fourth week at the top spot on the chart who brought them to San Francisco, where beings who were at a pivotal point in their thanks to his track “Stay” with rising star they performed a pair of shows before lives,” adds Dollimore. “Everyone in that The Kid LAROI. reaching out to Cordell and traveling to Los configuration of the band went on to do The awards show will be broadcast Angeles. Shelter Records had released The amazing things musically, but there were live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Sunday, Sept. Wailers’ first U.S. single, “Duppy Conquer- also many tragedies. [Marley succumbed to 12, from The Barclays Center in Brook- or” (misspelled as “Doppy Conquer”), one of cancer in 1981 at 36; Peter Tosh and Carlton lyn. The event will be executive produced the songs they performed on Capitol Session Barrett were murdered five months apart in by Bruce Gilmer and Jesse Ignjatovic, co- ‘73, highlighted by Bob’s mesmeric vocals 1987.] It’s fascinating to see them when they founder of Den of Thieves. and the band’s indelible reggae beat, as seen weren’t ginormous, but they knew that they Fans can still vote for their favorite acts in this exclusive clip. were on to something.” on mtv.com/vma until this Friday, Sept. 3. The Wailers closed-door shoot at L.A.’s Capitol Tower took place on Oct. 24, 1973. The lineup consisted of Bob Marley and Page 20 of 24

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Lookout by SoundCloud on SiriusXM] was night’s show, Doobie’s co-founder singer- SiriusXM and mind blowing.” guitarist Simmons told the audience that “SoundCloud is always looking out for us McDonald wasn’t feeling well. SoundCloud new artists and I can’t wait to watch other “He’s recuperating and isolating. We hope fire and deserving artists get the same op- to have him back in a week or so,” Simmons Debut Hip- portunity for radio exposure,” he added. reportedly said. “He’s had his vaccine. But the show must go on.” Singer-guitarist Tom Hop Channel Johnston told the paper last week that the Doobie Brothers band is traveling with a COVID compliance ‘SoundCloud officer, and that all band members and crew Postpone Four are vaccinated. Radio’ Assuming the pause only lasts four shows, Reunion Shows the band is slated to next hit the stage on BY DARLENE ADEROJU Sept. 9 at the Blossom Music Center in After Positive Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The announcement iriusXM and SoundCloud have from the Doobies came a day after another teamed up to launch SoundCloud COVID Test veteran act, Kiss, was forced to postpone Radio, a hip-hop channel that will upcoming tour dates after both original air through Sept. 30. The limited- BY GIL KAUFMAN members singer-bassist Gene Simmons and Sengagement channel will air hit songs from singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, tested posi- the genre that have appeared on Sound- he Doobie Brothers’ anticipated tive for COVID. Cloud, plus new music, with a focus on reunion tour with singer Michael See The Doobie Brothers’ announcement tracks by artists who first made waves via McDonald has been paused after a below: SoundCloud, including Megan Thee Stal- handful of dates due to a positive lion, Roddy Ricch, Trippie Redd and more. TCOVID-19 test in their touring entourage. SoundCloud Radio is available online or The band announced on Wednesday (Sept. Not So ‘Sour’: on the SXM mobile app. From Sept. 8 thru 1) that the next four dates on their outing 17, the station will also be available via satel- have been postponed after a “member of the Olivia Rodrigo lite and in vehicles, on SiriusXM channel touring personnel has tested positive with 105. COVID-19.” Returns to No. SoundCloud Radio will also air music The postponement affects upcoming from newly emerging hip-hop acts, includ- scheduled gigs in Clarkson, Mich. (Sept. 2); 1 on Artist 100 ing Rico Nasty, Lil Tecca, YoungBoy Never Burgettstown, Pa. (Sept. 4); Toledo, Ohio Broke Again, Don Toliver, Lil Tjay, Rod (Sept. 5); and Cincinnati (Sept. 8), with the Chart With Vinyl Wave, Denzel Curry, Fase Yoda and many band saying all four will be rescheduled, more. with new dates to be announced soon. Release “With [hip-hop show] The Lookout by To celebrate 50 years since the band’s SoundCloud driving new music discovery formation, founding members Tom John- BY XANDER ZELLNER for artists, we are hyped to be partnering ston, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons and once again with SiriusXM on the launch John McFee announced a reworked 2021 livia Rodrigo returns to No. 1 on of SoundCloud Radio,” R. Caiaffa, interim North American tour after the original the Billboard Artist 100 chart head of music at SoundCloud, said in a reunion outing scheduled for summer 2020 (dated Sept. 4), ruling for a sixth statement. “The influence of SoundCloud’s was pushed back due to the coronavirus total week, helped by the Aug. young, diverse community of artists and fans pandemic. Instead, the tour kicked off on O20 vinyl release of her debut LP Sour. in breaking music is unmatched and Sound- Aug. 22 with a gig at the Iowa State Fair, and The set revisits the No. 1 spot on the Bill- Cloud Radio is one more way to share their lasted through five more dates before Mc- board 200 for a fifth week on top, with influence and incredible talent with even Donald was unable to join them on Tuesday 133,000 equivalent album units earned in more fans.” night at the Minnesota State Fair. the week ending Aug. 26, according to MRC Louisiana rapper Fase Yoda, who recently According to the Minneapolis Star-Tri- Data. It sold 76,000 vinyl albums in the released his single “Butterflies,” said in a bune, opening act Dirty Dozen Brass Band tracking week, marking the second-largest statement, “I’ve been working so hard for also canceled, though the fair did not give sales week for a vinyl album since MRC the last few years and to hear the first song any details on the change in lineup. The Data began electronically tracking sales in I ever drop on the radio [playing on The paper reported that two songs into Tuesday 1991. Page 21 of 24

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Rodrigo concurrently places four songs led in 1992. Honorable mentions for the next from Sour on the latest Billboard Hot 100: Twenty One two days chronologically; acts The Sun- former No. 1 “Good 4 U” at No. 3, by “Deja days and Happy Mondays each notched a Vu” at No. 8, “Traitor” at No. 28 and “Bru- Pilots Score No. 1 in 1990 and 1991, respectively. tal,” a re-entry at No. 89. “Saturday” holds at its No. 5 high on the The Artist 100, which began in 2014, Ninth Alternative all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & measures artist activity across key metrics Alternative Airplay chart with 4.2 million of music consumption, blending album and Airplay No. 1 With audience impressions, according to MRC track sales, radio airplay, streaming and Data. It also rises 40-36 in its second week social media fan interaction to provide a ‘Saturday’ on Adult Alternative Airplay. It bullets at weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist its No. 28 best on Adult Pop Airplay and popularity. BY KEVIN RUTHERFORD rises 31-29 on Pop Airplay, the first song Among other Artist 100 chart moves, from the band’s latest album, Scaled and Icy, Tomorrow X Together re-enters at No. 4, a aturday” becomes Twenty to cross over to the pop radio tallies. new peak, thanks to the deluxe reissue of One Pilots’ ninth No. 1 On the multi-metric Hot Rock & Alter- its LP The Chaos Chapter: Freeze. The set on Billboard’s Alternative native Songs chart, “Saturday” returns re-enters the Billboard 200 at No. 8 (47,000 Airplay chart, rising 2-1 on to the top 20 (21-19, after reaching No. 16). units) after debuting at its No. 5 high in “Sthe Sept. 4-dated survey. It drew 8.4 million audience impressions June. Each of the duo’s No. 1s has ruled across all radio formats and 1.9 million U.S. Lorde re-enters the Artist 100 at No. 5 as since November 2015, dating to “Stressed streams and sold 500 downloads in the week her third LP Solar Power launches at No. 5 Out.” That’s almost double the sum of ending Aug. 26. on the Billboard 200 (56,000 units). She last the runners-up in that span; as Cage the Scaled and Icy, Twenty One Pilots’ sixth appeared on the Artist 100 in 2017, reaching Elephant and Imagine Dragons follow studio album, which houses “Saturday” a No. 3 best. with five leaders each in that nearly six-year and “Shy Away,” debuted at No. 1 on the Trippie Redd also returns to the Art- stretch. Top Rock Albums and Alternative Albums ist 100, at a new No. 6 career high, as his Twenty One Pilots move into sole posses- charts dated June 5 and has earned 204,000 LP Trip at Knight opens at No. 2 on the sion of the sixth-most No. 1s in the history equivalent album units to date. Billboard 200 (81,000 units). of Alternative Airplay, which began in Sep- Plus, late R&B singer Aaliyah debuts at tember 1988. Red Hot Chili Peppers lead No. 14 on the Artist 100 driven by the Aug. all acts with 13. Bad Bunny Scores 20 reissue of her 1996 sophomore LP One in Most No. 1s, Alternative Airplay a Million. The previously out-of-print album 13, Red Hot Chili Peppers His 15th No. 1 earned 26,000 units in the tracking week 12, Green Day and re-enters the Billboard 200 at No. 10, a 11, Linkin Park on Latin Airplay new peak. 10, Cage the Elephant For all chart news, you can follow @bill- 10, Foo Fighters Chart With board and @billboardcharts on both Twitter 9, Twenty One Pilots and Instagram. 8, U2 ‘Yonaguni’ 6, Imagine Dragons 6, R.E.M. BY PAMELA BUSTIOS 6, Weezer “Saturday” follows Twenty One Pilots’ ad Bunny captures his 15th No. eight-week leader “Shy Away” in May and 1 on Billboard’s Latin Air- June. Additionally, each of the band’s last play chart as “Yonaguni” takes five non-holiday offerings has reached the over atop the Sept. 4-dated chart’s summit, beginning with “Chlorine” Bsurvey. in April 2019; among that run, last year’s The win follows the song’s dominance “Christmas Saves the Year” peaked at No. 32. on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart “Saturday” is the most popular day in an (which merges airplay, sales and streaming Alternative Airplay No. 1 song title, join- data) for five weeks in June and July. It also ing Panic! at the Disco’s “Say Amen (Satur- became Bad Bunny’s fourth top 10, reaching day Night)” in 2018. It one-ups its predeces- No. 10, on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 sor day, as The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love” chart. Page 22 of 24

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The Spanish-language “Yonaguni,” with Power grace the Hot Rock & Alternative West’s third U.K. No. 1 album. added Japanese lyrics (as the song is named Songs chart, paced by “Mood Ring,” which Closing out an all-new midweek Top 5 after the western-most island of Japan), lifts reaches a new No. 11 high thanks largely to is Halsey’s fourth studio effort, If I Can’t 4-1 on Latin Airplay with by a 19% increase 4.3 million U.S. streams in its first full track- Have Love I Want Power (EMI), and Becky to 11.6 million audience impressions in the ing week; it was released Aug. 17. The top Hill’s debut Only Honest On The Week- week ending Aug. 29, according to MRC newcomer to the list from the album is “The end (Polydor), respectively. Data. Path,” which debuts at No. 25 (2.7 million Just 2,000 chart sales currently separate “Yonaguni” marks Bad Bunny’s fourth streams). the Top 5, the OCC reports. Latin Airplay leader without another artist Solar Power’s title-track lead single hit Also aiming for Top 10 bows are among his compendium of 15 No. 1s. It fol- No. 6 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Toyah’s Posh Pop (No. 9 via Edsel) and a lows three in 2020: “Vete” (one week at No. in June, becoming Lorde’s sixth top 10. It five-disc boxed set of The Beach Boys’ Feel 1, March 14), “La Dificil” (one, August) and crowned the Adult Alternative Airplay chart Flows: The Sunflower & Surf’s Up Sessions “Yo Perreo Sola” (two, June). for two weeks in August and hit No. 10 on 1969-1971 (No. 10 via UMC). Bad Bunny first led Latin Airplay for a the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & The Official U.K. Albums Chart is pub- week in February 2018 as featured on Becky Alternative Airplay chart. lished late Friday local time. G’s “Mayores,” also his first chart entry. He logged his longest stay at the summit to-date with “Mia,” featuring Drake, for six weeks Chvrches Leads Danny Gokey’s starting in December 2018. Over on Hot Latin Songs, “Yonaguni” Maisie Peters, ‘Jesus People’ remains at No. 4, led by 7.6 million U.S. streams in the week ending Aug. 26. Kanye West In Debuts at No. 1 U.K. Albums Chart on Top Christian Lorde Lands Race Albums Chart Third Alternative Albums No. 1 With BY LARS BRANDLE BY JIM ASKER t’s tight at the top of the U.K. albums anny Gokey attains his third ‘Solar Power’ chart race, as the latest from Chvrch- No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Chris- es leads news releases from Maisie tian Albums chart as Jesus BY KEVIN RUTHERFORD Peters and Kanye West. People blasts in at the summit IChvrches’ fourth studio album Screen Don the Sept. 4-dated survey. In its first orde makes it three-for-three Violence (Virgin) rules the Official Chart week, ending Aug. 26, the set earned 10,000 atop Billboard’s Alternative Update, and is the best-seller on physical equivalent album units, with 9,000 in album Albums chart, as Solar Power, her formats in the first half of the chart cycle. sales, according to MRC Data. third studio album, becomes her If Screen Violence keeps its momentum, Gokey’s last LP before Jesus Peo- Lthird No. 1. it’ll give the Scottish electronic outfit a first- ple, Haven’t Seen It Yet, opened at its No. Solar Power bows atop the tally dated ever leader and fourth Top 10. 