International
BTS Break Major YouTube Record With ‘Dynamite’
“Dynamite” is blowing up on YouTube. The new music video from BTS counted 101.1 million views within 24 hours of its release, YouTube confirms to Billboard, making it the music video with the biggest first-day debut to date. The visual for “Dynamite,” the new English-language track from the K-pop superstars, dropped with a bang at midnight on Aug. 21. More than 3 million concurrent viewers immediately tuned in at premiere time. BTS first teased the new single back in July. “We are preparing an album for the second half of this year,” they said at the time, on Korean broadcasting app V Live, “but decided to first release a single because we wanted to reach our fans as soon as possible. Due to COVID-19, people around the world have been going through...
NME Launches In Asia
NME, the venerated British music title, has launched in Asia. Based in Singapore and operated by BandLab Technologies, the NME.com/Asia site will hope to feed the growing appetite in southeast Asia for music news, features and pop-culture insights. Currently, the platform has a split of 60-70% international content from the flagship U.K. title, and 30-40% local content. A core team of four writers handle copy from across the region, led by Iliyas Ong, former editor of Time Out Singapore; and Karen Gwee, former editor of Bandwagon and writer at NPR. The initial push-out focuses on Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, Meng Ru Kuok, CEO of BandLab Technologies tells Billboard. “Singapore is unique, it imports music very well and it tends to the indie music scene, in which NME is strong.” ...
Soundtrack Your Brand Signs Global Licensing Deal With Universal Music
The Swedish company, which operates in 73 markets, is pushing to disrupt the background music segment of the market. The growing segment of music streaming for businesses has taken another step forward. Soundtrack Your Brand, a cloud-based music service that is trying to become the Spotify of the business streaming world, signed a global licensing deal with Universal Music Group to use its catalog of music on the platform. The Stockholm-based company, which says it is the world’s fastest growing B2B music platform, delivers the flexibility of music-streaming technology to brands and businesses. Founded in 2013 with Spotify as a co-founder, Soundtrack Your Brand operates in 73 countries and competes in the background music segment with startups like Rockbot as well as with entrenched player...
Biffy Clyro Blast Into Lead on Midweek U.K. Albums Chart
Biffy Clyro aren’t celebrating yet, but the veteran rockers are charging to a third No. 1 album in the U.K. Biffy’s A Celebration of Endings (Warner Records) leads the Official Chart Update, and is currently outpacing the rest of the Top 5 combined, the OCC reports. A Celebration of Endings clocks up the most physical and download sales at the midweek point and is on track to equal the No. 1 positions of their 2013 LP Opposites and 2016’s Ellipsis. Celebration leads an all-new Top 4 at the halfway point, as indie rock outfit Sea Girls’ debut Open Up Your Head (Polydor) opens at No. 2; Manic Street Preacher James Dean Bradfield is at No. 3 with Even in Exile (Montyray), his first solo studio album in 14 years; and English folk-rock veterans Levellers mark their return with Peace (On The Fid...
Drake Eyeing Strong Debut In U.K. With ‘Laugh Now Cry’
Joel Corry and MNEK’s summer smash “Head & Heart” is racing to a fifth week at No. 1 in the U.K., while Drake is rolling to a high debut with “Laugh Now Cry,” his collaboration with Chicago rapper Lil Dirk. Based on 48 hours of sales and streams, “Head & Heart” has a “comfortable” lead, according to the Official Charts Company. It’s holds the top spot on the Official Chart: First Look by a margin of 5,000 chart sales, with Nathan Dawe featuring KSI’s “Lighter” slotting in at No. 2. Drake’s “Laugh Now Cry” starts at No. 3 on the sales blast, and is set to become the Canadian rapper’s 17th Top 5 single and the first appearance on the Official U.K. Singles Chart for Lil Durk. The next highest debut could be “Midnight Sky” by Miley Cyrus. It’s at No. 13 on the preliminary chart an...
Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ Enters Third Week at No. 1 In U.K.
Taylor Swift logs a third consecutive week atop the Official U.K. Albums Chart with Folklore (EMI), as Joel Corry and MNEK’s “Head & Heart” (Asylum/Perfect Havoc) locks-up a full month at No. 1 on the national singles survey. Swift’s latest set rules the current chart frame after blasting away the competition by a margin of 6,000 chart sales, according to the Official Charts Company. It’s the U.S. pop star’s fifth leader in the territory. Oxford four-piece Glass Animals score a career high with Dreamland (Polydor), new at No. 2. The LP easily eclipses the No. 23 best of their sophomore and most recent album, How to Be a Human Being, from 2016. Dreamland is the best selling vinyl title of the week. Heavy metal veterans Deep Purple enjoy a rare Top 5 appearance as Whoosh! (Ear Musi...
Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ Extends Streak Atop Australia’s Albums Chart
Taylor Swift holds onto her Australia chart crown as Folklore (Republic/Universal) holds off new releases from Luke Bryan and In Hearts Wake for a third successive week at No. 1 on the ARIA Chart. Meanwhile, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” (Atlantic/Warner) just misses out on a chart-topping bow on the national singles survey, as Jawsh 685 x Jason Derulo’s “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” (Columbia/Sony) bags a sixth week at the summit. Folklore, which also rules the albums charts in the U.S. and U.K., should continue to chart high after its release on CD in Australia. It’s the only album this year to hold the ARIA No. 1 for more than two weeks. U.S. country star Luke Bryan has his third Top 10 as Born Here Live Here Die Here (Capitol/Universal) starts at No. 2, a new caree...
As Britain Starts Socially-Distanced Gigs, Many Venues Face Closure Amid Pandemic
When Keiron Marshall was 15, he found his way out of a desperate situation with help from an unexpected source: Eric Clapton. The guitar great was host at the first gig Marshall ever went to, and he was joined on stage by Gary Brooker of Procol Harum, The Who’s Pete Townshend and Beatle Ringo Starr. Since then, London’s music scene has been a liferaft for Marshall, a musician who now runs a group of small concert venues with his wife. Growing up in south London, he’d endured racial slurs and regular beatings because of his Pakistani heritage. His uncle was killed in a racially motivated attack; his mother was a heroin addict. But the music scene they know and love may soon be unrecognizable because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has plunged the U.K. economy into its worst recession on ...
Arashi’s ‘Kite’ Sails to No. 1 on Japan Hot 100
Arashi’s “Kite” soars to No. 1 on this week’s Billboard Japan Hot 100, selling 636,590 copies during the chart week dated July 27 to Aug. 2. The quintet’s 58th single took the top spot by a wide margin after leading physical sales and look-ups, while also coming in at No. 2 for Twitter and No. 26 for radio airplay. A bit of chart trivia: the super-group’s previous single, “Brave,” debuted at No. 2 on the Japan Hot 100 last September after a close contest against the writer of “Kite” — hitmaker Kenshi Yonezu, who topped that week’s chart with “Uma to Shika.” “Brave” actually sold more CDs than “Kite” with 708,595 copies that week, coming in at No. 1 for sales, No. 2 for look-ups, No. 3 for Twitter, and No. 56 for radio. The weekly total for “Kite” was 39,590, surpassing “Brave,”...
BTS Delivers a ‘Dynamite’ Teaser, And There’s More to Come
BTS‘ new song “Dynamite” is almost here, and Big Hit Entertainment is keeping fans hyped with teasers. While ARMY awaits “Dynamite,” an English single set to make waves on Aug. 21, they can enjoy a new photo released as a preview for the song. In the picture, posted on Saturday (Aug. 15), the K-pop superstars casually pose behind a counter, looking as though they’re standing around and anticipating the new tune, too. Before the big “Dynamite” day, the group will also deliver a music video teaser. The sneak peek is coming on Aug. 18, according to a press release issued by BTS’ team. In July, BTS first mentioned they have a new single coming. “We are preparing an album for the second half of this year, but decided to first rele...
Yucaipa Companies Forms Joint Venture With London-Based K2 Agency
Private equity firm the Yucaipa Companies have entered into a joint venture with K2 Agency, bringing renowned music agent John Jackson’s London-based booking outfit into the same company as the Yucaipa-owned Artist Group International. The partnership follows a recent announcement Yuciapa — the American firm founded in 1986 by Ronald Burkle — was partnering with Danny Wimmer Presents, North America’s largest independent festival producer. That deal came with the exchange for a minority stake in the concert promotion company. Yuicapa also operates booking agency X-Ray Touring as a joint venture with Paradigm Talent Agency and holds a minority stake in Primavera Sound and Primavera Pro. {“nid”:”8551642″,”type”:”post”,...
Flying Lotus, FKA Twigs, Vince Clarke & More Win at 2020 AIM Awards
Electronic artist Flying Lotus, singer and songwriter FKA twigs, Anglo-Indian jazz drummer Sarathy Korwar and synth-pop master Vince Clarke were among the big winners as the indie community assembled Wednesday night (Aug. 12) for the 10th annual AIM Independent Music Awards, held virtually for the first time. Flying Lotus snagged best independent track (for “More” featuring Anderson .Paak) and Korwar’s More Arriving took out best independent album. “It feels like a true blessing to be able to receive an award and to be acknowledged in these times, when they make us feel like our work isn’t essential and what we do is just, whatever,” enthused Flying Lotus (real name Steven Ellison). “So, thank you for the reminder that what we do is very important.” {“nid”:”9343769&...
