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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.”
Halestorm and I Prevail’s collaboration “Can U See Me in the Dark?” is the newest No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, rising a spot to top the tally dated Sept. 28. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The song becomes Halestorm’s seventh No. 1 and […]
Myles Smith earns his first No. 1 on a Billboard songs chart, ruling the Alternative Airplay tally dated Sept. 28 with “Stargazing.”
The song became Smith’s first Alternative Airplay entry when it debuted in June. The British singer-songwriter is the first act to reign in a first appearance this year and the first since Bad Omens with “Just Pretend” in September 2023.
Smith is also the first artist to score a first Alternative Airplay No. 1 in 2024.
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Smith scores the second straight Alternative Airplay leader for RCA Records, after Cage the Elephant’s “Rainbow” ruled for two weeks. It’s the first time that a label has linked two consecutive No. 1s since April 2021, when MGK and blackbear’s “My Ex’s Best Friend” led for two weeks, followed by Imagine Dragons’ “Follow You,” both via Interscope Records.
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RCA last led in succession with three titles in December 2014-March 2015: “Something From Nothing” by Foo Fighters, “Cigarette Daydreams” by Cage the Elephant and “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon.
Concurrently, “Stargazing” jumps into the top 10 of Adult Alternative Airplay (12-8) to become Smith’s first top 10, also on his first try. On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, it bullets at its No. 3 high with 5.1 million audience impressions, up 5%, in the week ending Sept. 19, according to Luminate.
A multi-format radio hit, “Stargazing” also lifts 18-16 on Adult Pop Airplay and 26-24 on Pop Airplay, both new best ranks.
“Stargazing” ranks at No. 6 on the latest multimetric Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. In addition to its radio airplay, it earned 8.3 million official U.S. streams and sold 2,000 downloads in the week ending Sept. 19.
All Billboard charts dated Sept. 28 will update on Billboard.com on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
After 12 years of appearing on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart, Michael Kiwanuka achieves his first No. 1, as “Floating Parade” marches to the top of the tally dated Sept. 28.
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The British singer-songwriter and producer first reached the chart with “I’m Getting Ready,” which peaked at No. 8 in October 2012. He logged his previous best with “Hero,” a No. 3-peaking track in March 2020. He has earned seven career top 10s, including an ongoing streak of five in a row dating to “Love & Hate” in 2017.
Kiwanuka’s dozen-year wait for his first No. 1 marks the longest on Adult Alternative Airplay since an exceptionally fab break: The Beatles went a record 27 years, 10 months and two weeks between “Free as a Bird,” which ranked on the inaugural list in January 1996, and the coronation of “Now and Then” in December 2023.
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Kiwanuka is also the first artist to claim a maiden Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1 since Pharrell Williams, the co-lead act alongside Mumford & Sons on “Good People,” in April. Prior to Smith, Noah Kahan last did so with no accompanying acts, with “Dial Drunk” in September 2023.
Concurrently, “Floating Parade” rises 26-25 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 1.2 million audience impressions, up 4%, in the week ending Sept. 19, according to Luminate. It’s Kiwanuka’s highest-charting song on the list, having surpassed the No. 42 high of “Rolling” in 2020.
“Floating Parade” is the lead single from Small Changes, Kiwanuka’s fourth studio album, due Nov. 15. Predecessor Kiwanuka peaked at No. 3 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart in November 2019 and has earned 100,000 equivalent album units to date.
All Billboard charts dated Sept. 28 will update on Billboard.com on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Some of musics biggest stars went out to perform at Farm Aid 2024 in support of family-centered farms. Keep watching for the details! Tetris Kelly: From Nelson to Young, Matthews to Mellencamp, some of music’s biggest legends teamed up for Farm Aid to help family-centered farms and Billboard was there to bring you all the […]
After Usher’s X account was cleared over the weekend, the singer explained his account got hacked. Keep watching for the full story. Tetris Kelly: Did Usher let it burn on his social media? Well, he’s saying not so fast, as fans were speculating about the reason his X page went away. Here’s the story: Billboard […]
Gracie Abrams sold out three nights at the Greek Theatre in L.A., and she’s giving Billboard a personal, behind-the-scenes look at the must-haves in her dressing room, how she prepared for the tour, the relationships she has with her team and more! Buy your tickets here! Gracie Abrams:Hey, Billboard, I’m Gracie Abrams. Welcome to my […]
In an interview, Janet Jackson claimed Kamala Harris isn’t Black and predicted the aftermath of the election. Keep watching to see what she said. Tetris Kelly:Janet Jackson’s rep shut down an apology issued on her behalf after she mistakenly claims Vice President Kamala Harris is not Black. In an interview with The Guardian, a reporter […]
Will Shaboozey rule at No.1 for his 11th week? Tetris Kelly: This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated Sept. 28. Staying put at No. 10 is “Not Like Us.” “Please Please Please” slips to nine, while “Taste” falls to No. 8. “Lose Control” moves up to seven, as Billie comes […]
The long drought is over for Snow Patrol, as the alternative rock act nabs the U.K. No. 1 with The Forest Is The Path (via Polydor).
The Northern Irish-Scottish band, comprised of Gary Lightbody, Johnny McDaid and Nathan Connolly, previously led the Official Chart with 2006’s Eyes Open – almost two decades ago.
The leader at the midweek stage, The Forest Is The Path is Snow Patrol’s eighth studio album, and eighth top 10 appearance.
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“We are absolutely over the moon, it’s our first Number 1 album in 18 years and we’re overjoyed,” reads a statement from Snow Patrol to the Official Charts Company. “Thank you so much to everybody who bought it and streamed it, and everybody that helped us make it, and everybody that’s helped us over these last 30 years.”
Also arriving on the chart is London Grammar’s fourth studio album The Greatest Love (Ministry of Sound), new at No. 3. It’s the best-seller on wax this week. The Greatest Love is London Grammar’s fourth top 10 appearance, a tally that includes two leaders (2017’s Truth Is a Beautiful Thing and 2021’s Californian Soil).
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Meanwhile, Eminem’s former leader The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace) roars back into the top 5 following the release of an “Expanded Mourner’s Edition.”
Over on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Friday, Sept. 20, Sabrina Carpenter completes a fourth week at No. 1 with “Taste” (Island).
It’s the third U.K. chart leader this year for Carpenter, lifting her total weeks at No. 1 in 2024 to 16, the OCC reports. With that effort, she becomes the solo female artist with most combined weeks at No. 1 in a calendar year.
Olivia Newton-John also clocked up 16 weeks in 1978, by way of Grease duets with John Travolta on “You’re The One That I Want” (nine weeks) and “Summer Nights” (six weeks).
Finally, after her performance at last week’s VMAs, Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” (Island) rebounds 3-2, its equal peak position. Also, the U.S. pop artist’s “HOT TO GO!” improves 11-9, a new peak, and “Pink Pony Club” makes its Official Chart debut at No. 21, for Roan’s fourth U.K. top 40 appearance (“Red Wine Supernova” hit No. 31).