Music News

04 Nov 2022

From Selena Gomez to Drake & 21 Savage, What’s Your Favorite New Release of the Week? Vote!

As spooky season gives way to the lead-up to Thanksgiving, we’re grateful, as always, for the new slate of music the end of each week brings. And Friday (Nov. 4) is no exception.

With tunes ranging from an emotional new Selena Gomez single to a collaborative album by Drake and 21 Savage, we want to know which new release will be soundtracking your first weekend of November.

The two rappers team up on Her Loss, a 16-track joint effort that features Travis Scott on “P—y & Millions” and takes a jab at Megan Thee Stallion in the lyrics of “Circo Loco,” on which Drake spits “This b—h lie ’bout getting shots, but she still a stallion. She don’t even get the joke, but she still smiling” over an interpolation of Daft Punk‘s “One More Time.”

Meanwhile, Gomez lays her mental anguish bare on “My Mind & Me,” the spare, vulnerable ballad that shares its title with her new Apple TV+ documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me, which delves into the pop star’s mental and physical health problems, from the cancelation of her 2016 Revival Tour to the present day.

Other new albums include Joji‘s Smithereens, a follow-up to 2020’s Nectar that contains singles “Glimpse of Us,” “Yukon (Interlude)” and “Die For You,” as well as the soundtrack to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with contributions from Rihanna (“Lift Me Up”), Tems (“No Woman No Cry”), Burna Boy (“Alone”), Stormzy (“Interlude”) and others.

Plus, P!nk comes raring back with “Never Gonna Not Dance Again,” her most upbeat single since 2016’s “Just Like Fire,” and Lindsay Lohan finally cements Christmas classic “Jingle Bell Rock” into her discography with a post-Mean Girls cover from her upcoming Netflix holiday movie Falling for Christmas.

Vote for your favorite new release in Billboard‘s weekly poll below!

04 Nov 2022

The ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Soundtrack Is Here: Stream It Now

Wakanda forever! The soundtrack to Black Panther‘s latest installment arrived on streaming on Friday (Nov. 4), ahead of the movie’s release in theaters across the globe on Nov. 11.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The soundtrack — officially titled Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By — features a star-studded list of contributors, which was unveiled on Wednesday (Nov. 2). Tems, Fireboy DML, OG DAYV, Future, CKay, PinkPantheress, E-40 and more are on the OST, including Rihanna and her glimmering track, “Lift Me Up.”

“Lift Me Up” — the lead single from the soundtrack — is a tribute to the late Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020 at 43 after a battle with colon cancer. The song sees the pop star going the ballad route, accompanied by an acoustic guitar as she sings “Lift me up/ Hold me down/ Keep me close/ Safe and sound” on the chorus.

Following the Oct. 28 release of “Lift Me Up,” the track landed at No. 1 on Billboard’s relaunched Hot Trending Songs chart, powered by Twitter and sponsored by Xfinity Mobile, dated Nov. 5.

“Ryan [Cooler] and I talked about the importance of creating an immersive journey of sound and voice,” said the soundtrack’s co-producer, Ludwig Göransson, in a press release. “If we used a song in the film, we wanted it to be the entire song, and to be connected to the story. Thematically, we wanted to move the audience from grief to celebration. When you listen to the soundtrack, you can close your eyes and relive the experience of the movie. That was the intention.”

Listen to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By below.

04 Nov 2022

Yung Gravy Says He ‘Had a Nice Couple of Dates’ With Addison Rae’s Mom & They ‘Keep in Touch’

Everything’s coming up just gravy. Yung Gravy sat down with Billboard News to discuss his recently released fourth studio album, Marvelous, and also addressed his relationship with Addison Rae’s mother, Sheri Easterling. The 26-year-old rapper, who made headlines when he took Easterling as his date to the VMAs in August, said he “didn’t expect” people’s reaction “to be that crazy.”

Gravy’s original plan was to have a different woman entirely be his date that night. “[Sheri and I] flirted a little bit over the internet and then I got invited to the VMAs, needed a date. I hit up Martha Stewart, she couldn’t make it,” he told Billboard News host Tetris Kelly. “Sheri and I had been talking. I said ‘You know what? Come be my date.’ We had never met in person. It was a good time. I’ve seen her twice since then. She lives in Louisiana.”

