Global
Rihanna Challenges Taylor Swift For U.K. Singles Chart Crown
Rihanna ended her years-long music drought last week with the release of “Lift Me Up.” When the next U.K. chart is published, the pop superstar could be rewarded with a crown. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The Barbadian singer is flying with “Lift Me Up,” which will appear in the upcoming Marvel film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Based on sales and streaming data from the first 48 hours in the chart cycle, “Life Me Up” is the No. 2-ranked song. The leader in the early stages is Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero,” which bowed at No. 1 last Friday (Oct. 28) for TayTay’s second U.K. chart leader. According to the Official Charts Company, the race to No. 1 is “incredibly close,” with former leader “Unholy,” by Sam Smith and Kim Petras, at No. 3 on the...
Taylor Swift Dominates Australia’s Charts With ‘Midnights’
Taylor Swift is the queen of Australia’s music charts, as Midnights (via Universal) darts to No. 1 with the biggest volume week of any album in five years. Midnights bows atop the latest ARIA Chart, with more combined sales than any title since Swift released Reputation, also No. 1 back in 2017. It’s her 10th No. 1 ARIA Album. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news With Midnights setting the albums chart alight, records tumble. Swift enjoys a record-setting haul on the national singles survey, capturing nine of the top 10 positions, led by “Anti-Hero” at No. 1, with “Lavender Haze” and “Snow On The Beach,” featuring Lana Del Rey, respectively completing the top 3. According to Universal Music Australia, Midnights is the most-streamed album in a week i...
‘Thor’ Actor Chris Hemsworth Gets Suited Up For Ausmusic T-Shirt Day Campaign
Chris Hemsworth is lending his considerable star power to Ausmusic T-Shirt Day, an annual fundraising campaign that encourage music fans to buy a shirt, wear it, share it and donate. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Hemsworth, who plays “Thor” in a succession of blockbuster Marvel films, and is recognized as the highest-paid Australian actor, is an ambassador for the music-meets-fashion project, which takes place across Australia on Nov. 18. The Aussie actor fronts a new marketing campaign, which launched last week and was created pro bono by Mushroom Creative House. “This Ausmusic T-Shirt Day we not only want you to show your support by wearing a t-shirt with your favorite Aussie artist on it, but we also want you to donate to the cause.” For t...
Taylor Swift Is Blazing to a U.K. Chart Double
Midnights is on the brink of earning Taylor Swift a rare U.K. chart double. Swift’s 10th studio album dropped last Friday (Oct. 21) and immediately caught fire on streaming platforms, smashing Spotify’s global 24-hour record. There’s a lot of love for Midnights (via EMI) in the U.K., with the album pushing past 140,000 combined sales in just three days, good enough for the best opening-week result for any title this year. Midnights should dominate the singles chart, too. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Based on midweek sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company, Swift is on the brink of a 1-2-3. Currently, Midnights track “Anti-Hero” leads the chart blast, ahead of “Lavender Blaze” and “Snow on the Beach,” respectively. Sw...
Rita Ora & Taika Waititi Set to Co-Host 2022 MTV EMAs
Rita Ora and writer, director, and actor Taika Waititi will host the 2022 MTV EMAs, which are set to broadcast live from Düsseldorf, Germany on Sunday, Nov. 13. Harry Styles is this year’s top nominee. Ora previously hosted the EMAs in 2017. Ora reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2014 as a featured artist on Iggy Azalea’s “Black Widow.” Waititi won both an Oscar and a Grammy for his work on the 2020 film Jojo Rabbit. His Oscar was for best adapted screenplay; his Grammy, for best compilation soundtrack for visual media. “I’m thrilled to be back hosting, and sharing the stage with Taika makes it all the more special,” Ora said in a statement. “We’ve got it all at this year’s EMAs, fun surprises, fantastic fashion, comedy, and above all amazing music!” “...
Japanese Rapper AKKOGORILLA Talks Becoming Liberated From Biases & Being a Feminist for Billboard Japan Women in Music
Billboard Japan launched its Women in Music initiative this year, following the established example of Billboard’s annual Women in Music issue that has continued since 2007. A series of interviews focusing on women in the Japanese music industry is being released as one of the first projects under Japan’s Women in Music banner, which will encompass multiple projects, including interviews, live performances and panel discussions. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Japanese rapper AKKOGORILLA, who named her first album released in 2018 GRRRLISM as an homage to the Riot Grrrl movement, coined the word based on her urge to “transcend the image of [a female rapper] representing girls.” The theme of the 34-year-old’s mini-album Magma I rele...
