Global
NAQT VANE (Hiroyuki SAWANO & Harukaze) Talk Searching for Freedom on New Single ‘Break Free’
Hiroyuki SAWANO, a composer of music for various video productions, continues to be the center of attention due to his “SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]” project, which is focused on vocal music. Harukaze is an up-and-coming singer who Hiroyuki has nothing but praise for, calling her “constantly captivating.” Today, we take a look at NAQT VANE, the new music project that brings together these two unparalleled talents. What led to you two meeting each other? Hiroyuki SAWANO: I was talking to a producer from Avex who I met when I was producing music for Do As Infinity. I said that I wanted to create a new music project, and they helped me out, which is how I discovered Harukaze. Harukaze had been uploading cover versions of Western songs on Instagram. Her voice was spellbinding, and when I talked to her ...
Lewis Capaldi Blasts to No. 1 In U.K. With ‘Forget Me’
Lewis Capaldi completes his comeback as “Forget Me” (Vertigo) blasts to No. 1 in the U.K. The Scottish singer and songwriter’s first release in three years is also his third song to hit No. 1, following “Someone You Loved” (from 2019) and “Before You Go” (2020). “Forget Me” racks up more than 56,000 first-week chart sales, according to the Official Charts Company, and it’s the most purchased (physical and digital downloads) single during the latest cycle. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news It’s the third single to start at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Chart this year, after Dave’s “Starlight” and Harry Styles’ “As It Was.” Brits certainly haven’t forgotten Capaldi. As he collects the singles chart crown, his debut album Divinely Uninspired To A Hell...
Beninese-Nigerian Rising Star Ayra Starr Gets Spotlight From Spotify RADAR Global Program
All eyes have been on Ayra Starr since late last year. The impressive vocalist – who was born in Cotonou, Benin, and raised in various neighborhoods such as Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria – made an impression outside of the African continent with her daring debut album 19 & Dangerous upon its release in August 2021. But now, she’s ready to take the world by storm as Spotify’s next RADAR Global artist, which the company announced Thursday (Sept. 15). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Spotify added Starr (real name Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe) to its marquee global emerging artist program, which will feature her on the RADAR Global playlist and spotlight her in special content, including a mini-documentary about her upbringing and come-up ...
Billboard China Announces Partnership With Tencent Music Entertainment Group
Billboard announced on Wednesday (Aug. 31) that the company has partnered with Tencent Music Entertainment Group to develop its new Billboard China brand. As the leading online music and audio entertainment platform in China, Tencent will work with Billboard to launch the “Chinese Music Gravity Project,” a pioneering initiative that will shine a spotlight on Chinese music artists through a series of engaging content collaborations and other features. By enlisting TME, Billboard will also share its global content — authoritative charts, expert recommendations, music news coverage and more — across the platform’s many channels, including QQ Music, Kugou Music, Kuwo Music and WeSing. As of late 2020, Tencent Music, which licenses Billboard China, controlled 77% of China’s streaming ...
K-Pop Breakouts IVE Sample a ’70s Disco Classic on New Single ‘After Like’
As the Korean music industry continuously finds new ways to connect to larger musical conversations, a girl group leading the next generation of K-pop is throwing it back to a ’70s disco anthem for their latest single. After entering the scene in December last year, IVE have already sent their first two singles, “Eleven” and “Love Dive,” to multiple Billboard charts: at Nos. 2 and 1, respectively, on the Billboard Korea K-Pop Hot 100, top 10 of World Digital Song Sales, and entries on the Billboard Global 200. The quickly rising group’s latest single “After Like” not only seems primed to land them another hit but expand to even more fans with a clever sample use. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “After Like” is IVE’s new single that incorporates...
Watch J-Pop Singer/Songwriter Motohiro Hata’s English-Language ‘Trick Me’ Lyric Video
J-pop singer-songwriter Motohiro Hata digitally released the English-language version of his song “Trick Me,” along with the accompanying lyric video. The track, originally released in April, was featured in a collaborative campaign for the Japanese fashion company United Arrows’ “green label relaxing” brand. The English version could only be heard in stores around the country and was only included in the fan club-exclusive CDs until now. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The lyric video was helmed by up-and-coming Japanese visual artist Aonisai Takada, and the striking, stylish visuals express the lyrics as vividly flashing neon lights. [embedded content] [flexi-common-toolbar] [flexi-form class=”flexi_form_style” title=̶...
