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26 Apr 2023

Will It Be Agust D’s ‘Day’ 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 5), it’s the sales of Agust D’s debut LP vs. the streams for Morgan Wallen’s 36-track juggernaut in a race for the Billboard 200 crown.  

Agust D, D Day (Big Hit): Just a few weeks ago, the top debut on the Billboard 200 came from a BTS alum: Jimin, who debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 with his single “Like Crazy” and came one spot from doing the same on the Billboard 200 with the album FACE. This week, the biggest new release may again come from the K-pop superstars’ ranks, as Suga releases his much-anticipated first LP, D-Day, under his Agust D alias.

The album is expected to sell well – helped by a variety of physical releases, which like FACE, came out the same day as the album’s digital release. (Recent album releases from BTS groupmates RM and J-Hope initially arrived as digital-only.) D-Day is available as multiple different collectible CDs (including exclusive editions for Target, Walmart and the Weverse store) — once again with both standard elements (including a sticker, postcard and poster) and randomized photo cards — plus four digital albums (one standard, plus three alternative cover editions sold in Agust D’s official webstore).  

The 10-track album will have to sell very well to compete with the continued streaming dominance of Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time – which posted 166,000 equivalent album units in its seventh week at No. 1, boosted by sales of a new vinyl edition of the 36-track album. But if D-Day can get in range of FACE’s first-week numbers (164,000 units), it could be Wallen’s Time to vacate the top spot.  

YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Don’t Try This at Home (Never Broke Again/Motown/UMG): He’s back. Three months after his first album of 2022, January’s I Rest My Case, YoungBoy returns with his second full-length release for Motown, Don’t Try This at Home. There’s no physical release yet for the 33-track set, but the tracklist is his longest yet, and features big-name features from Nicki Minaj, Post Malone, The Kid LAROI and Mariah the Scientist — which may help the new album pass the somewhat underwhelming No. 9 Billboard 200 peak for I Rest My Case earlier this year.  

Taylor Swift, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (Republic): Taylor Swift already has two albums in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 this week with 2022’s Midnights and 2019’s Lover, and she may add another next week with the Record Store Day-only Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions. The vinyl RSD release of the 17-track set — consisting of acoustic live performances of the tracks from Swift’s Grammy-winning Folklore album, previously featured in Swift’s Disney+ special of the same name and available to purchase digitally as part of the Folklore deluxe edition — is limited to 75,000 copies, but that alone would likely be enough to secure a debut in the top 10 if it to sells out, as anything Swift-related seems to do in 2023. (Other titles by the big-name likes of Pearl Jam, Elton John and The 1975 may also factor on the chart next week.) 

In the Mix

Mac DeMarco, One Wayne G (Mac’s Record Label): There aren’t many albums on the Billboard 200 you could fall asleep listening to and still be hearing when you wake up the next morning – but Mac DeMarco’s nine-and-a-half hour (!!) new collection is certainly one. The epic set, mostly consisting of instrumentals and demos, is unsurprisingly unavailable for physical release and is probably unlikely to produce a breakout hit. But with 199 tracks, its streaming numbers should still be enough to make it a factor on the Billboard 200 next week.  

Twenty One Pilots, MTV Unplugged (Fueled by Ramen): Alt-pop duo Twenty One Pilots are no stranger to the top of the Billboard 200, which they topped with 2015’s Blurryface and revisiting the top three with follow-ups Trench (2018) and Scaled and Icy (2021). The outfit might not get quite so high with MTV Unplugged, but the duo has maintained a devout fanbase since their mid-’10s breakthrough and may see good sales for the CD and LP-released set.  

Everything But the Girl, Fuse (Buzzin’ Fly/Virgin): It’s been nearly a quarter-century since the last album from genre-bending U.K. duo Everything But the Girl, who notched a trio of acclaimed albums in the top half of the Billboard 200 in the ‘90s — most recently 1999’s No. 65-peaking Temperamental. This month’s Fuse looks to make it four in a row, with a variety of vinyl and CD options for purchase, and reviews as strong as the pair received at their commercial peak three decades ago.  

26 Apr 2023

YOASOBI’s ‘Idol’ Scores Second Week Atop Japan Hot 100 

YOASOBI’s “Idol” holds at No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, dated April 26, dominating three metrics of the chart’s measurement this week.