The 1975 Extends U.K. Chart Streak With ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’
The 1975 lands at No. 1 on the U.K. albums chart with Being Funny In A Foreign Language, the British alternative rock outfit’s fifth consecutive leader. Led by Matt Healy, the Cheshire, England band previously led the Official U.K. Chart their self-titled 2013 set, 2016’s I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it, 2018’s A Brief Enquiry Into Online Relationships, and 2020’s Notes On A Conditional Form. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news With their fast start, the 1975 enter the premium class of artists to have taken top spot with all five of their studio albums, drawing level with Ed Sheeran. The leader of that particular tally is Noel Gallagher, whose unbroken streak across Oasis and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Bird...
Dave, Stormzy, Little Simz Win Big at 2022 Rated Awards (Full List)
Dave was the big winner at the 2022 GRM Rated Awards, which focuses on the U.K. rap and grime scene. The rapper won four awards, including track of the year and video of the year for “Clash” (featuring Stormzy). The Rated Awards were held on Saturday Oct. 22 at Magazine London and will be broadcast on E4 on Tuesday Oct. 25 at 10 p.m. BST. Big Zuu and Julie Adenuga hosted the show. Dave’s second studio album, We’re All Alone in This Together, was named album of the year. It topped the Official U.K. Albums Chart for two weeks in August 2021. Dave also took home the award for male artist of the year. While accepting the award for track of the year, Dave discussed the long journey that the song took to become a hit. The song reached No. 2 on th...
Stormzy Rushes U.K. Top 10 With ‘Hide & Seek’
Stormzy secures a 26th top 10 as “Hide & Seek” (via Def Jam) storms the U.K. singles chart, while Sam Smith and Kim Petras complete a full month atop the survey with their “Unholy” collaboration. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Hide & Seek,” lifted from Stormzy’s upcoming third album This Is What I Mean, is new at No. 7, giving the homegrown hip-hop star the week’s top debut. This Is What I Mean is due out Nov. 25. Meanwhile, Anne-Marie and Aitch’s “Psycho” (Atlantic) collab is on the climb. After chasing a top 5 spot on the midweek survey, some five weeks after its release, “Psycho” finishes the chart week up 9-6. No less than seven singles make a splash in the U.K. top 40 for the first time, including British rapper Central Cee, whos...
The 1975 Lead Red Hot Chili Peppers In U.K. Chart Race
The U.K. albums chart battle is heating up as Red Hot Chili Peppers apply the pressure on the 1975. Based on midweek data published by the Official Charts Company, the 1975 is out front with Being Funny In A Foreign Language (Dirty Hit), the British alternative rock act’s fifth studio album. If it holds its position, Being Funny will bring Matt Healy and Co. their fifth U.K. leader, following their self-titled 2013 debut; I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it (from 2016); A Brief Enquiry Into Online Relationships (2018) and Notes On A Conditional Form (2020). The Chili Peppers could have a say in that. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The veteran California rockers start at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update wit...
The 1975 Lead Red Hot Chili Peppers In U.K. Chart Race
The U.K. albums chart battle is heating up as Red Hot Chili Peppers apply the pressure on the 1975. Based on midweek data published by the Official Charts Company, the 1975 is out front with Being Funny In A Foreign Language (Dirty Hit), the British alternative rock act’s fifth studio album. If it holds its position, Being Funny will bring Matt Healy and Co. their fifth U.K. leader, following their self-titled 2013 debut; I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it (from 2016); A Brief Enquiry Into Online Relationships (2018) and Notes On A Conditional Form (2020). The Chili Peppers could have a say in that. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The veteran California rockers start at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update wit...
Anne-Marie and Aitch’s ‘Psycho’ Stalks U.K. Midweek Top 5
Sam Smith and Kim Petras are on the verge of completing an “Unholy” (EMI) month in the U.K. The hit collaboration leads the midweek U.K. chart and is heading for a fourth consecutive week at No. 1. “Unholy” heads an unchanged top 4, as a psycho stalks the top 5. Anne-Marie and Aitch’s “Psycho” (via Atlantic) is eying an 8-5 climb, for what would be a new high in its fifth week on the chart. Based on midweek data, Stormzy’s on target for the highest new entry with “Hide & Seek” (Def Jam). It’s chasing a No. 9 debut. If it holds its ground, “Hide & Seek” will give the Brit Award winner a 13th U.K. top 10. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Further down the list, Oliver Tree and Robin Schulz’s “Miss You” (Atlantic) could crack the top 20 for ...
