10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: Petey, Chappell Roan, Charles Wesley Godwin & More

Billboard has more than 200 different weekly charts in its menu, encompassing numerous genres and formats.

While established artists often compete for a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard 200 albums ranking, which track the most popular songs and albums of the week, respectively, up-and-coming talents typically start off on genre-specific lists.

Here’s a look at 10 artists who appear on surveys for the first time on the Oct. 7-dated charts.

Petey

The singer-songwriter and social media personality is officially a Billboard-charting artist thanks to his third studio album and major-label debut, USA. The set, released Sept. 22 on Crow Island/Capitol Records, debuts at No. 66 on the Top Current Album Sales chart with 1,000 copies sold in its opening week, according to Luminate. The album also sparks his No. 30 entrance on the Emerging Artists chart.

Petey (full name Peter Martin), who is from Chicago and is now based in Los Angeles, released his first two albums, Lean Into Life and Other Stuff, on the indie label Terrible Records in 2021. He initially broke through on TikTok in 2020, creating absurdist comedy sketches that drove him to viral exposure on the platform, where he now boasts over 1.5 million followers. He signed to Capitol in June, and his Tour of the USA kicks off in November.

Chappell Roan

The pop singer-songwriter scores her first appearance on Billboard’s charts with her debut full-length, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. The 14-track set, released Sept. 22 on KRA International/Amusement Records/Island Records, debuts at No. 3 on Heatseekers Albums, No. 26 on Top Current Album Sales and No. 33 on Top Album Sales with 3,000 copies sold in its opening week. She also arrives at No. 8 on Emerging Artists.

Chappell Roan (real name Kayleigh Amstutz; her artist name is a tribute to late grandfather, Dennis Chappell and the song “The Strawberry Roan”), from Willard, Mo., has been releasing music since 2017. She initially signed to Atlantic Records in 2015, and released a five-track EP, School Nights, before she left in 2020. She later teamed up with songwriter-producer Dan Nigro – the chart-topping hitmaker who has collaborated on hits with Olivia Rodrigo, Conan Gray and Caroline Polachek – for her breakout songs “Pink Pony Club” and “Naked in Manhattan.” “My music [at that time] reflected the feelings of my first time in a gay club, my first time falling in love with a woman, my first time feeling homesick,” she told Billboard in an interview this summer. “I had to go through all those experiences, that pain and suffering, to rebirth myself into where I am now.” Nigro is listed as a songwriter and producer on the LP.

Chappell Roan is currently on the road on her Midwest Princess Tour, which runs through November. Next year, she’ll serve as an opening act on Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour.

Charles Wesley Godwin

The country-folk singer-songwriter arrives on Billboard’s charts with his third studio album, Family Ties. The 19-track set, released Sept. 22 on Big Loud Records, debuts at No. 9 on Heatseekers Albums, No. 25 on Americana/Folk Albums and No. 99 on Top Current Album Sales with 5,000 equivalent album units earned in its opening week. Godwin also opens at No. 45 on the Emerging Artists chart.

Godwin, from Morgantown, W. Va., released his first two LPs, Seneca and How the Mighty Fall, independently in 2019 and 2021, respectively. The critical acclaim of those albums helped him ink a deal with Big Loud, the label home of Morgan Wallen, HARDY and Hailey Whitters, in May. Earlier this year, Godwin opened for Zach Bryan on his Burn, Burn, Burn Tour, and the pair even collaborated on the song “Jamie,” released on Bryan’s 2022 EP Summertime Blues.

Godwin, who was named Billboard’s September Country Rookie of the Month, has a string of tour dates lined up through the end of the year, including two shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in December. Next year, he’ll serve as an opening act on Luke Combs’ Growin’ Up and Getting’ Old Tour.

