International
Sexy Zone Debuts at No. 1, Yoasobi Rises to No. 2 on Japan Hot 100
Meanwhile, Yoasobi released the “Kaibutsu” CD this week, which sold 27,275 copies to lift the track from No. 7 to No. 2 on the Japan Hot 100. The song came in at No. 2 for sales and look-ups, adding points from these physical metrics to the already-steady digital ones: downloads (No. 3, from 7,969 to 12,354 units), streaming (No. 5, from 8,073,014 to 8,356,769 streams), and video views (No. 3, from 2,330,981 to 2,525,688 views), which have all increased this week. The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, Twitter mentions, YouTube and GYAO! video views, Gracenote look- ups and karaoke data. Check out the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, dated March 22 to 28, here. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. S...
WagakkiBand & Voice Actor Tasuku Hatanaka Compare Notes on Participating in New Animated Series ‘Mars Red’
In a new interview, WagakkiBand lead vocalist Yuko Suzuhana, guitarist Machiya, and Hatanaka sat down with Billboard Japan’s Mariko Ikitake to share their respective experiences contributing to the series, which also features L’Arc-en-Ciel frontman Hyde’s new track “On My Own” as the ending theme. WagakkiBand are also set to livestream a fan club-only concert on Sunday, April 4 at 5:00 p.m. JST. Tickets are available for overseas fans through PIA LIVE STREAM and ZAIKO. Check out the Q&A below. When were you asked to participate in this project? Machiya: Back in 2019. We’ve worked on other animated series before, but this was the first time we were asked to submit our ideas so far ahead of the series premiere. So we sensed that the creators were pretty fired up about th...
Scooter Braun Selling Ithaca Holdings to HYBE, Home of BTS
HYBE will handle the acquisition through its wholly owned state-side subsidiary HYBE America, buying a 100 percent of Ithaca Holdings, including its properties, such as SB Projects and Big Machine Label Group. Braun, Ithaca’s CEO, will join the board of HYBE, and Scott Borchetta will remain CEO of Big Machine Label Group. As part of the transaction, private equity firm The Carlyle Group is exiting its significant minority stake in Ithaca after initially investing in the company in 2017 by way of its Carlyle Partners VI fund. The new partners said that “artists of both companies will participate in the capital increase of HYBE, to further strengthen the ties between the two companies,” without providing further detail. “With Ithaca ...
Sony Music Acquires Top Brazilian Indie Label Som Livre For $255 Million
Founded in 1969 by music producer João Araújo, Som Livre initially focused on releasing soundtracks for Globo’s soap operas and continued to specialize in compilations. A decade ago, the label shifted its strategy to developing and managing artists and became the largest producer of music in Brazil, where local music represents almost 70% of total consumption. Today, the label is home to more than 80 artists, including massive sertanejo act Jorge & Mateus, forró star Wesley Safadão and Latin Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Maria Gadú. Som Livre artists had five out of the top 10 songs in Brazil in 2020, according to the IFPI 2021 Global Music Report. They included Henrique and Juliano’s “Liberdade Provisória,” the No. 1 streaming track in Brazil in 2020. With the acquisition, Sony b...
Watch Seventeen Perform ‘Hit’ on ‘Ellen’ & Take Fans Behind the Scenes
Seventeen continued their blockbuster 2021 on U.S. TV with a performance Thursday (April 1) on Ellen. The 13-member K-pop group brought back their 2019 song “HIT” for a high-energy set that allowed each performer to shine. And in a special treat for the group’s CARAT fandom, the Ellen page posted a six-minute-plus video later Thursday that featured behind-the-scenes interviews with the guys on the performance set. 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 by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help give users back their fair share of Internet revenue.
BTS Could Win Its First Brit Award Before Taking Home a Grammy
Let’s take a look at the five nominees for best international group — including their nomination history in this category and how they have fared on the U.K. charts since the current eligibility year began on Dec. 13, 2019. (The eligibility year ended on March 11, 2021.) Unless otherwise specified, all chart numbers refer to the Official U.K. Albums Chart and the Official U.K. Singles Chart. BTS: The lads landed their second No. 1 album with Map of the Soul – 7 and they just missed out on landing a third when Be peaked at No. 2. They also secured their first two top 10 singles: “Dynamite” (No. 3) and “Life Goes On” (No. 10). BTS would become the first act that doesn’t hail from Europe, North America or Australia to win for best international group. Fontaines D.C.: The band’s so...
