Music

24 Apr 2024

21 Savage’s ‘Redrum’ Shines at No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay Chart

21 Savage banks his seventh total – and second non-collaborative – No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart as “Redrum” charges from No. 4 to lead the list dated April 27. The single reigns thanks to a 13% surge in plays that made “Redrum” the most played song on U.S. monitored rhythmic radio stations in the tracking week of April 12-18, according to Luminate.

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“Redrum” — which references the film The Shining — takes the summit from Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me.” The previous champ crowned the chart for 10 weeks in three separate stints: It first ruled for six consecutive weeks in January-February, another two-week stretch in March and the last pair of weeks in April.

WHZT-FM, in Greenville, S.C., leads the charge among all reporting stations for the most “Redrum” plays in the week, while WKHT-FM in Knoxville, Tenn., ranks second. The largest weekly increase, meanwhile, belongs to KHTN-FM, based in Modesto, Calif.

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As “Redrum” advances, 21 Savage earns his seventh Rhythmic Airplay No. 1 and second of 2024, after he and Baby Tate featured on JID’s “Surround Sound,” a one-week champ in March. Here’s a summary of his seven leaders:

Song Title, Artist (if other than 21 Savage), Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1

  • “Rockstar,” Post Malone featuring 21 Savage, six, Nov. 11, 2017
  • “A Lot,” two, April 20, 2019
  • “Jimmy Cooks,” Drake featuring 21 Savage, one, Oct. 8, 2022
  • “Rich Flex,” with Drake, two, Jan. 28, 2023
  • “Creepin’,” with Metro Boomin & The Weeknd, three, Feb. 11, 2023
  • “Surround Sound,” JID featuring 21 Savage & Baby Tate, one, March 9, 2024
  • “Redrum,” one (to date), April 27, 2024

With the Rhythmic Airplay crown secured, “Redrum” next looks to conquer Rap Airplay, where it ascends 3-2 and adds 3% in audience impressions. It also makes progress on Pop Airplay, holding at No. 37 for a second straight week, but with a 9% improvement in plays for the week at mainstream top-40 stations. Gains at the rhythmic and pop formats spur its 28-27 bump on the all-genre Radio Songs chart, where it added 3% in total audience to reach 20.7 million in the tracking week.

“Redrum” appears on 21 Savage’s latest studio album, American Dream. The set, released in January, topped the all-genre Billboard 200 for two weeks and posted three weeks at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming the rapper’s fourth consecutive leader on each list.

24 Apr 2024

TV Soundtracks With the Most Weeks at No. 1 on the Top Soundtracks Chart

Hazbin Hotel is unique among the longest-running No. 1 soundtracks for two reasons.

HAZBIN HOTEL

HAZBIN HOTEL

©Amazon/A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection

Hazbin Hotel: Season One has been No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Soundtracks chart for 11 consecutive weeks – its entire run on that chart so far. It’s already one of the 10 longest-running soundtracks from a TV show in that chart’s nearly 33-year history.

Hazbin Hotel is unique among the longest-running No. 1 soundtracks for two reasons. It’s a soundtrack to a property that is aimed at older teens and adults, rather than one aimed at tweens, young teens or families. And the show streams on Amazon Prime Video. Of the 10 TV soundtracks with the longest runs at No. 1 on Top Soundtracks, eight were from projects that aired on The Disney Channel. (The leader on our list is from a show that aired on a legacy network, CBS. Can you guess what it is? I think you’ll agree that it’s a worthy leader for a list like this.)

Hazbin Hotel is an animated musical comedy series that was created by Vivienne “VivziePop” Medrano.  The pilot episode was released on YouTube on Oct. 28, 2019. The first season premiered on Amazon Prime Video on Jan. 18, with its first episode also released on YouTube that same day for a limited release. The series stars Stephanie Beatriz, Alex Brightman, Keith David and Kimiko Glenn. You may remember that Beatriz topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks in 2022 as a featured member of the Encanto cast with “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”

Here’s a look at all TV soundtracks that have topped Billboard’s Top Soundtracks chart for nine or more weeks. They are listed in ascending order.

24 Apr 2024

Kid Cudi Cancels Insano World Tour After Breaking Foot: ‘The Injury Is Much More Serious Than I Thought’

Kid Cudi is canceling his upcoming Insano World Tour due to an injury suffered while performing at Coachella over the weekend.

Cudi relayed the news to his fans in a heartfelt note on Wednesday (April 24), in which he revealed that he actually broke his calcaneus — the bone that forms at the heel — in the stage fall.

“Guys, so, I have a broken calcaneus. I’m headed to surgery now and there’s gonna be a long recovery time. We have to cancel the tour so I can focus on getting back out there in top shape to rage with you all,” Cudi wrote to X and Instagram. “There’s just no way I can bounce back in time to give 100%. The injury is much more serious than I thought. Anyone who bought tickets will get a full refund, you’ll get an email soon.”

The 43-date trek with Pusha T, Earthgang, Jaden Smith, Chelsea Pastel and Siena Bella as supporting guests was slated to launch on June 28 with a show at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

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However, Cudi is planning on getting back on stage when healthy, and he’ll be making it up to fans with another tour coming down the road.

“We will be back with new tour dates as soon as possible, and I can’t wait to get back out there with you guys and turn up how we do,” he continued. “I’m so sorry fam and I love you all so much, thanks for the endless love and support. I’m really disappointed as I’m sure you guys are too, but I will be back. That’s a promise I’m ok, just a lil soreness, but I’m in good spirits.”

Mr. Solo Dolo returned to Coachella for the first time since 2019 on Sunday (April 21) as a special guest added for Weekend Two, but his stay was short-lived when he broke his foot while hopping down from the stage to get close to fans during a performance of “Memories.”

Cudi was carried off and received medical attention.

“Hey guys, so I broke my foot today at the show [forehead smack emoji]. just leavin the hospital,” he wrote after sustaining the injury. “Never broken a bone before so this is all a bit crazy. I wanna thank u all for ur concerns and well wishes!! I love yall man. I heard yall still ragin when I was offstage. Made me smile big.”

Read Cudi’s note to his fans below.

24 Apr 2024

DARUMAS, Latin Mafia, Ambik & More Emerging Latin Artists On Our Radar

Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors spotlight a group of rising artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.

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Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a wave of emerging artists, who we discovered either by networking or coming across their music at a showcase, and beyond. See our recommendations this month below:

Name: Ambik

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Country: Argentina

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: She is the younger sister of Argentine star Tiago PZK, but since launching her career in 2023, Ambik has made a name for herself with her own lyrical prowess and style. At only 16 years old, the artist — whose real name is Ambar Pacheco Lezcano — has released innovative urban-R&B songs such as “Crucigrama,” “Sha La La” and “Náufrago.” Her most recent release is “Rápido,” a sensual electro-pop single ready for the club, with which she continues to experiment and offer an uplifting outlook on the future of music. And this is only the beginning for Ambik; signed to Grand Move Records and Warner Music Argentina, we will surely be hearing much more from her.  — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Song for Your Playlist: “Rápido”

Name: dadá Joãozinho

Country: Brazil

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: dadá Joãozinho made his solo debut last year, after performing with an artistic collective called ROSABEGE that he formed with a few friends in his hometown of Niterói, Brazil, in 2017. Pulling from Música Popular Brasileira, hip-hop, baile funk, indie and experimental electronica, the São Paulo-based artist created a sound of his own for his debut album, tds bem Global (which translates to “all too Global”), released last fall via Innovative Leisure. He just released the video for the set’s “Sem Limitessssss,” a psychedelic track that shoplifts from dub reggae, hip-hop, punk and samba. “Being in São Paulo inspired me to go off my limits, to grow, to know things about myself I couldn’t see,” dadá Joãozinho says in a statement. “It’s a song about desire really, about transformation.” — S.R.A.

