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Dominique Casimir, chief content officer for BMG, announced she is exiting the company on Thursday (Mar. 21).
“It has been an exceptional journey to have been part of shaping BMG’s story from almost day one,” Casimir said in a statement. “We built something unique — a global company with a genuinely artist-focused spirit — and celebrated many milestones together. I am truly grateful for the possibilities I have been given and the amazing people I work with, but I have decided that it is time for something new in my life and career.”
“I would personally like to thank Dominique for her outstanding contribution and unparalleled commitment to BMG over many years,” added BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld. “We respect her decision to move on, and I would like to wish her all the very best for her personal and professional future, personally, on behalf of the BMG Board — and the wider BMG team.”
Casimir’s departure comes during a period of transition for BMG.
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In April 2023, the company claimed to be the first to combine its new release and catalog recordings businesses. The following month, BMG announced that it would shorten its long-term succession plan for longtime CEO Hartwig Masuch, meaning that Coesfeld stepped into the role on July 1 instead of New Year’s Day 2024.
BMG subsequently exited its distribution agreement with Warner Music Group’s ADA and took “direct control of our relationships with streaming services,” as Coesfeld said in a statement at the time. In October, BMG laid off around 40 employees. (Layoffs have swept through the music industry in the last 15 months.)
And in November, the company announced a restructure that Coesfeld described as “local where necessary, global where possible.” “Fifteen years after the emergence of streaming, music is going through another tectonic change,” Coesfeld said in a statement at the time. “It is vital we now reengineer our business to make the most of that opportunity.”
Casimir started working at BMG in 2008. Her portfolio eventually grew to encompass GSA (2016), Continental Europe (2019), Asia Pacific and Latin America (2020), and the company’s global synch operation (2021). She was promoted to chief content officer in May 2022.
Norah Jones’ Visions bows at No. 9 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated March 23) and at No. 1 on both the overall Jazz Albums and Contemporary Jazz Albums rankings. It’s the eighth top 10 on the Album Sales tally for Jones, and her fourth leader on both Jazz Albums and Contemporary Jazz Albums.
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Visions also enters at No. 40 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, her first debut on the list since Dec. 2013, when Foreverly, her collaborative album with Billie Joe Armstrong, opened at No. 7 on its way to a No. 4 peak in Jan. 2014.
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Visions was preceded by the radio-promoted single “Running,” which has so-far peaked at No. 7 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart – marking her eighth top 10 and highest-charting song on the list in over a decade, since “Happy Pills” hit No. 4 in 2012.
Also in the top 10 of the new Top Album Sales chart: the latest releases from Ariana Grande, Judas Priest, xikers and Bleachers arrive.
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. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.
In the tracking week ending March 14 (which is reflected on the March 23-dated Top Album Sales chart), Visions sold 7,000 copies in the U.S., according to Luminate. Of that sum, physical sales comprise 5,500 (3,500 on CD and 2,000 on vinyl) and digital download sales comprise 1,500. The album was available in four vinyl variants (including exclusive iterations for Barnes & Noble, indie retailers and Spotify), a standard CD, a Target-exclusive CD (with a bonus track and a poster) and a signed CD (available in Jones’ webstore).
At No. 1 on Top Album Sales, Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine starts with 77,000 copies sold – earning Grande her sixth chart-topper. The set was available in a dozen physical configurations and two digital download offerings.
Veteran rock band Judas Priest starts at No. 2 with Invincible Shield (23,000 sold), scoring the group its third top 10-charting set on Top Album Sales. (The list began in 1991, well after Judas Priest began its overall Billboard chart career in 1978 on the Billboard 200 with Stained Class.) The new album’s first-week sales were bolstered by its availability across six vinyl variants, a standard CD and a Target-exclusive CD with a lenticular cover.
South Korean pop group xikers nabs its highest-charting effort on Top Album Sales, and second top 10-charting set, as House of Tricky: Trial and Error debuts at No. 3 with 12,500 copies sold (the act’s best sales week). The set’s sales were almost entirely from CDs, with a minimal number of sales from digital downloads. The album was issued in 10 collectible CD editions, all including branded paper merchandise (some randomized).
