Music

29 Nov 2023

Beyoncé, Post Malone, Eagles & More: The Top-Grossing Concerts of 2023, State-by-State

The 2023 year-end Boxscore charts go live on Thursday (Nov. 30), but before reviewing the ranked lists of the biggest tours, venues and promoters in the world, Billboard is taking a zoomed-in look at the U.S., highlighting the highest-grossing concert engagements in each state.

The figures displayed here are based on figures officially reported to Billboard Boxscore, covering a tracking period of Nov. 1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2023. That means that Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour is not included, as representatives for her tour did not report. Click to read more about Billboard’s Swiftian projections.

Beyoncé dominates the map, leading in 11 states. Major-market stadium shows on the Renaissance World Tour took top honors in California, Georgia, Illinois and New Jersey, while hometown shows in Houston add another ring for Texas.

Morgan Wallen follows, winning eight states. Also in stadiums, he takes the gold in country-minded Midwest and southern states like Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio. His March release One Thing at a Time finished at No. 1 on the year-end Billboard 200 albums chart, while its second track, “Last Night,” is No. 1 on the year-end Billboard Hot 100 songs ranking.

P!nk and Post Malone are two peas in a pod, both with three regions to their name. The former wins in the District of Columbia, Nebraska and North Dakota, while the latter is tops in Connecticut, New Mexico and Utah.

P!nk’s win in Washington D.C. comes from a Aug. 7 show at Nationals Stadium, with $7.2 million in the bank. Just five miles east, Beyoncé’s concert at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. cleared the path for P!nk to take D.C., though Beyoncé’s Maryland show generally served the same touring market.

Seven other artists doubled up, from Zach Bryan in Kansas and Oklahoma to Karol G in Florida and Puerto Rico. Another 12 acts appear on the map, ranging from comedians like Kevin Hart and Sebastian Maniscalco to rock veterans like Journey and Phish, and relative newcomers like Jelly Roll and Noah Kahan.

29 Nov 2023

Which Is Your Favorite Song From Spotify Wrapped’s Most Streamed Tracks of 2023? Vote!

It’s officially that time of year! Spotify unveiled its 2023 Wrapped results for users of the streaming service on Wednesday (Nov. 29), and provided insight into fans’ listening data over the past year.

In addition to providing individual, data-driven results for the users — which now includes fun segments such as Me in 2023, which sums up the way fans listen to music; Sound Town, which matches your taste to a specific city in according to their “listening and shared artist affinity”; and video messages from listeners’ top artists of the year — Spotify also revealed the most listened to tracks of 2023.

The 50-song playlist included several Billboard chart-toppers from the past 12 months. Miley Cyrus‘ “Flowers” was the most streamed track globally, accumulating 1.6 billion streams across the world since its release in January. Bad Bunny, who snagged the title of the second most streamed artist of the year, appeared in the playlist solo with “WHERE SHE GOES” (No. 40) and alongside Grupo Frontera and Chenco Corleone with their collaborative tracks, “un x100to” (No. 16) and “Me Porto Bonito” (No. 47), respectively.

Morgan Wallen and Taylor Swift were also present on the tally, with Wallen’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Last Night” securing the No. 28 spot on Spotify’s year-end playlist. Swift — the platform’s top artist of the year — had a total of three tracks on the list, including her two No. 1s “Anti-Hero” (No. 10) and “Cruel Summer” (No. 6), as well as “Blank Space” (No. 38).

Which track on Spotify 2023 most streamed songs list is your favorite? Listen to the playlist and vote in our poll below.

29 Nov 2023

Demi Lovato Bakes With Paris Hilton, Dances With Trixie Mattel & More in ‘A Very Demi Holiday Special’ Trailer

Demi Lovato is bringing together some of their celebrities friends for a night of festive fun in their upcoming Roku special titled A Very Demi Holiday Special, and the latest trailer shared on Wednesday (Nov. 29) gives a peek into jolly ol’ time.

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The one-minute clip shows Lovato baking with Paris Hilton, learning The Nutcracker ballet with Trixie Mattel, making ugly sweaters with Tiffany Haddish and singing with JoJo. The show will air on the Roku Channel on Dec. 8.