Thousands of Fans May Be Allowed to Attend 2021 Eurovision Song Contest
The government said it wants to allow a maximum of 3,500 people to attend a total of nine shows in the city of Rotterdam — rehearsals, semifinals and the May 22 final, if the state of the pandemic allows it. The Netherlands was set to host the contest last year, but the event was canceled due to the pandemic. “We welcome this decision by the Dutch government and the possibility that we can invite fans to join us as we bring the Eurovision Song Contest back in May,” Executive Supervisor Martin Osterdahl said in a statement on the event’s website. “We will consider the options now available and announce more details in the coming weeks on how we can safely admit audiences to the Ahoy venue in Rotterdam, should the situation allow,” Osterdahl said. “The health and safety of all those at...
Dua Lipa, Celeste & More Female Artists Land 2021 Brit Award Nominations: Full List
Lipa received three Brit nods this year, which put her in a five-way tie for the lead, along with the aforementioned Arlo Parks and Celeste; a male artist, Joel Corry, and a group, Young T & Bugsey. Lipa is the only artist nominated for both the top album and single award. Lipa could be headed for her second win for British single. She is nominated this year with “Physical.” She won two years ago for “One Kiss,” a collab with Calvin Harris. If she wins, she’ll join Adele as the only female artist to win twice in the category. Another of this year’s nominees, Harry Styles, could also be headed for his second win in the category. He is nominated for “Watermelon Sugar.” As part of One Direction, he won in 2012 for “What Makes You Beautiful.” If he wins, he would join Robbie Williams as th...
Virgin Music Label and Artists Services Launches In Australia
The team Down Under “has a genuine passion for partnering with and servicing the best and most innovative independent artists and labels from around the world,” he adds. Joining Janes at Virgin Music Australia are former Caroline Australia colleagues Sam Cross and Ella Symons, who switch over to the positions of Senior Label Manager (both were Label Relations and Marketing Managers at Caroline), while ex-Caroline label coordinator Claire Tate shifts into the newly-created role as marketing and audience manager. Also, Lachlan Duthie joins as label coordinator, and Juliette Younger and Jodie Grinsted are named media and promotions managers. With the new team in place, enthuses Janes, “we are energized for our biggest year yet, and I cannot wait for this new chapter to begin.” That new chapte...
Australia’s Recording Industry Posts Growth During Pandemic
Again, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and the myriad streaming brands powered the market, posting total growth of 14% in 2020, for income of A$362 million ($275 million). If there’s one sour note to be gleaned from the numbers, it’s the slowing rate of growth for subscription services, which had raced to 30% growth in 2019. Vinyl albums are another bright point, spinning A$29 million ($22 million) in sales, up 32% versus the previous year. Sometime in 2021, the vinyl market will overtake the CD business, once a powerhouse format that’s now worth just 5.6% of the total market. Digital single and album sales continue to trend down, shrinking by 27% year-on-year. Downloads now represent just 6% of the total market. ARIA’s trade results were reported with no fanfare, and were oversh...
Ben Howard Leads Midweek U.K. Chart With ‘Collections From The Whiteout’
Ben Howard is on track to snag his second U.K. No. 1 with Collections From The Whiteout (Island). The English singer and songwriter’s fourth studio album leads the Official Chart Update and is outperforming its two closest rivals combined, the OCC reports. Howard burst out the gate a decade ago, winning BRIT Awards for best new artist and best British male artist in 2013, and topping the Official U.K. Album Chart the following year with I Forget Where We Were. His debut album, 2011’s Every Kingdom, and his third album, 2018’s Noonday Dream, both peaked at No. 4. 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 by...
Kevin Parker, Amy Shark Lead 2021 APRA Award Nominations
Also up for song of the year is playwright, comedian and singer-songwriter Tim Minchin’s “Carry You”; Guy Sebastian’s “Standing With You”; and “Gadigal Land,” written by songwriters Rob Hirst, Bunna Lawrie and Gadigal poet Joel Davison, for the chart-topping Midnight Oil album of the same name. Parker, Shark and Sebastian head into the ceremony with multiple nominations, as do Tones And I, The Rubens, INXS’ Andrew Farriss, Flume featuring Vera Blue, Dean Lewis, Miiesha and Lime Cordiale. This time around, Mallrat (real name Grace Shaw) and The Kid LAROI are among the 49 Australian songwriters who’ve earned their first ever APRA Music Awards nominations, announced Tuesday (March 30). Following a virtual edition held during the peak of the pandemic, this year’s edition of the APRA...
