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04 May 2023

Jon Bon Jovi Reveals His Pick For Greatest Guitarist Of All-Time During Surprise Howard Stern Pop-In

During Howard Stern’s trip to Miami this week to help open SiriusXM’s new studios, he sat down with his old pal Jon Bon Jovi for some serious talk about rock and roll. In between his incessant complaining about being forced by his bosses to leave the house after working from home for the past three years, Stern took time to ask Bon Jovi singer Jon Bon Jovi to play one of his favorite games: who is the greatest guitarist of all time?

“Beck,” Bon Jovi said without hesitation during the surprise studio pop-in. “Jeff Beck,” he confirmed of the legendary guitarist who died in January at 78 as a surprised Stern rattled off the list of artists he expected the singer to mention, including Jimi Hendrix. “Jimi Hendrix, would of course be in the starting lineup, but you put me on the spot,” said Bon Jovi. Stern’s inquisition went on, with the host dropping names including Eddie Van Halen and Prince, with the latter seconded by Bon Jovi’s wife, Dorothea.

“Eddie, Prince… all different, but I was in the room with Jeff Beck when he took a guitar out of a cardboard box with a rented amplifier and no pedals and created that sound when we did the ‘Young Guns’ record and he was my guitar player,” Bon Jovi said of the solo Young Guns II soundtrack collab with Beck on the 1990 Billboard No. 1 hit “Blaze of Glory.”

“I sat there flabbergasted because Jeff Beck did things with his fingers, with his thumb that would blow your mind,” Bon Jovi recalled, then listing Hendrix, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler as greats as well, noting that while all stellar, it really comes down to their songwriting ability as well.

The guitar talk came after Stern’s wife, Beth, arrived with her surprise guests in the spanking new studio, with the host welcoming the couple in, then promptly insisting on the lascivious details of how they celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary. Dorothea then admitted that Jon was always the cutest boy in high school while the rocker reminisced about his long friendship with fellow New Jersey icon Bruce Springsteen, including the first time they played together when Bon Jovi was just 17-years-old.

The old pals — Stern very reluctantly inducted Bon Jovi into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 2018 — also reminisced about the recent hourslong car ride they took at Jon’s insistence to get Stern out of the house after his extended COVID lockdown.

Check out Bon Jovi talking Beck, their three-hour dar ride and more below.

04 May 2023

Record Store Day 2023’s Top Sellers: Taylor Swift, Pearl Jam, The Cure, Stevie Nicks & More

New releases from Taylor Swift, Pearl Jam, The Cure, Stevie Nicks and more were among the top sellers from Record Store Day 2023 in the United States, according to data tracking firm Luminate.

Swift’s vinyl debut of her acoustic live set Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions leads the best-sellers among the albums released for the annual indie record store celebration. The vinyl debut of Pearl Jam’s concert album Give Way, recorded on March 5, 1998, during its Yield Tour, was the second-biggest title. (See lists below, which are ranked by album sales generated in the week ending April 27.)

Dozens of unique and limited-edition albums and singles, mostly vinyl pressings, are released for Record Store Day. Often, these titles will be produced in relatively small quantities, though Swift’s Long Pond had an extraordinarily large number of albums available: 75,000 in the U.S. She sold through the entire pressing, and the album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart dated May 6. (Typically, a high-profile Record Store Day title might have a production run of 10,000 – 25,000.)

Tied for the third-biggest Record Store Day 2023 albums are The Cure’s picture disc release of the live album Show and Nicks’ Bella Donna: Live 1981. The former was recorded during The Cure’s 1992 Wish album tour, while the latter was recorded during Nicks’ White Winged Dove Tour on Dec. 13, 1981. (Thus, the top four Record Store Day albums were all live efforts.)

Top-Selling Record Store Day 2023 Exclusive Albums at Independent Record Stores in U.S.
Rank, Artist, Title

