International
Adele’s ‘Easy On Me’ Set For Second Week Atop U.K. Singles Chart
Adele’s first release in six years leads the First Look chart, which ranks tracks based on activity from the first 48 hours in the chart cycle. Further down the list, reunited EDM legends Swedish House Mafia and Canadian R&B star The Weeknd are on track for the week’s highest new entry, with “Moth To A Flame.” It’s new at No. 12 on the chart blast. Another new-ish release is ABBA’s “Just A Notion.” The track was originally cut during the Swedish pop group’s heyday in the late ‘70s, and officially released in full last Friday. It’s on course to give the foursome their 29th U.K. Top 40 single, the OCC reports. The latest single from their forthcoming album Voyage, due out Nov. 5, “Just A Notion” is eyeing a No. 14 bow. Finally, London rapper Digga D is locked-on for a ninth U...
Pandemic Strips Over $1B From Australia’s Live Entertainment Sector: Report
This “significant decline can be primarily attributed to COVID-19 restrictions,” explains the report, noting major tours from the likes of Pink, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry in 2018, and visits by U2 and Eminem in 2019, were absent from the touring calendar last year, as all three levels of government ordered the shutdown of gathering places to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. In a crippled market, “Contemporary Music,” a category that includes rock, pop and hip-hop concerts, was the largest genre, accounting for 51% of revenue, and, combined with festivals comprised 60% of total industry revenue and 43% of attendances. Don’t expect the data for 2021 to bring any cheer to the live business. The impacts of COVID-19 this year may be even greater, ...
Adele’s ‘Easy On Me’ Smashes Records En Route to U.K. No. 1
The new track carves up the competition with 217,300 chart sales in its first week, a tally not seen since Ed Sheeran’s “Shape Of You” packed-in 226,800 combined sales back in January 2017. Today, “Shape Of You” is the most-streamed song ever on Spotify. In its debut week, Adele’s “Easy On Me” accumulates 24 million streams in the U.K., a new mark beating the record set by Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings,” which registered 16.9 million U.K. streams back in January 2019. Also, according to the OCC, “Easy On Me” bags the biggest sum of digital download sales for 2021, with 23,500. “Easy On Me” is Adele’s first music release in six years, and it’s the first track taken from her forthcoming fourth album 30, due out Nov. 19. As anticipation builds, two of her earlier hits power back into t...
Coldplay Blasts to No. 1 In U.K. With ‘Music Of The Spheres’
The last figure to chalk-up six-figures in a week was Ed Sheeran’s No. 6 Collaborations Project, which started with 125,000 in July 2019. Pure sales accounted for 85% of Coldplay’s first week tally, a sum that included 12,400 on wax, enough to lead this week’s Official Vinyl Albums Chart. With the strong opening, Coldplay’s collaboration with BTS, “My Universe,” races 15-5 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, while “Let Somebody Go” featuring Selena Gomez, opens at No. 24, and “Higher Power” reenters at 26. Coldplay performed all three tracks live last week on CBS’ The Late Late Show With James Corden. With the unbroken, career-spanning run of No. 1s, Coldplay tie with Brandon Flowers, who also has a streak of nine consecutive chart-toppers across The Killers and his solo efforts. Noel Gall...
Bernard Haitink, Renowned Dutch Conductor, Dies at 92
Haitink was known for interpretations without flash. “Haitink’s approach was more passionate than portentous, happily lacking in heaviness,” Associated Press critic Daniel J. Wakin wrote after a Brahms Symphony No. 2 with the Berlin Philharmonic at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1991. Haitink developed a lengthy and influential career in England, where he was chief conductor of the London Philharmonic from 1969-79 and music director of the Glynebourne Festival from 1978-88. He succeeded Colin Davis as music director of The Royal Opera, Covent Garden, in 1987 and held the position until 2002. Among the highlights of his tenure were a color-splashed Graham Vick production of Verdi’s Falstaff that reopened the refurbished Royal Opera House in December 1999. “If we have seen a lot of Haitink...
Pianist Li Yundi Named in Prostitution Case by Beijing Police
Police in China’s capital Beijing say famed international pianist Li Yundi is a suspect in a prostitution case. A message on the force’s microblog said a suspect had been placed in administrative detention and an investigation opened on Thursday (Oct. 21) involving a woman identified by her surname Chen and a man named as “Li di,” with the first part of his personal name deleted as is standard in police cases. The post was followed by another message depicting a piano keyboard and the words “one must definitely see clearly the difference between black and white.” You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards b...