“A lot of people ask if we’re dating,” he added. “There’s been rumors that she’s pregnant. She’s not pregnant. We’re not dating, but a good friend. We had a nice couple of dates and we keep in touch.”

The rapper also chatted about the Marvelous’ breakthrough track “Betty (Get Money)” — which made the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 (No. 39) and Hot Rap Songs top 10 (No. 9) in late August.

“Betty” features a sample of Rick Astley’s signature hit, “Never Gonna Give You Up,” but Gravy assured that he was not trying to RickRoll his fans with the track.

“Nah, I just love that song,” he explained to Billboard News host Tetris Kelly. “Great song, I’ve always been a fan. I wanna say my mom was blasting it when I came out the womb. It’s a good songs and I just figured I wouldn’t be able to clear it. Obviously it’s been on my mind as a sample.”

The rapper also touched upon how an oldies radio station and his friendship with Waka Flocka Flame contributed to album single “Dancing in the Rain.”

Gravy shared that he worked extensively on the song with producer Dwilly. “We were listening to this radio station that you can basically pick any era and country and see what was playing there, and we found this Cuban song from 1972, got inspired to play something like that,” he shared. As for how Wacka Flocka inspired the track, Gravy revealed Flaka “actually called me, and I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna pay you a little homage on this.’ And that’s how the hook came together. I was just hyped on it, he inspired me in that moment with that phone call.”

Of Marvelous, the Minnesota rapper adds, “It’s the most refined gravy I’ve dropped to this day. The recipe has been effective and I’ve really put together something that I think is music I’ve made and experimental stuff all spread out. It’s dope.”

Watch Yung Gravy’s full interview with Billboard News in the video above.

04 Nov 2022

Drake Eulogizes Migos‘ Takeoff: ’We Love You and I Appreciate the Memories’

The hip-hop world is reeling from the loss of Migos rapper Takeoff, who was killed during an early morning shooting on Tuesday in Houston. And while police are still on the hunt for the shooter in the incident, Drake took a few moments on the night of the album release for his 21 Savage collab album Her Loss to eulogize his fallen comrade.

“Before I get into the pleasantries, I’d just like to send our deepest condolences from the family to the entire QC, to our brother Quavo, to our brother Offset, to the friends and loved ones of the legendary, unprecedented Takeoff — a guy that I knew for a long, long time,” Drake said in the open of his Table For One show on Drizzy’s Sound42 SiriusXM channel on Thursday night.

The OVO boss nodded to the remix of the Migos 2013 debut single, “Versace,” that he was featured on as the origin story of their close connection before emotionally diving deeper into their bond. “And from there, you know, we formed a brotherhood. I always talk about the fact that this was one family. My friends in the music industry are not friends, they’re family,” he said. “So, our deepest condolences — tragic loss for all of us and, you know, a dark cloud over this business that we love so much.”

Takeoff (born Kirsnick Khari Ball), 28 was killed after suffering gunshot wounds to the head and torso early Tuesday at downtown Houston’s 810 Billiards & Bowling while hanging with uncle and Migos bandmate Quavo when investigators say shots rang out during an afterparty. Takeoff was pronounced dead at the scene, and two other victims — a 23-year-old male and 24-year-old female — checked themselves into a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. At press time police had not yet announced a suspect in the case.

In his eulogy, Drake encouraged everyone to “lock into” a mindset of honoring life as he became the latest in a long list of fellow musicians paying homage to the man considered by many to be the musical heartbeat of the Atlanta-bred trio. “It’s a life that’s worth living, and everybody deserves that chance,” Drake said. “It’s unfortunate that one of our dear, dear brothers had to leave us this week. And it’s tough to even talk about, I don’t even know how to really — I don’t have the words, I feel like I’m rambling, but, yeah… Again, our deepest condolences from the family. We love you, and I appreciate the memories, appreciate the memories.”

The tribute came two days after Drake posted a picture of him on stage with Takeoff, writing, “I got the best memories of all of us seeing the world together and bringing light to every city we touch. That’s what I’ll focus on for now rest easy space man Take ?.”