1. Taylor Swift, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (grey colored double vinyl)
2. Pearl Jam, Give Way (double vinyl)
3 (TIE). The Cure, Show (double vinyl picture disc)
3 (TIE). Stevie Nicks, Bella Donna: Live 1981 (double vinyl)
5 (TIE). Grateful Dead, Boston Garden, Boston, MA 5.7.77 (five vinyl LP box set)
5 (TIE). The Rolling Stones, Beggars Banquet (swirl-colored vinyl)
7. Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes: B-Sides (vinyl)
8. Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, The Sound Emporium EP (vinyl)
9. Larry Lovestein & The Velvet Revival, You (gold-colored 10-inch vinyl)
10. The Ramones, Pleasant Dreams (vinyl)
11. Beach House, Become (crystal clear-colored vinyl)
12. Billy Joel, Live at the Great American Music Hall, 1975 (double vinyl)
13. The Allman Brothers Band, Syria Mosque Pittsburgh, PA January 17, 1971 (steel grey-colored double vinyl)
14. Van Halen, Live: Right Here, Right Now (four vinyl LP set)
15. Jerry Garcia Band, How Sweet It Is… (double vinyl)
16. Madonna, American Life: Mixshow Mix (Honoring Peter Rauhofer) (180 gram vinyl)
17. Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Return to the 36 Chambers (double vinyl picture disc)
18. Miles Davis, Turnaround: Rare Miles From the Complete On the Corner Sessions (sky blue-colored vinyl)
19. Dolly Parton, The Monument Singles Collection: 1964-1968 (vinyl)
20. Chet Baker, Chet (180 gram vinyl)
21 (TIE). The Black Keys, Live at Beachland Tavern March 31, 2002 (tangerine-colored vinyl)
22 (TIE). Paul McCartney and Wings, Red Rose Speedway (half-speed vinyl)
23. Blur, Blur Present the Special Collectors Edition (colored double vinyl)
24. Tom Tom Club, Tom Tom Club (Expanded Edition) (double vinyl)
25 (TIE). Sisters of Mercy, The Reptile House E.P. (smoky-colored vinyl)
25 (TIE). Various Artists, Jazz Dispensary: Hotel Jolie Dame (psych-sunset orange marble-colored vinyl)
25 (TIE). Wilco, Crosseyed Strangers: An Alternate Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (vinyl)

Top-Selling Record Store Day 2023 Exclusive Singles at Independent Record Stores in U.S.
Rank, Artist, Title

1. The Mars Volta, Frances the Mute / The Widow (12-inch vinyl)
2. U2, Two Hearts Beat as One / Sunday Bloody Sunday (180-gram 12-inch white-colored vinyl)
3. Motley Crue, Helter Skelter (12-inch picture disc vinyl)
4. Post Malone, Waiting for Never / Hateful (12-inch translucent red-colored vinyl)
5. Fleetwood Mac, Albatross / Jigsaw Puzzle Blues (12-inch vinyl)
6. Bjork, The Fossora Remixes (12-inch vinyl)
7 (TIE). Maya Hawke, To Love a Boy / Stay Open (7-inch vinyl)
7 (TIE). Sam Smith & Kim Petras, Unholy (colored 7-inch vinyl)
9. The Doors, Break on Through (3-inch vinyl)
10. The Doors, Love Her Madly (3-inch vinyl)

Source: Luminate, for the week ending April 27, 2023

04 May 2023

Record Store Day 2023 Gives Indie Stores Biggest Boost in 15 Years

Record Store Day once again spurred big sales of music on vinyl and at independent record stores in the United States, according to data tracking firm Luminate – resulting in some eye-popping numbers.

This year’s edition of the indie record store celebration, held on April 22, helped sell 1.809 million vinyl albums in total across all retailers and sellers (not just indie stores) in the U.S. in the week ending April 27, according to Luminate. That sum marks a record number of vinyl albums sold in a Record Store Day (RSD) week (including Black Friday-related RSD celebrations), and the fourth-largest week for vinyl album sales since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991.

RSD 2023 also drove a modern-era record of 1.426 million vinyl albums sold in the U.S. at independent record stores April 21-27. That is the largest week ever for the format at the indie sector in Luminate history, since the company began tracking sales in 1991. It surpasses the previous Luminate-era high for weekly vinyl album sales at indies, with 1.012 million sold in the week ending April 28, 2022 (during RSD 2022). (Vinyl was so big at indies – 79% of all vinyl albums sold that week, industry-wide, were sold through indie record stores.)

Further, independent record stores sold 1.673 million albums in total across all formats (vinyl, CD, cassette, etc.) in the week ending April 27 – marking the biggest album sales week at indie stores since at least before January 2008, when Luminate began archiving data specific to this sector. Fifty-seven percent of all albums sold in the U.S. (across all formats, both physical and digital) in the week ending April 27 were sold via independent record stores.

Traditionally, Record Store Day is held on one Saturday in the springtime, when hundreds of albums (and many singles) are released specifically for the event, and available only at participating independent record stores. (In 2020 and 2021, RSD celebrations were heavily altered and spread across multiple events [dubbed “Drops”] due to COVID-19, while the event was mostly back to its pre-pandemic self for the 2022 edition, and it was business as usual for the 2023 installment.)

Among the unique titles that hit shelves for Record Store Day 2023: the vinyl debut of Taylor Swift’s acoustic live set Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (pressed on grey-colored double vinyl, in a massive 75,000-production run in the U.S. – an unusually high quantity for a RSD title), the vinyl and CD debut of Pearl Jam’s 1998 concert recording Give Way, the vinyl premiere of Stevie Nicks’ Bella Donna: Live 1981 concert recording, Tori Amos’ Little Earthquakes: B-Sides on vinyl and a reissue of The Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet on grey, blue, black and white swirl-colored vinyl. All five releases are among the top-selling RSD-exclusive titles for the week (see lists, below).

The husband-and-wife team of Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires (Record Store Day Ambassadors for 2023) gifted RSD with two releases: a four-track EP from the duo (The Sound Emporium EP) and a four-track EP from Shires (Live at Columbia Studio A) that includes a guest appearance from Isbell.

Here are some facts on Record Store Day 2023’s impact, plus a look at the top-selling Record Store Day-exclusive albums and singles:

(All data is according to Luminate, for the week ending April 27, 2023, in the U.S, unless otherwise indicated. Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991. References to the Luminate era mean from 1991-onwards.)

Industry-wide total album sales in U.S. across all formats (physical [including CD, vinyl, cassettes, etc.] and digital downloads): 2.923 million – up 44.4% compared to the previous week (2.02 million). It’s the largest album sales week in 2023.

The last larger week was the week ending Dec. 22, 2022, when 3.897 million albums were sold. (Outside of the holiday shopping season – from the week containing Thanksgiving through the end of the year – the last larger week was the frame ending April 26, 2018, during RSD 2018, when 3.267 million albums were sold.)

Industry-wide total physical album sales in U.S. (CD, vinyl, cassette, etc.): 2.583 million – up 54.3% compared to the previous week (1.675 million). It’s the largest sales week for physical album sales in 2023.

The last bigger week was the week ending Dec. 22, 2022, when 3.526 million physical albums were sold. (Outside of the holiday shopping season – from the week containing Thanksgiving through the end of the year – the last larger week was the frame ending Feb. 18, 2016, when 2.710 million physical albums were sold.)

Industry-wide CD album sales in U.S.: 760,000 – up 9.6% compared to the previous week (693,000).

Industry-wide vinyl album sales in U.S.: 1.809 million – up 878.5% compared to the previous week (965,000).

That 1.809 million sum translates to a record number of vinyl albums sold in any Record Store Day-related week (including Black Friday-related RSD festivities) and the fourth-largest week for vinyl album sales since Luminate began tracking data in 1991. It’s also the biggest week outside of the holiday shopping season for vinyl album sales, in the Luminate era.

The largest week for vinyl album sales in the Luminate era occurred in the week ending Dec. 22, 2022, when 2.232 million vinyl albums were sold. The Nos. 2-5 largest weeks are: week ending Dec. 23, 2021 (2.115 million); Dec. 24, 2020 (1.842 million); April 27, 2023 (1.809 million; includes RSD 2023) and Dec. 29, 2022 (1.57 million).

62% of all albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were vinyl albums (1.809 million of 2.922 million). For context, year-to-date, vinyl albums comprise 48% of all album sales (16.296 million of 33.707 million).

70% of all physical albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were vinyl albums (1.809 million of 2.583 million). Year-to-date, vinyl albums represent 59% of all physical album sales (16.296 million of 27.699 million).

Independent store album sales in U.S.: 1.673 million – up 112% compared to the previous week (789,000). That marks the biggest album sales week at indie stores since at least before January 2008, when Luminate began archiving data specific to this sector.

Independent store CD album sales in U.S.: 238,000 – up 11% compared to the previous week (216,000). It’s the largest sales week for CD album sales at indie stores in 2023. The last bigger week was the week ending Dec. 22, 2022, when 268,000 CD albums were sold at indies. (Outside of the holiday shopping season, the last bigger week for CD album sales at indies was in the frame ending March 12, 2020, when 239,000 CD albums were sold in the indie sector.)

Independent store vinyl album sales in U.S.: 1.426 million – up 152% compared to the previous week (566,000). That marks the largest week ever for the format at the indie sector since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991. It surpasses the previous Luminate-era high for weekly vinyl album sales at indies, with 1.012 sold in the week ending April 28, 2022 (during the week of Record Store Day 2022).

57% of all albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were sold via independent record stores (1.672 million of 2.922 million). For context, year-to-date, indie store album sales comprise 37% of all album sales (12.459 million of 33.707 million).

65% of all physical albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were sold via independent record stores (1.672 million of 2.583 million). Year-to-date, 45% of all physical albums sold in the U.S. were sold via indie stores (12.459 million of 27.699 million).

79% of all vinyl albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were sold via independent record stores (1.426 million of 1.809 million). Year-to-date, 57% of all vinyl albums were sold via indie record stores (9.317 million of 16.296 million).

49% of all albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were vinyl albums sold via independent record stores (1.426 million of 2.922 million). Year-to-date, 28% of all albums sold in the U.S. have been vinyl albums via indie record stores (9.317 million of 33.707 million).

