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Dame Dash is back at it again.
The Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder went on Instagram Live to talk about selling his shares of the legendary rap label and wondered just how much Jay-Z is willing to pay. “I don’t expect anyone, just some average person, to come buy it — or a third of it, my third. I don’t wanna get sued again,” he says at the beginning of the clip. “I know, for some reason, nobody wants me to sell it, but I’m ready to just move on, do my thing. I had a lawsuit, I had a judgement, and I’m like, ‘Yo, that’s 800 grand. Go get it from over there. They not paying me neither,” he said in regards to the Aug. 29 auction that’s taking place in order to satisfy the $823,000 he owes to movie producer Josh Weber.

Dame then brought up the fact that Jay has the option to block potential buyers and brought up the emergency meeting he and Biggs had to stop him from selling his shares. “I’m sure there’s a little twist they put on things. I don’t know why. I do know why, but I don’t know why. I don’t know why about one thing, but I do know why about the other,” he said cryptically. “[Jay-Z] has the first right of refusal. They had some bum-ass board meeting and all of a sudden he gets first right of refusal. I don’t really care. It don’t slow nothing down for me.” Adding, “Now I don’t know how deep homie’s pockets is. I’m curious if he’s gonna match that. I put an offer on the table, lemme see if he’ll match it. But it was from other people.”

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Earlier this month, Billboard reported that although Jay and Biggs’ last minute attempt to change the company’s by-laws are unenforceable, there are still some stipulations. “Whomever buys Dame’s stake in Roc-A-Fella will be a minority owner without authority over any decision-making,” the source tells Billboard. “They won’t have the ability to sell the copyright or borrow against the master as all decisions require majority vote.”

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There’s also the fact that Roc-A-Fella Inc.’s crown jewel Reasonable Doubt will revert back to Jay-Z in 2031 because copyright’s termination right allows him to control the rights of the album 35 years after its initial release in 1996. “There’s also an expiration date on the master ownership for the company, which means revenue and the only asset doesn’t have many years left,” the source also told Billboard.

Dame has recently been in the news for offering up an original Roc-A-Fella chain to anyone who bids over $10 million for his third of the company. “So if you do wanna buy one-third of Roc-A-Fella Inc., you are gonna have to bring some bread,” he said. “And anything over $10 million, I’m gonna sweeten the pot: you get an original Roc-A-Fella chain from off my neck.”

Thursday, Aug. 29 is going to be a crazy day on Rap Twitter.

Taylor Swift officially wrapped the European leg of her Eras Tour on Tuesday (Aug. 20), and the superstar took to Instagram the day after to reflect on the special run, as well as break her silence on the canceled Vienna shows due to a terror threat.

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“We have officially wrapped the European leg of The Eras Tour. With it came the most passionate crowds I’ve ever played for, new traditions in the show, and an entirely new era added in. It was a more hectic pace than we’d done before, and I’m so proud of my crew/fellow performers for being able to physically perform that show and build our massive stage, take it apart, and make magic with so few days in between for recovery and travel. They’re the most impressive people I know and I’m so lucky they gave The Eras Tour their time, their energy, and their expertise,” she wrote.

She added that walking on stage at London’s Wembley Stadium was “a rollercoaster of emotions” after the “devastating” news that her Vienna shows were canceled. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows,” she shared. “But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives. I was heartened by the love and unity I saw in the fans who banded together. I decided that all of my energy had to go toward helping to protect the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London. My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal, and I want to thank them for everything they did for us.”

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Swift also explained her reasoning for not speaking out until now. “Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows,” she wrote. “In cases like this one, ‘silence’ is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when it’s right to. My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that. And then London felt like a beautiful dream sequence. All five crowds at Wembley Stadium were bursting with passion, joy, and exuberance. The energy in that stadium was like the most giant bear hug from 92,000 people each night, and it brought me back to a place of carefree calm up there.”

See her full statement here.

In a statement on Wednesday (Aug. 7), Barracuda Music, the concert promoters for the Austrian shows said, “With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety. All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.”

The person identified as the main plotter reportedly quit his job and “conspicuously changed his appearance and adapted to IS [Islamic State] propaganda,” despite his North Macedonian roots. Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, Austria’s head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, said the suspect wanted to use knives or homemade explosives to attack Swifties outside the stadium at the event, which was expected to draw more than 195,000 fans.