Song For Your Playlist: “Sem Limitessssss”

Name: DARUMAS

Country: Argentina, Cuba, & Haiti, but U.S.-based

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Named after the traditional Japanese daruma doll that signifies perseverance and good luck, DARUMAS is an electrifying trio injected with massive girl power. Helmed by Aldana Aguirre on the bass (Argentina), Ceci Leon on vocals and guitar (Cuba), and Haiti-born, Chilean-based vocalist Vedala Vilmond, the group officially debuted this year with their single “Daruma.” The best representation of their project, the track is a soulful R&B bop fused with old-school funk melodies, backing their enchanting and powerful vocals.

DARUMAS, who already opened a show for Argentine pop star Emilia, is signed to Sony Music Latin for recordings; Walter Kolm Entertainment for management; TBA Agency for touring; and FRAZES CREATIVE for publicity partnerships. “Darumas is a breath of fresh air for the music industry,” Alex Gallardo, Sony Music Latin’s president said in a press statement. “Three women, musicians, with an enormous talent that bring an artistic proposal very different from everything else out there. The greatest artists are characterized by being unique and different from the rest.” — JESSICA ROIZ

Song for Your Playlist: “Daruma”

Name: Latin Mafia

Country: Mexico

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: I first heard of Latin Mafia last year, after discovering their music on TikTok. Their song “Julieta” caught my attention with its fun, catchy beats and confidence-boosting vibes. Creating music that fuses reggaetón, dream pop, R&B, and house, the brother trio brother — Mike, Milton and Emilio de La Rosa — have a unique essence that sets them apart. Even a song that seems to be about heartbreak can quickly immerse you in a lively and energetic “llorar y perrear” vibe, as in their song “Perlas.”

In late December, Latin Mafia collaborated with Mexican singer-songwriter Humbe for “Patadas de Ahogado,” and delivered another masterpiece of very organic music. The song is backed by keyboard notes that combine their soft vocals, while the lyrics talk about finding that special love. The Mexican band recently signed with Rimas Entertainment, and have performed at various music festivals in Latin America and the United States, including a big debut at Coachella. — INGRID FAJARDO

Song for Your Playlist: “Patadas de Ahogado” (feat. Humbe)

Name: Luck Ra

Country: Argentina

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Luck Ra (real name: Juan Facundo Almenara Ordóñez) was put on my radar thanks to my best friend, who first discovered him on Spotify. I was immediately captivated by his track “Hola Perdida,” in collaboration with Argentine rapper Khea, where the two deliver a fast-paced cumbia villera meshed with sensual bachata rhythms, about calling an ex to get back with them. Luck Ra released his first recordings in 2017, but it was “Te Mentiría” (a smooth Afrobeats single) in 2020 that ultimately brought him to a wider audience. Luck Ra has also collaborated with acts such as Bersuit Vergarabat, Abel Pintos, Ke Personajes, and Rusherking, and dropped his debut studio album Que Nos Falte Todo this year.  — J.R.

Song for Your Playlist: “Hola Perdida” (feat. Khea)

Name: RoyalLive

Country: Venezuela

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Born in Catia La Mar, Venezuela and based in Miami, RoyalLive — also known as Royal and whose real name is Ibraham Ríos — fuses genres such as R&B, soul and urban tropical in songs that include lyrics in Spanish, English and Portuguese. The 23-year-old artist began writing music at 16 and, during the pandemic, after he and his father became homeless and had to live temporarily in a church, he used the ordeal as the inspiration for his song “Chain.”

Since then, he has released singles including “Báilame Que Luego Te Vas,” a TikTok hit that got to the ears of Colombian singer Beéle, who also recorded a cover; and “Ocean Drive.” This Friday (April 26) he premieres “Baby G,” a song infused with Brazilian rhythms and melodic drill “dedicated to the warrior woman who is not afraid of anything,” according to a press release. The track is part of his upcoming debut album, LOVESTAR, to be released this summer under MusikLab. — S.R.A.

Song for Your Playlist: “Báilame Que Luego Te Vas”

Name: Vanita Leo

Country: U.S.A. (of Mexican descent)

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: While the Tejano music scene has seen the rise of acts like Grupo Frontera and the enduring legacy of icons like Intocable, the presence of female Tejana artists has been notably scarce since the days of Selena on a mainstream level. Yet, emerging from San Antonio, Texas, with roots tracing back to Mazatlán, Sinaloa, is Vanita Leo, a promising singer who jumped on our radar via social media. “I make music that reflects these cultures,” she tells Billboard Español. Notably, she’s garnered the attention of music greats like Ramon Ayala and Ramona, who she opened up for in Texas.

She began gaining a steady following since her 2023 EP, Historia de una Amor, featuring corridos tumbados-infused “Arrepentida,” and the ballad kiss-off “Marchate.” Her forthcoming single “Slo Tú BB” (out May 3) is a cumbia delight over sultry R&B vocals, echoing the footsteps of her Tejano predecessors.  — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Song for Your Playlist: “Arrepentida”


https://youtube.com/watch?v=4XyBmJECimc&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

24 Apr 2024

Taylor Swift’s ‘Tortured Poets’ Becomes First Album to Pass 1 Billion Spotify Streams in a Single Week

Taylor Swift‘s The Tortured Poets Department is now the only album in Spotify history to surpass one billion streams in a single week, the streaming service announced Wednesday (April 24) — and it only needed five days to do it.

The pop star’s 11th studio record arrived at midnight Friday (April 19), bringing with it 16 new songs, including lead single “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone. Exactly two hours later, Swift nearly doubled the length of the tracklist with the surprise release of 15 more titles as part of an Anthology extended edition of the album.

Since then, Tortured Poets has raked in more than a billion listens across its 31 tracks on Spotify, the fastest LP to ever do so.

Trending on Billboard

The milestone marks only the latest record Swift has set with the new album over the past few days, with Tortured Poets recently becoming Spotify’s most streamed album in a single day with more than 300 million streams accumulated in its first 24 hours of availability. Similarly, “Fortnight” set a new precedent for most single-day streams amongst individual songs on the platform.

Tortured Poets also earned more first-day streams than any other pop album in Apple Music history upon its release. Plus, with 800,000 vinyl copies sold in the LP’s first four days on the market, TTPD broke Swift’s own record for the largest sales week for an album on vinyl in the modern era, beating the 693,000 sold of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) in its first week.

“This period of the author’s life is now over, the chapter closed and boarded up,” Swift wrote of her latest project on Instagram upon its release. “There is nothing to avenge, no scores to settle once wounds have healed. And upon further reflection, a good number of them turned out to be self-inflicted. This writer is of the firm belief that our tears become holy in the form of ink on a page. Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it.”

See Spotify’s announcement below.

24 Apr 2024

Dua Lipa Makes History on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Chart at Nos. 1, 2 & 3

Blink and you might’ve missed it: Dua Lipa’s “Illusion” inched onto Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart a week ago at No. 42, from one day of activity.

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A week later, the song soars to No. 1 on the April 27-dated list, as Lipa makes history at Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

“Illusion” vaults to the summit with 9.1 million official streams, 7.4 million in radio airplay audience and 2,000 sold in the United States April 12-18 following its April 11 release, according to Luminate.

With the coronation, Lipa adds her third Hot Dance/Electronic Songs No. 1 – tying Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga for the most among women since the survey began in 2013. (The only acts with more overall: The Chainsmokers, with six, and Calvin Harris and Zedd, each with four; Marshmello also has three.)

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A new No. 1 song and matching the top mark among women would be enough reason to celebrate for Lipa, but that isn’t the end of her milestone week on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs. Her own “Houdini,” which reigned for 16 of the last 22 weeks, follows at No. 2, while “Training Season” sits snug at No. 3, making her the first woman to claim the top three in a single week. Among all acts, she scores just the third such triple, following The Chainsmokers, with “Something Just Like This ” (with Coldplay), “Paris,” and “Closer” (featuring Halsey; on the March 18, 2017-dated chart) and Drake, with “Falling Back,” “Texts Go Green” and “Massive” (July 2, 2022).

If Lipa’s trio of tracks can hold in the top three next week, she’ll become the first artist to achieve this feat twice.

Plus, rocketing 41 positions in just one week, “Illusion” achieves the biggest leap to No. 1 in the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart’s 11-year history, nearly doubling the 22-1 jump for Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s “Rain on Me” in 2020. Further, “Illusion” ties Calvin Harris’ “Slide,” featuring Frank Ocean and Migos, for the chart’s biggest one-week surge overall (48-7; March 18, 2017).

“Illusion,” “Houdini” and “Training Season” are all slated to appear on Radical Optimism, Lipa’s forthcoming third studio album, due out May 3.

24 Apr 2024

The Black Dog Pub Reacts to Taylor Swift Shout-Out, Teases a ‘Certain Blond’ Customer Often Comes In

Joe Alwyn probably can’t go to The Black Dog pub in London anymore. That’s because Swifties have been flocking to the establishment ever since Taylor Swift referenced it in a song of the same name on her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, leading a representative for the bar to hint in a new interview that the Conversations With Friends star has definitely stopped in before.

While speaking to Sky News earlier this week, The Black Dog’s social media manager Lily Bottomley confirmed that the bar has been packed with fans ever since the “Fortnight” singer’s new album dropped Friday (April 19).

Trending on Billboard

“I don’t want to give too much away,” she added when asked if the pub’s owners have scanned old security footage for signs of Swift’s ex-boyfriend. “We do have a certain blond regular who frequents.”

One of the rawest tracks on Tortured Poets, “The Black Dog” finds the pop star lamenting a recent heartbreak with the hook, “Old habits die screaming.” Fans speculate that Alwyn, whom Swift dated for about six years before news of their breakup emerged last year, inspired the lyrics.

“Your location, you forgot to turn it off,” she sings on the track. “And so I watch as you walk into some bar called The Black Dog/ And pierce new holes in my heart.”

“I just don’t understand how you don’t miss me,” she continues. “In The Black Dog, when someone plays ‘The Starting Line’ and you jump up/ But she’s too young to know this song.”

After ending things with Alwyn, Swift started dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce last summer. The athlete is another rumored Tortured Poets muse, with fans suspecting that “The Alchemy” and “So High School” were both written about him.

Listen to “The Black Dog” below.

24 Apr 2024

Lana Del Rey’s ‘Video Games’ Leads Top TV Songs Chart After ‘3 Body Problem’ Synch

Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” ascends to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top TV Songs chart, powered by Tunefind, crowning the March 2024 survey after a synch in the new Netflix series 3 Body Problem.

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Rankings for the Top TV Songs chart are based on song and show data provided by Tunefind and ranked using a formula blending that data with sales and streaming information tracked by Luminate during the corresponding period of March 2024.

“Video Games” bows following the premiere of 3 Body Problem’s full first season on Netflix on March 21. The song is heard in the show’s sixth episode.

In March 2024, “Video Games” accumulated 8.2 million official on-demand U.S. streams and 1,000 downloads, according to Luminate. The song was Del Rey’s breakout track and her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting and peaking at No. 91 in January 2012.