100 Weeks of the Billboard Global Charts: The 100-Hits Playlist
The latest Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, dated Aug. 13, 2022, mark 100 weeks since the worldwide song lists launched in September 2020. This week, we’re running through the hits that topped, lingered on, and shaped the surveys throughout their first 100 weeks. Today, we conclude with a celebratory listening of 100 songs that have helped define the past 100 weeks of hit global music. The playlist below spotlights the biggest and most interesting stories in global music over the past 100 weeks. Mixing No. 1s with long-lasting smashes … with international crossovers … with evergreen catalog tracks … with re-worked remixes and covers … with social media sensations … it’s a trip around the world and through time. Back in September 2020, when the global charts laun...
100 Weeks of the Billboard Global Charts: The Songs That Never Left
The latest Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, dated Aug. 13, 2022, mark 100 weeks since the worldwide song lists launched in September 2020. This week, we’re celebrating the hits that topped, lingered on, and shaped the surveys throughout their first 100 weeks. Today, we continue with the enduring songs that have lasted all 100 weeks. Becoming a member of the 100-week club on Billboard‘s global charts does not simply require longevity – timing matters, too. Some of the longest running No. 1s that we covered yesterday – “Drivers License,” “Stay” and “As It Was,” among them – do not qualify since they were released after the charts launched. Despite never falling off, they have each tallied fewer than 100 weeks (so far …). The songs on the triple-digit-weeks list we...
Billboard Expands in Asia With Launch of Billboard China
Billboard is expanding its global footprint in Asia. On Monday (Aug. 8), Billboard announced the launch of Billboard China along with plans for its rollout. “We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Billboard brand in China,” Billboard President Mike Van said in a press release announcing the news. “We look forward to providing a platform for Chinese musicians to share their art and unique sound amongst a global audience. Today marks the beginning of another exciting chapter in Billboard’s evolution and we are eager to witness the proliferation of new artists shaping pop culture.” Billboard China adds to the list of the publication’s international editions and music content in Asia, following Billboard Japan and Billboard Korea. Per the press release, Billboard will work closely with ...
Superfly Drops ‘Dynamite’ Remix by DJ R3HAB: Listen
Superfly made its major-label debut on April 4, 2007, as a duo with the single “Hello Hello.” Now Superfly — the stage name of vocalist Shiho Ochi — has released numerous J-pop hits over the years, including “Ai wo Komete Hanataba wo” (A Bouquet With Love), “Beautiful” and “Flare.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The singer/songwriter continues to work tirelessly in the year marking the 15th anniversary of her debut, releasing a new digital single called “Voice” on her debut day and then “Dynamite” on May 23, the song featured in the new commercial series for Boat Race 2022 in Japan. A globally renowned DJ from the Netherlands, R3HAB has remixed tracks by a variety of top artists including The Chainsmokers and Rihanna. Superfly is the first Jap...
The Global Popularity of Official HIGE DANdism’s ‘Mixed Nuts’ Explained
Now one of Japan’s biggest mainstream acts, Official HIGE DANdism’s most recent hit single “Mixed Nuts” continues to break records, sailing past 100 million streams on July 6 to rewrite the J-pop rock band’s own record for fastest release to hit the milestone. It’s also the first domestic song released this year to generate 100 million streams, notable in that this figure is an indicator of a nationwide hit in today’s J-pop music scene. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The key to the breakthrough was the popularity of the TV anime series SPYxFAMILY. “Mixed Nuts” was written by Official HIGE DANdism — often referred to as HIGE DAN for short — as the anime’s opener. The track was digitally released April 15 and hit No. 1 on the Billboard J...
Official HIGE DANdism’s ‘Mixed Nuts’ Logs Third Week Atop Japan Hot 100
Official HIGE DANdism’s “Mixed Nuts” holds at No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, dated July 13, logging its third week at the top of the tally. On the chart tracking the week from July 4 to 10, the SPYxFAMILY opener is powered by streaming, downloads, and video views. The track continues its reign over streaming and downloads, with the former increasing slightly from 9,371,493 to 9,452,499 weekly streams to extend its record to 11 weeks at No. 1 for themetric, while the latter decreasing slightly from 11,066 to 10,259 units but extending its record to 4 weeks, respectively. The single is at No. 4 for video, withfigures increasing from 1,614,634 to 1,641,850 views. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news [embedded content] SEKAI NO OWARI’s “H...
