Music

13 Mar 2024

Will Ariana Grande Have the Year’s Biggest Debut With ‘Eternal Sunshine’?

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 March 23), Ariana Grande’s first album since 2020 may end up having the biggest immediate impact of the still-early calendar year. 

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine (Republic): For a minute there, it looked like Ariana Grande might get lost in the shuffle a little bit. Not that one of the biggest pop stars of the last decade was ever gonna get totally overshadowed, but between the time she announced the release of Eternal Sunshine and when the album actually dropped last Friday (March 8), a whole lot of stuff happened elsewhere in pop’s A list. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Ye all also announced new albums for February and March, and the latter two scored Hot 100-topping breakout hits from them – both of which were much bigger in the culture than Grande’s own No. 1 lead single “Yes, And?,” which fell out of the top 10 in just its third week and has yet to return to the region.  

But Grande is more of a full-albums artist now – arguably has been since at least Sweetener in 2018 – and so far, it seems that the positive reception to Eternal Sunshine from fans and critics is helping the album get off to an impressive start. The album of course debuted with all of its tracks littering the real-time charts on Spotify and Apple Music, but more impressive than its first day is how well the set is still doing four days later, with six of its songs still in the top 15 on Spotify and three in Apple — led by second single “We Can’t Be Friends,” which has risen since its release and has been duking it out with Ye & Co’s “Carnival” for the top spot on both charts.  

Trending on Billboard

Grande’s very busy and visible weekend – following several years of mostly being out of the spotlight — helped her get the word out about Eternal Sunshine (and “We Can’t Be Friends” in particular) in its first few days of release. On Friday, she released the video for “Friends,” which drew attention for its co-star Evan Peters and for its take on multiple scenes from the classic 2004 surrealist rom-com Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind that the album gets its name from. Then on Saturday, she made her first appearance of the decade on Saturday Night Live, performing “Friends” and late-album highlight “Imperfect for You,” and also appearing in multiple sketches. Then on Sunday, she presented (alongside her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo) at the Oscars – not actively promoting her new set, but generally adding to the Weekend of Ariana with her presence on the weekend’s most-watched event.  

Helping her first-week numbers even more than all the heavy cultural exposure should be the multiple variants in which the set is available for purchase. That includes six different vinyl LPs, five with alternate covers (including a Target-exclusive cover; the other four being exclusive to her webstore), as well as five different CDs, four with alternate covers, and one signed CD (all CDs being exclusive to her webstore).  In addition, a “slightly deluxe” digital version of Sunshine dropped over the weekend with four additional tracks — all remixes and alternate versions of songs on the standard album, including the previously released Mariah Carey-featuring remix of “Yes, And?” and a version of “Supernatural” with her former “Dance to This” collaborator Troye Sivan. 

As easily the biggest new release of the week, this should all be enough to secure Grande her sixth Billboard 200 No. 1 album in seven tries. (Dangerous Woman was her lone official LP to fall short, debuting at No. 2 behind Republic labelmate Drake’s Views in 2016.) Sunshine’s consistent performance on streaming throughout the week may also help nudge it past the 174,000 units that its predecessor, 2020’s Positions, posted in its first week, and will likely help it easily clear the 148,000 units moved by Ye & Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 1 in its February debut week, making it the best-performing album bow of the year thus far. 

IN THE MIX 

Judas Priest, Invincible Shield (Columbia/Epic): The week’s biggest non-Grande debut may come from metal legends and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Judas Priest, who dropped the 19th album of their 50-plus-year career with Invincible Shield. The album will not likely have much of a presence on streaming, but should sell fairly well – helped by five vinyl variants, including an indie retailer exclusive red-color vinyl and an artist-webstore-only picture disc, as well as three CD editions, including exclusives for both Target and Amazon.  

Norah Jones, Visions (Blue Note): Two decades ago, Norah Jones sold over a million copies in the first week of her sophomore album Feels Like Home, coming off the RIAA multi-platinum-certified success of her blockbuster Come Away With Me debut. Her commercial returns should be significantly more muted 20 years later for ninth album Visions, but the album has received strong reviews for its rawer, more rock-oriented sound, and is available for purchase in both three CD versions and four vinyl variants, including exclusives for indie retailers and for Barnes & Noble. 

Bleachers, Bleachers (Bleachers Band Recording/Dirty Hit): Jack Antonoff has been a writer and producer on some of the biggest albums of the 2020s so far – particularly multiple from increasingly close artistic partner Taylor Swift – but has yet to see that type of crossover success translate to his own primary artistic project, Bleachers. He tries again this week with the self-titled Bleachers, the outfit’s first release since moving to U.K. indie label Dirty Hit (home of recent Antonoff collaborators The 1975) — which has at least seven different vinyl variants (in assorted colors, with alternative covers and four bonus tracks), as well as a signed CD, three CDs housed in deluxe packaging and a pair of deluxe CD boxed sets, both shaped like pizza boxes with a branded T-shirt inside.  

13 Mar 2024

Ariana Grande’s ‘Eternal Sunshine’ Keeps Shimmering on Streaming, While Reheating a ’90s R&B Classic

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. 
 
This week: Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine rises on streaming, the Oscars give new life to a pair of Barbie hits, a Masego favorite gets the TikTok fancam treatment and more.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Ariana Grande’s ‘Eternal Sunshine’ Is Brightening Up on Streaming — And Helping Another ‘Boy Is Mine’



Ariana Grande is in for a big upcoming week on the Billboard charts, as the pop superstar is aiming for her sixth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with Eternal Sunshine, as well as a splashy Billboard Hot 100 debut for the album’s second single, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).” 

Eternal Sunshine rebounded on streaming platforms on Monday (Mar. 11) following its release on the previous Friday and a slight dip over the weekend: the full-length earned 29.32 million official U.S. on-demand streams on Monday, up 17% from the previous day’s total, according to Luminate. And “We Can’t Be Friends” — which Grande is trying to guide to the top of the Hot 100, after lead single “Yes, And?” debuted there in January — is a big part of that streaming uptick, with 4.93 million streams on Monday (up 23% from Sunday).

Trending on Billboard

Speaking of Hot 100 chart-toppers, Brandy and Monica’s iconic 1998 R&B smash “The Boy Is Mine” is benefitting from Grande’s song of the same name, which references the original, on Eternal Sunshine. Grande has talked about how she has “always wanted to re-imagine” the Brandy-Monica back-and-forth, and now, the song that inspired her own “The Boy Is Mine” is enjoying a little streaming revival of its own.

From Mar. 8-10, Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine” earned 587,000 streams — up 18% from the previous week’s Friday-to-Sunday tracking period, according to Luminate. Of course, Grande’s new “The Boy Is Mine” is collecting far more plays (8.3 million from Mar. 8-10), but for a new generation of rhythmic pop fans, it’s not hard to see that “The Boy” is still fine. – JASON LIPSHUTZ

‘Barbie’ Hits Are “Made For” Oscar Bumps 



It’s been a long awards season for Billie Eilish and brother Finneas, with the O’Connell duo picking up trophies at the Golden Globes (best original song), the Grammys (song of the year and best song written for visual media) and now also the Oscars (best original song) for their hit Barbie ballad “What Was I Made For?” The song, which Billie and Finneas also performed at the Sunday ceremonies – and which was also featured in a Saturday Night Live sketch the night before the Academy Awards – got one final victory lap bump from its big Sunday win. It notched 2.2 million official on-demand U.S. streams and over 5,300 digital song sales across Sunday and Monday (Mar. 10-11), according to Luminate – gains of 27% and 704%, respectively, over the equivalent periods the previous week. 

It wasn’t the only Barbie song to get some post-Oscars love. “I’m Just Ken,” which brought film co-star Ryan Gosling to the Hot 100 for the first time last summer, was also nominated at the awards, and received an elaborately staged, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes-referencing live performance that was very well received by viewers. Streams and sales of the song unsurprisingly exploded afterwards, with “Ken” scoring over nearly 417,000 streams and over 900 digital song sales over Mar. 10-11, gains of 176% and over 2,000%, respectively. 

The other three songs nominated for best original song and performed at the Academy Awards also saw bumps over the same periods – although to still relatively modest totals. Becky G’s “The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot earned 23,000 streams (up 491% from the previous week), while Jon Batiste’s “It Never Went Away” from American Symphony earned 28,000 (up 213%) and the Osage Tribal Singers’ “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from Killers of the Flower Moon earned 14,000 (up 702%). – ANDREW UNTERBERGER

Fancam Phenomenon Lifts Masego’s “Tadow” to New Streaming Heights 



In the same way Jacob Elordi fancams – video montages made in appreciation of a given subject – helped give Flume and Kai’s “Never Be Like You” a streaming bump, an even wider selection of fancams is doing the same for Masego and FJK’s “Tadow.” 

Originally released in 2017 as the lead single to his debut studio album, Lady Lady, “Tadow” collected 1.75 million official on-demand U.S. streams during the week of Feb. 23-29, according to Luminate. That marked a 93.6% increase from just over 900,000 srteams during the week of Feb. 16-22. In the first week of March, streaming activity for “Tadow” jumped a further 35% from the week prior to a total of 2.37 million streams. 

Despite the standoff between UMG and TikTok, users are still finding ways to circulate their favorite songs on the platform. Several individual fan-uploaded sounds that contain the first verse of “Tadow” soundtrack viral clips on the platform. A “Tadow”-backed fancam of Tom Holland earned seven million views, one for Rodrick from Diary of a Wimpy Kid pulled over two million, one dedicated to Scarlett Johansson pulled 12.2 million views, and one inspired by Jujutsu Kaisen character Satoru Goju received a whopping 25.5 million views. 

Although it’s been out for over half a decade, “Tadow” has appeared on just one Billboard chart: In 2020, the track peaked at No. 19 on Adult R&B Airplay (chart dated Nov. 14, 2020). Should these fancams continue to spur streaming gains, “Tadow” could experience a renaissance on the charts. – KD

Twitch Streamer Sketch Boosts King Hendrick$ Breakout Hit 



From Kai Cenat to Adin Ross, Twitch streamers have been having a slow-burning but considerable impact on the music scene in recent years. Twitch streamer Sketch (aka user @thesketchreal) — who boasts 368,000 followers on the platform – is the latest example of this trend. 

After playing (and turning up to) Houston rapper King Hendrick$’s “Leaving the Lot” on a Feb. 14 stream, the swaggering trap-indebted single pulled just under 500,000 official on-demand U.S. streams during the week of Feb. 16-22, its first week on streaming platforms. The following week (Feb. 23-29), stream activity for “Leaving the Lot” ballooned by 175% to 1.37 million streams. For the first week of March, the track continued to rise, growing a further 32% to over 1.8 million streams. 

Since that initial stream, Sketch – who specializes in streaming himself chatting and playing video games like Madden and Fortnite – has continued to bump “Leaving the Lot,” resulting in more viral clips featuring the track across other social media platforms such as TikTok and Twitter. Hendrick$ even shared a clip of Sketch playing the track to his official YouTube page. That clip has already amassed over 43,000 views in three weeks, eclipsing the view count of four of Hendrick$’s five most recent music videos. 

With just one month of availability under its belt, King Hendrick$ just might have a serious hit on his hands – and its success might legitimize Sketch as a tastemaker in the process. In the meantime, Hendrick$ has already put out a new song, “Special Teams Anthem,” that shouts out Sketch: “Yeah, I could probably play for the Texans, but I still’d be on jets/ Catch a plane and never take my jersey off, I feel like Sketch,” he spits. – KD

Q&A: Emily Cohen Belote, Principal Music Programmer at Amazon Music, on What’s Trending Up In Her World

The past 12 months have been gigantic for country music’s growth. What do you think is the leading cause for this boom?

The 2023 end-of-year Luminate study said it — and I totally agree. Younger fans are helping country to grow at streaming, and artists like Morgan Wallen, Amazon Music 2023 Breakthrough artist Bailey Zimmerman, and Zach Bryan are leading this streaming charge. Gen Z country listeners are 48% more likely to discover music via music and video streaming than the average Gen Z listener. That just shows the true power in country music fandom, and why having that direct-to-fan connection for artists is so powerful and meaningful for our business.

Which in country music is most interesting to you?

I am enjoying this really raw and authentic era in country music. Artists like Sam Barber, Mae Estes, Dylan Gossett and Wyatt Flores are creating music that is emotional and emotive, and speaks to real-life experiences that fans want to hear and devour right now. These artists are not beholden to being a specific kind of country musician or making a specific kind of country music that fits into a box. They’re inspired by different sounds and artists, and that inspiration creates a unique country sound all their own.

As more non-country artists like Beyoncé and Post Malone dabble with country projects and collaborations, how is curation of Amazon Music’s country properties affected?

Beyoncé and Post Malone have a history of expressing their love for country music, so it’s totally understandable that they would be creating country projects. My job is to find and play the best in country music, and if Beyoncé and Post Malone are creating country music our customers love, then they’ll make it into the programming that I oversee.

Which country song or artist will have surprising growth over the next six months?

I really feel that Dylan Gossett is going to make a major mark on 2024. There’s a big reason why he’s one of our 2024 Breakthrough Artists to Watch. He’s got the songs, the musicianship, and he’s done a pretty incredible job of connecting with his fans in a truly organic way. I also think he has a unique and fresh lyrical perspective. I mean, the line, “pressure makes diamonds, how the hell am I still coal?” is pretty unforgettable. I am genuinely excited to hear any and all new music from Dylan, and can’t wait to see him on the road this year.

Season’s Gainings: The Notorious B.I.G. Up 100,000s in Streams on Death Anniversary



The date of March 9 is burned into the brain of most longtime hip-hop fans, as the date in 1997 when Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G., was tragically murdered in Los Angeles. While tributes pour in annually to the all-time great on the day every year since, so too do fans head to streaming services for their own personal remembrances: Biggie’s catalog was up nearly 300,000 official on-demand U.S. streams from the previous Saturday to over 2.8 million on March 9, according to Luminate – an 11% gain in total. – AU

13 Mar 2024

Cardi B’s ‘Like What (Freestyle)’ Launches in Top 10 on Hot Rap Songs Chart

Cardi B is back in the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart as “Like What (Freestyle)” begins at No. 8 on the list dated March 16. The track, released on Atlantic Records, starts as the week’s top-selling song for the genre and the week’s highest debut on the Billboard Hot 100, at No. 38.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The “Like What (Freestyle)” debut on the multi-metric Hot Rap Songs chart, which blends streaming, radio airplay and sales data, traces largely to 9.8 million official U.S. streams in the tracking week of March 1 – 7, according to Luminate. The sum sparks the song’s No. 9 entrance on the Rap Streaming Songs chart and at No. 28 on the all-genre Streaming Songs list.

The track also sold 12,000 downloads in the same period and launches at No. 1 on the Rap Digital Song Sales chart to give Cardi B her 11th leader there. On the all-genre Digital Song Sales list, “Like What (Freestyle)” kicks off at No. 3. Sales were boosted by the song’s availability in five versions: explicit, clean, instrumental, sped-up and slowed-down. For its radio airplay, the new release brings in 2 million in audience in the tracking week.

Trending on Billboard



With “Like What (Freestyle),” Cardi B bags her 19th top 10 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. The new arrival also extends her reach to an eighth different calendar year with a new top 10 hit, a perfect streak dating to her first appearance in 2017, with the eight-week No. 1 “Bodak Yellow.” Prior to this week, the Grammy-winning rapper was last in the top 10 with “Bongos,” a collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion that peaked at No. 3.

A 20th top 10 could likely be in the mix soon, as Cardi B announced on Monday (March 11) that a new track, “Enough (Miami),” will be released on Friday (March 15).

13 Mar 2024

Ryan Gosling to Host ‘Saturday Night Live’ With Musical Guest Chris Stapleton

Ryan Gosling is set to bring his Kenergy to 30 Rock as host of Saturday Night Live in April, on the episode featuring Chris Stapleton as musical guest. Plus, Kristen Wiig will helm an episode the week prior, with “Escapism” musician Raye tapped to perform.

NBC made the announcement Wednesday (March 13) — just three days after Gosling rocked the Oscars stage with a show-stopping performance of “I’m Just Ken” — that the Barbie actor will be hosting the comedy sketch show for the third time in his career on April 13. The news comes at the end of a stellar awards season run for the Greta Gerwig blockbuster and ahead of Gosling’s upcoming movie The Fall Guy.

And though last weekend’s Academy Awards proved that he’s beyond capable of delivering memorable musical numbers, Gosling’s appearance will be complemented by a performance from Stapleton, whose November album Higher debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. It’ll mark the third time he’s served as musical guest on the show.

Trending on Billboard

Wiig will host SNL on April 6, marking her fifth time in the driver’s seat. The former SNL cast member’s new series Palm Royale — which she both stars in and executive produced — premieres March 20 on AppleTV+.

Meanwhile, Raye will make her debut on the program. The British singer-songwriter recently made history by taking home six BRIT Awards, the most ever awarded to one artist in a single year.

The news comes after SNL announced that Ramy Youssef would be hosting its March 30 episode, featuring Travis Scott as musical guest. In recent weeks, Ariana Grande, Kacey Musgraves and 21 Savage have performed on the show.

SNL airs on NBC Saturdays at 11:30 p.m.

13 Mar 2024

50 Cent to Expand ‘Power’ Universe with Ghost & Tommy Prequel Series

If you thought Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson was content with the empire he’s built around his hit crime drama, Power, you don’t know 50. The multihyphenate took to Instagram earlier today to announce the development of his next show, Power Origins.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

“You asked, I answered. Young Ghost and Tommy coming your way,” Jackson wrote in an Instagram caption that accompanied a graphic related to the show.

Power, created by Courtney A. Kemp and executive produced by Jackson, first aired in 2014 on Lionsgate’s cable network Starz. The show focused on James St. Patrick (played by Omari Hardwick), a drug dealer nicknamed Ghost whose only wish was to leave the world of crime behind and become a legitimate businessman. Power followed Ghost as he tried to live two lives: one in which he’s a nightclub owner with a loving family at home and one in which he worked with his longtime friend Tommy (played by Joseph Sikora) to distribute narcotics and dated his childhood sweetheart, Angela (played by Lela Loren).

Trending on Billboard

The show became a ratings hit. For its season three premiere, Starz moved the show from its Saturday night slot to Sunday night and instantly had its most-watched episode of any original series in the network’s history. The success allowed Kemp and Jackson to build out an entire franchise and launched a succession of series focused on some of the original show’s main characters.  

One of those shows, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is the origin story of Kanan, the character played by Jackson in the original show. Since its premiere in 2021, fans have been wondering when younger versions of Ghost and Tommy were going to make an appearance since the characters all went to high school together. And now, though details are scarce, it’s believed Origins will finally tell the story of young Ghost and Tommy.

“As we approach the 10-year anniversary of Power it is incredible to witness the enormous connection our fans have with the ‘Power’ universe,” Kathryn Busby, President of Programming for Starz said in a statement to Deadline. “We can’t wait to see how Origins will further evolve this dynamic franchise while bringing fresh, gripping, and expansive storytelling to our audience.”

13 Mar 2024

Mike Will Made-It & Chief Keef Announce ‘Dirty Nachos’ Mixtape Release Date

After serving up their “Dirty Nachos” single in February, Mike Will Made-It and Chief Keef are expanding their appetites to a full project.

The Ear Drummers producer and Chicago native both hope you saved some room for dessert,as the duo joins forces for Dirty Nachos the mixtape, which will be arriving on Friday (March 15). “‘DIRTY NACHOS’ THE TAPE , FRIDAY #ALMIGHTYSO2 #SOSAMADEIT LOADING…,” Mike Will captioned the post announcing the project.

Doe Boy, Swae Lee, Zaytoven and Sonny Digital were among the thousands of people hyped to see Sosa and Mike Will reuniting in his comment section.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The post’s accompanying clip finds Mike and Chief Keef hanging out and smoking while cooking up some new tunes. A distorted snippet provides the soundtrack filled with DJ Trap-A-Holics tags.

Trending on Billboard

“I gotta be honest only Mike will made it and ziggy can get chief keef back to where he needs to be in the music business… hope he stays more consistent now,” a fan added.

While the duo teamed up for “Dirty Nachos” last month, it’s not the first time fans have heard from the two. A pair of tracks were leaked and unofficially released during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 called “Bang Bang” and “Status,” respectively.

2024 is shaping up to be a busy year for both Mike Will and Chief Keef. On the heels of Dirty Nachos, Cheif Keef is slated to finally deliver his much-delayed Almighty So 2 sequel in April. It remains to be seen if he’ll be sticking with the release schedule.

Find the Dirty Nachos announcement below.

13 Mar 2024

Dua Lipa Announces New Album ‘Radical Optimism’: Here’s When It Arrives

The radical optimism of fans hoping for a new Dua Lipa album has finally paid off. The 28-year-old pop star announced her highly anticipated third studio album, Radical Optimism, in an Instagram Wednesday (March 13). The 11-track project — her first proper LP since 2020’s Future Nostalgia — arrives May 3.

On the cover, she floats in the ocean with what appears to be a shark fin approaching her. And yet, as terrifying as the scenario sounds, the photograph is peaceful, backdropped by the calming colors of a hazy sunset or sunrise — perhaps serving as a visual aide to the project’s title.

The English singer-songwriter has already released two singles from the project — “Houdini” and “Training Season.” The former debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the latter entered the chart at No. 27.

Trending on Billboard

In addition to the release date and cover, Dua has also shared Radical Optimism‘s tracklist, featuring titles such as “End of an Era,” “French Exit,” “Maria” and “Happy for You.” As of now, it appears that the record has no collaborations.

“A couple years ago, a friend introduced me to the term ‘radical optimism,’” she said in a statement about the album. “It’s a concept that resonated with me, and I became more curious as I started to play with it and weave it into my life.”

“It struck me – the idea of going through chaos gracefully and feeling like you can weather any storm,” she continued. “At the same time, I found myself looking through the music history of psychedelia, trip hop and Britpop. It has always felt so confidently optimistic to me, and that honesty and attitude is a feeling I took into my recording sessions.”

See the Radical Optimism cover and tracklist below.

13 Mar 2024

10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: Dasha, Yard Act, Ole 60, Charlotte Cardin & More

Billboard has more than 200 different weekly charts, encompassing numerous genres and formats.

While established artists often compete for a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard 200 albums ranking, which track the most popular songs and albums of the week, respectively, up-and-coming talents typically start off on genre-specific lists.

Here’s a look at 10 artists who appear on surveys for the first time on the March 16, 2024-dated charts.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Dasha



The up-and-coming singer-songwriter reaches Billboard’s charts for the first time with her breakthrough viral hit “Austin.” The song, released in November on Version III, debuts at No. 31 on Hot Country Songs with 4 million official U.S. streams (up 28%) and 1,000 downloads sold (up 79%) in the March 1-7 tracking week, according to Luminate. She also rises 43-29 in her second week on the Emerging Artists chart.

The song appears on Dasha’s new eight-track LP What Happens Now?, released Feb. 16. Before that, she released Dirty Blonde in January 2023, via Quadio Records.

Trending on Billboard

Dasha is based in Nashville, via San Luis Obispo, Calif. Gains for “Austin” have been sparked by TikTok, where she boasts over 400,000 followers. Seemingly boosted by the rising wave behind Beyonce’s country crossover smash “Texas Hold ‘Em,” the song soundtracks a line-dance trend started by the artist. To date, the song has been featured in over 200,000 videos on the platform. Last week, Billboard reported that in the tracking week ending Feb. 15, in which Beyoncé released “Texas Hold ‘Em” midway through, “Austin” vaulted from 82,000 official on-demand streams the week before to over 830,000—up 916%. The next week (ending Feb. 22), the song grew 182% to 2.3 million.

Yard Act



The rock group, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, is officially a Billboard-charting act for the first time thanks to its sophomore LP Where’s My Utopia? Released March 1 on Zen F.C./Island Records UK/Republic Records, the set debuts at No. 23 on the Tastemaker Albums chart (which ranks the week’s top-selling albums at independent and small chain record stores).

The band preceded Utopia with its 2022 debut The Overload, which reached No. 2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart. The group spoke to Billboard at SXSW in 2022 following the LP’s release and chart debut. “We put ourselves through the ringer that week because we got informed that we had a shot at a No. 1 album against Years & Years on their third album,” vocalist James Smith said. “He’s a sort of national treasure in the U.K., Olly Alexander, and rightly so, so we were the underdogs and we thought we’d give him a run for his money. We ended up at No. 2 and Meat Loaf threatened us with his passing, too. Hog passed us, but we kept Meat Loaf at bay, which was good. It was just funny. We didn’t expect to be getting a high charting album and then it all just started running off, and so it’s just loads of fun for us.”

Yard Act comprises Smith (vocals), Sam Shipstone (guitar), Ryan Needham (bass) and Jay Russell (drums).

Ole 60



The six-piece reaches Billboard’s charts for the first time with its debut four-track project Three Twenty Four: The EP. Released in August 2023, the set debuts at No. 25 on Heatseekers Albums (which ranks the most-popular albums of the week by new or developing acts) with 3,000 equivalent album units earned.

Ole 60, from Kentucky, released the EP via Grey Area/Red Door. Its single “Smoke & A Light” has recently gone viral on TikTok, as many creators have used the song to soundtrack their experiences of being cheated on in relationships. The song has been featured in over 10,000 clips on the platform to date and generated 2 million streams March 1-7, up 15%. The week before (Feb. 23-29), it surged from 808,000 streams to 1.7 million, a 115% gain.

The virality of the track helped Ole 60 sign with UTA for worldwide representation. The band comprises Colby Clark, Jarrett Davis, Dustin “Catfish” Fuqua, Ryan Laslie, Aden Wood and Jacob Ty Young. The group is slated to support Dylan Gossett on his No Better Time Tour, as well as Charles Wesley Godwin.

Will Moseley



The Hazelhurst, Ga., native arrives on Billboard’s charts with his breakthrough song “Gone for Good.” The track debuts at No. 13 on Country Digital Song Sales with 2,000 downloads sold in its first week of release, while Moseley himself opens at No. 49 on Emerging Artists.

Moseley performed his original track for his audition on ABC’s American Idol, which aired March 3. In a spotlight video on the episode, he described his upbringing and playing college football at Maryville College in Tennessee. “Football was a way of life,” he said. “It was eat, sleep, breathe, wake up, repeat. I loved it.” In the clip, he says he suffered three concussions in two seasons, forcing him to cut his football career short. The pivot inspired him to learn guitar. “It’s been a blessing in disguise,” he said.

His audition impressed judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, and his subsequent performance earned him a golden ticket to the next round. “We knew from the very first note,” Perry said of his performance.

Sheer Mag



The Philadelphia-based rock group lands on Billboard’s charts for the first time with its third LP, Playing Favorites. The set, released March 1 on Third Man Records, debuts at No. 17 on Tastemakers Albums. The set is Sheer Mag’s first release on Third Man. The group released two previous albums, Need To Feel Your Love (2017) and A Distant Call (2019), along with three EPs.

The band comprises Tina Halladay, Matt Palmer and Hart and Kyle Seely. The North American leg of its headlining tour kicks off March 29 in Washington, D.C. The act also has a string of European tour dates lined up in August.

Charlotte Cardin



The Canadian singer-songwriter is already a seasoned hitmaker in her home country, but she notches her first U.S. chart hit thanks to “Confetti.” The song, released on Atlantic Records, debuts at No. 34 on Adult Pop Airplay (up 170% in spins). The song appears on Cardin’s second full-length, 99 Nights, released last August.

Cardin, who records music in both English and French, has notched numerous chart hits in Canada. She has tallied 13 entries on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100—“Confetti” became her first top 10, reaching No. 10 last September. She has also charted 10 songs on Canada AC, six on Canada Hot 100 Airplay, four on Canada Top 40 and two on Canada Rock.

Cardin has won four Juno Awards, including artist of the year in 2022. She boasts six nominations—the most among all acts—at the upcoming ceremony, to be held March 24: artist and songwriter of the year; the Juno Fan Choice Award; album and pop album of the year, for 99 Nights; and single of the year, for “Confetti.”

Cardin, from Mount Royal, Quebec, has been releasing music since 2013. Before 99 Nights, she released her first full-length, Phoenix, in 2021.

Kitchen Dwellers



The Montana quartet arrives on Billboard’s charts with is new studio album, Seven Devils. The set, released March 1 on No Coincidence Records, doesn’t just become the band’s first chart entry, but it’s also its first No. 1, as it launches atop the Bluegrass Albums chart with 1,000 copies sold in its opening week. The band, whose music blends elements of bluegrass, folk and rock, also starts at No. 32 on Emerging Artists.

Kitchen Dwellers comprise Torrin Daniels (banjo), Max Davies (acoustic guitar), Joe Funk (upright bass) and Shawn Swain (mandolin). The band has released three other albums—Ghost in a Bottle (2017), Muir Maid (2019) and Wise River (2022)—along with several live LPs. The group has a run of North American tour dates lined up through September.

BrhyM



The high-profile group scores not just its first overall Billboard chart entry, but its first No. 1, as its debut LP Deep Sea Vents debuts at No. 1 on the Classical Crossover Albums chart. The group released the set via Zappo Productions/Thirty Tigers.

BrhyM is a new collaboration between Bruce Hornsby and American chamber ensemble yMusic, which comprises Hideaki Aomori (clarinets), Gabriel Cabeza (cello), CJ Camerieri (trumpet), Rob Moose (violin), Nadia Sirota (viola) and Alex Sopp (flute).

Hornsby has a longstanding history on Billboard’s surveys. He has charted nine songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including his 1986 No. 1 “The Way It Is,” as well as two other top 10s (all with the Range). Plus, he has logged 10 albums on the Billboard 200, all since 1986; he and the Range won the best new artist Grammy Award in 1987. Over his career, the Virginia native has traversed numerous styles, leading to appearances on Billboard’s Americana/folk, bluegrass, country and rock charts, among others. With Deep Sea Vents, he earns his first No. 1 since Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby topped Bluegrass Albums for 15 weeks in 2007.

As for yMusic, the collective has charted four sets on Classical Albums since 2014, including the No. 1 So There, with Ben Folds, in 2015.

BrhyM has a string of North American tour dates that run through April. Hornsby has even more dates, with The Noisemakers, scheduled through October.

Autone



The Sydney-based DJ/producer (real name: Brett Austin) is scaling Billboard’s charts for the first time thanks to his collaboration with Dannii Minogue, “Thinking ‘Bout Us.” The track, released Feb. 2 on Central Station Records, debuted at No. 36 on the March 9-dated Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart and rises to No. 31 on the latest list (up 25% in spins).

Autone has previously collaborated with Jolyon Petch, WasteLand, Amanda Wilson and Kelvin Wood. He is also a member of DJ duo Oxford Hustlers.

Do2



The duo arrives on Billboard’s rankings with its breakout single “Mi Fortuna.” The song, released in September on Garmex Music, debuts at No. 25 on Tropical Airplay (up 3,933% in audience). Do2 comprises brothers Jose Juan and Mario Lora. The pair has released over two dozen songs on streaming services, all since 2018.

13 Mar 2024

Jessica Biel Shares Thirst Trap Photos of Justin Timberlake: ‘You’re Welcome’

Jessica Biel isn’t being selfish with her exclusive access to Justin Timberlake‘s thirst traps. To prove that sharing is caring, the actress posted two photos on Instagram of her husband sporting a form-fitting white tank top Wednesday (March 13), two days ahead of the pop star’s new album Everything I Thought It Was.

In one picture, the “SexyBack” singer lifts up his tank to show off a chiseled six pack, flashing his teeth for the camera. In another, he smiles at something off camera, swinging his arms and modeling a brown cardigan, jeans and chunky chain necklace.

Trending on Billboard

“My husband would never post these… BUT I WILL,” Biel captioned the snaps. She preemptively added, “You’re welcome ?”

The Candy star also shared the photos on her Story, adorning them with flaming heart and heart-eye emojis.

Biel and the *NSYNC band member have been married since 2012, and they share two kids — 8-year-old Silas and 2-year-old Phineas. Earlier this week, the parents stepped out together on the Vanity Fair post-Oscars red carpet, the children’s book author looking stunning in a deep cobalt blue dress.

Timberlake recently unveiled the tracklist to Everything I Thought It Was, which features collaborations with *NSYNC, Fireboy DML and Tobe Nwigwe. The 18-song set arrives Friday (March 15), marking the “Mirrors” artist’s first proper album since 2018’s Man of the Woods.

On Monday (March 11), Timberlake crashed Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a performance of his new single “No Angels,” along with a hilarious hosting takeover — which Kimmel jokingly shut down. “I’m the guest host,” he told the perplexed night show host. “Because you were out all night at the Oscar after party.”

13 Mar 2024

Bresh: How the Traveling Party Keeps Creating Community Through the Latin Pulse

Stepping into Terminal 5 on Friday (Mar. 8) located in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, the atmosphere was instantly electric. The venue transformed into the vibrant microcosm of Bresh, dubbed the “Most Beautiful Party in the World,” was adorned with gigantic pink flowers hanging from the balcony levels and equally stunning Japanese cherry blossom trees, heralding the imminent arrival of spring.

Navigating through the sea of faces, illuminated by the glow of lit garlands around their necks and the sparkle of the disco ball, the sense of community was palpable. The night pulsed with the sounds of reggaetón, pop, and rock en español, with hits from Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga and Soda Stereo.

From its New York City beginnings at S.O.B.’s in 2021, growing from 500 to 1,500 attendees at Webster Hall last year, and now selling out Terminal 5 with 3,000 enthusiasts, Bresh has evolved significantly. Originating from an underground party in Buenos Aires in 2016, it has transformed into a global powerhouse, marking its presence in 16 countries and over 141 cities across more than 110 venues.

Trending on Billboard

This remarkable journey is a testament to the vision and relentless drive of its founders, including DJ and graphic designer Alejandro “Bröder” Saporiti. Bresh has evolved into a movement focused on “dreaming bigger” and “creating community” through Latin culture. “Imagine how all great things start, a group of misfits with a dream and almost by accident,” Bröder tells Billboard Español. Yet, the meticulously curated experience of Bresh today is anything but accidental.

Celebrity appearances on Friday, from Lit Killah to Tuli Acosta and Paloma Mami, alongside past guests like Leonardo Messi and the World Cup champions, and artists like Rosalía, Young Miko, Duki and Emilia, underscore Bresh’s appeal. Its inclusive vibe warmly welcomes everyone, blurring the lines between celebrity and the common folk.

“We are all on the same level. The artists come down and they are just regular human beings,” adds Bröder. “The general public comes to the party and you are hanging with Rauw Alejandro or another big artist. We are all in the same place and that generates something beautiful.”

Bröder sheds light on how Bresh continues to captivate and redefine the nightlife experience: “Through this deep respect and appreciation we have for the people who join us, we’ve been able to forge a community,” he explains. “Those who attend Bresh feel part of something bigger — a global community that brings them into contact with people from all corners of the world.”

Here are five takeaways from the Bresh experience.

A quantum leap in the night

From its humble beginnings in 2016 in Buenos Aires, Bresh has charted a spectacular path, transforming from a gathering of friends to a global phenomenon. “Bresh’s growth was three-year catapult … a company run by young people,” reflects Bröder. The evolution from intimate parties to conquering stages such as Terminal 5 shows their tireless ambition: “We as a project will always dream of bigger things, of being able to reach new places, of being able to connect with more people, of being able to do shows of greater magnitude, and taking it to a more global terrain.”

Cultural relevance

Bresh has not only grown in size, but has cultivated a deep cultural resonance, creating a space where “people who go to Bresh feel part of something bigger,” says Bröder. “Today, it’s a global community.” In spaces often noted for their divisiveness, Bresh emerges as an inclusive haven, rejecting conventional barriers that oftentimes alienate.

“Sometimes I feel like I get to [other] places and the security says, ‘Yo, give me your ID!’ ‘I came to your place to enjoy it.’ And then, they say, ‘Yo, you on the list?!’ ‘Whoa, stop, crazy. I just wanted to come and enjoy myself,’” he describes. “It seems to me that we’re at a time in society and culture where there’s no place for that kind of separation anymore.” This ethos translates into an experience where each attendee finds “a sense of belonging, and being able to generate a sense of comfort.”

Stars among us

Bresh’s influence has attracted celebrities and artists looking for freedom and authenticity, claims the cofounder: “Many artists found in Bresh a space of union, a space where they can come and have fun,” he says. This phenomenon is reciprocal, with artists not only enjoying the party but also connecting with the public on a human level: “Artists come to our party to enjoy it, but of course, they see the people, they see the excitement with which they drive and they feel like sharing with them,” he adds.

“Bresh has become a place where you go to meet your peers, your colleagues, people in the industry, people who value who you are. Whether it’s Rosalía or someone from the new generation of Puerto Rico, [who attends],” says Bröder. “I remember when Young Miko came to Bresh, when she was relatively unknown — but she felt part of it, and today she is one of the most impressive figures of the new wave of música urbana.”

Global expansion

With offices in major cities around the world — like Madrid, Buenos Aires, Miami, and Mexico — and more than 200 employees, Bresh is firmly rooted both locally and internationally. “We dream of a tour, of a residency in Las Vegas… globally, continuing to deepen our reach everywhere,” Bröder stresses. This multifaceted approach ensures that no matter where it’s held, Bresh carries with it a spark of diversity and global connection.

“This year we’re going to be in Baja Beach Fest, as well as Tomorrowland for the first time for [the latter festival’s] 20th anniversary,” he notes.

The Latin pulse

“To understand the Bresh phenomenon you have to understand it as a platform, as a place where young and Latin American talent [mingle],” he explains. “I don’t like to enclose Bresh inside the box of a Latin party, because it seems to me that it can be much more than that: It’s a party with a Latin pulse. With that which characterizes us Latinos — the hospitality, the dancing, the expression, the fun, the affection, the touching, the sexy and the sensual. Many attendees understood that energy and made it their own.”