Trending on Billboard

“Video Games” leads a trio of songs from 3 Body Problem onto Top TV Songs, giving the new series an admirable coronation on the first chart for which it’s eligible. Echo & the Bunnymen’s “The Killing Moon” follows at No. 4 (1.5 million streams), and The Rolling Stones’ “Moonlight Mile” also makes the tally at No. 8 (310,000 streams). “The Killing Moon” is from the series premiere, while “Moonlight Mile” can be heard in episode two.

The top non-3 Body Problem song, meanwhile, belongs to Resident Alien, following its usage of Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s in the Cradle.” The track bows at No. 2 thanks to 4.2 million streams and 1,000 downloads.

Resident Alien, a Syfy series that premiered its third season in February, boasted “Cat’s in the Cradle” in the seventh episode of the season, which premiered March 27. It was a No. 1 hit for Chapin on the Hot 100 in 1974, his only ruler.

See the full chart, also featuring music from Young Royals, Invincible, Will Trent and The Gentlemen, below.

Rank, Song, Artist, Show (Network)

  1. “Video Games,” Lana Del Rey, 3 Body Problem (Netflix)
  2. “Cat’s in the Cradle,” Harry Chapin, Resident Alien (Syfy)
  3. “Arcade,” Duncan Laurence, Young Royals (Netflix)
  4. “The Killing Moon,” Echo & the Bunnymen, 3 Body Problem (Netflix)
  5. “Dream Team,” Aidan Knight, Invincible (Amazon Prime Video)
  6. “Breaking Point,” Leon Thomas, Will Trent (ABC)
  7. “Count Your Blessings,” Mattiel, The Gentlemen (Netflix)
  8. “Moonlight Mile,” The Rolling Stones, 3 Body Problem (Netflix)
  9. “Genesis,” Justice, The Gentlemen (Netflix)
  10. “Baby Drummer,” Bad Nerves, Invincible (Amazon Prime Video)

24 Apr 2024

Ye Announces New ‘Vultures 2’ Release Date With Ty Dolla $ign

Ye — formerly known as Kanye West — has confirmed a new tentative release date for Vultures 2, the sequel to his and Ty Dolla $ign’s collaborative album.

Ye has been one to change his mind with the wind when it comes to release dates, but West revealed on Justin LaBoy’s The Download podcast that Vultures 2 is slated to arrive on May 3. It had originally been slated for March 8.

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“It’s coming out May 3, yeah,” Ye declared. May 3 has long been the rumored release date even going back to March when West’s DMs were accidentally leaked with a Baby Keem fan page while Ye thought he was messaging the real artist Baby Keem.

Trending on Billboard

West will face stiff competition to earn another No. 1 album this time around on the Billboard 200. Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism is scheduled to land on May 3, and Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department most likely isn’t going anywhere either.

Ye and Ty Dolla independently released Vultures 1 on Feb. 10 via YZY, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 148,000 album-equivalent units sold in the first week.

With the No. 1, Ye earned his 11th leader and Ty solidified his first. The project — Ye’s first since his string of antisemitic remarks and controversies — also spawned the No. 1 Hot 100 hit “Carnival” featuring Rich the Kid and Playboi Carti.

Yeezy had been laying low on the music front in recent weeks, but returned with a splash while hopping on an unofficial remix to Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar’s “Like That.” The explosive remix — which finds Ye taking shots and J. Cole and Drake — isn’t on streaming services, but was re-uploaded to Ye’s YouTube page on Wednesday (April 24).

Elsewhere in his chat with LaBoy, West revealed that the “elimination” of Drake inspired him to hop on the remix. “[Future] called me and I went to the studio and laid that. We went through the creative process of adding the chords and called the Hooligans out in London to get on the joint,” he explained. “Everybody was very, very energized about the elimination of Drake.”

Watch the LaBoy interview clip below.

24 Apr 2024

How Historic Will Taylor Swift’s ‘Tortured Poets Department’ Debut Be?

The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week (for the upcoming Billboard 200 dated May 4), Taylor Swift zooms past her own already-historic career-best marks with the first week of her much-anticipated Tortured Poets Department album.  