55% of all physical albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were vinyl albums sold via independent record stores (1.426 million of 2.583 million). Year-to-date, 34% of all physical albums sold in the U.S. have been vinyl albums sold via indie record stores (9.317 million of 27.699 million).

57% of vinyl albums sold via independent record stores in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were of the rock genre (814,723 of 1.426 million). Fifty-six percent of all vinyl albums sold industry wide in the U.S. were rock titles (1,013,297 of 1,809,301 million). Year-to-date, the rock genre comprises 57% of vinyl albums sold through indie record stores (5,353,048 million of 9.317 million). While rock holds 54% of all vinyl albums sold industry wide (8.722 million of 16.296 million).

Top-Selling Record Store Day 2023 Exclusive Albums at Independent Record Stores in U.S.
Rank, Artist, Title

1. Taylor Swift, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (grey colored double vinyl)
2. Pearl Jam, Give Way (double vinyl)
3 (TIE). The Cure, Show (double vinyl picture disc)
3 (TIE). Stevie Nicks, Bella Donna: Live 1981 (double vinyl)
5 (TIE). Grateful Dead, Boston Garden, Boston, MA 5.7.77 (five vinyl LP box set)
5 (TIE). The Rolling Stones, Beggars Banquet (swirl-colored vinyl)
7. Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes: B-Sides (vinyl)
8. Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, The Sound Emporium EP (vinyl)
9. Larry Lovestein & The Velvet Revival, You (gold-colored 10-inch vinyl)
10. The Ramones, Pleasant Dreams (vinyl)
11. Beach House, Become (crystal clear-colored vinyl)
12. Billy Joel, Live at the Great American Music Hall, 1975 (double vinyl)
13. The Allman Brothers Band, Syria Mosque Pittsburgh, PA January 17, 1971 (steel grey-colored double vinyl)
14. Van Halen, Live: Right Here, Right Now (four vinyl LP set)
15. Jerry Garcia Band, How Sweet It Is… (double vinyl)
16. Madonna, American Life: Mixshow Mix (Honoring Peter Rauhofer) (180 gram vinyl)
17. Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Return to the 36 Chambers (double vinyl picture disc)
18. Miles Davis, Turnaround: Rare Miles From the Complete On the Corner Sessions (sky blue-colored vinyl)
19. Dolly Parton, The Monument Singles Collection: 1964-1968 (vinyl)
20. Chet Baker, Chet (180 gram vinyl)
21 (TIE). The Black Keys, Live at Beachland Tavern March 31, 2002 (tangerine-colored vinyl)
22 (TIE). Paul McCartney and Wings, Red Rose Speedway (half-speed vinyl)
23. Blur, Blur Present the Special Collectors Edition (colored double vinyl)
24. Tom Tom Club, Tom Tom Club (Expanded Edition) (double vinyl)
25 (TIE). Sisters of Mercy, The Reptile House E.P. (smoky-colored vinyl)
25 (TIE). Various Artists, Jazz Dispensary: Hotel Jolie Dame (psych-sunset orange marble-colored vinyl)
25 (TIE). Wilco, Crosseyed Strangers: An Alternate Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (vinyl)

Top-Selling Record Store Day 2023 Exclusive Singles at Independent Record Stores in U.S.
Rank, Artist, Title
1. The Mars Volta, Frances the Mute / The Widow (12-inch vinyl)
2. U2, Two Hearts Beat as One / Sunday Bloody Sunday (180-gram 12-inch white-colored vinyl)
3. Motley Crue, Helter Skelter (12-inch picture disc vinyl)
4. Post Malone, Waiting for Never / Hateful (12-inch translucent red-colored vinyl)
5. Fleetwood Mac, Albatross / Jigsaw Puzzle Blues (12-inch vinyl)
6. Bjork, The Fossora Remixes (12-inch vinyl)
7 (TIE). Maya Hawke, To Love a Boy / Stay Open (7-inch vinyl)
7 (TIE). Sam Smith & Kim Petras, Unholy (colored 7-inch vinyl)
9. The Doors, Break on Through (3-inch vinyl)
10. The Doors, Love Her Madly (3-inch vinyl)

Source: Luminate, for the week ending April 27, 2023

04 May 2023

DistroKid Launches App For iPhone

DistroKid is all grown up, with the launch of its first-ever branded mobile app.

Initially available for iPhone, DistroKid’s app puts the independent digital music distributor’s tools at the fingertips of artists, all the time.

From today (May 4), clients can upload new releases, receive instant payment alerts, access stats from Apple and Spotify, and edit metadata, all from their devices, according to a presser.

“The number one request we’ve gotten from DistroKid members is a dedicated mobile app,” comments Matthew Ogle, VP of product at DistroKid. “With music consumption, promotion, and increasingly even music creation happening predominately on mobile, we are meeting artists where they’re at, on their phones.”