During the OBB Pictures-produced special, you can expect to hear songs such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and a surprise duet, as well as a some of Lovato’s original hits. If you have Roku, then you can tune into the special through the Roku channel. Don’t have Roku? You can snag a Roku player on Amazon right now for just $30 or get a Roku TV for $140, which will give you access to the Roku channel along with additional benefits.

Later in the month, Lovato is welcoming 2024 with a New Year’s Eve concert at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Sunday (Dec. 31) at 10:30 p.m. PT. The star is fresh off the release of their Revamped album, which featured rock reimaginings of some of her greatest hits including “Skyscraper,” “Give Your Heart a Break,” “La La Land,” “Sorry Not Sorry” and more.

Watch the A Very Demi Holiday Special trailer below.

29 Nov 2023

On the Radar Latin: Israel Fernandez, Andrea Bejar, XAVI & More Artists to Discover

Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors feature a small group of new or relatively unknown 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 emerging artists who we might’ve found anywhere from scrolling on TikTok to a Spotify playlist recommendation to a live music showcase. See our recommendations below.

Andrea Bejar

Country: Mexico

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Singer songwriter Andrea Bejar has a haunting, sweet voice that she’s married to ethereal songs, often accompanied by acoustic guitar and textured pads, that dwell on love and self. Everything blends beautifully because Bejar is such a mixture of her native Mexico, and the U.S., where she was largely raised (in Miami), and she’s able to write, think and emote in both English and Spanish equally. The result is a mix of Lana del Rey and Silvana Estrada, but with a fresh new outlook. Bejar also has a refined aesthetic that elevates her above the run of the mill indie fray. In a market in need of authentic young female voices, one to watch for sure. — LEILA COBO

Song For Your Playlist: “Mexico”

Banda Güegüense

Country: Nicaragua

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: If the 2023 Miss Universe crowning its first Central American queen any indication, Nicaragua is a country full of diamonds in the rough. One of those diamonds is a 13-member group called Banda Güegüense — which I discovered performing at a local restaurant in Miami — that is making waves in the Nicaraguan music scene. Named after one of the country’s signature folkloric masterpieces, this musical ensemble — led by the harmonizing vocals of Luis Escoto, Weyner Hernandez, Luis Martinez, and Libert Reyes — can deliver anything from Palo de Mayo (an Afro-Nicaraguan dance) to tropical music to pop ballads, and beyond.

Needless to say, they give it ALL on the dancefloor and can entertain a crowd all night long. Their debut single, “Amame Sin Miedo” (Love Me Without Fear), arrived early this year in the style of Banda, best showcasing their versatility, romantic lyrics and talented musicianship. The group, which performs every weekend at El Guacalito Restaurant, as well as at key local events and festivals, is currently making the rounds with their new single “Palo Pa’ Ti,” in honor of their Nicaraguan roots. — JESSICA ROIZ

Song For Your Playlist: “Amame Sin Miedo”

Cash Bently

Country: U.S.

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: SoundCloud rapper turned regional Mexican artist Cash Bently released his third corridos outing earlier this month, dubbed Cash Corridos 3 — on its cover, he appears flanked between two dobermanns, channeling the essence of Snoop Dogg (who’s a self-proclaimed corridos fan). Bently’s 12-track album continues to see the tatted L.A. crooner perfect his sierreños-leaning swagger with standout cuts like the lovelorn “Loco Sin Ti,” which boasts gripping guitarrón riffs, and “Amar Otra Vez,” which mixes guitar strums with a dash of electronic ambiance. Tuned about an octave lower, his latest single “Negaron Un Favor” also boasts melancholic rhythms with debaucherous-leaning lyrics sprinkled in for good measure. The artist began dropping English-language rap albums on SoundCloud in 2018, and in 2021 he debuted his first corridos album. In September, Cash Bently was selected as one of SoundCloud’s Latin artists to watch during Hispanic Heritage Month. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Song For Your Playlist: “Negaron un Favor”

Israel Fernández

Country: Spain

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Born into a Gypsy family in Corral de Almaguer, Toledo, Fernández is a flamenco singer who blends traditional singing with his unique style, all while preserving the art of flamenco adding his own exquisite essence and personal touch to each performance. His work is a beautiful piece of art in which we can feel the harmony of his heart and soul — or as he best told Billboard, flamenco is “a way of living, it’s every day, it’s important every second that passes.” I came across Fernández during an industry event at the 2023 Latin Grammys week in Seville, and quickly realized that he’s one of the most captivating and talented emerging artists in the flamenco music scene of this century. Furthermore, he firmly established himself as the future of this genre with his debut album Amor (2020), where he’s backed by the passionate guitar riffs of Spanish artist Diego Del Morao. — INGRID FAJARDO

Song For Your Playlist: “Platero”

Karen Lizarazo

Country: Colombia

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Only a handful of women dare to embrace vallenato, a genre historically dominated by men. Hailing from Aguachica, Cesar, birthplace of the popular Colombian rhythm, Karen Yulizza Lizarazo Ojeda defies this norm by remaining true to her roots, and it’s truly gratifying to witness how she infuses it with her personal touch, standing out as artist in the genre. Demonstrating admirable perseverance and a charismatic stage presence, Lizarazo is gradually managing to capture the attention of Colombians. Her tracks such as “Amor de Papel,” “Ganas Locas” (for which she collaborated on a remix with Eddie Herrera), and “Tarde lo Conocí” have garnered her a devoted fan base known as Karenistas. — LUISA CALLE

Song For Your Playlist: “Tuki Tuki” Feat. Rolando Ochoa

Maria José Llergo

Country: Spain

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: María José Llergo captivated me this month during Latin Grammy week at the Amazon event “La Cultura that Connects Us” in Seville, Spain, which she opened with a mesmerizing, powerful show ahead of Carin León’s presentation. The Spanish singer-songwriter, who just released her stunning debut album ULTRABELLEZA (Sony Music España) this year, offers a masterful combination of flamenco and pop, pushing the boundaries with soul-stirring vocals and profound lyrics about growing pains and humble beginnings in songs like “Superpoder” and “Rueda, Rueda.” In 2022, Llergo won a Goya Award – the Spaniard equivalent of the Oscar – for best original song for “Te Espera el Mar,” from the movie Mediterráneo. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Song For Your Playlist: “SUPERPODER”

Midnight Generation

Country: Mexico

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Hailing from Chihuahua, Mexico, Midnight Generation is a disco-infused electronic funk and soul band which sings predominantly in English, with a retro sound inspired by acts like Chick, Niles Rodgers and Daft Punk. Led by Fernando Mares, who founded the project in 2015, it has released two independent albums, including Odyssey in 2020 and Afterlife this year, with high-energy dance songs like “Another Day Gone” with Typow and “Starlight.” Currently on their Drop the Synthesizer tour in Latin America, the group plans to come to the U.S. in 2024. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Song For Your Playlist: “Another Day Gone” Feat. Typow

XAVI

Country: Mexico

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Born Joshua Xavier Gutierrez, the 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Phoenix — signed to Interscope Records — has doubled down on making a name for himself among the new generation of música mexicana artists, ever since breaking out over the summer with singles such as “La Víctima” and “Sin Pagar Renta.” While his music leans more sierreño, with guitar-heavy and moody melodies, his style is often described as tumbado romántico, which thrives on lyrical sensitivity. Most recently, he opened for labelmate Ivan Cornejo in Ontario, Calif. at the Toyota Arena on Nov. 22. While he’s yet to release an LP with original music — his first album was a covers set titled My Mom’s Playlist featuring songs such as “Kilometros,” “Rayando El Sol” and “No Me Queda Más” — Xavi is working on new music set to drop next year. — GRISELDA FLORES

Song For Your Playlist: “La Víctima”

29 Nov 2023

SZA Says Songs Are ‘Ruined’ When They’re Leaked

SZA is Variety‘s Hitmaker of the Year, and the “Snooze” singer sat down with the publication for a wide-ranging interview about her career as one of 2023’s most prominent songwriters and artists.

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The Grammy-winning superstar is one of many artists that have fallen victim to a recent rising trend of fans leaking unfinished music, something she is particularly upset about. “When people leak my songs, they ruin them,” she tells the publication. “Then it’s not mine anymore; it’s actually yours. It’s something unfinished that you decided was ready to be shared. And it’s like, ‘F— you. Now I’m not releasing it.’ Play your leak, but you’re not gonna bully me into dropping music. I’m now embarrassed by this less-than-correct version that you put out. You’ve sent me into a weird space creatively when you could have just waited for me, but you’re selfish.”