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Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department (Republic): Apologies to grunge greats Pearl Jam’s Dark Matter, which should have a very nice first-week sales debut – but this week, it’s simply all about Taylor Swift. Her 16-track, much-hyped new album’s The Tortured Poets Department, which was expanded to 31 tracks mere hours after its initial release with the set’s subsequent Anthology Edition, is set to put up some absolutely stratospheric first-week numbers – zooming past the totals even for her recent Midnights and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) releases, which already but her in a class by herself this decade as far as debut tallies go.  

Billboard has reported on her Poets numbers throughout the week, most recently updating them yesterday (April 23) for the days of April 19-22. Through those first four days of release, the album had racked up 1.6 million traditional album sales, including a modern-era record 800,000 of that in vinyl, according to initial reports to Luminate – both easily the highest such first-week numbers for the decade, passing Swift’s prior marks of 1.359 million and 693,000 for 1989 (TV). It’s also already the fifth-highest single-week sales mark for an album of the modern era (since Luminate began electronically tracking sales in 1991). The album is available for purchase in six vinyl variants, including editions named after album cuts “The Albatross,” “The Bolter,” “The Manuscript” and “The Black Dog,” which all also have CD versions available for sale on her webstore.  

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Additionally, the 31 total tracks have amassed a combined 602.3 million official on-demand U.S. streams, which passes the 549.3 million streams posted by Midnights upon its October 2022 debut for the highest single-week mark for an album by a female artist. The only other albums that have posted higher single-week streaming marks are both by Drake — Scorpion posted 745.92 million in 2018 with its 25 tracks, and Certified Lover Boy totaled 743.67 million in 2021 with its 21 – both of which Swift would seem to be on pace to pass, with three days still to be accounted for in the Poets tracking week.  

All in all, Tortured Poets Department is already up to 2.1 million equivalent album units in its first week of release, making it only the second album since the Billboard 200 began measuring by equivalent album units in December 2014 to clear the two million mark in a single week. The other, of course, is Adele’s 25, which posted a still-staggering 3.482 million first-week units (including 3.378 million in straight sales) upon its debut in November 2015. (*NSYNC’s No Strings Attached also earned 2.416 million in straight sales during its 2000 debut week, obviously long before Billboard calculations accounted for streaming.) 

With sales and streams both slowing for Poets as the week goes on – a very normal arc for a blockbuster album release – it’s unlikely that the album will approach either of those Adele numbers. The album would have to average around 460,000 units a day over the final three days of the tracking week to challenge Adele’s 3.482 million total, and it added around 200,000 additional units on the 22nd. You can never count out a last-minute extra edition or two as far as Taylor Swift is concerned, and 2.5 million is definitely in range for her, but failing some extraordinary surge, it seems like the three-million mark will likely remain Adele-only territory for at least one more Swift album. 

Swift should also remain in a class by herself when it comes to space occupied at the top of the Hot 100, however. For the second album of all-new material in a row – following Midnights in 2022 – Swift is a threat to lock down each of the top 10 positions on the Billboard Hot 100 with debuting tracks from the set, and this time her uninterrupted dominance could stretch into the teens as well, according to early data from Luminate. (Swift charting all 31 songs from Anthology is also certainly a possibility.)

The main threats to her top-dozen Hot 100 supremacy are of course Hozier’s “Too Sweet” and Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar’s “Like That,” which occupy the top two spots on the chart this week (dated April 27), and Republic labelmate Drake’s own new release “Push Ups,” which debuted on streaming and at digital retailers on Friday after being available via internet leaks for the prior week. “Push Ups” is unlikely to get the streaming edge on any of Taylor’s top dozen Poets tracks, but its sales advantage – it remains in the top 20 on the iTunes real time chart, behind just eight of the Poets cuts – may be enough for it to get in the way if it continues through the end of the week.