International
As Football Fever Sweeps England, Atomic Kitten Returns With ‘Southgate You’re The One’
The song is a new version of Atomic Kitten’s No. 1 from 2001 “Whole Again,” featuring new vocals from bandmate Jenny Frost, who last performed with the group 13 years ago. “It’s been a whirlwind couple of days, but we are super excited and grateful to be able to contribute to the awesome energy and patriotism that is filling the England streets with this version of ‘Whole Again,’ comments band members Frost, Natasha Hamilton and Liz McClarnon. “Southgate You’re The One” is “totally inspired by the England football fans in support of Gareth Southgate and the super talented England football team, we will be singing loud and proud ‘Football’s Coming Home.’” The song dropped ahead of England’s 2-1 semi-final win Wednesday (July 7) against Denmark, which propels the 3 Lions in...
MAY-A Signs With Atlantic Records: Exclusive
Those skills also grabbed the attention of Atlantic chairman & COO Julie Greenwald, who describes the youngster as a “one-of-a-kind artist” who has created her “own brilliant musical and visual universe.” Atlantic will represent MAY-A for the world outside Australia and New Zealand. “As a performer and songwriter,” continues Greenwald in a statement, “her art reflects wisdom and talent well beyond her years. We’re so thrilled to be on this journey with her and excited to welcome her to the Atlantic family.” To coincide with her new arrangement, MAY-A shares a new cut of “Swing Of Things,” featuring a fresh collaboration with Powfu. “It honestly feels like a dream to be working with Atlantic Records,” MAY-A says about her major-label signing. “I am so appreciative of t...
Bo Burnham’s ‘Inside’ Goes International With Global Chart Hit ‘All Eyes on Me’
Since then, “Eyes” has grown, rising 72% in streams and 39% in sales in the latest tracking week. The song’s streams split 81% from audio services and 19% video services this week, which may be surprising considering its original state was as part of a visual comedy special on Netflix. Still, that slant toward audio streaming is in line with most titles from Inside (Songs), a strong showing for Burnham’s songwriting to stand on its own. The album’s first focus track, “Internet,” remains the set’s most-streamed track worldwide in the week ending July 1, at 8.7 million, but falls behind “Eyes” in sales, with 800 sold. However, with the latter title’s robust gains and the former’s steadier activity, it wouldn’t...
NUT: Nigerian government not interested in curbing insecurity
The 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr Kayode Akosile, has said insecurity is getting worse at schools and other places in the country because the government is not seriously invested in curbing the situation. Akosile said government could as well use the money being embezzled and wasted on other not too important things to combat insecurity in the land. The NUT boss said this while speaking with journalists in Ibadan on Tuesday on the sidelines of a workshop on privatisation and commercialisations of education organised by NUT in partnership with International and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation. He said teachers and students’ minds were no longer at rest while in schools, saying the future of the nation was already in jeopardy. He said everything should be done t...
Queen’s ‘Greatest Hits’ Set to be Crowned Again on U.K. Albums Chart
If it keeps its momentum when the weekly chart is published this Friday, it’ll mark the album’s fifth week at the summit, and its first stint at the top since the LP ruled the chart for four straight weeks in November and December 1981. With more than six million copies sold, Queen’s Greatest Hits is the best-selling album in the history of the U.K.’s recorded music industry. Also, it has logged 952 weeks in the Official Albums Chart to date, behind just ABBA’s Gold (1,000 weeks) and Bob Marley and The Wailers’ Legend (984 weeks). Queen last ruled the U.K. chart with 2020’s Queen + Adam Lambert Live Around The World, their first time leader since 1995’s Made In Heaven. Ahead of its release, Royal Mail released a collection of stamps to commemorate the group’s 50-ye...
Fueled by Euro 2020, Soccer Anthems Kick a Goal In Midweek U.K. Chart
If England progress to the final, and go all the way – something the team has never done in the UEFA tournament – expect the single to keep scoring. If it does, it would give the track a fifth stint at No. 1, extending its national chart record. Meanwhile, “Vindaloo” (Union Square Music) by Fat Les, the collective of Blur bassist Alex James, actor Keith Allen, and artist Damien Hirst, is at No. 40, and is charting to its first appearance in the top tier since 2010, when it reentered at No. 32 around the time of the World Cup. Also, New Order’s former chart-leader “World In Motion” (London) is at No. 57. “World In Motion,” which features a rap by retired soccer star John Barnes, was the Official World Cup 1990 song. Down the list, rap duo Krept & Konan are at No. 73 with “Olé (We Are En...
