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It’s the time of year — the mercury is diving (or soaring, for those of us in the south), holiday classics are ringing out in the stores, and Spotify unleashes its Wrapped campaign.
Today (Dec. 1), the music streaming giant unveils the songs that kept its 456 million listeners (with 195 million “paid” subscribers) plugged in.
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny is No. 1 on Spotify’s most-streamed global artists list, with more than 18.5 billion streams in 2022. The rapper becomes the first artist to top the list three consecutive years, and also dominates Spotify’s annual albums chart.
Following the smash hit that was her tenth and latest album, Midnights, Taylor Swift comes in at No. 2 among Spotify’s most-streamed artists, while the top 5 is rounded out by international acts: Drake, The Weeknd, and BTS, respectively.
The biggest single of the year belonged to Harry Styles, whose chart-leader “As It Was” racked up more than 1.6 billion streams. Lifted from the British pop singer’s third solo studio album, Harry’s House, the single this year led the Billboard Hot 100 for a whopping 15 weeks, and reigned over the Official U.K. Singles Chart for 10 weeks.
Styles leads an all-international top 5, ahead of Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves;” The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber’s “Stay;” and Bad Bunny tracks “Me Porto Bonito” and “Me Porto Bonito,” respectively.
The former One Direction artist’s third album Harry’s House went to No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic, and around the world, and came in at No. 2 on Spotify’s most-streamed global albums list, behind Bad Bunny’s irrepressible Un Verano Sin Ti, which dominated the Billboard 200 in 2022 for 13 weeks.
Also, Spotify drills into its data for insights into those acts whose music is most shared (Taylor Swift), the most-shared lyrics (“Heat Waves”) and most popular podcasts (The Joe Rogan Experience, which Spotify exclusively licenses).
The streaming platform’s annual chart splurge is the entre for its Wrapped experience, which eligible users can access and share from today from Spotify mobile app (iOS and Android).
“This year’s Wrapped is both a celebration of a year gone by and an invitation to join in on the fun,” reads a statement, accompanying the year-end lists.
In addition to the annual rundown, this year’s Wrapped includes a creator experience for podcasters and artists. And Artist Wrapped, now in its sixth year, rolls out with several new features including “Your Artist Messages,” a dedicated Wrapped video feed, personalized to each listener; and a “Spotlight” on merchandise and ticketing which, for the first time, sees personalized offerings integrated into the Wrapped Hub and promoted to top fans via in-app notifications and other channels.
From Dec. 1, the likes of Jack Harlow, Elton John, NIKI, and others will promote Wrapped exclusive merch to their top fans.
Launched in 2017, Artist Wrapped is now available in 36 languages.
Spotify 2022 Wrapped Global Top Lists:
Most-Streamed Artists Globally
Most-Streamed Songs Globally
“As It Was” by Harry Styles
“Heat Waves” by Glass Animals
“STAY (with Justin Bieber)” by The Kid LAROI
“Me Porto Bonito” by Bad Bunny feat. Chencho Corleone
“Tití Me Preguntó” by Bad Bunny
Most-Streamed Albums Globally
Un Verano Sin Ti, Bad Bunny
Harry’s House, Harry Styles
SOUR, Olivia Rodrigo
=, Ed Sheeran
Planet Her, Doja Cat
Most Popular Podcasts Globally
Most Viral Artists Globally
Most Shared Lyrics Globally
Spotify 2022 Wrapped U.S. Top Lists
U.S. Most-Streamed Artists
U.S. Most-Streamed Songs
“As It Was” by Harry Styles
“Heat Waves” by Glass Animals
“Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy
“Me Porto Bonito” by Bad Bunny feat. Chencho Corleone
“First Class” by Jack Harlow
U.S. Most-Streamed Albums
Un Verano Sin Ti, Bad Bunny
Harry’s House, Harry Styles
Dangerous: The Double Album, Morgan Wallen
Midnights, Taylor Swift
SOUR, Olivia Rodrigo
U.S. Most Popular Podcasts
U.S. Most Popular Audiobooks
Universal Music Group (UMG) has struck a deal to acquire a 49% shareholding in PIAS Group, the leading European independent music company.
Financial terms of the arrangement, announced early Wednesday (Nov. 30), were not disclosed.
By taking a minority stake in PIAS Group, UMG, the world’s leading major music company, expands on its strategic global alliance struck with the indie powerhouse in June 2021.
PIAS, or Play It Again Sam, was founded in Belgium 1982 by Kenny Gates and Michel Lambot, both career-long advocates for the independent music sector.
Gates and Lambot will retain majority control of the company, a joint statement reads, and UMG will have no seats on the company’s board.
Headquartered in London and Brussels, PIAS is said to be one of the largest independent and privately-owned music companies in the world.
The group includes the PIAS Label Group, which oversees the business’ various record label interests, and Integral Distributions Services, which provides support to its own, in-house labels and upwards of 100 independent label partners, including ATO, Beggars Group, Bella Union, Chrysalis, Domino, Epitaph, LSO, Mute, Ninja Tune, Partisan, Secretly Group, Transgressive and Warp.
Today, PIAS boasts 16 offices around the world with 300 employees.
“The boldly independent and music-centric culture that Kenny and Michel have built over the last four decades has provided a vital creative network to so many artists,” comments UMG chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, in a statement.
“While much of the past was focused on ‘majors versus indies,’ it’s clear that today, the important divide in our industry is about those committed to artist development versus those committed to quantity over quality. “
He continues, “We share Kenny and Michel’s passion for developing artists and moving culture, and we recognize that a healthy music ecosystem needs companies like PIAS who are committed to amplifying the best voices in independent music.”
As PIAS celebrates its 40th anniversary, Gates and Lambot insist the new arrangement will enable its artists, clients and team to flourish.
Says Lambot, one of the founders of the pan-European independent music companies’ trade body Impala, “we are still as ambitious as we were when we started out about growing our global presence and providing a world class service to the independent music community.”
Gates adds, “These days we are competing with finance and tech giants and a partner like Universal Music Group provides the additional support for us to compete and grow. Universal made it clear that they like us, they trust us and they need us, because they can’t do what we do and they value it highly.”
This move, Gates continues, “makes us stronger and secures the future of our brand, our staff and our partners while maintaining control of our destiny.”
Created in a Brussels cellar four decades ago by Gates and Lambot, PIAS began life as a distributor of independent labels. Four years, the pair launched publishing company Strictly Confidential, and PIAS continued to grow its footprint, including the opening of offices Paris and London (in 1994), Hamburg (1995), Madrid (2000), New York and Stockholm (2013), and Sydney (2017) through the acquisition of Inertia.
Ten became eight on NBC’s The Voice, as one standout survived a nervous Instant Save.
The Voice is nearing the pointy end of its 22nd season. After the remaining contestants performed Monday night (Nov. 28), America voted and the nail-biting stuff began.
Fighting for their lives in the competition were Kim Cruse (Team Legend), Kique (Team Gwen) and Rowan Grace (Team Blake).
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For their “last chance” to stay, Cruse performed “Brooks & Dunn’s “Believe;” Kique hit Leon Bridges’ “River;” and Rowan Grace tackled Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.”
Matters took a slight detour for Kique, the teenage Miami native who tested positive to COVID-19 at the end of last week and performed from isolation in a different location.
Following the performances, Kique appeared, again, on a separate screen watching and waiting for the result.
On this occasion, youth had to step aside to class as Cruse, the 30-year-old from Woodville, TX, beat her teenage opponent.
“Kim, it’s hard for me to believe you’re not walking out of here with the utmost confidence. Because when I see you, I see so much gifted, beauty, power and soul in your voice,” Legend remarked. “When I work with you, I just see so much musical understanding and understanding of how to express your voice in such an incredible way. You are just a joy to work with truly.”
Also on the night, Legend and his Team (Cruse, Omar Jose Cardona and Parijita Bastola) performed The Band’s “The Weight,” while Gwen Stefani and her Team sang Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House.”
Cruse joins the final 8, which includes bodie (Team Blake), Morgan Myles (Team Camila), Omar Jose Cardona (Team Legend), Justin Aaron (Team Gwen), Brayden Lape (Team Blake), Parijita Bastola (Team Legend), and Bryce Leatherwood (Team Blake).
This year’s season reaches its climax with a two-part finale, set to air Dec. 12 and on Dec. 13.
