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Beyoncé is kicking off the North American leg of her Renaissance World Tour in fashion: She’s partnering with Canadian retailer Holt Renfrew to launch merchandise for her recent album and tour.
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The Renaissance Flagship, an installation that celebrates the fashion of the singer’s Renaissance era, album and tour, will transform the third floor of Holt Renfrew’s 50 Bloor Street West store in Toronto from July 5-11. The merchandise launch coincides with Beyoncé’s two-night stint at Toronto’s Rogers Centre on July 8-9.
This is the first time the 21-piece collection, priced from about $20 to $250, will be available in North America. Beyoncé first launched the Renaissance Flagship in London as she toured the European leg of her world tour in May.
“We, at Holt Renfrew are thrilled and honoured to be the home to the RENAISSANCE FLAGSHIP in Toronto. At Holts, we stand behind empowering self-expression and igniting positive change and we truly believe that the RENAISSANCE FLAGSHIP is an incomparable Illustration of this spirit,” Sebastian Picardo, president and CEO of Holt Renfrew, said in a statement. “We can’t wait to welcome all to this unforgettable experience in partnership with one of the greatest icons in entertainment.”
Items in the collection include Beyoncé’s signature silver Renaissance cowboy hat; a “Summer Renaissance” hoodie featuring an oversized “B”; a white T-shirt with artwork inspired by a segment from the tour; a long-sleeved T-shirt featuring the Renaissance album cover but in green screen form; an 80-page Renaissance World Tour art book; and a “We Shut This City Down” T-shirt in homage to the singer’s Toronto takeover.
The Renaissance Flagship will also include an exhibition of Renaissance Couture by Beyoncé x Balmain, which is making its North American debut. The star announced the collaboration, which she co-created with Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing, in March. It includes 16 couture outfits dedicated to the 16 songs on Renaissance and the collaboration marks the first time a Black woman has overseen the couture offering from a historic Parisian house.
In addition to Renaissance Couture by Beyoncé x Balmain, the singer is launching a four-piece, limited-edition product extension titled Renaissance: Beyoncé with Balmain. Drawing inspiration from the couture pieces that will be on display at Holt Renfrew, it includes two oversized tees, a dropped-shoulder hoodie and giant tote emblazoned with the collection’s moniker. They will be priced from about $150 to $450.
Beyoncé launched her Renaissance World Tour on May 10 in Stockholm, Sweden. After two nights in Toronto, she will also visit stadiums in Philadelphia, New Jersey, Chicago, Atlanta, Inglewood and Houston, her hometown. The tour will wrap on Sept. 27 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Renaissance debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart last August, for Bey’s seventh solo leader.
This article originally appeared in THR.com.
Kelly Clarkson earns her fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated July 8) as her latest studio effort, Chemistry, debuts atop the list. The set sold 43,000 copes in the U.S. in the week ending June 29, according to Luminate. Clarkson previously led the tally with Piece by Piece (2015), All I Ever Wanted (2009) and Thankful (2003). All told, Chemistry is her 10th top 10-charting title on Top Album Sales.
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Also in the top 10 of the new Top Album Sales chart, Young Thug nabs his sixth top 10 set as Business Is Business bows at No. 6.
Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. The new July 8, 2023-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on July 5, one day later than usual, owed to the Independence Day holiday in the U.S. on July 4. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.
Of Chemistry’s 43,000 copies sold in its first week, physical sales comprise 25,500 (18,000 on CD and 7,500 on vinyl) and digital album sales comprise 17,500. The set also enters at No. 1 on the Vinyl Albums chart (her first leader there), and with 7,500 sold, Chemistry lands Clarkson her best week ever on vinyl.
Chemistry’s sales were bolstered by its availability across multiple vinyl variants, including exclusive color editions for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Clarkson’s webstore, Spotify, Target, Urban Outfitters and Walmart. (Target’s edition also had an alternative cover.) Clarkson’s CD sales were enhanced by multiple editions, including a signed version sold through her webstore, an Amazon-exclusive that contained a poster and a Target-exclusive variant with an alternative cover.
ATEEZ’s The World EP.2: Outlaw falls to No. 2 in its second week, with 32,000 sold (down 68%) after debuting atop the list a week ago. Stray Kids’ former No. 1 5-STAR is a non-mover at No. 3 with 19,000 (down 28%) and ENHYPEN’s Dark Blood is also stationary at No. 4 with 11,000 (down 10%). Taylor Swift’s chart-topping Midnights is steady at No. 5 with nearly 11,000 sold (down 4%).
Young Thug’s Business Is Business is the second and final debut in the top 10, as it starts at No. 6 with 8,500 sold, with 97% of that figure from digital album sales. A small number of sales were generated by a CD edition of the album that was released late in the tracking week to a limited number of independent record stores. Business is the sixth top 10-charting set for the rapper.
Swift has two more albums in the top 10, as her former No. 1s Folklore (10-7 with 8,000; up 4%) and Lover (16-8 with 7,000; up 16%) both climb. Two more chart-topping sets round out the top 10, as SEVENTEEN’s SEVENTEEN 10th Mini Album: FML is a non-mover at No. 9 (nearly 7,000; down 19%) and TWICE’s Ready to Be rises 13-10 (6,000; down 9%).
In the week ending June 29, there were 1.708 million albums sold in the U.S. (down 13.6% compared to the previous week). Of that sum, physical albums (CDs, vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) comprised 1.363 million (down 17%) and digital albums comprised 346,000 (up 3.1%).
There were 620,000 CD albums sold in the week ending June 29 (down 14.4% week-over-week) and 735,000 vinyl albums sold (down 19.1%). Year-to-date CD album sales stand at 17.537 million (up 3.9% compared to the same time frame a year ago) and year-to-date vinyl album sales total 23.606 million (up 21.7%).
Overall year-to-date album sales total 50.641 million (up 7.9% compared to the same year-to-date time frame a year ago). Year-to-date physical album sales stand at 41.407 million (up 13.3%) and digital album sales total 9.234 million (down 11.2%).
Grateful Dead but make it red, white and blue! Independence Day is here and Grateful Dead has teamed up with merchandise company Kollectico to launch an officially licensed patriotic bobblehead to rep the stars and stripes. Available on Amazon.com and Walmart.com, the collectible Grateful Dead 4th of July Dancing Bear Bobblehead features a blue bear rocking an […]
Nothing But Thieves are about to steal the U.K. chart title.
The five-piece indie rock band from Essex, England leads the midweek chart with Dead Club City, their fourth LP.
Whatever happens between now and when the chart is published this Friday, July 7, Dead Club City should give the act their fourth consecutive top 10 appearance, following 2015’s self-titled debut (peaking at No. 7), 2017’s Broken Machine (No. 2) and 2020’s Moral Panic (No. 3).
Coming in at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update is Grian Chatten’s debut solo album Chaos For The Fly (via Partisan). As frontman of Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C., Chatten has enjoyed top 10s with each of their three albums: 2019’s Dogrel (No. 9), 2020’s A Hero’s Death (No. 2) and a chart title for 2022’s Skinty Fia.
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Closing out the top three on the midweek tally Elton John’s Diamonds (Mercury/UMC). The Rocket Man’s career retrospective is at No. 3, and still flying after his spectacular finale at Glastonbury Festival 2023.
Close behind at No. 4 on the chart blast is Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape. If it holds its position, it’ll give the U.S. rapper his second U.K. top 5, following 2020’s Eternal Atake, which peaked at No. 3.
Also poised for a top 10 debut is British alt-pop newcomer Olivia Dean with Messy. It’s new at No. 8 on the midweek tally, and could earn the artist her first U.K. top 10.
Following news of her health problems, Madonna’s latest hits collection, Finally Enough Love (Rhino), is set to reenter the top 10, roaring 96-9 on the chart update. The Queen of Pop reportedly spent several days in the ICU after she developed a serious bacterial infection on June 24. Though she’s said to be on the mend, Madonna’s massive, career-spanning Celebration tour has been put on pause for the time being. Finally Enough Love originally peaked at No. 3 in the U.K. following its release in 2022.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published Friday.
Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” is striking fear in its U.K. chart rivals.
The U.S. pop phenomenon’s latest release starts at No. 2 on the midweek singlessurvey, and is challenging Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood) for the crown.
“Vampire” is the first official release from Rodrigo’s sophomore album Guts, the followup to her record-breaking 2021 debut Sour.
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With Sour and its single “Good 4 U,” Rodrigo became, at 18 years and three months, the youngest solo artist in history to snag the Official U.K. Chart double.
The Grammy Award winner’s debut also broke the U.K. record for most first-week streams ever for a debut album, and she’s the first female solo artist to bag three simultaneous U.K. top 5 singles with “Good 4 U,” “Deja Vu” and “Traitor” (Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” also went to No. 1).
“Vampire” should give Rodrigo her fifth U.K. top 10.
“Sprinter” is racing to a fifth consecutive week at No. 1, while the midweek podium is completed by J Hus and Drake’s “Who Told You” (Black Butter/OVO/Republic). The rap collab appears to have missed its chance to hit the summit, dipping 2-3 in its fourth week on the Official Chart Update.
Meanwhile, Kylie Minogue’s “Padam Padam” (BMG) is on the rise, and appears set for a No. 8 spot, a new peak.
Also on the climb is Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” (EMI), which is on the verge of its first stint in the top 10. The Lover track lifts 13-9 on the Official Chart Update, and could net Swift her 22nd top 10.
The next highest new entry on the chart should be a homegrown hip-hop number, “Pakistan,” by rap collective D-Block Europe and Londoner Clavish. It’s new at No. 11 on the midweek tally.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published Friday, July 7.
The mud has dried on Glastonbury Festival 2023, but the good times continue to roll for a string of this year’s performers.
Elton John’s Diamonds (via Mercury/UMC) collection goes off like a rocket following the pop legend’s headline slot at the main Pyramid Stage, on the final night.
The career retrospective climbs 11-2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published June 30, with an 188% uptick in week-on-week chart sales (sales and streams), according to the Official Charts Company.
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The Rocket Man also makes his mark on the Official U.K. Singles Chart as his “Cold Heart” (EMI/Warner Records) collaboration with Dua Lipa, remixed by Pnau, vaults 66-30 and his 1983 classic “I’m Still Standing” (Mercury) stands at No. 34. That’s the first top 40 appearance for the single since its year of release.
Elton’s Glastonbury slot was billed as potentially his last show on home soil.
There’s an impressive chart ride for Stephen Sanchez who, after joining Elton on stage, sees his ballad “Until I Found You” (Republic Records) reennter the singles chart at No. 14, for a new high. “Until I Found You” posts a 105% week-on-week gain in combined sales.
Lewis Capaldi’s emotionally-charged performance at Glasto has seen the Scottish artist’s sophomore set Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent (EMI) fly 16-3 — thanks to a 68% week-on-week gain in combined sales, the OCC reports. Also, Lewis’s debut LP Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent rises 34-9 on the chart, with a 114% gain in combined sales, while his trans-Atlantic hit “Someone You Loved” climbs 98-49 on the singles survey.
Around 210,000 people partied at Glastonbury from Friday, June 23, until Sunday, June 25, with the BBC airing all the hottest performances and highlights.
The Arctic Monkeys swung into Glastonbury with a Friday night headline slot, and this week lands three albums in the U.K. top 40 –– the most for any performer at the popular summertime festival.
The Sheffield rock band’s 2013 set AM lifts 12-7, 2005 debut Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not gains 29-20 and 2006’s Favourite Worst Nightmare reenters the top 40 at No. 38 — all through Domino Recordings.
Also benefiting from the exposure of playing Britain’s best-know festival is Foo Fighters. The band’s surprise set at the Eavis’ Worthy Farm helps lift former leader But Here We Are (Columbia), up 31-14, while their career retrospective The Essential Foo Fighters (Sony Music CG) enjoys a 63-22 spike, with a 67% week-on-week gain in combined sales, according to the OCC.
Lana Del Rey’s abridged Glasto set has added steam to her sophomore album Born To Die (Polydor), up 43-29, while Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. renters at No. 75, and Norman F**king Rockwell returns to the tally at No. 90.
Finally, Saturday Glastonbury headliners Guns N’ Roses can boast the highest-climber on the Official U.K. Albums Chart with Greatest Hits. Thanks to a 95% gain in combined sales, the collection soars 96-31.
One of those mega-hits, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (Geffen), which peaked at No. 6 back in 1989, appears at No. 40 on the singles tally. That’s “Sweet Child’s” first stint in the top 40 in 34 years.
Dave and Central Cee complete a full month at No. 1 in the U.K. with “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood), as the hip-hop hit retains its chart crown.
The leader at the halfway stage, “Sprinter” soaks up 8.6 million streams during the latest cycle, the Official Charts Company reports, for its fourth consecutive week at the summit.
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The rap track outruns J Hus and Drake’s “Who Told You” (holding at No. 2 via Black Butter/OVO/Republic) and Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding’s “Miracle” (unmoved at No. 3 via Columbia), respectively.
Also making moves inside the top 10, published June 30, are Rudimental, Charlotte Plank and Vibe Chemistry’s “Dancing Is Healing” (Room Two) up 6-5; while Hannah Laing and RoRo’s ”Good Love” (Polydor) is up 9-7; and South Korean DJ and producer Peggy Gou enters the top tier for the first time with ”(It Goes Like) Nanana” (XL Recordings), up 14-9.
The highest new entry belongs to Stormzy and Fredo with “Toxic Trait” (Def Jam), the British hip-hop artists’ first collaborative venture. It’s new at No. 11 on the Official U.K .Singles Chart, published Friday, June 30, for Stormzy’s 29th top 40 appearance, and Fredo’s 19th.
As Swifties enjoy the British summer, listening to their favorite artist, Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summit” (EMI) continues its march up the chart. The Lover release from 2019 rises 28-12 on the U.K. tally, for a new chart peak. Further down the list is Swift’s Midnights number “Karma,” up 32-31, and “Anti-Hero,” up 45-42. Swift recently announced the U.K. leg of her The Eras Tour, which is set to visit these parts in June 2024.
Also new to the Official U.K. Singles Chart is Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj’s contribution of the Barbie soundtrack, the Aqua-sampling “Barbie World” (Atlantic). It’s new at No. 25 for Ice Spice’s second U.K. top 40 appearance and Minaj’s 43rd.
Finally, Afrobeats star Burna Boy bags his 10th U.K. top 40 single with “Sittin’ On Top Of The World” (Atlantic), which lifts 46-38.
Maisie Peters casts a spell on her countrymen and women as The Good Witch (via Atlantic/Gingerbread Man) debuts at No. 1 on the U.K. chart.
At just 23, Peters becomes the youngest British female solo artist to lead survey in almost a decade, the Official Charts Company reports.
You’d have to go back to Ella Henderson and her debut LP, Chapter One, which hit the top back in 2014 when Henderson was just 18 years of age, to find a younger female Brit to hit the summit.
The leader at the midweek stage, The Good Witch goes one better than its predecessor, Peters’ debut album You Signed Up for This, which peaked at No. 2 in 2021.
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“It’s just the craziest and coolest thing! I’m so happy for myself, my fans and everyone I work with; my band, crew, manager and label,” Peters tells the OCC.
“All of the fans, we’ve been on this journey together for the longest time and this album really felt like an album for all of us. This No. 1 is for all of us, too, so thank you so much.”
Further down the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published June 30, Young Thug bags his third U.K. top 40 with Business is Business (300 Entertainment), new at No. 15. The Atlanta rapper, singer and songwriter previously cracked the list with 2019’s So Much Fun (peaking at No. 9) and 2021’s Punk (No. 22).
Also fresh on the chart is Kelly Clarkson’s Chemistry (Atlantic), new at No. 22. It’s the U.S. pop and country star’s eighth U.K. top 40 LP, and first in six years, the most recent with 2017’s Meaning of Life (peaking at No. 11).