Charlamagne Tha God also had thoughtful words for Takeoff during an episode of his Comedy Central talk show Hell of a Week, where he took a minute to give the MC his flowers while noting that he was much more than just a rapper. “He was a rapper but that man is a human, and a son, and a nephew, and a friend and we’re mourning the fact that we won’t ever get any more new music from Takeoff, but his family is mourning the fact they won’t see Takeoff at Thanksgiving this year,” Charlamagne said. “Rest in power, king.”

Listen to Drake and Charlamagne below.

04 Nov 2022

Beyoncé Shares Rare Family Photo in ‘The Proud Family’ Halloween Costumes

Proud, proud family! Beyoncé shared a look at her family’s epic Halloween costumes on Thursday (Nov. 3), with her entire brood dressed up as characters from Disney Channel’s The Proud Family.

In the photo, Queen Bey does double duty as Suga Mama and Trudy Proud, while Blue Ivy Carter is a real-life doppelgänger for middle schooler Penny Proud. Meanwhile, Jay-Z does his best Oscar Proud impression — suspenders and all — while wrangling 5-year-old twins Sir and Rumi as BeBe and CeCe Proud.

The superstar and her Destiny’s Child bandmates — Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — famously served backing vocals for her younger sister Solange on the beloved Zoog Disney-era sitcom’s original theme song back in 2001.

However, the network opted to enlist rising R&B singer Joyce Wrice to remake the bop for the 2021 Disney+ revival The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, which brought back original stars Kyla Pratt, Paula Jai Parker, Soleil Moon Frye, Karen Malina White, Jo Marie Payton, Alisa Reyes and Tommy Davidson, along with new characters voiced by Zachary Quinto, Billy Porter, Keke Palmer, A Boogie with da Hoodie and more.

Recently, the “Alien Superstar” singer also posted a few behind-the-scenes looks on social media of the custom Gucci gown she wore to the 2022 Wearable Art Gala organized by her mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson. During the event’s lively auction, Blue Ivy got into a bidding war over a pair of Lorraine Schwartz diamonds once worn by the superstar, and Bey seemingly confirmed an upcoming world tour in support of her latest album Renaissance by auctioning off a VIP ticket package for the show of the highest bidder’s choice.

Get a look at the Carters as The Proud Family below.

04 Nov 2022

Selena Gomez Calls Justin Bieber Breakup ‘the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me’

Selena Gomez‘s headline-making romance with Justin Bieber may not have worked out in the end, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t gain anything positive from the breakup. In her new documentary My Mind & Me, the 30-year-old pop star opened up about how her high-profile split from the “Baby” singer, though painful, turned out to be the best thing that could have happened in her journey toward independence, confidence and self-love.

Gomez dated Bieber on and off for most of the 2010s, starting in 2011 and ending for good in 2018. Just a couple months after that final split, Bieber got engaged to his now wife, model Hailey Bieber.

“Everything was so public,” the Only Murders in the Building star said in the doc, which dropped Friday (Nov. 4) on Apple TV+. “I felt haunted by a past relationship that no one wanted to let go of. Then I just moved past it, and I wasn’t afraid anymore.”

The “no one” she’s referring to would be the millions of “Jelena” fans who rooted for Gomez and Bieber’s romance, many of whom continued to make their devastation over the breakup known on social media for months — and in some cases, even years — afterward. The public fixation on Gomez and the “Peaches” musician’s relationship is something Hailey also recently spoke about while appearing on the podcast Call Her Daddy, describing how she she sometimes feels “numb” from the hate she gets from people who think she “stole” Bieber from Gomez.

“I feel like I had to go through the worst possible heartbreak ever and then just forgetting everything at the drop of the hand, it was really confusing,” Gomez, who was recently photographed being friendly with Hailey, continued in My Mind & Me. “But I just think that needed to happen and ultimately it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

The Grammy nominee also recalled writing her single “Lose You to Love Me,” which was inspired by her breakup from Bieber. “I text Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter and said, ‘I think I’m ready to just say I’m sad,’” she said, referring to her co-writers on the 2019 track. “We wrote the song in 45 minutes. The fastest song I’ve ever written.” 

The song appeared on Gomez’s Billboard 200 chart-topping album Rare, which came out in 2020. A couple weeks after its release, “Lose You to Love Me” ascended to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, marking the singer-actress’ first ever No. 1 single.

“It’s about more than a lost love,” she added. “It’s me learning to choose myself, to choose life, but also hoping that people can find grace and peace in that too. The song is about knowing that you completely lost every part of who you are just to rediscover yourself again.”

04 Nov 2022

Drake’s ‘Jimmy Cooks’ Tops Radio Charts as He Replaces Himself at No. 1 Again

Drake and 21 Savage’s “Jimmy Cooks” collaboration conquers two more Billboard radio charts this week with coronations on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Rap Airplay lists. Though the song arrived in June, promotional efforts have ramped up in recent weeks, with the song’s official music video release on Oct. 22 and the pair’s joint album, Her Loss, released Friday (Nov. 4). (“Cooks” does not appear on the album.)

“Jimmy Cooks” jumps 5-1 to crown Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay following a 9% increase in plays that made it the most-played song on U.S. monitored mainstream R&B/hip-hop radio stations in the week ending Oct. 30, according to Luminate. With the leap, Drake replaces himself at No. 1 for a seventh time in his career, as “Jimmy” ousts Future’s “Wait for U,” featuring himself and Tems, from the top slot.

Here’s a rundown of Drake’s seven exchanges at the summit:

Drake’s Self-Replacements at No. 1 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay

  • “Make Me Proud,” featuring Nicki Minaj, replaced by “The Motto,” featuring Lil Wayne, March 3, 2012
  • “ Tuesday,” ILOVEMAKONNEN featuring Drake, replaced by “Only,” Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown, Jan. 10, 2015
  • “For Free,” DJ Khaled featuring Drake, replaced by “Controlla” Aug. 27, 2016
  • “God’s Plan,” replaced by “Look Alive,” BlocBoy JB featuring Drake, April 28, 2018
  • “Look Alive,” BlocBoy JB featuring Drake, replaced by “Nice for What,” May 19, 2018
  • “In My Feelings,” replaced by “Yes Indeed,” with Lil Baby, Aug. 25, 2018
  • “Wait for U,” Future featuring Tems & Drake, replaced by “Jimmy Cooks,” featuring 21 Savage, Nov. 5, 2022

Overall, “Jimmy Cooks” secures Drake’s record-extending 43rd No. 1 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. He’s clear and away the leader, with more than double the champs of second-place Lil Wayne (20), with Chris Brown (17) in third.

Featured artist 21 Savage, meanwhile, acquires his third No. 1 on the radio list. He previously ruled through a guest spot on Post Malone’s one-week champ, “Rockstar,” in 2017, and again for a week with his own “A Lot” in 2019.

Over on Rap Airplay, “Jimmy Cooks” climbs from No. 2 following a 5% bump in registered audience in the week ending Oct. 30. The new champ gives 21 Savage his second Rap Airplay No. 1, after “Rockstar.” Drake lands a record-extending 39th song to reach No. 1, and as “Jimmy Cooks” dethrones “Wait for U,” a remarkable 12th time knocking himself from the top slot. Here’s the dozen count:

Drake’s Self-Replacements at No. 1 on Rap Airplay

  • “Fancy,” featuring T.I. & Swizz Beatz, replaced by “Right Above It,” Lil Wayne featuring Drake, Nov. 6, 2010
  • “I’m on One,” DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne, replaced by “Headlines,” Oct. 15, 2011
  • “Make Me Proud,” featuring Nicki Minaj, replaced by “The Motto,” featuring Lil Wayne, Feb. 18, 2012
  • “No Lie,” 2 Chainz featuring Drake, replaced by “Pop That,” French Montana featuring Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne, Oct. 20, 2012
  • “F**kin Problems,” A$AP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar, replaced by “Started by the Bottom,” April 6, 2013
  • “Only,” Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown, replaced by “Truffle Butter,” Nicki Minaj featuring Drake & Lil Wayne, three, Feb. 21, 2015
  • “Hotline Bling,” replaced by “Jumpman,” with Future, Jan. 23, 2016
  • “Controlla,” replaced by “For Free,” DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Sept. 10, 2016
  • “God’s Plan” replaced by “Look Alive,” BlocBoy JB featuring Drake, May 5, 2018
  • “Look Alive,” BlocBoy JB featuring Drake, replaced by “Nice for What,” May 19, 2018
  • “Way 2 Sexy,” featuring Future & Young Thug, replaced by “Girls Want Girls,” featuring Lil Baby, Nov. 27, 2021
  • “Wait for U,” Future featuring Drake & Tems, replaced by “Jimmy Cooks,” featuring 21 Savage, Nov. 5, 2022