On a happier note, SZA’s released songs have taken over the music scene in the last year due to her sophomore album SOS. The singer leads the pack of Grammy nominees for the 2024 ceremony with nine nominations — including record and song of the year nods for her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Kill Bill” and an album of the year nod for her 10-week Billboard 200 chart-topper SOS.

SZA previously won a Grammy in 2022 when her collaboration with Doja Cat, “Kiss Me More,” took home the award for best pop duo/group performance.

29 Nov 2023

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour On Track to Become Highest-Grossing Global Tour in History

Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour is poised to become the highest-grossing global tour of all time, according to Billboard’s estimates.

While no official numbers have been reported yet, Swift’s tour should pass current record-holder Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour with more than $900 million in ticket sales so far.

On Sunday (Nov. 26), Swift played her last scheduled show of the year, wrapping an intense run of 66 concerts in the United States, Mexico and South America. Representatives for The Eras Tour have not yet reported official revenue or attendance figures to Billboard Boxscore or any other trade journal or news entity, but the enormity of The Eras Tour is impossible to ignore, with a total that amounts to a staggering average of nearly $14 million per show.

Dating back almost 40 years, all Boxscore rankings are based on figures reported to Billboard. Data is reported from a variety of official industry sources, from artist managers and agents to promoters and venue executives. Reporting has always been voluntary, and some artists, venues and promoters opt to withhold data from representation on our charts. It is not uncommon for artists to not report — or to wait until the end of a tour, which is still more than a year away in Swift’s case — though it’s rare that such a well-documented blockbuster tour, in contention for top year-end honors, is not submitted. Swift’s abstention disqualifies her from appearing on year-end Boxscore charts.

Swift kicked off The Eras Tour in Glendale, Ariz., on March 17, playing 53 domestic shows before wrapping at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., outside Los Angeles, on Aug. 9. She hit a total of 20 U.S. cities, and 11 of those venues have provided attendance figures to Billboard. Based on those numbers, as well as estimates based on aggressive scaling at the other nine stadiums, Swift likely sold 3.3 million tickets over 53 shows in the United States, or an average of 63,000 tickets per show.

Sources close to the tour point to an average domestic ticket price of around $252. This is in line with the prices for the summer’s other major concert event, Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, which maintained a $135 ticket in Europe and a $253 ticket in North America. While ticket prices might dip in certain markets and bloom in others, using that number as an average puts the U.S. leg of The Eras Tour at $838.3 million. That total gross spreads out to $15.8 million per show, a staggering figure that exceeds recent tours by Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, and The Rolling Stones, each of which had giant totals of their own.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift performs onstage during Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Levi’s Stadium on July 28, 2023, in Santa Clara, Calif.

Jeff Kravitz/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

That projected $838 million haul is more than enough to make Eras the highest-grossing U.S. and North American tour ever. John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour holds the official Boxscore title, with $567.7 million in the United States and Canada. That total reflects 135 shows over a span of four years, compared to Swift’s 53 shows in less than six months.

Moreover, The Eras Tour’s U.S. gross would situate it as the second-highest grossing tour of all time based on global figures, before even crossing the border. John’s farewell tour remains the official record-holder with $939.1 million.

Since wrapping the Eras Tour’s U.S. leg, Swift played four shows at Mexico City’s Foro Sol (Aug. 24-27) and, more recently, nine South American shows, spread between Buenos Aires in Argentina and Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Those dates bring her much closer to John’s global record, even based on relatively conservative projections. But as we’ve seen with virtually every worldwide stadium tour in the last two years, the post-pandemic surge in ticket prices hasn’t been as severe outside the United States.

Further, these are Swift’s first shows in these Latin American markets. That means pent-up demand likely drove huge sales, though her base isn’t quite as explosive there as it is in the States.

Based on estimates considering the high end of grosses and ticket prices for each Latin American venue’s post-pandemic history, The Eras Tour likely earned another $60 million to $75 million and more than 750,000 tickets from those 13 shows.

In all, Billboard estimates that Swift has generated $906.1 million and sold 4.1 million tickets in 2023 across all shows in the United States, Mexico and South America. That would unofficially make The Eras Tour the biggest tour of 2023. And when considering Swift’s total revenue from the tour, it doesn’t even account for merchandise sales, sponsorships, music streaming and sales boosts, or her self-produced and released Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film.

Swift is scheduled to resume The Eras Tour on Feb. 7 with four shows at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Then, she’ll play seven shows in Australia and six in Singapore. In May, she kicks off a 50-date run in Europe before returning to North America for 18 shows in new markets, including the tour’s first entry into Canada. In all, that’s 85 shows to go, with the possibility of more to come, considering her recent concert additions to runs in London and Vancouver.

These upcoming international legs are already more ambitious than any previous Swift tour. While this year’s 53 U.S. shows are in line with what she did on 2018’s Reputation Stadium Tour and 2015’s The 1989 World Tour, those treks included just six and seven shows in Europe, respectively — a fraction of next year’s slate of 50.

If we use the comparison between Beyoncé’s recent European and North American grosses as a north star, in Europe, Swift could be looking at $8.5 million per show, or about $420 million over the entire leg. And even if next year’s North American shows dip from 2023’s record-breakers, the U.S. and Canada shows could add another $240 million to 260 million. Including the 17 shows in Asia and Australia, The Eras Tour is likely headed toward a total gross of $1.6 billion to $1.7 billion by the end of 2024. It will be the first in history to earn more than $1 billion in ticket sales and will set Swift far apart from her competitors. If figures skew toward the higher end of what’s possible, she could double John’s current record gross.

Representatives for Swift did not respond to a request for comment on Billboard‘s estimates at press time.

29 Nov 2023

Here Are the 2024 Grammy Nominees for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

When the Recording Academy announced the 2024 Grammy nominations on Nov. 10, in the category of best compilation soundtrack for visual media, they showed only the artists who were nominated. They needed more time to determine who were the rightful nominees as compilation producers and music supervisors.

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The Academy announced those additional nominees on Tuesday (Nov. 28), adding to already impressive 2024 nominations totals for both Ludwig Göransson and Mark Ronson. Göransson, nominated as a compilation producer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By, now has six nods for the year. Ronson, nominated as a compilation producer for Barbie, now has five (all for his work on that blockbuster film).

The directors of two of the associated films were nominated as compilation producers of the soundtracks to their films. Ryan Coogler is a nominee for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. James Gunn is a nominee for Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 3: Awesome Mix, Vol. 3.

Coogler has a second nomination this year, as a co-writer of the Rihanna smash “Lift Me Up” from that film. It’s nominated for best song written for visual media.

All three editions of Guardians of the Galaxy have been nominated for best compilation soundtrack for visual media, with Gunn among the nominees every time.

Brandon Davis and Dave Jordan each have dueling nominations in this category. Davis is nominated as a compilation producer of both Aurora and Barbie: The Album. Jordan is nominated as the music supervisor of both Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3. Jordan is also nominated as a compilation producer on the latter project, though he would receive just one Grammy if it were to win.

In similar fashion, Weird Al Yankovic, who was already nominated as the artist on Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, is also nominated as one of the compilation producers. (He, too, would receive just one award if that film were to win.)

Two of the nominated soundtracks are from TV shows. The 10-episode Aurora aired on Amazon Prime Video in March. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story aired on The Roku Channel in November 2022. If either wins, it would be the second soundtrack to a TV show to win in this category (which was first awarded in 2000). The first was Boardwalk Empire Volume 1: Music from the HBO Original Series, which won in 2012.

Here are the nominees for best compilation soundtrack for visual media with detailed credits:

Aurora (Daisy Jones & The Six)

Brandon Davis, Pete Ganbarg, Joseph Khoury & Blake Mills, compilation producers; Frankie Pine, music supervisor

Barbie: The Album (Various Artists)

Brandon Davis, Mark Ronson & Kevin Weaver, compilation producers; George Drakoulias, music supervisor

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By (Various Artists)

Ryan Coogler, Archie Davis & Ludwig Göransson, compilation producers; Dave Jordan, music supervisor

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3: Awesome Mix, Vol. 3 (Various Artists)

Kevin Feige, James Gunn & Dave Jordan, compilation producers; Dave Jordan, music supervisor

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (Weird Al Yankovic)

Leo Birenberg, Zach Robinson & Al Yankovic, compilation producers; Suzanne Coffman, music supervisor

29 Nov 2023

Jimin Sends Love to ARMY After BTS’ Big Wins at MAMA Awards

BTS and its members had a big night at the 2023 MAMA Awards, which were held over two nights, Nov. 28 and 29, at Tokyo Dome, Japan. 