Finally, Glastonbury Festival is in the books, and a string of performers at this year’s edition are flying up the chart. They include Elton John, Lewis Capaldi, Arctic Monkeys and Lana Del Rey, all of whom enjoy top 10 spikes.
300 Entertainment continues to bolster its roster of young talent with the signing of newest act BlakeIANA, a Midwest-based rapper on the rise for her song “BING BONG.” “When I heard BlakeIANA, I was impressed and definitely excited by the sound,” 300 Entertainment co-president Selim Bouab tells Billboard. “Once I sat down with her face-to-face, […]
Nigerian DJ/producer Spinall has officially signed with Epic Records, the company tells Billboard.
“Spinall is one of the continent’s best musical exports. A preeminent curator and driver of culture. His collaborations have the potential to take music from Africa to new heights globally, and we are extremely energized about our partnership with him here at Epic,” says Ezekiel “Zeke” Lewis, president of Epic Records, in a statement to Billboard.
“It’s really, really tough when you’ve been independent for a minute. But after discussing with Sylvia [Rhone, CEO/chairwoman of Epic Records] and Zeke, they gave me the most confidence that I would ever need — bringing me on, speaking to me and listening and being so sweet. Sylvia and Zeke convinced me in the first meeting that I’m home,” he tells Billboard.
“They have a proven record of doing amazing partnerships with different talents from all over the world. So I’m super excited, and there’s gonna be a lot of good music. I’m excited to be working with a set of people who genuinely love music. We just want to spread the gospel of good music all around the world.”
Spinall (real name Oluseye Desmond Sodamola) is already spreading the word through his new single “Loju” featuring Wizkid, which he released today (June 30) as his official Epic debut. “It’s a very special record because of our history together as partners in making some of the best Afrobeats records,” he says of his frequent collaborator, with whom he’s worked on “Nowo,” “Opoju,” “Dis Love” (with Tiwa Savage) and more. “Wizkid is someone I respect a lot. He has done collaborations with everybody on the continent, and he’s still doing it. Every time we link up, the energy is just different. Our friendship is beyond the music.”
“Loju” arrives four months after he released his sixth studio album, Top Boy, on Feb. 17 via his own record label/management company, TheCAP Music. Top Boy — which was featured on Billboard‘s 50 best albums of 2023 (so far) list — contains hit singles “Sere” featuring Fireboy DML (and 6lack on the remix) and “Palazzo” featuring Asake, the former of which has 16.3 million official on-demand streams in the U.S. and 71 million official global on-demand streams.
“Palazzo” peaked at No. 6 on Billboard‘s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, while “Power (Remember Who You Are)” featuring Summer Walker, DJ Snake and Äyanna — which was originally featured in The Flipper’s Skate Heist short film and then added to Top Boy — peaked at No. 16 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs.
“A lot of amazing records on the tape. The whole goal behind that is to spread the music and spread the entire culture of what we do in Africa,” he says.
After receiving his BSc degree in electrical and electronics engineering at Olabisi Onabanjo University in Nigeria’s Ogun State, Spinall attended several DJ schools to hone in on his musical talent. In 2014, he launched TheCAP Music, which stands for “TheCrazyAzzParty” and also symbolizes the traditional Yoruba caps he wears, and signed producers Killertunes and Stunna the following year. He had previously signed an international record deal with Atlantic Records U.K. and a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music U.K. Spinall has released all six of his albums through TheCAP Music.
Last year, he opened for Bruno Mars in Sydney, Australia for two nights and DJed at Jay-Z‘s Oscars Gold Party. “My work speaks for itself…. I’m not new to the big stage,” Spinall says. “There’s no other goal than making happy music. If you look at my discography, that’s what I’ve done over the years and that’s what I’ll continue to do till the day I die!”
For management, Spinall is represented by Tolulope Shodamola, COO/general manager of TheCAP Music, as well as LVRN’s Tunde Balogun (president/co-founder), Amber Grimes (executive vp/general manager) and Justice Baiden (head of A&R/co-president).