2 peak in April 2019, becoming his fourth Sept. 4 with 56,000 equivalent album units Close behind on the chart blast is Maisie of five top 10s. His holiday set Christmas Is earned in the Aug. 20-26 tracking period, Peters’ debut studio album You Signed Up Here peaked at No. 9 in December 2015. according to MRC Data. For This (Gingerbread Man), new at No. 2. The singer-songwriter’s first studio set, The set follows Lorde’s previous No. Meanwhile, Kanye West’s long-de- 2010’s country effort My Best Days, debuted 1s Pure Heroine (15 weeks on top, from its layed Donda (Def Jam) album comes in at and peaked at No. 3 on Top Country Al- debut in October 2013) and Melodrama (one No. 3, a solid start despite its late release on bums and No. 4 on the Billboard 200. week at No. 1 in its debut frame in July Sunday (instead of the typical Friday drop), Meanwhile, Christian alt-rock outfit 2017). and the fact it’s not available in physical Switchfoot posts its 11th Top Christian The new album concurrently starts at formats. Albums top 10 as Interrobang enters at No. No. 5 on the all-format Billboard 200, According to the OCC, Donda is leading 6 with 4,000 units (3,000 in album sales). where Pure Heroine hit No. 3 and Melodra- on both downloads and streaming, and if It’s the San Diego-based band’s first album ma led for a week. it can lift to the top spot when the chart is since Native Tongue, which debuted at its All but one of the 13 songs from Solar published this Friday (Sept. 3), it’ll mark No. 2 peak in February 2019. Page 23 of 24

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Switchfoot has charted 16 entries on Top rewind time while saving her best friend Christian Albums beginning in 1999, includ- Chloe Price. The pair soon find themselves Lil Nas X Honored ing six No. 1s. Its first leader, The Beautiful investigating the mysterious disappearance Letdown, ruled for 38 weeks in 2004-05, fu- of fellow student Rachel Amber, which as The Trevor eled by the top 20 Billboard Hot 100 cross- uncovers a dark side to life in their town, over hits “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Arcadia Bay. Project’s Suicide Move.” Gamers responded to the adventure game, which has now become a franchise with Prevention sequels and spinoffs. It has also won several Shawn Mendes awards, including the 2016 BAFTA for best Advocate of the story and the inaugural Peabody Futures Joins TV of Media Award. The newest entry, Life Is Year Strange: True Colors, will release on Sept. 10. Adaptation of Mendes and Gertler will executive pro- BY STARR BOWENBANK duce via their production banner, Perma- ‘Life Is Strange’ nent Content, while Joy Gorman Wettels il Nas X has yet another accolade and Zack Hayden will exec produce for that he can put under his belt. On Video Game Anonymous. Wednesday (Sept. 1), The Trevor They join dj2’s Dmitri M. Johnson, How- Project announced that the “In- as Executive ard Bliss and Dan Jevons. Ldustry Baby” rapper is its inaugural Suicide Legendary Television and AC Studios will Prevention Advocate of the Year award, Producer serve as co-studios on the project, with Leg- an honor that recognizes notable figures endary Television acting as lead studio. within the LGBTQ+ community that are BY BORYS KIT Strange is being developed through the open about their sexuality, struggles with first-look deal between Legendary Tele- mental health, and their ability to fearlessly egendary’s TV adaptation of vision and dj2 Entertainment. The two celebrate their queerness. Square Enix video game Life Is companies are working on previously “Thank you so much to The Trevor Strange is getting a bit more musi- announced television series My Friend Project for this award and for all they do for cal. Pedro and the anime series Tomb Raider, the the LGBTQ community,” Lil Nas X said in LAward-winning singer-songwriter Shawn latter being made for