Watch SEVENTEEN Talk ‘Growth’ on ‘Attacca’ EP & Getting CARATs Involved in Their Music: Video Interview
SEVENTEEN returned Friday (Oct. 22) with their ninth EP Attacca, and in a new interview with Billboard News‘ Tetris Kelly, the group is opening up about their quick comeback after Your Choice, the album’s message of love, and getting CARATs involved in the music-making process. The 13-member K-pop group is spoiling fans with new music, releasing Attacca just four months after June’s Your Choice EP, and they’re not planning to slow down anytime soon. “We’re not taking any breaks,” Hoshi says, with S.Coups adding: “We worked even harder since we’re not able to meet everyone in person right now. We wanted to connect more frequently, at least through our music.” You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So ...
Adele Blasts to No. 1 In Australia With ‘Easy On Me’
As excitement builds ahead of the Nov. 19 release of 30, Adele’s “Someone Like You” and “Rolling In The Deep” re-enter the chart at No. 40 and 43, respectively, while her three previous albums all enjoy sales spikes. Adele’s latest leads a Top 5 that’s rounded out by Elton John and Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix” (holding at No. 2 via Warner/Universal), The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” (down 1-3 via Columbia/Sony), and a pair of Ed Sheeran tracks, “Bad Habits” (down 3-4 via Atlantic/Warner) and “Shivers” (down 4-5 via Warner), respectively. Meanwhile, Coldplay secure a seventh ARIA albums chart crown with Music Of The Spheres (Parlophone/Warner), as it rolls to No. 1 on debut. Coldplay hold off The Beatles’ classic final album Let It Be (USM/Universal), which roars to No....
J-Pop Band Atarayo’s Emotional Set Shines in Billboard Japan & TikTok ‘Next Fire’ October Edition
After finishing the song, vocalist and guitarist Hitomi admitted, “I’m nervous,” with a smile and spoke a few words to fans before beginning the second song, one of the band’s best-known numbers with a title that roughly means “It’s October, you never say anything and I’ll forget you.” The cathartic midtempo ballad begins with a few spoken lines that end with the bitter parting shot, “You could at least look at me for the last time.” Hitomi went on to sing sadly but beautifully about an ending relationship, accompanied by Maashi’s harmonies over the steady rhythm created by bassist Takeo and drummer Tanapai. Many viewers expressed their joy and excitement over their favorite track, sending love to the band in real time. After the performance, Hitomi told fans, “I’m glad y...
IMPALA Unveils First Annual Diversity & Inclusion Report
Highlights outlined in the first annual report include a pair of diversity and inclusion training sessions for members, the release of the first D&I survey for independent music businesses during European Diversity Month in May and the appointment of diversity advocates on all IMPALA committees. The organization also launched a D&I task force advised by music manager and consultant Keith Harris OBE and co-chaired by Eva Karman Reinhold of Swedish indie label association SOM and Paul Pacifico of the U.K.’s Association of Independent Music (AIM). Below is a more detailed look at the report. Surveys: The ongoing D&I survey process is being conducted with two classes: IMPALA member businesses and associations. The separate surveys were designed to incorporate the protect...
APRA AMCOS Powers to Record Revenue, Despite Impact of COVID-19
The results are published in the APRA AMCOS’s Year In Review. On closer look, the APRA AMCOS financial year is a reflection of the two-speed music economy, one where digital is thriving, and those portfolios engaged with live entertainment — including public performance income and background music royalties — are in the doldrums. Those banner results, say the organization, belies “the financial hardship affecting local music creators” whose livelihoods have been crushed by the pandemic. With millions of music fans stuck at home, the brightest spot was streaming. Thanks to audio streaming services and on-demand services, digital revenue was essentially “pandemic proof,” according to a statement accompanying the PRO’s full-year financial results. Digital income grew during the pe...
Amy Shark and Genesis Owusu Lead 2021 ARIA Awards Nominations
ARIA is ringing in the changes this year, with several key developments introduced to reflect and embrace equality and the diversity of Australia’s record industry. For the first time, the gender-based categories are out. The awards for best female artist and best male artist are replaced with the ARIA for best artist, a ten-strong category contested by Amy Shark, Budjerah, Genesis Owusu, Keith Urban, Kylie Minogue, Masked Wolf, Ngaiire, The Kid LAROI, Tones And I and Vance Joy. Also new this year is the Michael Gudinski breakthrough artist category, renamed in honor of the late Mushroom Group founder and chairman, who passed away in March. The emerging talent vying for the Gudinski prize are Budjerah, Gretta Ray, Masked Wolf, MAY-A and Ngaiire. Set for Nov. 24, this year’s ARIAs is an all...