Jung Kook’s “Dreamers” snags the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart, powered by Twitter and sponsored by Xfinity Mobile, dated Dec. 3, following its release amid the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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Billboard’s Hot Trending charts, powered by Twitter and sponsored by Xfinity Mobile, track global music-related trends and conversations in real-time across Twitter, viewable over either the last 24 hours or past seven days. A weekly, 20-position version of the chart, covering activity from Friday through Thursday of each week, posts alongside Billboard’s other weekly charts on Billboard.com each Tuesday.
“Dreamers,” recorded for the international soccer tournament held this year in Qatar, premiered Nov. 20, the day of the World Cup’s kickoff. The BTS member performed the tune during the opening ceremonies that day.
It’s Jung Kook’s first solo No. 1 on the weekly Hot Trending Songs chart; he previously rose as high as No. 2 with “Stay Alive” in February.
“Dreamers” concurrently starts at Nos. 4 and 9 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. and Billboard Global 200 charts, respectively, and also crowns the U.S.-based Digital Song Sales list.
Jung Kook is followed on Hot Trending Songs by Red Velvet, whose “Birthday” bows at No. 2. The song debuts thanks to activity prior to its release (the group’s EP The ReVe Festival 2022 – Birthday arrived Nov. 28, while the latest chart covers data from Nov. 18-24), as fans discussed the song and the EP’s promotional materials.
Two tracks from BIBI, “BIBI Vengeance” and “JOTTO,” rank at Nos. 3 and 5, respectively, on Hot Trending Songs following the Nov. 18 release of her album Lowlife Princess: Noir. The songs sandwich Rammstein’s “Adieu,” which appears at No. 4. The veteran rockers premiered a video Nov. 24 for the song from the group’s album Zeit, released in April.
Keep visiting Billboard.com for the constantly evolving Hot Trending Songs rankings, and check in each Tuesday for the latest weekly chart.
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“Shine, it’s your golden hour.” Bodie knows what time it is, and he didn’t let the chance go slipping by.
During Monday night’s (Nov. 28) Live Top 10 Performances on NBC’s The Voice, the California native performed a modern classic, JVKE’s 2022 release “Golden Hour.”
The stirring number allowed Bodie to showcase his well of talents, from rapping to singing, with range and power notes.
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Performing with a string quartet, the 29-year-old got coach Camila Cabello on her feet. Afterwards, Blake Shelton remarked that it “may be the hardest song” he’d heard someone attempt to perform on The Voice. “I was also thinking,” he continued, “this may be the greatest performance I’ve ever seen on this show.”
He added, “You’re incredible, dude. I don’t even know what else to say.”
Shelton’s missus Gwen Stefani noted, “You definitely have your own lane. I’m always amazed by your voice.”
Many have been amazing by Bodie’s vocals and abilities throughout his journey on season 22 of The Voice.
During the blind auditions, all four coaches turned their chairs for the singer, after he performed The Fray’s “You Found Me”. Ultimately, he joined Team Blake.
He won through in a battle with Jaeden Luke on Justin Bieber‘s “As Long as You Love Me,” earning high praise from Cabello: “You were even better than I remember in your blind. Your runs were crazy, then your belts were masterful. You were flawless.”
And last week, during the Top 13 Live show, he impressed yet again with his transformation of The Proclaimers’ 1980s hit “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”. Stefani was moved to say that she’s “in awe” of the singer. “I’m crying, first of all,” she remarked. “Second of all, you are so gifted, and so talented… I can’t believe you’re not a huge star yet.”
There’s still time.
Now, America can now vote for the artists to progress into the Top 8.
Watch below.
Matty Healy’s latest hit isn’t the kind to impact the charts.
The 1975 frontman is having an unusual viral moment, thanks to an off-the-cuff comment he made at security when his voice was filtered through Auto-Tune.
Healy was in full voice during a recent concert when he calls on staff to help a potentially injured fan.
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In a clip doing the rounds of social media, Healy is in the flow of “I Like America & America Likes Me,” when he spots something in the audience.
“Someone’s fallen down over there,” he interjects, his voice as synthetic as a Twitter bot. “Go and f***ing sort ’em out. Stop standing there like a bunch of d***heads.”
The moment, which has been seen nearly 1 million times, was reportedly captured during the English act’s Nov. 23 concert at the Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix.
It’s not the first time Healy’s on-stage antics have enjoyed by the masses, watching on from their devices.