Netflix. statement. “Discrimination around sexual- Mendes, along with Andrew Gertler, his Mendes is known for his Billboard Hot ity and gender identity is still very real, and partner at Permanent Content, have come 100 top five hits such as “Stitches,” “If I our community deserves to feel supported aboard to oversee music for the series, Can’t Have You” and “Señorita,” his No. 1 and totally free to be themselves. I often which is being developed by Legendary duet with girlfriend Camila Cabello. He get messages from fans telling me about Television and dj2 Entertainment. and his manager Gertler created their TV their struggles with depression and suicidal Also coming onboard to kick-start the and film production company Permanent thoughts, and it made me realize that this project, which Legendary picked up in Content as a joint venture with Anonymous. was something bigger than myself. If using 2016, a year after the game was released, The company produced In Wonder, a docu- my voice and expressing myself in my music is Anonymous Content, the banner behind mentary for Netflix centered on Mendes on can help even one kid out there who feels buzzy series True Detective and 13 Reasons a world tour. The company is also working alone, then it was all worth it.” Why. on a youth changemaker docu-series and a The Trevor Project, launched in 1998, Strange isn’t exactly what comes to mind feature titled Aku. provides crisis intervention and suicide pre- when Hollywood tackles video games. The Mendes is repped by AG Artists. vention resources for LGBTQ+ youth. game isn’t a first-person shooter or epic sci- This article was originally published Earlier this year, Lil Nas posted a series of fi fantasy, but rather a series of compelling, by The Hollywood Reporter. videos to his TikTok page describing what story-driven adventure games that feature a his life was like before fame, and shared universe where everyday protagonists wield his personal struggles with his mental supernatural powers while dealing with health. “In 2017 I became the first [in] my real challenges, real relationships, and real family to get into college. During college emotions. I was depressed, had no friends and my The story for the first game centered on grandmother passed. I started going to the photography enthusiast Max Caulfield, a doctor a lot in fear that I would die soon… high school senior who discovers she can hypochondria,” he shared. Page 24 of 24

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Lil Nas added that his life became tumul- tuous after his sister kicked him out of her house, and his brother was sent to the mili- tary. He also explained that his music wasn’t performing well at the time, but when he released “Old Town Road” — which spent 19 record-shattering weeks on the Bill- board Hot 100 and went on to become the only song to ever receive a 14-times plati- num certification — his personal troubles continued. “I got news that my mom wasn’t doing so well in rehab with her addiction,” Lil Nas wrote. “Also me and my boyfriend broke up. During this time old town road was still kill- ing it while I was… spiraling. I found myself in a hotel room contemplating ending it all. But I didn’t.” Amit Paley, CEO and executive director at The Trevor Project, commended Lil Nas X for his bravery with sharing his personal journey, and explained why the rapper de- served the honor. “The Trevor Project is thrilled to honor Lil Nas X with the Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year Award,” said Paley in a statement. “His vulnerability in his journey to self-acceptance and expression has created space for candid conversations around mental health and sexual identity, signaling to LGBTQ youth that they are not alone. The Trevor Project’s research shows that over 80% of LGBTQ youth say that LGBTQ celebrities positively influence how they feel about being LGBTQ, further affirming the cultural impact of Lil Nas X being proud of who he is and an ideal recipi- ent of this inaugural award.” The organization shared the news of Lil Nas X receiving the award on their social media accounts. “We’re thrilled to honor @ LilNasX with our Suicide Prevention Ad- vocate of the Year Award,” the organization wrote on Instagram. “Throughout your ca- reer, you’ve shown up as an outspoken and unapologetic advocate, using your platform to shed light on mental health issues many LGBTQ young people face.” See The Trevor Project’s announcement below.