TWICE’s With YOU-th falls 1-4 in its third week on the chart, selling 10,500 copies (down 37%).
Bleachers’ new self-titled album opens at No. 5 with 9,500 copies sold. It’s the second top 10-charting effort the for the act, led by Jack Antonoff. The album was available in a standard 14-track edition on digital download, CD and cassette. It was also available on 10 vinyl editions, all boasting bonus tracks and most pressed on colored vinyl.
Rounding out the rest of the top 10 on the new Top Album Sales chart: Taylor Swift’s chart-topping 1989 (Taylor’s Version) falls 3-6 (9,000; up 2%), Swift’s former leader Lover is steady at No. 7 (8,000; up 8%), LE SSERAFIM’s Easy falls 2-8 (7,000; down 30%) and Swift’s chart-topping Folklore dips 8-10 (6,000; up 4%).
In the week ending March 14, there were 1.196 million albums sold in the U.S. (up 3.7% compared to the previous week). Of that sum, physical albums (CDs, vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) comprised 909,000 (up 7%) and digital albums comprised 287,000 (down 5.5%).
There were 474,000 CD albums sold in the week ending March 14 (up 7.3% week-over-week) and 430,000 vinyl albums sold (up 6.7%). Year-to-date CD album sales stand at 4.792 million (down 30.8% compared to the same time frame a year ago) and year-to-date vinyl album sales total 5.031 million (down 48%).
Overall year-to-date album sales total 13.132 million (down 36.3% compared to the same year-to-date time frame a year ago). Year-to-date physical album sales stand at 9.872 million (down 40.9%) and digital album sales total 3.260 million (down 16.5%).
Bebe Rexha shares five things you didn’t know about her music backstage at Billboard Women In Music 2024.
Bebe Rexha:Hi, I’m Bebe Rexha, and this is five things you don’t know about my music.
My favorite music video I’ve ever shot was “Sacrifice,” and it was inspired by the movie Blade. And it’s me and my vampire girlfriends and we seek revenge on a very bad guy.
Every time I record a song, it’s always different. Sometimes I’ll start with chords, sometimes I’ll start with a concept, or title. Sometimes something happens to me that day, and I want to write about it. But the recording process for me changes every time. But a lot of my a lot of the songs that have been the most successful, you know, on the charts have been stuff that have started just with me on the piano.
I love performing an Amsterdam but also I loved when, I loved it when I was in Japan as well. That was really fun. I don’t love just one place. I personally just love meeting fans from everywhere around the world. I always want to see what the city looks like. And not just go to the touristy parts. I like finding like the grungy places. That’s fun for me.
We have my first album ever, it was called Expectations, and it was based off of a quote that an old manager told me, because I was at the point I was very … I was going through the music industry as a songwriter kept getting, you know, in really not great situations. And he told me he’s like, “Honestly, the best thing in life is having no expectations.” So whether you’re going on a date, or walking into … I said walking — I’m from New York — walking into a studio session or meeting somebody. Don’t think, “Oh, I hope this date goes well” or build a fantasy in your head — just walk in very neutral. And I feel like that’s the reason why I call my album Expectations. That was my first album.
My favorite accomplishment ever is I was studying to be an act classically — a classically trained opera singer. And I got into … I got into this program. It was like a New York City program in New York State program. It is very hard to get into it. That was a really exciting moment for me. But the crazy thing is, what happened is when you get picked, you will [go to] upstate New York, and you sing with a whole choir, it’s like a choir situation. And I end up getting the flu that day. But you know, that’s life, but here I am at the Billboard Women In Music.
Ariana Grande is having a massive week on Billboard’s charts. Along with claiming the No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, the No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 and reigning as the No. 1 act on the Billboard Artist 100, she also rules the Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts for the first time.
As such, Grande becomes just the fourth artist to top all five of those surveys simultaneously, a feat achieved just 10 times since Billboard launched the songwriter and producer charts in 2019. Here’s a look at every such week.