Authorities also said that I.S. and al-Qaida materials were found at the home of a second, 17-year-old Austrian suspect, who was reportedly recently hired by a company that provides services at the venue. Both suspects are currently in custody.

Lady Gaga is promoting her song with the help of her adorable new puppy . The superstar took to TikTok to share a video in which she’s seen singing along to her freshly released Bruno Mars collab, “Die With a Smile.” In the clip, Gaga has a bright blue eye makeup look as she sweetly […]

Don McLean does not want a slice of “American Pie” if it comes topped with “woke bullsh–” — something he spoke at length about in a new interview with Metro published this week.
When asked about his iconic 1971 hit, the 78-year-old singer/songwriter said he feels the eight-minute-plus track predicted the current state of the U.S. “The song really does open up a whole historical question about what happened in the ’60s and assassinations and the history that forms the backbone of the song as it moves forward,” he began. “This song talks about the fact that things are going somewhat in the wrong direction, and I think that they’re still going in the wrong direction. I think most people looking at America now kind of think that too.

“I mean, we certainly have a wonderful country, and we do wonderful things, but we also are in the middle of all this woke bullsh–,” he continued. “All this other stuff that there is absolutely no point to, as far as I can see, other than to undermine people’s beliefs in the country. That’s very bad.

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“There’s so much anger out there,” McLean added. “So many of these college students have been given everything, and they’re just angry. They don’t know why they’re angry. They don’t even know what to be angry about. It’s really a symptom of the fact that they’re frustrated. They don’t have a path that they can tread in life that leads to a better life.”

Before Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021, “American Pie” was the longest song to ever reach No. 1 on the singles chart, where it stayed for four weeks. After the song’s record was broken, McLean told Billboard, “If I had to lose it to somebody, I sure am glad it was another great singer/songwriter such as Taylor.”

The “Anti-Hero” singer then sent the folk rock star a bouquet of flowers and a sweet note reading, “Don, I will never forget that I’m standing on the shoulders of giants. Your music has been so important to me. Sending love one writer of LONG SONGS to another. Your fan, Taylor.”

McLean has remained a fan of Swift’s in the three years since. In another interview this week, he described her as a “monster star, the size of the galaxy” and a “person who is an example of what talent and really hard work can accomplish.”

“She’s working all of the time, and she does everything that she does better than everybody else, whether it’s a video or a performance or songwriting or records or whatever,” he continued to The Standard. “The only thing is that she stays happy.”

Eleven years after its release, the video for Swedish House Mafia‘s “Don’t You Worry Child” is still making history. On Wednesday (Aug. 21), YouTube announced that the video has surpassed 1 billion views on the platform, the first clip by the trio to join this elite group. Released on Sept. 14, 2012, “Don’t You Worry […]

After Jason Isbell and Mickey Guyton lit up the opening night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, a pair of soulful Grammy-winning performers graced the United Center stage: Oscar-winning rapper Common and “Godmother of Soul,” Ms. Patti LaBelle. 

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LaBelle delivered a stirring rendition of her 1978 hit “You Are My Friend” — which peaked at No. 61 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – for the night’s in memoriam segment. The emotional performance marked a notable return to the DNC for the icon, who previously covered Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” at the 2004 convention, when John Kerry was voted the party’s presidential nominee. The soul legend has also thrown her music support behind the Biden administration, performing on the White House South Lawn for the President’s Juneteenth concert earlier this summer (June 10).

Last night, her performance set the stage for a fiery line-up that included a heartwarming address from Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and a pair of rousing speeches from former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. 

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Now in the seventh decade of her illustrious career, Ms. LaBelle continues to enrapture audiences with her powerful voice, as evidenced by the packed arena leaping to their feet the minute she appeared on the stage. This election cycle, the Democrats have been notably forward-looking in their incorporation of music — but by tapping LaBelle to usher in the DNC’s second night, they made sure to honor the classics, and showcase some true soul. 

Billboard caught up with the Godmother of Soul for a brief conversation about her DNC performance, what she loves about Vice President Kamala Harris, and the status of her upcoming 8025 album. 

When did you first get asked to perform at the DNC? 

About last Tuesday. My son said, “Mom, what are you doing on Tuesday? Would [you] be interested in doing something for the DNC?” I said, “Of course, I would do anything to being there!” They wanted me to do “You Are My Friend,” and I said, “Wonderful!” So, that’s what happened. I would do anything for Biden — and always did — and for Kamala [Harris], because we have to keep peace alive and keep hope alive. 