ALEXSUCKS

The Los Angeles-based band debuts on Billboard’s charts with its breakthrough single “6 Pack and Cigarettes.” The track, released in June on the group’s debut full-length, The Gutter, via Stair Music/Hallwood Media, debuts at No. 39 on Alternative Airplay (up 8% in plays). The set was produced by Brendan O’Brien, who has worked with AC/DC, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stone Temple Pilots, among others. ALEXSUCKS comprises Alex Alvarez (lead vocals), Ethan Demoulin (drums), John Luther (guitar) and Garrett Orseno (bass).

MaRynn Taylor

The country singer-songwriter reaches Billboard’s charts with her breakthrough single “Make You Mine.” Released in March on Black River Entertainment, it debuts at No. 58 on Country Airplay (up 86% in audience). The song was co-written by Josh Kerr and Dan Wilson.

In a recent interview with Billboard, Taylor explained that the song is about encouraging a man to commit to a relationship without her coming off as controlling. “That’s just the kind of person I am; I’m going to give my all to whoever I love,” she said. “Sometimes guys are the ones probably being cautious or, you know, afraid of commitment. In ‘Make You Mine,’ she’s into him. I think she’s flirting with him in a way. I feel like ‘make me want to make you mine’ is a strong statement.”

The Michigan native released her debut five-track EP Something I Would Do in 2022. In January, she sang the National Anthem at the NFL’s AFC divisional playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. In June, she made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry.

Snow Wife

The Houston native (real name Emily Snow), who is based in Los Angeles, notches her first Billboard chart appearance with her debut studio album, Queen Degenerate. Released Sept. 22 on SNOWGLOBE, the seven-track set debuts at No. 25 on Heatseekers Albums with 3,000 equivalent album units earned in its opening week. It was preceded by its breakout track “American Horror Show,” released June 23. The song has tallied 4.9 million official U.S. streams to date. It has also taken off on TikTok, where she boasts over 400,000 followers, while the song has been used in 80,000 clips on the platform. (Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard’s charts except for the newly launched TikTok Billboard Top 50.)

TeeJay

The Jamaican dancehall artist (real name Timoy Jones) achieves his first Billboard chart entry with “Drift.” The song, released in June via TeeJay/Warner Records, debuts at No. 47 on R&B/Hip-Hip Airplay (up 26% to 1.5 million in reach). In September, Teejay performed the song at WQHT (Hot 97) New York’s sold-out 50 Years of Hip-Hop show at Madison Square Garden. Wu-Tang Clan, Mary J. Blige, Sean Paul and Tyrese also performed, while Mariah Carey and Maxwell hosted.

Ayox

The Nigerian artist notches his first Billboard chart entry with his track “Walking Dead,” with Zlatan. The song, released Sept. 18 on The LV/GProduction, debuts at No. 50 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart. The recording is a tribute to late Nigerian musician MohBad, who died Sept. 12 at age 27 while being treated for an infection. The controversy surrounding his death has resulted in a #Justice4Mohbad social media campaign, and many other tributes to the singer. Ayox has released nearly a dozen other songs, all since 2019.

Iñigo Quintero

The Spanish singer-songwriter arrives on Billboard’s charts with his breakthrough viral hit “Si No Estás.” Released in September 2022 on Acquistic, it debuts at No. 129 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 11.3 million official streams outside the U.S. Sept. 22-28. TikTok has been a significant factor in the song’s growing popularity, as a portion of it has been used in over 550,000 clips. It has also soundtracked over 25,000 clips on Instagram Reels. Quintero has released three additional songs: “Sobredosis” (in February), “Será Por Ti” with Hey Kid (May) and “Sin Tiempo Para Bailar” with Javi Chapela (June).

Xxanteria

The artist, whose name is a play on Sublime’s ‘90s hit “Santeria,” lands on Billboard’s charts for the first time with “BAIXO.” The song, released Sept. 19 on 25/7 Records, debuts at No. 42 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs with 765,000 official U.S. streams. TikTok has been key to the song’s growth, as a piece of it has soundtracked over 70,000 clips on the platform. A portion of the slowed-down version has also been used in over 30,000 videos.

Related Images: