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Warner Music Australia is boosting its country stocks with the signing of Brad Cox.
Raised in Jindabyne in New South Wales’s Snowy Mountains, Cox, a former Sony Music artist, enjoyed a breakthrough in 2018 with his self-titled debut album, which collected the the singles “Red Light”, “Too Drunk to Drive”, “’Lake House” and “Water On The Ground”.
He went on to snag the Toyota Star Maker competition at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and landed in the top 20 with his sophomore album, 2020’s My Mind’s Projection, peaking at No. 13 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
The following year, Cox launched the “Happy Hour Down Under” station on Apple Music.
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A third album, Acres, dropped last year, and cracked the ARIA Top 10 (with a No. 7 peak).
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Brad Cox into the Warner Music family and are delighted that Brad has entrusted us with the next chapter of his career,” comments Dan Rosen, president of Warner Music Australasia.
“Brad’s genuine authenticity, admirable work ethic and undeniable talent has already captured the hearts of fans around Australia and we can’t wait to help take his music to more fans at home and around the world.”
To celebrate the new arrangement, Cox drops the new single “Everything I’ve Got.”
He’ll road test the song when he embarks on his biggest tour date, the Everything I Got jaunt, which starts Oct. 17 at University of Canberra, before stopping in at Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, Rockhampton and Brisbane.
“Signing this new record deal with Warner Music feels like home,” he says in a statement. “I feel like things are only getting better and better the more I get to work with this incredible crew. I feel like I’m understood in my vision for this project and supported with means to make the dreams happen. I’m thankful for the belief I’ve been shown and am humbled to have landed here at Warner Music for the next chapter. Feels incredibly right.”
Australia is recognized as the No. 3 market for country music, behind the United States and Canada, respectively. With the likes of Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs dominating Australia’s consumption charts and filling arenas, country music is enjoying a renaissance in these parts.
Aussies streamed 1.1 billion country tunes in the first half of 2023, based on the top 500 songs in the genre. Gen Z is found to have a growing appetite for country.
Cox’s tour opens Oct. 17 at University of Canberra, before heading to Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, Rockhampton and Brisbane.
The trek is presented by Handsome Tours, Lonely Lands Agency Mirror Music Group, Habit Music and transported by Mack & Highway Rentals Australia.
At RUMBAZO 2024, latin singers like Arcángel, De la Ghetto, Luis R Conriquez and more answer who they would choose to spend 24 hours with in Las Vegas. Arcángel: I never had the chance to see Celine Dion live. And the other day I saw that she retired, right? De La Ghetto: Wow, with Arcángel, […]
Mexican group Los Ángeles de Charly earn their first No. 1 on a Billboard radio chart – and any Billboard song ranking – with “El Primer Tonto,” which climbs 7-1 on the Regional Mexican Airplay ranking (dated Sept. 28). The Carlos Becies-led ensemble previously hit No. 1 on Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums in 2001 with its third studio album, Te Voy a Enamorar.
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“Thank, thank you, thank you,” Becies tells Billboard. “I’m a bit nervous and super grateful with all the support with this song and all the people who were part of this beautiful project. It’s a beautiful surprise for us a group that motivates us to keep on going.”
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“El Primer Tonto,” originally composed and released by Mexican group Los Freddy’s in 1980, was later popularized by Joan Sebastian who secured a No. 7 high with the song on Regional Mexican Airplay in January 2002.
With its romantic cumbia turn, “El Primer Tonto,” released June 7 via VMG/Colmena/Azteca Records, takes Los Ángeles de Charly to their first No. 1 on a radio ranking thanks to a 47% surge in audience impressions, to 6.6 million, earned in the U.S. for the tracking week of Sept. 13-19, according to Luminate.
Thanks to “El Primer Tonto,” imprints VMG and Colmena secure their first No. 1 on any Billboard chart. In addition to the two imprints, the “El Primer Tonto” triumph also gives Azteca Records its second champ as a label, following La Fiera de Ojinaga’s one-week reign on Regional Mexican Airplay with “La Luna de Miel” in August 2022.
Los Ángeles de Charly’s first champ on Regional Mexican Airplay arrives 20 years after their last top 10, when “Y Qué” reached No. 10 high in May 2004. In sum, the Mexican cumbia group have logged six top 10s since 1999, with the No. 4-peaking “Un Sueño” in 2001 their highest-charting song until now.
Elsewhere, “El Primer Tonto” advances to its No. 3 peak on the overall Latin Airplay tally, where Los Ángeles de Charly earn their first top 10 to date.
The song is part of the group’s forthcoming studio album to be released in December 2024.
Metro Boomin has addressed the Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud while speaking at Forbes Under 30. Keep watching to see what he had to say about his role in the feud and more! Metro Boomin:Even if just keeping it on music and it’s like not serious how everybody tries to make it, you know what […]
Lady Gaga just announced her Joker companion album, and did she hint at a Bad Bunny/Rosalía collab in the near future? Keep watching for all the details! Tetris Kelly:Could Lady Gaga be collabing with Bad Bunny and Rosalía? Well she just announced a new album, and if it’s up to her, it’s definitely a possibility. […]
Zach Top charts his first song on the Billboard Hot 100 (dated Sept. 28) as “I Never Lie” debuts at No. 95.