Ed Sheeran’s ‘Bad Habits’ Blasts to No. 1 In Australia
“I’m so delighted and did not expect this start so a huge thank-you all for streaming, downloading and buying the single,” says Sheeran in a statement. “I hope you are enjoying it! After a decade in this industry I take none of this for granted. More to come soon”. The single is lifted from Sheeran’s forthcoming fifth album, the follow-up to No.6 Collaborations Project, which led the national albums survey in July 2019. Sheeran has a deep connection with the land Down Under, where he’s broken several chart records and set the all-time mark for ticket sales on a single tour. Earlier this year, the Brit debuted a new song, “Visiting Hours,” at the state memorial in Melbourne for the late Mushroom Group founder Michael Gudinski. Sheeran “is a superstar artist and an adopted son here in Austra...
Ed Sheeran Celebrates U.K. No. 1 and Promises ‘Loads More Music on the Way Soon’
The singer and songwriter becomes just the ninth act to reach that double-figures atop the leaderboard. He joins Calvin Harris and Eminem on 10 No. 1 singles across their careers. Only Take That (12), Madonna (13), Cliff Richard and Westlife (14) and The Beatles (17) and Elvis (21) have more chart crowns. “Thank you so much for giving this era such a flying start,” he continues. “Loads more music on the way soon, but for now I’m gonna crack open a beer and toast to you lot.” “Bad Habits” is the third single to debut at No. 1 this year, following Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” in January and Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” in April. U.S. singer and rapper Doja Cat makes a splash with Planet Her (Ministry of Sound), which debuts at No. 3 on the national albums tally, and two...
Ed Sheeran’s ‘Bad Habits’ Heading for Second Week Atop U.K. Chart
The new song debuted atop the Official U.K. Singles Chart last Friday, giving Sheeran his 10th No. 1. In a celebratory post, he promised “loads more music on the way soon.” Elsewhere on the chart blast, several singles are on course for new peaks within the Top 10, including Galantis, David Guetta and Little Mix’s “Heartbreak Anthem” (No. 3); Maneskin’s “I Wanna Be Your Slave” (No. 4) and “Beggin'” (No. 6); and Calvin Harris’ “By Your Side” with Tom Grennan (No. 8). Following England’s 4-0 drubbing of Ukraine in the UEFA European Championships, the football anthem “3 Lions” by Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds lifts eight places to No. 14. With England entering the semis of the tournament for the first t...
ABBA ‘Gold’ Is First Album to Log 1,000 Weeks on U.K. Chart
The career-retrospective sits behind just one title on the U.K.’s all-time bestsellers list, Queen’s Greatest Hits (Virgin) from 1981. “To have racked up 1,000 weeks on the Official Albums Chart, a solid 20 years of chart presence, is quite remarkable,” comments Martin Talbot, CEO of the Official Charts Company. “It not only highlights their incredible popularity, but just how closely they have connected with a succession of new generations.” The two albums trailing ABBA Gold on the longevity list aren’t far behind. Bob Marley & The Wailers’ collection Legend (Tuff Gong) is at No. 2, with 984 weeks, while Queen’s Greatest Hits is on 952 weeks. For the record, ABBA Gold (via Polydor) lifts 23-17 on the latest weekly chart. ABBA’s career went supernova following th...
HYBE Leadership Shakeup: Bang Si-hyuk Out as CEO, Scooter Braun to Lead U.S. Unit
HYBE’s purchase of Ithaca married the two companies’ diverse range of services, including management, labels and publishing, for a deep roster that includes K-pop supergroups BTS and Seventeen, and U.S. pop stars Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. Braun will continue to lead Ithaca Holdings, the parent of SB Projects and Big Machine Label Group, while also acting as co-CEO of HYBE America. Jaesang Lee, who led HYBE’s acquisition of Ithaca, will be moving to the US as Braun and Yoon Seok-jun’s chief operation officer. Over in Japan, HYBE is establishing a new regional division, HYBE Japan, that will be led by CEO Han Hyun-rok. The subsidiary will focus on signing local talent (a new boyband will be introduced soon) and managing the interests of other HYBE arti...
Jack Savoretti Looks to Depose Olivia Rodrigo on U.K. Albums Chart
Europiana accumulates the most physical sales and downloads over the weekend, and should give Savoretti his fourth consecutive Top 10, the OCC reports. Meanwhile, Tyler, The Creator enjoys a solid start with his sixth record Call Me If You Get Lost (Columbia). It’s new a No. 3 and is on track for the U.S. hip-hop artist’s highest-charting album ever in the U.K., outpacing the No. 4 best of his 2019 album Igor. Doja Cat could snag her first Top 10 with Planet Her (Ministry of Sound), which starts at No. 4 on the chart blast, while alt-rock artist John Grant’s latest, Boy From Michigan (Bella Union), is new at No. 5. Further down the list, Anaheim rock outfit Buckcherry is targeting a first-ever appearance in the U.K. Top 40 with Hellbound (Earache), new at No. 8, while British metal gi...