Jimin, who was a top nominee at this year’s ceremony with eight nods, won best male artist. Additionally, Jung Kook won two awards – best dance performance male solo and best collaboration – for “Seven” featuring Latto. BTS as a whole won three awards: worldwide fan choice, best original soundtrack for The Planet (Bastions OST) and worldwide icon of the year.

To celebrate, Jimin took to Weverse to share a message of gratitude to BTS fans, affectionately known as the ARMY. “Today we received so many valuable awards today,” the note, which was shared in Korean, reads. “Thank you very much to all ARMYs who always support and love us. We will do our best to show you better music and performances. Thank you again and I love you.”

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See the full list of MAMA Awards winners here.

Jimin is gearing up to begin his mandatory South Korean military service, according to a post by BTS’ label, Big Hit, earlier this month. In addition to Jimin, RM, V and Jung Kook have also begun the enlistment process. “We would like to inform our fans that RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook have initiated the military enlistment process,” read the statement. “The artists are preparing to fulfill their military service duties. We will inform you of further updates in due course.”

With all seven members now going through their paces, BTS is expected to reconvene in 2025 when all have completed their duty to country.

29 Nov 2023

Thanksgiving Songs From Adam Sandler, Vince Guaraldi Trio & Arlo Guthrie See Huge Holiday Gains

Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up column, 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: Thanksgiving songs quickly peek their heads onto streaming before making way for the Christmas avalanche — including a quickly growing new song from a pop icon — and a side-splitting viral trend brings a late-’00s pop-rock classic back to the mainstream.

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Thanksgiving Songs Beat the Holiday Rush on Streaming



Yes, Thanksgiving is most notable in the Billboard world as the benchmark holiday after which Christmas music really starts to take off; see next week’s Hot 100 for a glimpse of just how dramatic the takeover will be. But before listeners fully ensconce themselves in Yuletide classics, some of them make sure to give some time — one day, at least — to the handful of enduring Thanksgiving perennials, many of which saw major boosts on streaming last week (particularly, of course, on Nov. 23, the final day of the tracking period).

Two unrelated staples simply titled “The Thanksgiving Song” — by pop/rock singer-songwriter Ben Rector and comedian Adam Sandler — both saw stratospheric gains, with the official on-demand U.S. streams for Rector’s song rising 473% to 803,000, while Sandler’s leapt 680% to 275,000, according to Luminate. (Sandler’s total came despite the song being unavailable on Spotify). Meanwhile, CCM singer-songwriter Matthew West’s singalong “Gobble Gobble” was up 218% to 1.2 million streams, and jazz outfit (and Christmastime regular) Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “Thanksgiving Theme” rose 248% to 1.1 million.

Then, of course, there’s the daddy of them all: Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” the sung-spoken 1967 story song set at Thanksgiving that remains an annual listen in countless households nationwide. Boosted by some TikTok virality this year — largely of younger users sharing their confusion over their families’ continued observance of the “Alice’s” tradition — the once-a-year classic jumped a stunning 796% to 369,000 official on-demand U.S. streams for the week ending Nov. 23. Not quite Mariah Carey numbers, but pretty impressive endurance for an 18-plus-minute talking-blues number from over 55 years ago. — ANDREW UNTERBERGER

Colbie Caillat’s Breakthrough Hit “Bubbly” Rides Hilarious TikTok Meme to Streaming Revival 



16 years ago, a guitar-touting Malibu girl by the name of Colbie Caillat burst onto the scene with “Bubbly,” a heartwarming earworm that served as the lead single for debut studio album Coco and reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Today, that song is seeing a second life with Gen Z thanks to a hilarious TikTok trend that is resulting in substantial streaming gains across DSPs. According to Luminate, “Bubbly” has earned over 1.62 million on-demand U.S. streams during the period of Nov. 17-23. That marks a major 98.3% increase in streaming activity from just three weeks ago, when the song was pulling just north of 800,000 on-demand U.S. streams. 

