International
Japan’s YOASOBI Set to Drop New Single ‘Tsubame’
J-pop duo YOASOBI are set to release a new single called “Tsubame” on Oct. 25. The track is being featured as theme of NHK’s SDGs TV series for children Hirogare! Irotoridori, a show that introduces projects and special programs that make learning about Sustainable Development Goals fun and accessible. The title of the song means “swallow” and it was written based on a Japanese story with a title that translates to “A Little Swallow’s Big Dream” by Nana Otsutsuki. The story won the grand prize in the TV show’s project that invited submissions to collaborate with the breakout male-female duo to write a new future-themed song. 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....
The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber’s ‘Stay’ Snags 13th Week at No. 1 In Australia
The highest-placed debut this week belongs to homegrown band Rancid Eddie, whose controversial song “Dry” (Independent) starts at No. 17. “Dry” has been a hot talking point in Australia’s music press throughout the week, with some artists and observers slamming its lyrical content as harmful and misogynistic. The band responded with a statement in which its members admitted to exploring “the dark sides of relationships in our lyrics” though “oppose hatred or violence of any kind against women.” Over on the ARIA Albums Chart, Drake’s Certified Lover Boy (Universal) returns to No. 1 for a third non-consecutive week at the top, equaling Scorpion (July 2018) as the Canadian rapper’s longest stint at the penthouse. Meanwhile, Taylor Swi...
Envision Festival Postponed to 2023
Yes, you read that right: 2023. The pandemic put a damper on countless music festivals in 2020 and 2021 but as of late, live events have been able to return by implementing enhanced safety measures, such as mandating prospective attendees to provide proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. As music festival organizers continue to navigate the complexities of COVID-19 restrictions, some feel it’s still too soon to return. Costa Rica’s beloved Envision Festival initially postponed their 2021 edition to February 21-28, 2022, informing all ticket-holders that it will be worth the wait. Unfortunately, Envisionaries will now have to wait an additional 370 days. Over the past several months, the fest’s organizers have ...
Ben Facey Exits Universal Music
An auto-reply from Facey’s email account confirms he is “no longer with the company” and directs inquiries to Jim Roppo, EVP/General Manager at Republic Records. Facey was understood to be the subject of an internal investigation, news of which first emerged in late August on Beneath The Glass Ceiling, the Instagram account that’s been holding the music industry to account for bad behavior. The reasons for Facey departure are unclear, and he has not been accused of any wrongdoing. A spokesman for Universal Music Group confirmed his departure from the company, and tells Billboard there is no further statement at this time. Roppo did not respond to requests for comment. The latest development follows the launch of an independent investigation at Universal Mu...
Canada’s Kilometre Music Group Closes Catalog Deals Encompassing Drake, Dua Lipa Hits
Across the deals, Kilometre says it acquired underlying copyrights and royalty streams associated with all the songs, but it did not purchase master recordings or revenues from masters. The company declined to reveal purchase prices. According to calculations by Kilometre, the fund now co-owns 10% of the 100 most-streamed songs on Spotify of all time, and 7% of Spotify’s “Billions Club” – songs with one billion streams or more. The Kilometre deals, along with recent acquisitions by Dutch music management company Pythagoras Music Fund, are the latest purchases of publishing catalogs worldwide by investor-backed song funds like London-based Hipgnosis Song Funds as well as the publishing arms of major labels Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. In recent mon...
Angelique Kidjo Leads Calls for COVID-19 Vaccinations to Africa
“Rich nations have pledged to donate over a billion vaccines this year and hundreds of millions more in 2022, as well as supporting Africa to manufacture and buy its own vaccines. This gives us hope, but most of these promises remain unfulfilled. Africa cannot wait. We need doses now,” the letter continues. At the COVID-19 Summit held at the United Nations last week, world leaders backed an ambitious 70 per cent vaccination target across all populations. Many wealthy countries are on course, or have already reached the goal. But few Africans have been jabbed. According to the UN, just four per cent of the African population is fully vaccinated. “This inequity is unjust – and self-defeating,” the letter reads. “It leaves Africans – and the whole world – at the mercy of the virus.” The signa...
Wannabe Everywhere: Spice Girls Partner with Universal’s Bravado for Merch and Licensing
UMG did not disclose financial terms for the deal. It marks the first time in two decades that the Spice Girls’ licensing rights across all channels have been assigned to a single partner. Bravado owner Universal Music Group holds the global rights to the Spice Girls’ recorded music catalog, which spans three studio albums — 1996’s Spice, 1997’s Spiceworld and 2000’s Forever – and 11 singles, although it doesn’t control their publishing rights. (Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard, who co-wrote many of the band’s biggest hits, including breakthrough hit “Wannabe,” are published by Universal Music Publishing Group, however). Later this month, Universal will release an expanded 25th anniversary edition of the Spice Girls’ debut album, Spice25, featuring previously unreleased songs, demos and mixe...
The Script Searching for Sixth U.K. No. 1 Album
Coming in at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update is The Specials’ Protest Songs 1924-2012 (Island), for what should give the legendary Coventry ska outfit a fifth U.K. Top 10 album. The Specials’ last appearance on the chart was a No. 1 for their 2019 comeback LP, Encore. Queen drummer Roger Taylor beats a path to No. 3 with Outsider (EMI), which is set to become his first solo Top 10 title. Meanwhile, the original soundtrack for latest instalment in the James Bond franchise, No Time To Die (Decca), recorded by German composer Hans Zimmer, is at No. 4, while Taylor Swift’s former leader Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (via EMI) rebounds to No. 5 following its release on vinyl. Also aiming for a Top 10 berth is Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett’s collaborative album Love For Sale (Interscope...
Coldplay & BTS’ ‘My Universe’ Launches Atop Both Billboard Global Charts
Billboard‘s two global charts (the latest of which are dated Oct. 9) began in September 2020 and rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by MRC Data. The Billboard Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the U.S. Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations. ‘Universe’ Rules the Wor...
The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber Extend Their ‘Stay’ Atop Australia’s Singles Chart
Fields holds off a pair of former leaders in Drake’s Certified Lover Boy (up 3-2 via Universal) and Olivia Rodrigo’s hit debut Sour (up 4-3 via Interscope/Universal), respectively. Melbourne country quartet Darlinghurst crack the Top 10 with their self-titled first album (via MGM), new at No. 9. Formed in 2019, the group was nominated for New Talent Of The Year at the 2021 Golden Guitars. Natalie Imbruglia makes her first chart appearance in more than six years, as Firebird flies in at No. 30. Firebird is the “Torn” singer’s first album of original material since 2009’s Come to Life, and her first release through a new deal with BMG. With their 12th week reigning over the ARIA Singles Chart, The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber join some elite company. Only five singles have spent m...
Coldplay and BTS’ ‘My Universe’ Shines Bright on U.K. Chart
It’s the biggest seller across both digital downloads and CD in the current frame, clocking up 27,000 pure sales over the seven-day cycle. According to the OCC, digital downloads account for 21,400 of the sum, marking the biggest single week of downloads for a song in 2021. “My Universe” draws level with the chart peaks for BTS’ “Dynamite” and “Butter,” for the K-pop superstars’ fourth U.K. Top 10. It’s Coldplay’s 19th appearance in the Top 10. Lifting into fourth spot is Nigerian singer and songwriter CKay, with his viral hit “Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)” (Parlophone). It’s up five places for his first stint in the U.K. Top 5. Wigan guitar band The Lathums enjoy the best possible start with their debut album How Beautiful Life Can Be (Island), which starts at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Album...
Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shivers’ Set for Fourth Week at No. 1 In U.K.
“Cold Heart” is remixed by the Sydney electronic act Pnau, who teamed up with Elton on the U.K. chart topping album from 2012, Good Morning to the Night. According to the OCC, “Cold Heart” is Elton’s highest-charting single as a lead artist since his re-release of “Are You Ready For Love” hit No. 1 in 2003, following its appearance in a Sky Sports football campaign. “Cold Heart” is lifted from Elton’s forthcoming album The Lockdown Sessions, which includes collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks. Further down the list, Oxford band Glass Animals could see a new peak with “Heat Waves,” which lifts to No. 5 on the chart blast.“Heat Waves” was deemed the most popular song in 2020 by listeners of Australia’s triple j, who voted the song to No. 1 in t...