Plus, two other Drake-related tracks have also been direct successors at No. 1 on Rap Airplay. The Young Money collective track “Bedrock,” featuring Lloyd, in which Drake delivers one of six verses from the imprint’s roster yielded to Timbaland’s “Say Something,” featuring Drake, in March 2010. And in October 2018, “Nonstop” ceded to Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” which also featured uncredited vocals from the superstar.

04 Nov 2022

Diddy Makes a Big Move Into Cannabis Game With $185 Million Purchase of Major Pot Players

Sean “P. Diddy” Combs never does anything halfway. On Friday (Nov. 4) the music/fashion/sprits/media mogul announced that he plans to make a major investment in the legal marijuana game with a $185 million deal to buy licensed weed operations in three states.

If approved, the deal would create the nation’s largest Black-owned and licensed cannabis company, a platform Diddy said he wants to use to increase Black participation in the field.

“It’s diabolical,” Combs, 53, told the Wall Street Journal about his desire to get into the pot business to help address long-running inequities that have seen Black people disproportionately arrested and jailed for marijuana crimes even as they make up a “tiny” percentage of the market for legal weed. “How do you lock up communities of people, break down their family structure, their futures, and then legalize it and make sure that those same people don’t get a chance to benefit or resurrect their lives from it?”

The Journal noted that in the quarter century since California first legalized medical marijuana cannabis has grown into a $27 billion legal business in the U.S. even as many Black entrepreneurs looking to get into the mix have said they’ve faced obstacles in finding financing, capital and banking services; Black cannabis entrepreneurs currently account for less than 2% of the nation’s marijuana businesses, which employs around 500,000 people.

“Two percent?” Diddy said. “All the years, all the pain, all the incarceration… To me, it was important to do a big deal like this.”

Diddy will dive in by purchasing the cannabis operations of Cresco Labs Inc. (valued at $1 billion) and Columbia Care Inc. (valued at $500 million), two of the biggest cannabis companies in the country. The buy-in — which includes a $110 million cash payment and $45 million in debt financing — will give the Bad Boy boss nine retail stores and three production facilities in New York, Massachusetts and Illinois, according to a release announcing the deal.

“My mission has always been to create opportunities for Black entrepreneurs in industries where we’ve traditionally been denied access, and this acquisition provides the immediate scale and impact needed to create a more equitable future in cannabis,” said Combs in a statement. “Owning the entire process — from growing and manufacturing to marketing, retail, and wholesale distribution — is a historic win for the culture that will allow us to empower diverse leaders throughout the ecosystem and be bold advocates for inclusion.”

The operations in the three states will give Combs the ability to grow and manufacture cannabis products and wholesale and distribute those branded products to licensed dispensaries in major metro areas including New York, Boston and Chicago, as well as operate retail stores in all three states.

“Today’s announcement is bigger than the Transaction – and it couldn’t come at a time of greater significance and momentum,” said Cresco Labs CEO Charles Bachtell in a statement. “We’ve seen executive power exercised to address matters of cannabis injustice, we’re seeing bi-partisan support for elements of federal reform, and we’re seeing some of the largest and most influential states in the country launch cannabis programs prioritizing social responsibility – this announcement adds to that momentum.”

Bachtell noted that the transaction is a major step toward closing his company’s previously announced acquisition of Columbia Care and their push for greater diversity of leadership and perspective in the market. “The substantial presence of a minority-owned operator in some of the most influential markets in the country being led by one of the most prolific and impactful entrepreneurs of our time is momentous… and incredibly exciting. We’re thrilled to welcome Sean and his team to the industry,” he said.

Columbia CEO Nicholas Vita added that, “These assets offer the Combs’ team significant market presence, enabling them to make the most impact on the industry as a whole. It’s been clear to us that Sean has the right team to carry on the strong legacy of these Columbia Care and Cresco Labs facilities, and we can’t wait to see how he helps shape the cannabis industry going forward through his entrepreneurial leadership and innovation.”

Though marijuana is legal in 19 states for recreational use by adults and in 39 states for medical use it is still illegal under federal law.

04 Nov 2022

LE SSERAFIM and (G)I-DLE Score First Top 10s on Billboard’s Album Sales Chart

LE SSERAFIM and (G)I-DLE each notch their first top 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated Nov. 5) as ANTIFRAGILE and I Love: 5th Mini Album debut at Nos. 3 and 9, respectively.

Plus, Taylor Swift’s Midnights makes a spectacular debut at No. 1 with the largest sales week for any album since her own Reputation debuted in 2017, while the latest albums from Arctic Monkeys, Carly Rae Jepsen and Meghan Trainor arrive in the top 10.

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.

Swift’s Midnights blasts in at No. 1 on Top Album Sales with 1.140 million copies sold in the U.S. in the week ending Oct. 27, according to Luminate. It’s the largest sales week for any album since Swift’s Reputation debuted atop the chart with 1.216 million sold in its first week (chart dated Dec. 2, 2017). (Read more on the full breakdown on Midnights’ first-week sales.)

Arctic Monkeys collect its highest charting effort yet, and fourth top 10, on Top Album Sales as the band’s latest album The Car drives in at No. 2 with 28,000 copies sold. Vinyl sales comprised a robust 19,000 of that sum, enabling the set’s debut at No. 2 on the Vinyl Albums chart.

LE SSERAFIM’s ANTIFRAGILE debuts at No. 3 on Top Album Sales, marking the first top 10 and chart entry for the South Korean girl group. The five-song set sold 20,000 copies in the week ending Oct. 27 – with CD album sales comprising nearly all of that sum and digital album downloads comprising a negligible number. Like many K-pop releases, the CD configuration of ANTIFRAGILE was issued in collectible deluxe packages (eight total, including a version exclusive to Target), each with a standard set of items and randomized elements (such as photocards, postcards and a poster). The set was not released in any other physical format, such as vinyl or cassette.

Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city vaults from No. 52 to No. 4 with 15,000 sold (up 535%) – nearly all on vinyl – following the set’s 10th anniversary reissue on CD, cassette and five vinyl editions. The reissue does not contain any additional audio content, but boasts alternative artwork and color vinyl variants.

Stray Kids’ MAXIDENT falls 2-5 with 14,000 sold (down 44%).

Carly Rae Jepsen’s latest release The Loneliest Time enters at No. 6 on Top Album Sales with 12,000 sold – it’s her third top 10-charting effort on the list. If The Loneliest Time goes no higher on the tally, it will mark her third top 10 to debut and peak at No. 6.

Meghan Trainor’s Takin’ It Back bows at No. 7 with 11,000 sold. It’s the fourth top 10 for Trainor and her highest charting set since 2016’s Thank You debuted and peaked at No. 2.

Queens of the Stone Age’s self-titled debut album reaches the top 10 on Top Album Sales for the first time (re-entering at No. 8 with 10,000 sold; up from a negligible sum the previous week) following a new vinyl pressing for the album – its first vinyl release in a decade. The set, first released in 1998, was reissued on black vinyl and orange-colored vinyl on Oct. 21. Essentially all of the album’s sales for the week were on vinyl, enabling the title’s re-entry at No. 4 on Vinyl Albums.

South Korean pop group (G)I-DLE claims its first top 10 on Top Album Sales as I Love: 5th Mini Album debuts at No. 9 with 10,000 sold. Essentially all of the set’s sales were on CD, with a negligible sum on digital album download. The title was available in two collectible CD packages (including one exclusive to Target), each with a standard set of items (photobook, lyric paper, etc.) and randomized elements (such as photocards, bookmark and a poster). The set was not released in any other physical format, such as vinyl or cassette.