The song’s boost in streams is primarily due to a TikTok trend where users place “Bubbly” over raucous videos of other artists performing. Whether it’s Lil Uzi Vert rocking their hips or Tyler, the Creator banging his head, the goal is to play on humor sourced from the visual and sonic dissonance of Caillat’s tender hook and high-octane stage shows. Thanks to the trend, the official “Bubbly” sound has been used in over 50,700 videos. Caillat has played into the trend, duetting and stitching memes featuring KISS, Post Malone and Travis Scott. She also cheekily responded to a TikTok poking fun at her request to be counted in at the beginning of the track and released an acoustic “living room session” version of the song on her YouTube page. 

“Bubbly” remains Caillat’s sole Hot 100 top 10 hit, and its recent rise and streams proves the song is still connecting with audiences over a decade and a half removed from its original release. — KYLE DENIS

Cher, Play a Christmas Song: Thanksgiving Parade Performance Boosts New Holiday Single



Although the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade boasted a slew of music stars performing and popping by — from Beyoncé delivering a video message to The Roots playing a song with Jimmy Fallon to Chicago playing “You’re the Inspiration” atop a Wonder Bread float (!) — the climactic performance was saved until the end of the festivities. Cher arrived on 34th Street in Manhattan with a showcase of “DJ Play a Christmas Song,” her danceable pop single from her recently released holiday album Christmas, complete with choreography performed by dancers in heart costumes and dressed as little drummer boys and girls.

After Christmas debuted at No. 32 on the Billboard 200 chart last month, “DJ Play a Christmas Song” has naturally started to heat up as the holidays creep closer — although early returns suggest that the Thanksgiving Day performance provided the single with even more upward momentum. While the song’s weekly U.S. on-demand streaming totals jumped from 101,000 streams for the week ending Nov. 2 to 521,000 for the week ending Nov. 23, according to Luminate, “DJ Play a Christmas Song” earned 647,000 streams from Friday to Monday (Nov. 24-27) — surpassing its previous week’s streaming total in just four days.

With the Hot 100 in the process of being flooded by holiday music, we’ll see over the few weeks if “DJ Play a Christmas Song,” which has reached No. 3 on the Holiday Digital Song Sales chart, can keep climbing and reach the all-genre tally before the end of the season. If it does, the single would be Cher’s first Hot 100 entry since “Song for the Lonely” in 2002. – JASON LIPSHUTZ

29 Nov 2023

Is It Finally Brenda Lee’s Year to Be ‘Rockin’’ Atop the Hot 100?  

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 Hot 100 dated Dec. 9), the now-annual holiday rush has begun on the Hot 100 – but for the first time, the usual pace-setter is in danger of being passed for the top spot. 

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Mariah Carey, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (Columbia): Since the chart dated Dec. 12, 2015, Mariah Carey’s signature Yuletide tune has reigned atop Billboard’s Holiday 100 listing — 43 consecutive weeks (of its total 58 weeks at No. 1 among the chart’s 63 weeks of existence, dating back to 2011). And every December since first reaching the Hot 100’s apex in 2019, “All I Want” has returned to the top of the chart, most recently spending four weeks at pole position, from the surveys dated Dec. 17, 2022, through to Jan. 7, 2023. In all, it has spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, belatedly making the 1994 release the third-longest-reigning single of Carey’s storied career, and arguably her all-time signature hit.  

Once again this year, Carey’s pop perennial begins the holiday season in the lead. It returns at No. 1 on the first Holiday 100 of the 2023 season (dated Dec. 2) and also zooms from 17-4 on the Hot 100, in its 60th total week on the listing. As per tradition, Mimi has come out in full force to re-promote the seasonal staple (and her own Queen of Christmas status) this month. That includes sharing a video of her being “defrosted” at midnight on Nov. 1, starring in a holiday-themed Victoria’s Secret campaign, debuting new themed merch, and of course performing “All I Want” on the Billboard Music Awards (while also accepting the Billboard Chart Achievement Award for the song’s longtime success).  