Released in April on Leo33, the song enters with 4.9 million U.S. official streams (up 16%), 261,000 radio audience impressions and 1,000 downloads sold in the Sept. 13-19 tracking week, according to Luminate.
“I Never Lie” also ascends 26-23 for a new high on the multimetric Hot Country Songs chart. It’s one of two Top songs on the survey, as “Sounds Like the Radio” rises 41-37, becoming his second top 40 hit.
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“I Never Lie” appears on Top’s debut full-length, Cold Beer & Country Music. In a February interview with Billboard, in which he was named Country Rookie of the Month, he explained co-writing the album with Carson Chamberlain, formerly the late Keith Whitley’s bandleader and steel guitar player. “How we met was kind of hilarious,” Top shared. “In late 2018, he emailed me and said he wanted to work with me. I had archived the email, and my girlfriend at the time – now my wife – called me a few weeks later and said, ‘Do you remember that email from this Chamberlain fellow? I’m sending you his Wikipedia link. I think we need to email him back.’
“I did and met him in early 2019, started flying to Nashville every month to do co-writes with him and then he’d set me up on other co-writes,” Top said. “It was full circle because I love Keith Whitley and he was best buds with Keith.”
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Cold Beer & Country Music jumps 111-90 on the Billboard 200, reaching the chart’s top half for the first time, and 21-18 on Top Country Albums.
Top, from Sunnyside, Wash., first appeared on Billboard’s charts in January, when “Sounds Like the Radio” debuted on Country Airplay. It holds at its No. 20 high on the latest list.
Both of Top’s breakout hits have benefitted from TikTok. “I Never Lie” has soundtracked over 25,000 clips on the platform to date, while “Sounds Like the Radio” has been used in over 3,000.
Top is currently supporting Lainey Wilson on her Country’s Cool Again Tour. He kicks off his headlining Cold Beer & Country Music Tour in January.
America’s Got Talent season 11 winner Grace VanderWaal talks about her new music, “Call It What You Want” and “What’s Left of Me,” how she uses pain as her inspiration, how her perception of fame was shattered at a young age, her take on the presidential election, her role in Megalopolis and more!
We’re here today with former America’s Got Talent winner, former Billboard 21 Under 21 recipient, singer-songwriter and actress Grace VanderWaal. Grace, welcome.
Wow, thank you.
You’re releasing two new singles.
Yes.
And you’re going to be in a movie. So we have a lot to talk about.
Oooh yeah, girl.
Let’s get into it.
Let’s do it. Let’s crack the egg.
You achieved incredible success at a really young age. How has that affected you as you continue to work today?
Instead of describing it as, like, experiencing success at a young age, I would like describe it as like the facade of fame being shattered for me, very, very early, which I’m eternally grateful for. Unreachable fame is the one thing that you can absolutely promote so that people are constantly and it’s like meeting God and then he’s like, meh. You know, you would have an existential crisis. And so, like, I very much discovered at an early age, I was like, “Oh this is completely hollow.” And like, you just need to, like, love the art, and like, I will never chase, you know that fulfillment or facade at all, you know what I’m saying?
It like, separates you and your work from your ego.
Yes, exactly, at a very early age, too. Yeah.
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LONDON, U.K. — Long-serving executive Dickon Stainer has been appointed chairman and CEO of Universal Music U.K., succeeding David Joseph, who announced he was stepping down from the role after almost 17 years in charge on Monday (Sept. 23).
Stainer’s appointment was announced in a memo from Lucian Grainge sent to staff on Tuesday (Sept. 24). For the last 10 years, Stainer has served as president and CEO of Universal Music Group’s Global Classics and Jazz division, splitting his time between London and New York.
“Dickon has embraced an expansive musical worldview throughout his career, taking artists from a wide variety of genres and bringing them to audiences globally,” said Grainge in the memo, which has been viewed by Billboard, and accompanying press release.
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“He not only has deep experience in leveraging our worldwide organization on behalf of our artists, but a track record that includes global commercial and creative artist successes and countless awards in many countries,” said Grainge, who thanked outgoing CEO and chairman David Joseph for his “many contributions. He leaves with our gratitude.”
In his new role, Stainer will be responsible for leading the overall management and strategic direction of Universal Music U.K., including Island EMI Label Group, Polydor Label Group, Decca Records, the recently formed Audience and Media Division, as well as Abbey Road Studios.
In addition to his new responsibilities, Stainer will continue his long association with UMG’s Global Classics and Jazz division in the capacity of chairman, Grainge told staff. Announcements regarding new leadership roles and internal promotions in these businesses will be made shortly, said the UMG chief.
“It is an honour to be asked by Sir Lucian Grainge to lead Universal Music U.K. The depth of talent that we have at the company, coupled with our remarkable roster of artists, gives me tremendous confidence in what we can achieve together,” said Stainer in a statement.