Chart Date, Artist, Billboard 200 No. 1 album, Hot 100 No. 1 songMarch 23, 2024: Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”Nov. 18, 2023: Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor’s Version), “Cruel Summer”Nov. 11, 2023: Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor’s Version), “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]”Sept. 9, 2023: Zach Bryan, Zach Bryan, “I Remember Everything” ft. Kacey MusgravesDec. 3, 2022: Taylor Swift, Midnights, “Anti-Hero”Nov. 26, 2022: Taylor Swift, Midnights, “Anti-Hero”Nov. 12, 2022: Taylor Swift, Midnights, “Anti-Hero”Nov. 5, 2022: Taylor Swift, Midnights, “Anti-Hero”Nov. 27, 2021: Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor’s Version), “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)”April 4, 2020: The Weeknd, After Hours, “Blinding Lights”
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Taylor Swift has led all five charts simultaneously a record seven times, and via three albums: Red (Taylor’s Version), Midnights and 1989 (Taylor’s Version). The Weeknd and Zach Bryan have both achieved the feat once, thanks to their LPs After Hours and Zach Bryan, respectively.
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Grande tops the latest Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts thanks to her credits on all 12 of her charting songs on the Hot 100, all from Eternal Sunshine. Notably, she’s the only co-songwriter and co-producer on all 12 songs. Here’s a recap.
Rank, TitleNo. 1, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”No. 10, “Yes, And?” (up from No. 31; debuted at No. 1 on Jan. 27)No. 16, “The Boy Is Mine”No. 17, “Supernatural”No. 23, “Eternal Sunshine”No. 25, “Bye”No. 28, “Don’t Wanna Break Up Again”No. 30, “True Story”No. 37, “Imperfect for You”No. 38, “Intro (End of the World)”No. 39, “I Wish I Hated You”No. 55, “Ordinary Things,” feat. Nonna
Eternal Sunshine is Grande’s first album cycle in which she’s credited as a co-producer. She logged her first career Hot 100 entry as a credited producer on “Yes, And?,” with Max Martin and ILYA. Of the 12 charting songs from the set, Martin is a co-producer on all but “Intro (End of the World)” and “I Wish I Hated You.” ILYA co-produced all except “Intro,” “Supernatural” and “Ordinary Things.” Martin and ILYA rank at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, on Hot 100 Producers.
Martin has an unprecedented history on Billboard’s charts, having produced a record 25 No. 1 songs on the Hot 100. He tallied his record-breaking 24th leader in January with “Yes, And?” (passing late Beatles mastermind George Martin). He tallies his 25th with “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).”
As for ILYA, 26 of Grande’s Hot 100-charting entries have been produced or co-produced by the hitmaker, including her two most recent No. 1s, as well as her first top five hit, “Problem,” featuring Iggy Azalea, in 2014. He also co-produced Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ 2022 No. 1 “Unholy,” along with songs by Justin Bieber, Jonas Brothers, Lizzo and Normani.
Billboard’s weekly Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts are based on total points accrued by a songwriter and producer, respectively, for each attributed song that appears on the Hot 100. As with Billboard’s yearly recaps, multiple writers or producers split points for each song equally (and the dividing of points will lead to occasional ties on rankings). Billboard launched its Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts, as well as genre-specific rankings for country, rock & alternative, R&B/hip-hop, R&B, rap, Latin, Christian, gospel and dance/electronic in June 2019. Alternative and hard rock joined in 2020, along with seasonal holiday rankings in 2022.