“All I Want” returning to No. 1 on next week’s Hot 100 would be no surprise at all — the song has been one of the great inevitables on the Billboard charts for nearly a half-decade now. However, this year it might be neck-and-neck with another holiday fixture, one that’s been gaining on it in recent years and may finally be in position to pull ahead.  

Brenda Lee, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (Decca): While Brenda Lee’s Christmas classic is 36 years older than Carey’s, it has nonetheless been building steam over the past half-decade, firmly establishing itself as the perennial silver medalist of Yuletide pop. As “All I Want” has reached No. 1 on both the Holiday 100 and the Hot 100 every year since 2019, so has “Rockin’” climbed to No. 2 on both charts — returning to the runner-up spot on this week’s Holiday 100, while also re-entering the Hot 100 at No. 8, as the second-highest-ranking holiday title. And each of the last few years, the gap in performance between the two songs has shrunk, though Carey’s has thus far remained the decisive leader. 

This year, however, the competition has gotten legitimately tight. While Carey remains the leader of the two in sales and official on-demand U.S. streams through four days of this tracking week, Lee is slightly ahead in official U.S. streams, per preliminary tracking data for next week’s charts, according to Luminate. Lee’s song is also growing in streaming at a faster rate than Carey’s — and does in fact lead it comfortably on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs USA chart.

With the distance between the two songs looking increasingly climbable, and with “Rockin’” celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, Lee and her UMG label family have increased their promotional efforts to get the song over the top. Earlier this month, a new music video for the song (with cameos from country stars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood) premiered on CMT, while Lee will perform the song on NBC’s Christmas at the Opry special on Dec. 7. Lee also released the five-track A Rockin’ Christmas With Brenda Lee EP, featuring a new remix of “Rockin’” by dance producer Filous, and — of course — recently joined TikTok, where she’s been sharing daily posts reminiscing about the song and her career, and sharing her reactions to some of the new feedback and acclaim the song has garnered. (Lee even hopped on the plane intercom on a recent flight to perform the song, as captured by video shared on TMZ.)  

With this major promotional push and an increasing public sentimentality behind the 78-year-old Lee — who, as one of the biggest pop stars of the pre-British Invasion ’60s, did top the Hot 100 twice, with 1960’s “I’m Sorry” and “I Want to Be Wanted” — this year should mark her best chance yet of returning to the top spot. If “Rockin’” doesn’t get there this week, it should be a week-to-week battle with “All I Want” throughout the holiday season — one that Lee herself recognized in a recent New York Times profile, quipping, “Now I gotta worry about Mariah… Get outta here, girl!” (She also added: “Oh, there’s room for everybody. Her song’s good, too. I love her singing.”) 

IN THE MIX 

Jack Harlow, “Lovin on Me” (Generation Now/Atlantic): Back in the secular music world, the reigning Hot 100 topper should still be a force to be reckoned with. Harlow’s “Lovin on Me,” his third No. 1 on the chart in three years, remains atop both the Spotify Daily Top Songs USA listing and Apple Music’s real time charts, and it also debuts at No. 32 on Billboard’s Radio Songs rankings this week, as it continues to grow on the airwaves, claiming top Airplay Gainer status on the Dec. 2 Hot 100. It may soon be buried under the holiday music avalanche, but Harlow and “Lovin” won’t hand over the reins to the chart without at least a bit of a fight.  

Wham!, “Last Christmas” (Epic/Columbia): It’s not quite as exciting as the Mariah/Brenda showdown, but there’s also a race for No. 3 on the Holiday 100. That’s between Bobby Helms’ country-rock classic “Jingle Bell Rock,” which has been the annual No. 3 on the holiday Hot 100 since the 2019-20 season, and Wham!’s synth-pop staple “Last Christmas.” Wham! has creeped closer to the Big Three each year since singer-songwriter George Michael‘s death in 2016, hitting a new peak last year of No. 4 on the Hot 100. This year, it’s nipping at the heels of “Jingle Bell Rock” — they’re Nos. 13 and No. 12 on this week’s Hot 100, respectively — as it narrowly trails Helms’ hit in streams, and also follows in airplay, while leading it in sales, so far this tracking week.