Rounding out the top 10 of the new Top Album Sales chart is Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Return of the Dream Canteen, which falls to No. 10 in its second week, with 9,000 sold (down 85%).

In the week ending Oct. 27, there were 2.794 million albums sold in the U.S. (up 66.3% compared to the previous week). Of that sum, physical albums (CDs, vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) comprised 2.290 million (up 73.4%) and digital albums comprised 504,000 (up 40.1%).

There were 998,000 CD albums sold in the week ending Oct. 27 (up 55% week-over-week) and 1.270 vinyl albums sold (up 90.7%). Year-to-date CD album sales stand at 28.401 million (down 6.6% compared to the same time frame a year ago) and year-to-date vinyl album sales total 31.968 million (up 4.1%).

Overall year-to-date album sales total 77.626 million (down 6.2% compared to the same year-to-date time frame a year ago). Year-to-date physical album sales stand at 60.812 million (down 1.1%) and digital album sales total 16.813 million (down 20.9%).

04 Nov 2022

Paramore Announces 2023 North American Tour: Here Are the Dates

Get ready, North America — Paramore is coming. On Friday (Nov. 4), bandmates Hayley Williams, Taylor York and Zac Farro announced plans to embark on an arena tour in 2023, with shows in 26 cities across the United States and Canada.

The tour, simply titled Paramore in North America, kicks off in Charlotte, N.C., on May 23 — five days after the pop-punk group opens for Taylor Swift at one show on her recently announced Eras Tour — and ends in St. Paul, Minn., on Aug. 2 next year. Bloc Party, Foals, The Linda Lindas and Genesis Owusuare are slated to open for the band at select shows on the trek, which will also make stops at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, Austin’s Moody Center, Los Angeles’ Kia Forum and more.

Tickets go on general sale at 10 a.m. local time next Friday (Nov. 11), and will be available on Paramore’s website. A presale for American Express cardholders will go live 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday (Nov. 9), meanwhile a general presale for verified fans starts at 8 a.m. local time the following day.

Fans have until Monday (Nov. 7) to register for both presales on Ticketmaster’s website. A portion of ticket sales for all North American shows will be donated to eco-conscious hunger relief nonprofit Support + Feed and environmental nonprofit REVERB.

The tour will follow the Feb. 10 release of Paramore’s sixth studio album This Is Why, the band’s first LP in almost six years. The record’s lead single — which doubles as the title track — dropped in September.

The “This Is Why” era comes after Paramore took a nearly five-year hiatus from releasing music and performing. The trio made their official return to touring this fall with a run of intimate North American shows, their first circuit since 2017’s After Laughter Tour.

See the full list of dates for Paramore’s 2023 North American tour below:

PARAMORE IN NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES

  • Tue May 23 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center*×
  • Thu May 25 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena*×
  • Sat May 27 – Atlantic City, NJ – Adjacent Festival!
  • Tue May 30 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden*×
  • Fri June 02 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena*×
  • Sun Jun 04 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse*×
  • Mon Jun 05 – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse*×
  • Wed Jun 07 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena*×
  • Thu Jun 08 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena*×
  • Sat Jun 10 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center*×
  • Sun Jun 11 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paint Arena*×
  • Tue Jun 13 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center*×
  • Wed Jun 14 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live*×
  • Thu Jul 06 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center+°
  • Sat Jul 08 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena+°
  • Sun Jul 09 – Austin, TX – Moody Center+°
  • Tue Jul 11 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center+°
  • Thu Jul 13 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena+°
  • Sun Jul 16 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena+
  • Wed Jul 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum+
  • Sat Jul 22 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center+
  • Mon Jul 24 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena+°
  • Tue Jul 25 – Portland, OR – Veterans Memorial Coliseum+°
  • Thu Jul 27 – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Arena+°
  • Sat Jul 29 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center+°
  • Sun Jul 30 – St Louis, MO – Enterprise Center+°
  • Wed Aug 02 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center+°

*With Support Bloc Party

+With Support from Foals

°With Support from The Linda Lindas

×With Support from Genesis Owusu

!Festival Performance