During a performance earlier this month at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Healy caused a stir when he whipped out a slab of raw, red meat and munched on it. Even his mother, actress Denise Welch, tweeted about the bizarre moment.
America likes the 1975, true. And so does Britain, where the alternative rock band has a perfect five consecutive No. 1 albums, including their latest release, Being Funny In A Foreign Language, which dropped last month.
In the U.S., Healy and Co. have cracked the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart on four occasions, including a No. 1 for 2018’s A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships.
North America tour dates in support of Being Funny In A Foreign Language are due to wrap Dec. 17 in Pittsburgh, PA, with U.K. and Ireland dates kicking off from mid-January, and South America, Asia and Australia following in early-to-mid 2023.
Stormzy is eying a hattrick on the U.K. albums chart with This Is What I Mean (via 0207/Merky), which leads at the midweek point.
The Croydon, England rapper is a perfect two-from-two, having led the Official U.K. Albums Chart with with his 2017 debut Gang Signs & Prayer and 2019’s Heavy Is The Head.
The Brit Award winner’s latest LP starts at No. 1 on the midweek chart, just ahead of pop veteran Cliff Richard’s festive collection, Christmas With Cliff (EastWest/Rhino).
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Richard’s first Christmas release in almost two decades is on track to become the iconic British artist’s 47th Top 10 solo album, a feat that includes seven leaders.
It’s nearly that time of year, which means a batch of Christmas-themed records are charging up the U.K. charts.
Andrea, Matteo and Virginia Bocelli’s A Family Christmas (Decca) lifts 11-5 on the midweek survey, and Michael Bublé’s Christmas (Reprise) is hovering just outside the top 10, up 35-11.
Further down the list, a Christmas edition of George Ezra’s former leader Gold Rush Kid (Columbia) bumps 33-15, while Aled Jones & Russell Watson’s Christmas With Aled & Russell (BMG) holds at No. 37.
It’s similar story on the midweek singles survey, with holiday classics from Mariah Carey and Wham surging into the top 10.
Elsewhere on the midweek albums survey, Rock And Roll Hall of Famers The Cure could mark a return to the top tier with the goth faves’ ninth album Wish (Polydor/UMR), thanks to a reissue. Wish reached No. 1 following its original release in 1992, and blasts to No. 4 on the Official Chart Update.
Finally, David Bowie could bag a 69th top 40 appearance on the U.K. albums survey with A Divine Symmetry (Parlophone), a four-disc package of rarities and demos that traces the year leading up to the release of his 1971 classic album, Hunky Dory.
Interest in the legendary late singer continues to run hot, thanks in part to the release of Brett Morgen’s feature-length documentary Moonage Daydream, the soundtrack to which opened at No. 20 on the Official U.K. Chart last Friday (Nov. 25). A Divine Symmetry could hit the same height; it’s new at No. 20 on the midweek chart.
Bowie died Jan. 10, 2016 at the age of 69, just days after the release of his Blackstar album.
The Official U.K. Albums Chart is published late Friday.
DJ Khaled turned 47 on Saturday and got quite the birthday gift from Drake in the form of multiple — yes, multiple — luxury toilets.
“@champagnepapi real talk – my Queen and I been wanting this for our house!! thank u my brother!!” the hitmaker wrote in an Instagram Reel showing off the hygienic gifts. “Nahhh this No regular toilet 🚽 this that TOTO! Same model as the ones in the embassy…I LIKE WHAT DRAKE LIKE!! Love brother!! Thank you for the gift.”
According to Khaled’s effusive commentary in the video, the Toto toilets come complete with heated seats, a UV light cleaning system, air-refreshing deodorizers, a night light, operation via remote control and a bidet function (“The water, too, that splats up!”).
“If you’ve ever been to Drake’s house, you know Drake’s house is worth, like, 500 million dollars. So yes, Toto. It’s not about the money, it’s just about, he went and got the best of the best so he gifted us a few of these Toto toilet bowls and I’m hearing…I ain’t try it yet but I’m hearing there’s some music involved too, might play some music. Nah, real talk!” he raved. “Shout-out to Toto, Drake, thank you for this gift. This is the most amazing toilet bowl I’ve ever seen in my life!”
Khaled and Drake most recently collaborated on God Did single “Staying Alive” with Lil Baby, which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also bounded its way to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Rhythmic Airplay, Hot Rap Songs and Streaming Songs charts in August.