He continued: “Having worked in both the international and domestic divisions of UMG, I know how central the U.K. is to the global music industry – a vital repertoire source that provides the world with great artists and great music. I can’t wait to get started.”
The reorganization at the top of Universal U.K. comes just a few months after the company announced it was merging its historic Island and EMI label divisions and forming two new frontline label groups: Island EMI Label Group, headed by Louis Bloom as president, and Polydor Label Group, led by Ben Mortimer.
The U.K. arm of Universal Music is additionally launching a new Audience and Media Division to support artists and labels, headed by Rebecca Allen.
Blossoms are blooming on the midweek U.K. chart with Gary.
Hailing from Stockport, England, the indie-rock act leads the Official Chart Update with Gary (via Odd Sk Recordings), their fifth full-length album.
If it holds its course, Gary will give the band a fourth leader following their self-titled debut from 2016, Foolish Loving Spaces (from 2020) and Ribbon Around The Bomb (2022), while 2018’s Cool Like You peaked at No. 4.
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The strongest challenge comes from Chappell Roan and her former chart-leading debut album The Rise And Fall of a Midwest Princess (Island). Based on midweek sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company, Midwest Princess is a little over 2,000 chart units behind Gary in second place.
Scottish singer and songwriter Tom Walker could complete the podium with I Am (Relentless), his sophomore album. It’s new at No. 3 on the chart blast. Previously, the Brit Award-winning artist led by chart in 2019 with his debut What A Time To Be Alive.
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Also eyeing a top 10 debut is Katy Perry with her sixth LP 143 (EMI). It’s set to start at No. 4 on the national tally, for what would be the U.S. pop star’s fifth top 10 title and highest-charting effort in the U.K. since Prism led the chart in 2013.
Meanwhile, the xx’s Jamie xx could nab a second solo top 10 with In Waves (Young). The followup to In Colour, which peaked at No. 3, the British producer’s latest is set to start at No. 6. As a member of the xx alongside Romy and Oliver Sim, Jamie has snared two U.K. No. 1s with Coexist (in 2012) and I See You (2017).
Further down the midweek chart, West Yorkshire rock act Terrorvision could nab a career high with We Are Not Robots (Total Vegas), set to bow at No. 7; Future could score a fifth U.K. top 10 with Mixtape Pluto (RCA), on track for a No. 9 bow; and post-punk Manchester outfit Ist Ist could land a first-ever top 10 appearance with Light A Bigger Fire (Kind Violence), new at No. 10 on the chart blast.
Over on the midweek singles chart, Sabrina Carpenter looks likely to extend her reign with “Taste” (via Island). Carpenter’s latest hit is heading for a fifth week at No. 1, which would extend her record as the solo female artist with the most combined weeks at No. 1 in a calendar year. Currently, her three leaders have notched a combined 16 weeks at No. 1. Chappell Roan could have something to say about it. The U.S. pop phenom is “closer than ever to her first UK No. 1 single,” the OCC reports, as “Good Luck, Babe!” sits at No. 2, fewer than 2,000 chart units from the leader.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles and Albums Charts are published late Friday, Feb. 27.
SYDNEY, Australia — Empire now has an outpost in Australia.
The Bay Area hip-hop juggernaut recruits label veteran Cameron Walsh to lead its activities in these parts as Australian territory manager.
“I’m privileged and elated to be joining the empire that is Empire, leading the label’s expansion into Australia,” Walsh comments on LinkedIn. “Empire Australia is open for business.”
Based in Sydney, Walsh brings to the role a stack of experience accumulated from major and independent labels, from Sony Music to Universal Music, EMI, Comes With Fries, and most recently with [PIAS] Australia/Inertia Music, where he served as director of label services & head of digital – Australia, New Zealand.
Empire founder and CEO Ghazi Shami confirmed the business’ latest move during an onstage interview last week at All That Matters 2024 in Singapore.
“It was something that we were looking for, for a long time,” Ghazi said during a Q&A at Hilton Singapore Orchard. “We’re really picky about the people that we select in territories to plant the flag because they have to be representative of our ethos of our cultural composition, and there has to be some type of commitment to excellence that we perceive.”
Empire launched in San Francisco back in 2010 as a digital distribution specialist. A year later, Spotify arrived in the United States.
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As its name would suggest, the company grew into a vertically-integrated powerhouse with some 250 global staff, and is active in every conceivable part of the music industry.
Ghazi’s company is recognized as a force in hip-hop and the surging Afrobeats genre. This year, Empire has enjoyed a smash hit this year with Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which logged multiple months at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, smashing chart records along the way. The single also went to No. 1 on Australia’s ARIA Chart and cracked the top 10 in the U.K. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” earns an 11th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, extending 2024’s longest reign.
“The music that they’re making here is, honestly, the most culturally important thing I’ve done in my entire career, and I’ve been in the music business since I was 14,” Empire founder/CEO Ghazi told Billboard in 2023. “These guys are the kings of where they come from, and they’re about to be the kings of everywhere if we keep doing what we’re doing. It’s phenomenal to see what’s happening.”