British R&B singer Xadi participated in the beta-rollout, and, in a statement, vouches that the app “felt so familiar and easy to use.”

It’s unclear when the app will be available for Android.

The DistroKid iPhone app is the latest innovation from DistroKid, which claims to distribute 30-40% of all new music in the world and, in 2021, was valued at $1 billion.

Earlier in 2023, the business pressed the button on Mixea, an AI-powered intelligent mastering tool that helps artists prep their tunes for radio.

Last year, DistroKid officially got busy in the music video space with the launch of DistroVid, which enables artists to upload an unlimited number of music videos to leading digital service providers for one flat price.

And in 2021, the rollout of Upstream, a service that would allow independent artists using the platform to share data with record labels in hopes of grabbing attention, and getting signed.

Now in its 10th year, DistroKid pays artists 100% of their earnings, and claims to have processed more than 25 million songs.

04 May 2023

Dua Lipa & Donatella Versace Are Launching a Women’s Collection Together

Dua Lipa‘s fashion endeavors are expanding. Just days after hosting the Met Gala, the “Levitating” singer and Donatella Versace announced on Thursday (May 4) they have collaborated on a women’s collection for Versace, which will make its formal debut in Cannes, France.

“The news is out! We are excited to announce the Versace ‘La Vacanza’ women’s collection, which we have co-designed,” the pair wrote in a joint Instagram post. “We will be showing the collection on Tuesday 23rd May in Cannes, France. We cannot wait to show you what we have created!​ #VersaceLaVacanza.”

“I am absolutely thrilled to have co-designed the women’s ‘La Vacanza’ collection for Versace with Donatella. She and I have formed such a strong bond over the years, and I’m so grateful for the support I’ve received from her and the whole team since the very beginning of my career,” the 27-year-old shared in a quote posted to Versace’s official Instagram account. “For her to give me the honor of co-designing this collection and letting all my summer inspirations go wild has been a dream. I am so very proud of this collection and cannot wait to debut it in Cannes.”

The Italian fashion designer added, “I have always been inspired by a collaborative design process. Working with Dua on this collection has been very exciting and I love the dynamic between us. Dua is strong, fearless and free and her creative vision is exceptional. Summer is a magical time. We will capture this feeling and the colors of that time of the year with a truly special and intimate fashion show in Cannes.”

Lipa and Versace’s partnership isn’t a big surprise. Throughout the years, the pop star has worn many of the luxury brand’s looks on the red carpet, notably at the 2022 Grammy Awards and the 2019 Met Gala.

See the Instagram posts about Lipa and Versace’s partnership below.

​

04 May 2023

Miley Cyrus’ Happy Hippie Foundation Partners With Betsey Johnson to Help LGBTQ Youth

Sure, you can buy yourself flowers. But, if you’d rather buy yourself flower-print pieces from Betsey Johnson’s rhinestone collection, Miley Cyrus‘ Happy Hippie Foundation will receive $1 from each purchase — a new partnership that will benefit LGBTQ youth throughout Mental Health Awareness Month.

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Launching this month, the year-long partnership will focus its May effort on supporting young LGBTQ people in need. Not only will revenue from Johnson’s best-selling floral collection of sparkly shoes and bags go toward funding Happy Hippie, but customers looking to purchase products outside the select assortment will also be invited to donate to the foundation at checkout.

“Miley and I share so much history and I admire her greatly,” said the designer in a statement. “Thank you so much, Miley, for creating Happy Hippie. I can’t wait to collaborate with you on this. Faith, hope, and charity are everything — what you give is what you get. So let’s give back.”

Betsey Johnson x Miley Cryrus

Betsey Johnson x Miley Cryrus

Courtesy of Betsey Johnson

More fruits of Cyrus and Johnson’s partnership will be announced throughout the next year.

The “Flowers” singer has long been linked to Johnson, having worn the Y2K fashion maven’s designs back in 2008 during season three of her breakthrough Disney Channel show Hannah Montana. Cyrus also attended her prom in a Betsey Johnson dress, according to a release.

In 2015, the Grammy nominee founded Happy Hippie to rally donations and essential programs for vulnerable populations, including homeless youth, LGBTQ youth, youth aging out of foster care, people living with HIV/AIDS, and more. The foundation’s partnership with Betsey Johnson will provide support groups to youth and families of youth exploring gender at a time when nearly half of all LGBTQ youth have seriously considered suicide and more than half were unable to access needed mental health care, according to a release.

“I’m so excited that Happy Hippie is partnering with Betsey Johnson, starting this May with Mental Health Awareness Month,” said Cyrus in a statement. “Betsey Johnson shares our belief in rallying youth to fight injustice, and this collaboration couldn’t come at a better time when the needs have increased. Thanks to Betsey Johnson for sharing our mission of inclusion and self-expression, no matter who you are.”

04 May 2023

Will Seventeen Finally Be the Act to Edge Out Morgan Wallen On the Billboard 200?  

The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week (for the upcoming charts dated May 12), after sets from a pair of BTS alums fall just short of matching the totals of Morgan Wallen’s Billboard 200 juggernaut, a 13-strong K-pop group looks to take their crack at it.  

SEVENTEEN, 10th Mini Album ‘FML’ (Pledis/YG Plus): It’s a showdown we’ve seen time and time again on the Billboard 200 in recent years: a lengthy album from an artist who dominates streaming vs. a much shorter set from an artist who sells an exceptional amount of physical copies. Many of the albums from the latter category are from K-pop, and we have another entrant this week in the form of the 13-member boy band SEVENTEEN’s latest mini-album, FML.  

The group has climbed closer to the Billboard 200’s apex with each successive release, including a pair of top 10 efforts last year with 4th Album: Face the Sun (No. 7 in June) and that set’s extended repackaged reissue, Sector 17 (No. 4 in August). Helping their sales numbers this time will be an array of different CDs — 14 total, including different exclusives for the act’s official webstore, Barnes & Noble, Target and the Weverse store; all with a standard set of items packaged inside and additional randomized items like postcards, mini posters, bookmarks and stickers. There are also 17 different alternative digital albums on their webstore, each with a different cover. Four of them have two bonus tracks – one instrumental version, one voice member from certain group members – that are different on each album. The remaining 13 alternative digital albums all have the standard tracklist, just with a different cover (one for each of the group members). 

The bar for SEVENTEEN to hit No. 1 might be slightly lower than it was for BTS alums Jimin and Suga last month, as Morgan Wallen’s mighty One Thing at a Time slips below 150,000 equivalent album units for the first time in its eight weeks at No. 1 with its 149,000 May 6 chart (reflecting the tracking week ending April 27). If they can accomplish the feat, SEVENTEEN would become the second Korean pop group to top the Billboard 200 in 2023, following TOMORROW X TOGETHER, which did so in February with The Name Chapter: Temptation in February. 

Jack Harlow, Jackman. (Generation Now/Atlantic): Louisville rapper Jack Harlow made the leap to pop stardom last year with his Billboard Hot 100-topping, Fergie-sampling crossover smash “First Class,” which was followed by the album Come Home the Kids Miss You. Though the star-studded affair – featuring appearances from A-listers Drake, Lil Wayne, Pharrell and Justin Timberlake – peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, it was poorly received critically and failed to produce a second hit on the level of “First Class.”  

Harlow went in a different direction for last week’s semi-surprise-released Jackman., announced just days earlier and titled after his full first name. The set includes just 10 tracks, with no guests or any big pop samples or interpolations that littered his prior album. The currently digital-only set – Harlow’s webstore also has a pre-sale of limited-edition green vinyl version available for August – may not quite do the kind of robust streaming numbers as its predecessor with no big features or previously released hits, but it is drawing much better reviews.  

IN THE MIX 

The National, First Two Pages of Frankenstein (4AD): Cincinnati-via-Brooklyn indie rock vets The National are regular visitors to the Billboard 200’s top 5, having reached there with four consecutive albums dating back to 2010’s High Violet, most recently with 2019’s No. 5-peaking I Am Easy to FInd. A not-so-secret weapon on the new First Two Pages of Frankenstein could help make it five straight: Taylor Swift, now a regular collaborator of band co-founder Aaron Dessner, who features on the album’s “The Alcott.”  

Grateful Dead, Dave’s Picks Volume 46 (Rhino): Another season, another transmission from the live archives of rock’s most storied jam band. This three-disc set – available in a limited edition of 25,000 copies, as usual for Dave’s Picks – is taken from the Grateful Dead‘s 1972 gig at the Hollywood Palladium, with some copies also including a bonus fourth discs of songs from ‘72 shows in Roosevelt Stadium in New Jersey and Folson Field in Colorado.  

Illenium, Illenium (Warner): The star EDM DJ-producer is better known for his impressive live show – which he’s taking to arenas and stadiums this summer – but Illenium has also had three Billboard 200-charting albums, with the most recent (2021’s Fallen Embers) peaking at No. 49. His new self-titled album is more rock-influenced, and the chart returns so far have been positive, with all seven of its pre-release advance tracks reaching the top 20 of Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. 

04 May 2023

Meet Stacy Schlagel: The San Antonio-Based Model Turned Multi-Hyphenate On A Mission To Heal Through Poetry and Music

This article was written in partnership with Allison Parker.

If you are just hearing about Stacy Schlagel, you are not alone. And yet, the San Antonio-based singer and writer has been making serious waves across the internet for the past three years due to her heartfelt, hopeful words and bouncy, club-ready music.

Schlagel had always felt a deep connection to music but hadn’t imagined pursuing a full-time career in the arts until recently. Forced to reckon with the joblessness, anxiety, and depression that came with the 2020 pandemic, Schlagel channeled her woes and her compassion for others first into words and then into song. Teaming up with producer Corey Chorus (aka TheCHORUS), Schlagel was able to easily translate her feelings into an uncanny, original sound, as evidenced on her singles “HateA” and “Quick To Walk,” both of which have since garnered over one million plays on YouTube.

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In addition to the songs created during 2020, Schlagel also recently published her first collection of poetry entitled Personification of Entelechy, which she first began at the onset of the pandemic. Ever one to aspire to new heights and conquer new feats, Schlagel also founded her own record imprint called Regal Recordings, where she serves as owner and operator as she promotes and produces her own releases.

Born in Tucson, Arizona to a U.S. Air Force Missile Command Officer and a high school trigonometry and calculus educator, Schlagel’s parents instilled community-first values into their daughter, with an emphasis on the importance of self-improvement and furthering your education. This background may be part of the reason why the former model, cheerleader, and beauty pageant competitor dons so many hats, which currently include being a mother, homemaker, musician, writer, business woman, and entrepreneur.

Check out the videos for “HateA” and “Quick To Walk” below, be sure to grab a copy of Schlagel’s latest book, Personification of Entelechy on Amazon and Barnes & Noble today, and check Billboard for all of the latest news and updates on the exciting career of Stacy Schlagel.

04 May 2023

Justin Moore on New Album ‘Stray Dog,’ Keeping It Country & Taking Inspiration From 50 Cent: ‘I’m Gonna Do What I Do’

In the title track to Justin Moore’s new album, Stray Dog (out Friday via Valory Music Co.), Moore describes himself as an artist more inclined to “put my money on the dark horse,” a guy who “don’t apologize for who I ain’t or who I am.”

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That defiantly stubborn ethos and clear-eyed vision has guided Moore to a string of 10 Billboard Country Airplay chart-toppers since he released his debut album in 2009. Along the way, Moore has approached his career on his own terms: He and his family have resided in Arkansas for the past 13 years, and even as Nashville weathered the “bro-country” era of the past decade, Moore forged a reputation as an undeviating country traditionalist, thanks to hits like “Somebody Else Will” and his most recent chart-topper, “With a Woman You Love.”

“Not by design at all, but from the beginning of my career, I’ve been dubbed an outlier or a bit of an outlaw,” Moore says, speaking to Billboard via Zoom from his home office in Arkansas. ”I don’t really know why. In the middle of my career, when the rap-country and the pop-country stuff became popular, that’s just not what I do. We just made a conscious decision that I’m gonna do what I do and let the chips fall where they may. Thankfully, radio stuck with us when that was a major trend and now it’s kind of cycled back to a more traditional sound. But for me to go out there and chase something just because it’s popular, my fans would be like, ‘Dude, that ain’t you.’”

As artists from Morgan Wallen to Zach Bryan release albums packed with dozens of tracks, Moore has run toward the contrary: Stray Dog, like his 2021 album Straight Outta the Country, offers a comparatively scant eight tracks. Moore, who is managed by L3 Entertainment, says he’s had multiple discussions with his team, weighing the piling on of dozens of songs, versus issuing abbreviated albums.

“That’s not to say in the future we won’t put a 40-song album out there; I just let people a lot smarter than me and in much higher places than me determine what they feel is the best way,” he says.

One thing Moore’s traditional-minded sound and near-dozen No. 1s haven’t brought him is awards recognition, beyond an ACM Awards new artist of the year win in 2014 and a CMT Music Awards nomination a year later.

“We’ve never had to be a part of a lot of awards shows or anything. It’s like we’re sometimes just nonexistent,” he says. But he adds that he’s content with it: “When I was in my mid-20s, it bothered me. That’s human nature. But now I’m almost 40 years old and I’m thankful to have the career I have. I don’t really think about that stuff — I’m thankful I don’t have to wear a suit,” he laughs. “You control what you can control and let go of the rest. I did that a lot of years ago and I’ve been much more at peace.”

Billboard caught up with Moore to discuss his collaborations on the album with Priscilla Block and Riley Green, taking influence from a 50 Cent album, and his songwriting process for the new album.

Riley Green appears on “Everybody Get Along,” which is essentially about two men — both hunters, NASCAR fans and country music lovers — who quibble about inconsequential differences. How did Riley come to be part of this track?

We met maybe eight years ago. We had mutual friends and I was familiar with his career even before he signed a record deal, because I had some friends from his neck of the woods. Before we did this song, he actually shared a photo of himself in my meet-and-greet line from like 15 years ago. It made me feel old, but it was funny. The irony in the song is that these two guys are exactly alike and what they are fighting over is petty stuff. But he and I see life through the same lens, for the most part.