Charli XCX shares three things you didn’t know about her backstage at Billboard Women In Music 2024. Charli XCX:Hey, I’m Charlie XCX, and three things that my fans don’t know about me are: My favorite city to perform in is New York. My new video for my son “Von Dutch” was shot at Charles de […]
Group of the Year NewJeans opens up about being new to the industry, the importance of friendship, trusting your gut and more backstage at Billboard Women In Music 2024. NewJeans: Some advice that I would give to women in the industry, well, actually, we’re, like, very new to the industry too, so we’re still learning. […]
Tems opens up about the importance of overcoming shyness, connecting with others and more backstage at Billboard Women In Music 2024. Tems: The advice I would give to my younger self or for any woman: Don’t be shy. Don’t be shy because most people aren’t thinking about anything you’re thinking they’re thinking about, you know. […]
Billboard, Raf Saperra, Dave East and Big Body Bes take you the behind the scenes of “Hood Harvest.” Raf Saperra”All right, this is Billboard. Snip it, take one. Hey, what’s going on, everyone? This is Raf Saperra. Welcome, Billboard, to the exclusive BTS on my track “Hood Harvest.” So this is basically a passion project. […]
PinkPantheress says she wishes she would have gotten into music faster when giving advice to her younger self backstage at Billboard’s Women in Music 2024. PinkPantheressSome advice that I give to my younger self would be to just dive in head first into music sooner because there’s no need to be shy or to be […]
Ariana Grande is the top musical act in the U.S., as she returns to No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated March 23) for a 16th total week on top, thanks most prominently to her new album, Eternal Sunshine.
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The Artist 100 measures artists’ activity across key metrics of music consumption: streaming, radio airplay, album sales and track sales. Using a methodology comprising those metrics, the chart provides a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.
Eternal Sunshine arrives at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, as Grande’s sixth leader, with 227,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in its opening week (March 8-14), according to Luminate. The set scores the biggest weekly sum of 2024. Concurrently, the LP’s “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” launches as her ninth No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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With 16 weeks at No. 1 on the Artist 100, Grande passes Ed Sheeran for the sixth-most frames spent in charge since the chart began in 2014.
Artist 100, Most Weeks at No. 1:102, Taylor Swift38, Drake28, The Weeknd21, BTS20, Adele16, Ariana Grande15, Ed Sheeran
Here’s a breakdown of the metrics contributing to Grande’s latest reign on the Artist 100.
Streaming
In the March 8-14 tracking week, Grande’s catalog generated 219.3 million on-demand official U.S. streams (encompassing songs on which she has lead artist billing). She ranks as the third-most-streamed artist in that span, after only Taylor Swift (286.7 million) and Drake (224.7 million).
Grande’s songs that generated the most official streams (on-demand and programmed) during the week: “We Can’t Be Friends” (32.6 million, making it the most-streamed song overall), “The Boy Is Mine” (17.6 million), “Yes, And?” (17.3 million), “Supernatural” (16.4 million) and “Eternal Sunshine” (15.9 million).
Radio airplay
Grande’s songs earned a combined 33.7 million in radio airplay audience March 8-14. Her songs that drew the most impressions in that span: “Die for You,” with The Weeknd (14.4 million), “Yes, And?” (13.7 million) and “We Can’t Be Friends” (4.6 million).
Grande is also charting on the following radio rankings:Adult Pop Airplay: “Yes, And?” (No. 11) and “We Can’t Be Friends” (No. 29)Dance/Mix Show Airplay: “Yes, And?” (No. 12)Pop Airplay: “Yes, And?” (No. 20) and “We Can’t Be Friends” (No. 31)Adult Contemporary: “Yes, And?” (No. 24)Radio Songs: “Yes, And?” (No. 48)
Album sales
As for Grande’s album sales March 8-14, here’s a breakdown, by configuration:
Overall album sales: 79,000, the most among all actsVinyl sales: 34,000, the most among all actsCD sales: 32,000, the most among all actsDigital sales: 13,000, the most among all acts
Eternal Sunshine sold 77,000 copies, almost the entirety of Grande’s album sales for the week. It’s the top-selling album overall, as well as the top-seller on both vinyl and CD.
Meanwhile, Grande’s collections earned a combined 241,000 equivalent album units in the tracking week, the second-most among all acts after Swift (261,000).
Track sales
Grande’s songs sold a combined 14,000 downloads March 8-14, making her the third-best-selling artist of the week in terms of digital song sales, after Swift (26,000) and Teddy Swims (16,000).
Grande’s songs that sold the most in that period, all from Eternal Sunshine: “We Can’t Be Friends” (9,000), “The Boy Is Mine,” “Bye” and “Imperfect for You” (1,000 each).