How did you feel about the performance? 

Well, guess what? The band started very soon, and they just told me to walk out after the band started. When I got to my position, I said, “Oh my God, what line did I miss?” When I got to my mic, I missed a few words and then I had to catch up but I think I did [it]! [Laughs.] It’s nerve-wracking! That’s your one and only time, and you’re in front of everybody and you don’t want to make a mistake. So, I caught up with myself and I felt good when I finished. 

And nobody knew it was me coming out, because he forgot to say, “Ladies and gentlemen, Patti LaBelle.” When I didn’t hear the intro, I said, “Oh Lord, I’m stuck like Chuck, but whatever is gonna happen is gonna happen. I can’t change anything now.” It’s an honor just being asked to do something for something as wonderful and important as this. Anytime they call me for anything, I’m available! 

What did you think about the energy in the arena last night? Did it bring up any memories of past election cycles for you? 

No, it was so much energy from Michelle Obama and her husband. The people were so excited to hear anything about [Kamala]. And to hear Obama and Michelle talk their talk? They’re gangster! I said, “Y’all better talk!” It was heaven. It was a blessed day. It’s gonna be a blessed life after [Kamala’s] where she should be. 

If you were running for president, what would your campaign song be? 

“California Love.” It’ll be something gangster. 

Would songs inspire hope or freedom for you? 

Well, some things that I sing. “Oh, People” is one of my songs that [inspire those feelings for me]. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” I love [Beyoncé’s] “Freedom” song that she’s using in the campaign. There is a lot of hope in those songs. 

Give me one word to describe Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. 

I think she’s… what they call “brat” or whatever, I call it “gangster.” She’s a throwback girl. She’s a wonderful woman who has all aspects of gangster, political, brilliant. Whatever she wants to be, she is. And she does it well because they have that little clip of her from Trump’s campaign with her doing a crip walk or whatever little dance. I love her because she smiles, she laughs, she’s joyful, and those kinds of things you don’t see in some politicians. It’s important for us to find somebody like that who will bring us a little joy and a little hope It would be a Christmas present to everybody when she becomes president. I don’t think it’s “if,” it’s “when.” 

What issue is most heavy on your heart right now going into the election? 

The way the world is with homeless people, people who have nothing, just trying to get something for those who’ve never had anything. That’s in my heart. That’s more important than anything. Also, getting a better climate of people looking at each other, laughing with each other and praying together and staying together. The childlike hate that [Trump’s] spewing is not necessary. Even if we’re broke, that joy brings you something.

I think once [Kamala’s] in there, everybody’s going to see a better life. She’s working hard still as Vice President, her job is heavy and she’s doing it with a smile and with confidence because she knows she got everything right. She’s not a half-stepper. 

I know you have this 8025 album that you’ve been working on. Are there any updates on that? 

I’ve done about 10 songs right. I can’t tell you anything yet, but it’s going to be out, hopefully, before this year is out. That’ll be my Christmas present to me. [Laughs]. It’s been 20 years since [I did] an R&B album! 

Imagine Dragons’ drummer, Daniel Platzman, officially announced on Wednesday (Aug. 21) that he is leaving the band to focus on his film composing career. “After an incredible journey of over a decade, I will be departing the amazing band that is Imagine Dragons,” Platzman shared in a press statement. “I wanted to share my deepest […]

Ashanti and Nelly are officially parents, with a rep confirming to People on Wednesday (Aug. 21) that the couple welcomed a baby boy. The rep also revealed the name of the little one — Kareem Kenkaide Haynes — and that his birthday was July 18. “The proud and happy parents are so in love with […]

Adam Met may have just wrapped a tour with his brothers – with whom he formed the Billboard chart-topping indie pop band AJR – but he isn’t making a beeline for vacation time. Instead, the bass guitarist headed to Chicago, IL, for the 2024 Democratic National Convention to show his support for the party’s presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Minnestoa Gov. Tim Walz. 

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Climate activism has been as passion of Met’s just as long as music has. In 2021, he earned his PhD in human rights law and sustainable development from the University of Birmingham, and two years prior he founded Planet Reimagined, a sustainability-minded think tank. Though most wouldn’t consider climate activism and music to be analogous interests, Met has made it his mission to not just work in both arenas, but also illustrate where they crossover. Not only is he a globe-trotting rock star, he’s also an adjunct professor at Columbia University where he teaches about climate policy and campaigning. 

AJR’s Maybe Man Tour – launched in support of their fifth studio album, 2023’s The Maybe Man, which peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard 200 – took the trio to arenas across the country, allowing them to implement new initiatives to secure heightened political engagement from their fanbase. In addition to having fans register to vote and sign petitions, the band and their partners also provided concertgoers with a prewritten script to recite on calls urging their Congressperson to vote certain ways on local climate issues. 

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“We designed it differently for every single city that we went to,” explains Met. “Phoenix was about asking FEMA to designate extreme heat as an emergency. We did something around the Great Salt Lake when we were in Salt Lake City; we did things around forest fires in California. We’ve found that people are much more willing to engage at the concert — and then again after the concert —  if it’s something that affects them and their community. It’s a mix between responsibility and giving the fans an opportunity.” 

From record-breaking hurricanes to extreme heat waves, the impact of climate change can be felt across industries. In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, AJR had to cancel a Houston show, because of the devastating intersection of feeble infrastructure — “We couldn’t get in touch with people to figure out food, power, etc.” — and climate change-induced shifts in weather patterns. With the 2024 presidential election just 11 weeks away, Met remains steadfast in his commitment to climate activism. Prior to the DNC, Met was one of many speakers on a Harris Climate Campaign Zoom call that included former secretary of state John Kerry, actress Jane Fonda and TV scientist Bill Nye. 

Billboard caught up with Met ahead of the second night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention to chat about what most excites him about the Harris-Walz ticket, the music industry’s role in climate activism and a potential deluxe version of The Maybe Man.  

What specifically are you most excited about in terms of climate and the Harris-Walz ticket? 

I’m excited for the Harris-Walz ticket to continue the progress that we’ve already made on climate. I’m excited to see more movement in that direction, and we’ve seen so much investment in new technologies, new types of infrastructure, electric car charging, and moving towards solar and wind that are going to be more sustainable. That’s great, but we’re still maybe 25% of the way to the place that we need to get to.

I do work with the Department of Energy and the EPA and the Department of the Interior; those three are the trifecta where I feel like we can make the rules a lot stronger. Government is the best place where we can hold the private sector accountable, and I think that I want to see more of that in this next administration. We need to hold the private sector accountable for their emissions and for transitioning their businesses [away from oil and gas]. 

What was your experience in gathering bipartisan support for your plan to streamline the permits needed for new wind and solar projects? 

This all started as I was working on the Inflation Reduction Act, which was the largest investment in climate in the United States. 

My PhD was focused on making sure that we can have indigenous communities own renewable energy projects that are being built because as we’re moving in this transition, we want to make sure that environmental justice is key. I looked at communities in Kenya, Bangladesh, and Canada, and I developed this proposal for how we can allow these communities to own pieces of the projects to help them build out their community via new infrastructure, etc.  I sat down with Republicans and Democrats, and actually ended up finding a lot of common ground between the two, which was really surprising, especially for something that was so focused on climate. 

Eventually the Inflation Reduction Act passed without any Republican support, but I didn’t want that to be the end of the line. I took all of the information home back to my nonprofit, Planet Reimagined. We had a bunch of researchers and advocates work together to figure how we can fix the permitting process to allow new solar and wind to exist on top of oil and gas so we won’t disturb any additional land for wind and solar and we can help oil and gas companies transition their business to wind and solar. Democrats loved it because it’s increasing renewables and it’s moving away from oil and gas. Republicans loved it because it’s creating new jobs, it’s boosting the economy in their district and it is directly engaging with the oil and gas companies as opposed to saying we need to end all oil and gas tomorrow. I firmly agree that we need to end all oil and gas as soon as possible. But from an economic and realist perspective, there are hundreds of thousands of people around the world who are employed by industries that are directly built on oil and gas. We need to look at it as a systemic approach, so that’s how we developed this strategy. 

What do you think about artists producing an exorbitant number of album variants and the impact that may have on the environment? 

There are a lot of different pieces in the music industry that contribute to the impact of climate. My philosophy on this is that the music industry should be early adopters to new technologies, but the music industry is not set up to develop these new technologies. 

When we’re on tour, everyone uses semi-trucks, tour buses, etc. We should be the earliest adopters in electric trucking [and] electric buses. Music industry shouldn’t be the people that are working on creating those because there are people who are way more [knowledgeable] in those fields. In production, like you were talking about, there are all of these different polymers that are being developed right now in labs that are the same material as vinyl. The music industry should absolutely be the earliest adopters of [that]. 

It’s about investing in the tech, so the tech gets to a place where we can implement it as fast as possible. 

Outside of the polymers, what other kinds of tech do you think can be integrated sooner rather than later? 

A huge part of the income of venues is food and beverage. There are new ways of thinking about how agriculture can be farmed and produced locally under different kinds of conditions, and genetically modified things that can work in different markets. Once the music industry is buying as local as possible, [it] proves to the larger market that these things are not scary. These things are actually feasible. 

Merchandise, too, is a huge area in the music industry and we’ve already seen a lot of artists specifically choose to work with companies that are not doing fast fashion. The music industry taking a stand and saying we’re going to go for something that is going to be long lasting. You might have to pay a tiny bit more for [it], but it is significantly better for the environment. 

What kinds of stands did AJR take on its most recent tour? 

We did a partnership with an organization called Reverb. They “green” the backstage area, meaning that any leftover food is donated to local organizations. We have water stations everywhere and everyone on our crew has reusable bottles. There are probably 30 or 40 different actions that happen both backstage and in front of house to make sure that our crew is being as sustainable as possible, and that when the fans come in, they are getting a sustainable experience. 

Is there a way these practices can become standardized across the touring and live music industries? 

That’s the goal. Reverb works with a lot of artists, from Harry Styles to Billie Eilish to Dave Matthews Band. However, the goal here is for these to be the norm in every venue. No artist should have to ask the venue, “I want to make sure there’s no single-use plastic cups being used to serve drinks to fans.” That should just be the standard. We’re seeing that implemented at some of these venues that we go to where they have [initiatives like] waste programs.

But the problem is, we are a little bit of time away from that being implemented everywhere on the “greening of the venue” side. I would say we need to expand those initiatives to as many venues as possible. So many artists, especially at the club level, don’t have the capacity to be thinking about these things. 

What’s stopping this from being standard across the A-list tier of touring musicians?  

Education is the first [roadblock]. Many crews, tour managers and production managers don’t understand that this is relatively easy to implement. For some people, it’s cost. You generally need to bring one to two people on the road with you, and when you’re at a club level and you have a tour manager who’s also front of house, who’s also selling merch, it’s adding another job. That’s why having it built into the venue itself is gonna solve a lot of these problems with the cost barrier and the education barrier. 

What does Planet Reimagined have planned as the election draws nearer? 

With the election coming up, a lot of what I do personally outside my capacity as executive director of Planet Reimagined is going to schools and help people think about how whatever they’re doing in school is connected to climate. Climate is an everyone issue and is an everything issue. On the medical side, obviously more and more people are dying from extreme heat, but the more complex example is that as temperatures increase as we get farther and farther away from the equator, we are creating more space for insects that are carrying certain diseases. It creates a whole new kind of health system to look at. We’re talking about immigration, there is going to be the largest change in where people are living over the next two decades due to the effects of climate change 

This is the most important climate election ever. I fully believe that there are people across the political spectrum who all are on the side of climate. My call to action for most young people is: when they’re going to the voting booth, take 10 or 15 minutes, look up people’s climate voting record — because it might surprise you how many people across the political spectrum are actually voting with climate change interests in mind. 

I recently spent some time in Grenada, which was hit really hard by Hurricane Beryl recently. Hurricanes that strong arriving so early in the season are a direct result of climate change. How can artists from nations with larger infrastructure support artists in the Global South, especially since they’ll feel the worst impacts of climate change earlier than anyone else? 

The countries that are now feeling and going to feel the worst impacts of climate change are the ones that are least responsible for it. It’s a massive problem. There have been so many promises from industrialized countries and it’s just not happening. 

The voice of musicians is so unbelievably powerful. A lot of musicians write their own music, and the audience knows who the musician is because they’re writing their own music. When their voice is consistent with the thing that they care about, you’re much more likely to move people. I’ve seen more and more musicians take on this role of advocate [in Washington and the private sector]. 

Change can happen, but it’s only when artists are holding people’s feet to the fire. It’s all going to take musicians banding together, trying to hold the for-profit and the government’s feet to the fire to make sure we’re making the right investment in order to prevent these horrible effects.  

When you look at Harris and Walz, what song comes to mind?  

I don’t want to be cheesy and name any of the trending songs that are associated with the campaign. [Laughs.] For some reason, I was listening to “Saturday in the Park” by Chicago and it just feels like the right song right now. 

What do you think about the campaign’s embrace of Top 40 music this election cycle? 

The Harris-Walz campaign is doing an amazing job of embracing pop culture in a way that we haven’t seen before, whether that’s through music or specific sound bites or social media platforms. I think meeting people where they’re at is an important thing, but my philosophy on that is that we need to meet people five steps ahead of where they are, in order to get them there. With the joy that we’re seeing from this campaign, we met people five steps ahead of where they are, and brought them to that joy. 

If you were running for president, what would be your campaign song? 

“Rainbow Connection” [from The Muppet Movie] — because it’s real, it’s emotional, and it’s also inspirational. 

What does AJR have planned next? 

We are going to be doing a bunch of festivals over the next year, and we are working on some new music — potentially for a deluxe version of this album! 

Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up newsletter, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip. 

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This week: Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ new duet keeps growing, Taylor Swift’s second Tortured Poets single is finding a home on radio, and Gigi Perez may be the next singer-songwriter on the verge of a big mainstream breakthrough.

“Die With a Smile” Looking to Live in the Hot 100’s Top 10

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A duet between Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars was always going to generate a lot of interest upon release, and “Die With a Smile,” the anthemic pop-rock collaboration released on Friday (Aug. 16), is hoping to cash in that star power for a splashy debut within the Hot 100’s upper reaches. And though that might have looked like a longshot from the duet’s first-day numbers, it has been growing over the course of its first week – and now a top-tier debut might very well be in reach for it. 

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After bowing with 2.78 million U.S. on-demand audio streams in its opening day, according to Luminate, “Smile” stayed around that daily streaming mark over the weekend. However, the song received a sizable streaming uptick on Monday (Aug. 19), with 3.52 million streams — a 34% gain from the day before. And the song just keeps growing – by publishing this Wednesday, the song had reached the top of both the Spotify Daily Top Songs USA and the real-time Apple Music charts. (The song has also performed very well in digital song sales, with over 14,000 sold over its first four days of release, as it has stayed atop the iTunes chart for nearly the entire time.) 

Maybe more pop fans latched onto the song as the work week got underway, or it’s possible that TikTok users have started sinking their teeth into its hooks. Either way, “Smile” could possibly notch another top 10 on the long track records of Mars and Gaga early next week. – JASON LIPSHUTZ

How Big of a Hit Can Taylor Swift’s ‘I Can Do It With a Broken Heart’ Become?

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On Tuesday night (Aug. 20), Taylor Swift capped off a five-night run at the U.K.’s Wembley Stadium, and the European run of the Eras tour, by unveiling a new music video for “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” that featured behind-the-scenes clips of the mega-selling tour. The anthem about shining in the spotlight amidst personal turmoil is featured on The Tortured Poets Department, which logs its 15th frame at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this week.

And unlike “Fortnight,” the album’s lead single featuring Post Malone that debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, “Broken Heart” has slowly been climbing back up the chart, and becoming a multi-platform hit.

Read more about Taylor Swift’s swelling “Broken Heart” success here.

“Sailor Song” Charts Course to Virality for Singer/Songwriter Gigi Perez

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New Jersey-born, Florida-raised Gigi Perez achieved some streaming success earlier in the 2020s with the ballad “Sometimes (Backwood),” which has racked up nine digits worth of streams on Spotify. But the singer-songwriter, whose sound is reminiscent of ‘00s alt-folk favorites like Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes, appears to be headed for new levels of virality with her TikTok-approved new love song, “Sailor Song.” 

The long-teased song has earned raves, and even some comparisons to Hozier’s “Take Me to Church,” for its impassioned delivery and lyrics of queer love and longing – while also attracting some backlash from religious TikTokers who object to its “I don’t believe in God/ But I believe that you’re my savior” chorus lyric. Perez responded to the controversy, and users asking her to change or remove that lyric, with a TikTok of her own on Monday (Aug. 19), explaining via caption that altering the lyric “was never up for discussion… My songwriting is not a democracy and that applies to every artists work.” 

The discourse around “Sailor Song” has only helped its overall consumption, however. While it debuted with 3.9 million U.S. official on-demand streams on the tracking week ending Aug. 1, according to Luminate – already a tremendous number for a new song by an artist without extensive chart history – two weeks later, that number has climbed to 4.6 million, a 23% gain. The song also climbs from No. 18 to No. 12 on Hot Rock Songs this week, one of the chart’s top gainers. – ANDREW UNTERBERGER