Near the end of “Everybody Get Along,” there’s a reference to the 1979 Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. classic “The Conversation.”

The majority of the time, you’re not in the studio together when you record a duet. But for this, were able to record it together, and it was one of those spur-of-the-moment type songs that I wish we had more opportunities to do. He did a great job, which I knew he would. It’ll be fun if we get a chance to perform it live together.

What artists have you looked up to, in terms of doing things your own way?

Waylon, Willie, Merle, those guys. Dwight Yoakam is my favorite artist of all time, and nobody’s more unique than him. I don’t know [that] anybody — outside of his idol Buck Owens — has done his type of sound right, prior to then or since.

“Get Rich or Drunk Trying” obviously draws on an album title from 50 Cent.

I’ve had that title for like five or six years. When I was in high school, 50 Cent had that album out called Get Rich or Die Tryin’. I just thought, “Man that’s a terrible alternative to not getting rich. Getting drunk would be a better alternative.” I had thrown that title out probably six or seven times at previous writing sessions and it didn’t take. But in this session with Casey [Beathard], Paul [DiGiovanni] and Jeremy [Stover], everybody jumped on it. We’ve been playing it live. I don’t know if we’ll release it as a single at some point, but some of these songs become hits during our live shows without being on the radio.

Your collaboration with Priscilla Block, “You, Me, and Whiskey,” is at No. 19 on the Country Airplay chart currently. How did that come about?

I met her a few years ago at an acoustic round benefiting St. Jude. She stole the show, to be honest. I was so impressed that I introduced myself after the show and said, ‘I don’t know what I could ever do for you, but I’m more than happy to help because I’m a fan,’ and we exchanged numbers. A few months after that, I heard this song and right away, I thought it would be cool to get her on the song. Luckily, she said yes. She’s a star; she can sing, writes great songs and she’s great with an audience — and that’s something you either have or you don’t.

On your 2021 album, Straight Outta the Country, you co-wrote two songs. With Stray Dog, you are a writer on all but one song. Do you get a chance to write on the road, or do you mostly prefer writing retreats?

I don’t prefer writing on the road. We’ve been doing it more writers’ retreat style, between tour dates and things. I tend to be more creative in that environment; when I’m on the road, there’s always something that needs to be handled or taken care of. With writers’ retreats, I can get away from the industry side of things and just be creative.

You wrote most of the songs on this album a few years ago. What music are you working on now?

We’ve had this album ready to go for a little while. That’s kind of been my pattern. I have another album ready to go, even beyond this one. We have the songs written — I went down to Florida a few months ago with my producer and two or three writers — but we have to get into the studio. The goal is to keep putting out new music as frequently as we can, as long as we keep staying ahead of it.

Outside of music, you also have your sports radio show in Little Rock, as well as The Justin Moore Podcast. Do you have a bucket list guest you would like to have on your podcast?

We are gearing up for the new season of the podcast now. I would love to have Dwight [Yoakam] on. We’ve played shows together over the years and he’s really been kind to me. He’s an interesting, bright guy.

04 May 2023

Yes, Yung Miami Is Bisexual and Wants to ‘Smash All Day and Tomorrow’ With Megan Thee Stallion

Yung Miami may be in a situationship with Diddy, but that doesn’t mean she can’t acknowledge what a beautiful woman Megan Thee Stallion is.

During a recent appearance on Revolt’s The Jason Lee Show, Miami (aka Caresha) and Lee played a rapid-fire game of “smash or pass” with a series of celebrity photos. When Megan Thee Stallion came up, the “Rap Freaks” rapper wasted no time answering. “I’ma smash all day and tomorrow,” Caresha said. “Megan just gives me like … she really could take me up and throw down.”

Lee immediately followed up by asking if Miami had ever been with a woman before and whether or not she identified as bisexual, and the rapper nodded in confirmation. “Sexually I have been with a woman before,” she said. “I love it … I really do like girls, [but] I won’t be in a relationship with a girl.”

The City Girls star has been open about her adoration for Megan Thee Stallion before — and the feeling might be mutual. In a 2021 tweet, the “Savage” rapper wrote that she “was too shy to tell her in person but @YungMiami305 I want to date.” Miami quickly quoted Megan’s tweet, adding, “I been wanted you too, so what’s up?”

This isn’t the first time Yung Miami has made headlines when talking about sexuality, either — back in 2013, the rapper wrote in a since-deleted tweet that if she ever found out a son of hers was gay, that she would “beat that boy so baddd [sic].” In an interview on The Breakfast Club in 2018, the rapper defended her comments, saying, “I have absolutely nothing against gay people, but I wouldn’t want my son to be gay.”

Check out Yung Miami’s interview with Jason Lee above.