“Idol” continues to soar powered by the popularity of the anime series for which it serves as the opening theme, Oshi no Ko. The track rules streaming (20,366,113 streams, up by 130 percent from the week before), video views (8,388,791 views, up by 94 percent), and downloads (30,505 units, up by 4 percent). It also comes in at No. 4 for radio airplay and No. 52 for karaoke to stay at No. 1 on the Japan Hot 100 for the second week in a row, with over double the total points from the song at No. 2.

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Hinatazaka46’s “One Choice” is this week’s No. 1 song for physical sales with 538,086 copies sold. While the group’s ninth single fared relatively well in the other metrics, coming in at No. 27 for downloads, No. 98 for streaming, and No. 32 for radio, the total wasn’t enough to overturn the huge difference between “Idol,” which racked up points in an extraordinary way this week. “One Choice” launches at No. 2 on the Japan Hot 100.

The girl group’s previous single, “Tsuki to Hoshi ga Odoru Midnight,” launched with 459,613 copies, so the new single tops it by approximately 17 percent, indicating the group’s steadily growing popularity.

Spitz’s “Utsukushii Hiré” (“Beautiful Fin”) is down a notch to No. 3 this week but holds at No. 1 for radio, where it’s rare for any song to stay at the top for consecutive weeks. The theme of the latest Case Closed (Detective Conan) movie also rises 7-2 for streaming with 8,585,967 streams (up by 69 percent) and continues to hold in the top 3 after debuting on the chart at No. 2 last week.

The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.

See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from to Apr. 17 to 23, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japan’s English Twitter account.

26 Apr 2023

Oprah, Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders & More React To Passing of Harry Belafonte

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Harry Belafonte Remembered By Oprah, Barack Obama & More

Source: The Washington Post / Getty / Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte significantly impacted the world during his time here, so it should come as no surprise that many fondly remember him following his passing.

On Tuesday, April 25, the world collectively grieved at the news that Harry Belafonte died at 96 from congestive heart failure.

Immediately following the news, his friends, peers, and admirers paid tribute to the “Calypso King,” who has sold millions of albums and used his earnings to fight for civil rights, South Africa’s anti-apartheid campaign, and other social justice matters around the world.

“Another “GREAT TREE” has fallen: Harry Belafonte, a Trailblazer and Hero to us all. Thank you for your music, your artistry, your activism, your fight for civil rights and justice—especially risking your life back in the day to get money to the movement. Your being here on Earth has Blessed us all,” Oprah Winfrey wrote in the caption of an Instagram post remembering Belafonte.

“Thank you for your music, your artistry, your activism, your fight for civil rights and justice — especially risking your life back in the day to get money to the movement,” Winfrey said in a statement to ET.

Barack Obama Remembers Harry Belafonte As A “Barrier-Breaking Legend”

“Harry Belafonte was a barrier-breaking legend who used his platform to lift others up. He lived a good life – transforming the arts while also standing up for civil rights. And he did it all with his signature smile and style. Michelle and I send our love to his wife, kids, and fans,” Our forever president, Barack Obama, said in a tweet.

Bernie Sanders Called Belafonte A “Courageous Leader”

“Harry Belafonte was not only a great entertainer, but he was a courageous leader in the fight against racism and worker oppression,” US Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted. “Jane and I were privileged to consider him a friend and will miss him very much.” Belafonte endorsed Sanders to be president in 2016.

Belafonte’s physical presence is gone, but he will live on forever because his spirit to fight is embued in souls worldwide. You can see more reactions in the gallery below.

“Harry Belafonte is one of the greatest social activists and freedom fighters ever to have lived,” said Cathy Hughes, Chairwoman & Founder of Urban One Inc. “Humanity has just suffered a significant wound to its consciousness.”

—

Photo: The Washington Post / Getty

1. Colin Kaepernick

3. Bernice King fondly remembers Belafonte being there for her family.

4. Touching story from Spike Lee

26 Apr 2023

Here’s How Pete Davidson Hid an Eminem CD From His Mom by Pretending to Love Rod Stewart

Pete Davidson had a pretty roundabout way of becoming a Rod Stewart fan. In a special Mother’s Day interview with his mom Amy and his Bupkis co-star Edie Falco, who plays his mom in the show, the comedian revealed how hiding his love for Eminem gave him an appreciation for the British pop rock star.

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“When I was younger, I bought the uncensored Eminem Show CD, which of course I wasn’t allowed to have, so I kept it in a Rod Stewart jewel case,” he told Good Housekeeping, the cover of which he and Falco graced for next month’s holiday issue. “My mom noticed, and for years she’d play Rod Stewart to have something we could bond over.”

“I’d be sitting in the car and suddenly she’d say ‘It’s Rod!’ and start singing along to ‘Maggie May,’” he continued. “I had to learn the songs just to keep the lie going. I kinda learned to like Rod Stewart.”

Pete Davidson

Mike Garten/Good Housekeeping

Arriving May 4 on Peacock, Bupkis is a half-hour live-action comedy portraying a “heightened, fictionalized version of Pete Davidson’s real life,” according to a trailer. Along with Falco playing Davidson’s mother, Machine Gun Kelly, John Mulaney, Jon Stewart, Ray Romano and more of the former Saturday Night Live star’s famous friends will make appearances on the show.

While swapping recipes with his real and fictional moms for Good Housekeeping, Davidson also opened up about his go-to Mother’s Day gift growing up. “Mother’s Day is an important holiday in my household,” he shared. “We’re a close family, and growing up, my sister and I always tried to make things special, although I wasn’t always good at it. I’m pretty sure I bought her the same Britney Spears perfume eight years in a row.”

But according to his mom, it’s the thought that counts. “I never wore it, but I always appreciated it,” Amy said.

See Pete Davidson on the cover of Good Housekeeping‘s Mother’s Day issue below:

Pete Davidson

Mike Garten/Good Housekeeping

26 Apr 2023

Global Dance Music Industry Grew 34% in Last Year: 10 Key Findings From 2023 IMS Business Report

The annual IMS Business Report was presented today (April 26) at IMS Ibiza. The dance industry conference annually presents the report, which breaks down notable growth (and lag) sectors of the scene and also provides a yearly valuation of the worldwide industry.

For the first time, the report was authored by MIDiA Research’s Mark Mulligan, who presented it today to a packed room. These are eight of the key findings.

1. The Global Dance Music Industry Grew By 34% In 2022, Reaching a Value Of $11.3 Billion

This number is 16% higher than it was before the pandemic, during which the value of the global industry reached historic lows as live events shut down. But, the report states, “2022 saw festivals and clubs rebound, finally shaking off most of the effects of the pandemic, representing nearly half of all dance industry revenues.”

The report notes that hardware and software combined were the next largest revenue source, but also the slowest growing. Music rights around recording and publishing grew by 14,% representing just under a fifth of the overall total.

2. The U.S., Germany & U.K. Have the Three Biggest Spotify Monthly Listener Bases for Electronic Music

This makes sense, given that these countries are also three of the world’s biggest music markets. But while Netherlands and Australia are smaller, they are multiple times higher as a share of the total population (Netherlands rate is seven times higher than the US). This means that electronic music simply has more cultural reach and impact here in these two countries.

3. Electronic Music Is Outperforming Hip-Hop In Social Follower Growth

Electronic music’s fanbase growth is happening most powerfully on social platforms, and TikTok especially. Here it’s growing 10 times faster than hip hop. TikTok launched #ElectronicMusic as its latest genre campaign in 2021 and hosted LIVE events from artists including Disclosure, BICEP and David Guetta As of March 2023, since June 2022, average daily creations for #ElectronicMusic are up 113% on the platform.

4. Music Software, Skills & Hardware Are Becoming Increasingly Valuable

Music production boomed during the pandemic, fostering more creators than ever before. And although growth slowed in 2022, revenues around software, hardware and production skills hit $6.6 billion, of which $2.8 billion was from dance producers and DJs.

5. Electronic Music Artists Represented 39% of All Festival Bookings In 2022

That’s up from 33% in 2021.

6. Female DJs Gained Traction, But 2022 Still Saw Male DJs Increase Their Share of Global Bookings

Though female DJs represented 15% of top 100 DJ bookings at festivals and other events, in 2022, this share fell from 21% in 2021. In the post-Covid return to live, male top 100 DJs saw their bookings grow 1.7 times faster than their female counterparts. Meanwhile, 67% of female artists reported feeling pressure to look good, while only 14% of male DJs reported feeling this same pressure.

7. Ibiza Came Back Big Following the Pandemic

Ibiza club ticketing revenue reached €124 million ($137 million) in 2022, up 55% from the €80 million ($88 million)registered in 2019. This growth was a result of increases in the number of events per venue, average ticket prices, and the total number of tickets sold going from two million in 2019 to 2.5 million in 2022.

8. Tech House Remains Beatport’s Leading Genre

The genre is followed in popularity by techno, house, melodic house and techno and drum and bass, dance/electropop, deep house, progressive house, indie dance, minimal/deep tech and trance. Despite the dominance of these sounds, 33% of all sales on the dance world digital download platform come from genres outside the platform’s top 10.

9. SoundCloud Is Foundational to Dance Music Culture

The platform saw a 24% growth in dance/electronic plays in 2022. The platform also hosts DJ sets, mash ups, rarities not presented on other platforms, and allows DJs and producers to connect with their fans in a way Spotify does not.

10. The Dance Scene Is In a Better Place Than It Was Pre-Pandemic

The reports states that “the dance music industry has shaken off the effects of the pandemic, coming out the other side, bigger, better, stronger and more relevant than ever.”

26 Apr 2023

Roger Waters Canceled Frankfurt Show Can Go on After Court Ruling

A May 28 concert by Roger Waters that was slated to take place in Frankfurt, Germany that was canceled after city council members called the former Pink Floyd singer/bassist “one of the world’s most well-known antisemites” is not slated to go on as scheduled.

German public broadcast outlet Deutsche Welle reported on Monday that an administrative court in Frankfurt ruled that neither the city nor the state of Hesse had the right to cancel the show at the Frankfurt Festhalle. As owners of the concert’s promoter, Messe Frankfurt, the court said the state and city were obligated to “make it possible for Waters to stage the concert” as contractually agreed, despite their concerns over Rogers’ previous public statements about Israel.

“The court on Monday said that although Waters’ show obviously borrows symbolism linked to National Socialism, it could not see that he was glorifying or qualifying Nazi deeds or identifying with Nazi racial ideology,” Welle reported. “Nor was there any indication that he would be using any type of Nazi propaganda during the concert.” It is against the law in Germany to display Nazi symbols or memorabilia.

The court said that to deny Waters access to the site — on the spot of what was a Jewish detention camp during WWII, where 3,000 Jewish men were held on Kristallnacht (“Night of the Broken Glass”) in Nov. 1938 before being sent to their deaths — would infringe on his free speech rights.

At press time a spokesperson for Waters had not returned a request for additional comment.

“The background to the cancellation is the persistent anti-Israel behavior of the former Pink Floyd frontman, who is considered one of the most widely spread antisemites in the world,” the city council said at the time of the cancelation in a statement. “He repeatedly called for a cultural boycott of Israel and drew comparisons to the apartheid regime in South Africa and put pressure on artists to cancel events in Israel.” Waters has denied that he is an antisemite.

The JTA reported that the city of Frankfurt made reference to the historic significance of the concert hall — which it partly owns — and said it was cancelling the show over Waters’ support of the controversial BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions). BDS is a Palestinian-led movement that calls for a boycott of Israel to force the nation’s government to change its policies toward Palestinians.

The JFA additionally noted at the time that Waters concerts have featured a flying pig balloon featuring a Star of David (as well as a number of other corporate logos and symbols) and that he’s compared the actions of the Israeli government to that of South Africa under apartheid and Nazi Germany as well as questioning Israel’s right to exist.

The court conceded that it might be in “especially poor taste” to allow Waters, 79, to perform on the sacred site, but concluded that such a show would “not be injurious to the human dignity of those people.”

In Sept., Waters canceled planned shows in Krakow, Poland amid similar outrage over his stance on Russia’s unprovoked, yearlong war in Ukraine, which he has said was the fault of Ukraine and NATO.

26 Apr 2023

Jackson Wang & Ciara Hit Artful Choreography in Technicolor ‘Slow’ Video: Watch

Jackson Wang and Ciara have joined forces yet again. The former GOT7 member and “Goodies” singer released the music video for their sultry collaborative track, “Slow,” on Tuesday (April 25).

The songs kicks off with a verse from Ciara, who tells the object of her affections that she does not wish to rush into their romance. “Slow the pace, ain’t a race, woah/ I’m here all night for love, that’s right/ When you please me, pump the breaks/ You can take your sweet time,” she sings.

Wang then takes over for the second verse, giving his lover a reminder of the rules before proceeding. “Remember then, baby (Let’s start slower)/ Said, ‘Take your time but make it nasty’/ Girl, I’ll do anything you ask me/ You set the pace, the way you tease me/ Then slow it down until it’s nice and easy,” he sensually sings.

The pair — both dressed in silky blue ensembles in the video, Wang in a blue set, Ciara in pink — then team up in the video to sing on the chorus and hit intricate choreography; they’re joined by background dancers simulating a club atmosphere. The singers later hit a series of solo dance moves of their own and participate in a standoff before the lights fade to black.

Wang and Ciara’s “Slow” was originally released on April 17, and gives fans a look at the former GOT7 member’s forthcoming album, Magic Man 2 (no release date has been given). The duo also took the stage together at Coachella for both weekends.

26 Apr 2023

Universal Music Rides Streaming and Physical Gains to 11.5% Bump in Quarterly Revenue

Universal Music Group’s revenues rose 11.5% to 2.45 billion euros ($2.71 billion) last quarter, as sales generated by Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift, TOMORROW X TOGETHER bolstered results in both recorded music and music publishing.

The world’s biggest music company reported revenue from its recorded music division rose 11.7% to 1.92 billion euros ($2.1 billion) in the quarter ending March 31 compared to the same period a year ago. Revenue from subscriptions and streaming rose by nearly 10% to 1.33 billion euros ($1.47 billion) and physical revenue rose a whopping 32% to 313 million euros ($346 million), while revenue from downloads and other digital revenue — the smallest line item in the division — fell by 19.1% to 55 million euros ($60 million).

The publishing division’s overall revenues rose 13.3% to 425 million euros ($469 million), with digital revenue contributing the most, increasing by nearly 21% from a year ago to 231 million euros ($255 million). Synchronization revenue rose around 11% to 69 million euros ($76 million), while performance revenue slipped 1% to 90 million euros ($99 million).

“Our strong start to the year demonstrates our consistency in developing great artists and introducing their music to fans around the world,” UMG chairman and chief executive Lucian Grainge said in a statement. “We look forward to building on this momentum and furthering our track record of transforming disruptive technologies into opportunities to accelerate our business for our artists, fans and shareholders.”

Overall earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the quarter fell by nearly 43% to 261 million euros ($288 million), driven primarily by equity-based compensation expenses UMG began rolling out in the fourth quarter of 2022. Stripping out those compensation expenses, UMG reported adjusted EBITDA rose 14.7% to 522 million euros ($576 million) compared to the year-ago quarter, and adjusted EBITDA margin grew 0.6 percentage points to 21.3%.

UMG’s Earnings Highlights:

  • Revenue rose 11.5%, or 9.3% in constant currency, to 2.45 billion euros ($2.71 billion) versus the year ago quarter.
  • EBIDTA fell 42.5% to to 261 million euros ($288 million)
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 14.7% to 522 million euros ($576 million)
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin grew 0.6 percentage points to 21.3%

Recorded Music Division Highlights:

  • Recorded music revenue overall rose 11.7% to 1.92 billion euros ($2.1 billion)
  • Subscriptions and streaming revenue rose by nearly 10% to 1.33 billion euros ($1.47 billion)
  • Physical revenues rose 32% to 313 million euros ($346 million)
  • License and other revenue rose 9.2% to 226 million euros ($250 million)
  • Downloads and other digital revenue fell by 19.1% to 55 million euros ($60 million)

Music Publishing Highlights:

  • Music publishing revenues overall rose 13.3% to 425 million euros ($469 million)
  • Digital revenues rose by nearly 21% from a year ago to 231 million euros ($255 million)
  • Performance revenues slipped 1% to 90 million euros ($99 million)
  • Synchronization revenues rose around 11% to 69 million euros ($76 million)

26 Apr 2023

Metallica’s ’72 Seasons’ Tops Charts With Biggest Week for a Rock Album This Decade

Metallica’s 72 Seasons debuts atop multiple Billboard charts dated April 29, including the Top Rock & Alternative Albums survey.

In its first tracking week (April 14-20), Seasons earned 146,000 equivalent album units, according to Luminate. Of that sum, 134,000 units were via album sales.

It’s Metallica’s fifth No. 1 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums, which began in 2006. The rockers first ruled with Death Magnetic in 2008 and then with 2016’s Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (the band’s last proper LP prior to Seasons) and 2020’s S&M2 with the San Francisco Symphony, along with a first week at No. 1 in 2021 for 1991’s Metallica upon its 30th anniversary.

The new set’s 146,000-unit start marks the best single-week sum on Top Rock & Alternative Albums this decade. It’s the biggest since Tool’s Fear Inoculum soared in with 270,000 units on the Sept. 14, 2019, ranking.

Seasons is also Metallica’s fifth No. 1 on both Top Rock Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums.

The set bows at No. 1 on Top Album Sales with its 134,000-unit sales count, becoming Metallica’s eighth leader dating to 1991’s self-titled album. On Vinyl Albums, it’s likewise No. 1 thanks to 43,000 first-week vinyl copies sold, marking the group’s sixth champ, tying the band with The Beatles and Jack White for the second-most, after Taylor Swift with nine.

On the all-genre, mult-metric Billboard 200, Seasons debuts at No. 2, behind Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time, which earned 166,000 units. The band adds its 12th top 10 on the chart, a run that began with …And Justice for All in 1988.

Concurrently, multiple songs from Seasons reach Billboard song charts, with the entire album’s tracklist infusing Hot Hard Rock Songs. It’s led by the title track and current radio single, which leaps 12-2 thanks to 2.7 million radio audience impressions, 2.4 million official U.S. streams and 1,000 downloads sold. “Shadows Follow” is next at No. 6 (1.8 million streams).

Twelve songs at once on Hot Hard Rock Songs is the most since the chart’s 2020 inception, surpassing Deftones‘ 10 songs on the Oct. 10, 2020, ranking.

“72 Seasons” jumps 8-6 on the latest Mainstream Rock Airplay survey. It’s Metallica’s 26th top 10, placing the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers in a tie with Van Halen for the sixth-most since the chart began in 1981. Preceding single “Lux Æterna” reigned for 11 weeks beginning in December, while fellow teaser song “Screaming Suicide” (not promoted to radio) spent one week on the tally at No. 40 in February.

26 Apr 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Shows Off the Adorable ‘Stranger in My Bed’: See the Photo

Olivia Rodrigo is a Katy Cat who might have a new kitty cat. In an adorable Tuesday (April 25) Instagram post, the 20-year-old pop star showed off a little feline using Katy Perry lyrics from “Last Friday Night.”

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“there’s a stranger in my bed. there’s a pounding in my head,” the “Drivers License” singer captioned a photo of her under the covers. In this case, the “stranger” is a teeny tiny kitten dozing at Rodrigo’s side.

It’s not clear whether or not the feline belongs to Liv. Her close friends appear to confirm in the comments that the kitty’s name is Kumo — “Kumo hard launch,” wrote Courteney Cox’s daughter, Coco — and some fans theorized that Rodrigo shares the cat with longtime best friend and roommate Iris Apatow.

“Auntie liver,” Apatow commented, while one fan wrote, “liv & iris live together so maybe it’s both their cat.”

Because the people want answers, Billboard has reached out to Rodrigo’s rep for comment.

The singer has been keeping a low profile in recent months, aside from some appearances at the Grammys, the Vanity Fair Oscars party and the Billboard Women in Music event, where she presented Lana Del Rey with the night’s Visionary Award. In less than a month, it’ll be exactly two years since she dropped her blockbuster debut album Sour, which spawned two No. 1 hits, topped the Billboard 200 for five weeks and made the former Disney actress the first female artist to simultaneously chart 12 songs in the Hot 100 Top 30.

And while Rodrigo did possibly tease she’s working on a new project by posting a studio selfie in February, fans are getting super antsy for new music. “WE NEED AN ALBUM GIRL,” one impatient Livie commented on the star’s photo with Kumo.

“olivia hun i’m staving i need more music asap,” wrote another.

See Olivia’s adorable post with Kumo the kitten below: