Music

04 May 2023

Ed Sheeran Confides in Taylor Swift Because She ‘Actually Truly Understands Where I’m At’

As Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift‘s success has multiplied, so has their friendship. In a recent interview, the “Shivers” singer opened up about how he and his famous friend like to confide in one another, especially when it comes to issues pretty much only they can relate to.

“I have long, long, long conversations with Taylor about stuff just because I feel like she’s one of the only people that actually truly understands where I’m at,” Sheeran told Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe. “I had an hour-20 conversation with her yesterday and we were just — everything that was on our minds we talked about.”

“I mean that in itself is kind of therapy as well, because you’re actually talking to someone that genuinely gets it,” he continued. “That has all the things that you feel and have insecurities about and how other people treat you or how your family treat you, how your friends treat you. She’s basically in the same sphere.”

It goes without saying that Sheeran and Swift, who’ve been close friends and collaborators since 2012, have both reached a rare level of global fame only a few stars per generation ever achieve. With the multiple Grammys and No. 1 hits, there undoubtedly comes certain difficulties the average person can’t empathize with — like, for instance, being called away from your personal life to defend your music’s originality in high profile copyright lawsuits, as the “A Team” musician has experienced in recent weeks.

Sheeran also spoke with Lowe about working on his upcoming album Subtract (stylized “-“) with Swift’s Folklore collaborator Aaron Dessner on the “Anti-Hero” artist’s recommendation. “I’m always, not guarded, but I kind of would keep my distance if there would be a collaborator that she’d be working with closely just because that’s her thing,” Sheeran explained. “And I don’t want to be like, ‘Well going to do that too.”

“But she said, ‘I think it’d be really important for you as an artist to do what I did and work with Aaron because this is what it did for me,” he continued. “So that sort of opened the door to it, and I am incredibly grateful. I’m making some of the most meaningful music to me that I’ve made in a very long time.”

Listen to Ed Sheeran’s full conversation with Zane Lowe below.

04 May 2023

50 Cent Announces 2023 ‘Final Lap’ Global Tour with Busta Rhymes, Jeremih

50 Cent is hitting the road this summer for a global tour called The Final Lap that will kick off on July 21 with a show at the Maverik Center in Salt Lake City and keep him on the road through a planned Nov. 12 gig at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England.

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The Live Nation-produced outing is a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s 2003 debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, will feature a set list comprised of 50’s greatest hits and tracks he hasn’t performed live in decades according to a release. He will be joined on all the dates by his longtime friend Busta Rhymes and by Jeremih on the North American dates, with more guests to be announced later.

Fans can sign up for tickets for the North American leg via Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan, with registration open now through Sunday (May 7) at 11:59 p.m. ET.; click here to register. A limited amount of tickets will be available during a general onsale beginning May 12 at 10 a.m. local time here while supplies last. Presale tickets for the European leg will go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. local time on May 10, with the general on sale kicking off on May 12 at 10 a.m. local time here.

The Final Lap North American and European tour dates:

July 21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Maverik Center

July 23 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena

July 25 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

July 27 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center

July 28 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena

July 29 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center

July 31 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage

August 2 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre

August 3 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center

August 5 – Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater

August 6 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center

August 8 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live

August 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center

August 11 – Hartford, CT @ XFINITY Theatre

August 12 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

August 13 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

August 15 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

August 16 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion

August 17 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre

August 19 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

August 20 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

August 22 – Tuscaloosa, AL @ Tuscaloosa Amphitheater

August 24 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center

August 25 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion

August 27 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater

August 29 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

August 30 – Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena

August 31 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

Sept. 2 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre

Sept. 4 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center

Sept. 6 – Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

Sept. 7 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena

Sept. 8 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena

Sept. 10 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome

Sept. 11 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place

Sept. 13 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Centre

Sept. 15 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center

Sept. 16 – Chicago, IL @ United Center

Sept. 17 – Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre

Sept. 28 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome

Sept. 29 – Hamburg, Germany @ Barclays Arena

Sept. 30 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena

Oct. 4 – Oslo, Norway @ Spektrum*

Oct. 5 – Trondheim, Norway @ Spektrum*

Oct. 7 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Avicii Arena

Oct. 9 – Riga, Latvia @ Arena Riga*

Oct. 11 – Lodz Poland @ Atlas Arena

Oct. 14 – Berlin, Germany @ Mercedes-Benz Arena

Oct. 15 – Oberhausen, Germany @ Rudolf-Weber-Arena

Oct. 20 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion

Oct. 21 – Nice, France @ Palais Nikaia

Oct. 22 – Milan, Italy @ Mediolanum Forum

Oct. 24 – Munich, Germany @ Olympiahalle

Oct. 25 – Mannheim, Germany @ SAP Arena

Oct. 26 – Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National

Oct. 28 – Prague, Czech Republic @ O2 Arena

Oct. 31 – Strasbourg, France @ Zenith

Nov. 2 – Nantes, France @ Zenith

Nov. 3 – Paris, France @ La Defense Arena

Nov. 6 – Dublin, Ireland @ 3Arena

Nov. 9 – Glasgow, Scotland @ OVO Hydro

Nov. 10 – Manchester, England @ AO Arena

Nov. 11 – London, England @ The O2 

Nov. 12 – Birmingham, England @ Resorts World Arena

*Non-Live Nation date

04 May 2023

Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’ and Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ Both Up in Sales and Streams in Wake of Copyright Trial

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: The pop smashes on both sides of a major copyright dispute see gains, Nate Smith makes his case as country’s next reliable hitmaker and Luke Combs’ cover of an ’80s alt-folk classic gives it a sales boost.

Listeners Making Their Own Judgments in Ed Sheeran-Marvin Gaye Copyright Trial

It’s been a long week for global pop star Ed Sheeran, as he defended himself against claims of copyright infringement from the heirs of Ed Townsend, co-writer of Marvin Gaye‘s 1973 soul classic “Let’s Get It On.” Sheeran was accused of plagiarizing “Let’s Get It On” with his own Grammy-winning 2014 smash “Thinking Out Loud” — a charge that he not only strenuously denied, but threatened to quit music altogether if he was found guilty of it. (Today, the jury returned a not guilty verdict, so presumably fans will not have to go directly from the release of Sheeran’s – (Subtract) album this Friday, May 5, into mourning for his career.)

It may be cold comfort for Sheeran, but a small silver lining to his recent legal battle is that it’s drawn enough attention in news headlines and over social media over the past week to direct listeners back to the songs in question. “Thinking Out Loud” rose 15% in weekly on-demand official U.S. streams, from under 2.7 million for the tracking week ending April 20 to over three million the following week, according to Luminate — while also nearly tripling in sales, from under 400 to almost 1,100. And the numbers have also gone up for “Let’s Get It On,” which has risen 11% in streams (to around 900,000) and 93% in sales (to nearly 400) over that same period.

Clearly, listeners are interested in drawing their own conclusions about the similarities (or lack thereof) between the two songs as the trial goes on — and with the official verdict now in, the number of those independent investigations may still continue to climb. — ANDREW UNTERBERGER

Nate Smith’s Country Fans ‘Ship ‘Wreckage’

Much like Zach Bryan and Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith is a new-school country singer-songwriter beloved by the TikTok set, and the California native has leaned into app engagement, regularly teasing songs and even posting “duets” with fans who are lip-synching along with his tracks. “Wreckage,” a track from Smith’s self-titled debut album that was released last Friday (Apr. 28) on Arista Nashville, has been out since November, but the tender love song (“Laying in this bed beside you, I don’t have to hide away / You see all the wreckage, and it wrecks me that you stay,” Smith growls) keeps rising in streams in part due to TikTok engagement, as well as some prime placement on major streaming playlists.

“Wreckage” leads both Amazon Music’s Country Heat playlist and Spotify’s Hot Country this week — especially impressive, considering competition like Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” and Luke Combs’ “Fast Car.” And although the song has been hovering around 3 million weekly U.S. on-demand streams since the beginning of April, last week, as Smith went into full album-promo mode, that weekly total rose 44% to 4.68 million streams, according to Luminate.

Although “Wreckage” has yet to hit the Billboard Hot 100 — Smith’s previous single, “Whiskey on You,” peaked at No. 43 last year — that could change next week, if streams continue to rise and country fans, including Smith’s 1.5 million TikTok followers, delve into his first full-length. – JASON LIPSHUTZ

Tracy Chapman’s Original “Fast Car” Speeding Up in Song Sales

Country superstar Luke Combs‘ cover of alt-folk hero Tracy Chapman‘s 1988 smash “Fast Car” is one of the surprise breakout hits of 2023, climbing all the way to No. 14 on the Hot 100 — now just eight spots away from matching the peak of the original — and becoming one of the spring’s best-selling songs, reaching No. 3 on Billboard‘s Digital Song Sales listing.

While the cover has not resulted in a pronounced streaming uptick for Chapman’s version, its sales impact has carried over: The original “Fast Car” jumped 148% in digital song sales the week of Combs’ Gettin’ Old release week (the album with his cover) to nearly 800 copies, and that weekly sales number has continued to climb to nearly 1,000. The numbers are still relatively small, but if they continue to climb — or simply steady at a higher weekly number than it was doing two months ago — it could add up to a nice little annual bonus for the artist behind what Combs has called his “first favorite song.” – AU

04 May 2023

Mary J. Blige & Pepsi Announce Inaugural Strength of a Woman Scholarship

On the heels of Mary J. Blige’s second annual Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit in Atlanta (State Farm Arena, May 11-14), event co-presenter Pepsi announced it has partnered with Blige to present a scholarship to a deserving HBCU female student this fall. The forthcoming award is among $200,000 in donations to organizations and initiatives dedicated to securing empowerment, education, elevation and equity for Black women. 

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In addition to the inaugural PepsiCo x Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Scholarship, Pepsi is funding several local Atlanta organizations selected in collaboration with Blige. Focused on empowering women in the areas of wellness, technology, finance and creative arts, the chosen organizations include Silence the Shame, City of Refuge, Right Hand Foundation and Earth Girl ATL. 

“Between Pepsi and [music partner] Live Nation Urban, I have some great heavy hitters that are helping me to benefit our people and all the women who are coming out; that are helping to uplift, encourage, inspire, give back and donate,” Blige tells Billboard. “And speaking of donate, I’ve partnered with Pepsi to donate $200,000 on behalf of a college scholarship as well as organizations that support and amplify women across the city. To keep doing things like this to help the community is why I’ve partnered with such heavy hitters.”

Among Pepsi’s other programming initiatives at the Mother’s Day weekend event, which expanded to an additional day this year, is Pepsi Dig In. Supporting Atlanta-based female-operated, Black-owned restaurants, the platform will provide complimentary food from Ms. Icey’s Kitchen, Gocha’s Breakfast Bar, Twisted Soul and Local Green Atlanta. Pepsi will also turn its spotlight on Black women entrepreneurs and changemakers through its Stacy’s Rise Project and Doritos SOLID BLACK platform, hosting a dinner to honor women who have made an impact at the company and in the Atlanta community.

In a statement, PepsiCo senior vp, industry relations and multicultural development Kent Montgomery said, “The Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit has proven to be a powerful platform for Pepsi and its brands to create opportunities that bring long-lasting change to amplify and elevate women. This year, with even more events for fans to experience, we want to recognize, celebrate and support the voices of the community from the incredible onstage talent, including the iconic Mary J. Blige, to the on-the-ground local restauranteurs and entrepreneurs whose vision and passion inspire others.”

Mary J. Blige

Rounding out the four-day Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit are two nights of concerts and a comedy showcase. The former includes an R&B show starring Ms. Lauryn Hill, Summer Walker and Muni Long. The evening before will feature a special “MJB B-Sides” set in celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. Nine-time Grammy winner Blige and friends — Jodeci, Busta Rhymes, Jeezy, Jadakiss, Method Man and DJ Drama — will roll out rarely performed hits.

Says Blige of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, “It means so much because we held on to our voices and to our expression. And we continue to give and to inspire other generations to speak their truth through hip-hop. And that makes me feel good. As for the show that night, you’ve just got to come and see.”

Closing out the festival on May 14 will be a new event, The Purpose Ball. It will honor the LGBTQAI community and feature a special performance by Saucy Santana. “The Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit is about showing love and the LGBTQAI community is a part of our community,” says Blige. “We love and support them.”

Tying in with her festival theme, Blige executive produced two Lifetime original movies through her Blue Butterfly production banner. Borrowing their titles from her catalog of hits, both will premiere in June: Mary J. Blige’s Real Love (June 10) and Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman (June 17). 

“At the end of the day, real love is something we’re all searching for,” notes Blige. “But once we find it for real, we find it in ourselves. And that’s when we become really strong women.”

04 May 2023

Terri Clark, Trooper & More to Be Inducted Into Canadian Music Hall of Fame

Country singer Terri Clark, rock band Trooper, French Canadian singer Diane Dufresne and veteran jazz pianist Dr. Oliver Jones will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame on May 18 at Studio Bell in Calgary, Alberta.

The induction ceremony, presented by Music Canada, is set to stream live at 9 p.m. ET on CBC Gem, CBCMusic.ca/junos and on CBC Music’s Facebook and YouTube pages. This is the second iteration of the event, which was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets are on sale now at junoawards.ca. 

Clark, Trooper and Dufresne will take the stage to perform. Robi Botos and jazz vocalist Ranee Lee will perform in tribute to Jones, who will accept his honor in person.

Jann Arden, a 2021 Canadian Music Hall of Fame recipient, will induct Clark, who featured Arden on her 2012 recording of the country staple “Leavin’ on Your Mind.”

Deborah Cox will make a special appearance, following her 2022 induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and her performance at the 2022 JUNO Awards.

“The breadth of talent involved in this year’s event is a true testament to what Canadian musicians are capable of – global influence, record-breaking success and immense creativity,” Allan Reid, president and CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards & MusiCounts, said in a statement.

Clark has placed seven albums in the top half of the Billboard 200, topped by Greatest Hits 1994-2004, which rose to No. 14 in 2004. Clark’s albums have included collabs with such stars as Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Reba McEntire, Dierks Bentley and Tanya Tucker. She has also placed seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100, topped by “I Just Wanna Be Mad,” which reached No. 27 in 2003.

Trooper cracked the Billboard 200 in 1978 with Thick as Thieves. The album included the band’s only Hot 100 single, “Raise a Little Hell.”

Established in 1978, The Canadian Music Hall of Fame was created to acknowledge artists who have contributed to the recognition of Canadian music globally. Previous honorees include Nickelback, who received the honor on this year’s Juno Awards broadcast in March; Gordon Lightfoot, who died earlier this week; Alanis Morissette, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Barenaked Ladies, Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Oscar Peterson, RUSH, The Guess Who, The Tragically Hip, Sarah McLachlan and Shania Twain.

04 May 2023

Anitta Admits She Was So ‘Nervous’ to Meet Madonna That She Got Sick: ‘I Was Feeling Bad’

Anitta stopped by The Howard Stern Show on Wednesday (May 3) for a no-holds-barred chat about her bisexuality and, well, getting diarrhea before meeting Madonna.

Pressed by the host about whether dating women was “still on the table” for her, the “Envolver” singer responded with a hesitant yes, saying, “I haven’t been with a woman in a while. No, I don’t think I would fall in love with a woman. But I wouldn’t say never, I wouldn’t say never.”

One female artist Anitta certainly got nervous to meet was Her Madgesty — to the point that the encounter sent her running for the bathroom.

“I got there a little earlier than her,” the Brazilian star said of their session to record “Faz Gosoto” for 2019’s Madame X. “Thank god, ’cause then I had time to take a s–t. Crazy. I was feeling bad, like, you know when you’re too nervous and you just get [mimics grumbling sounds]? My stomach was just going crazy … She would know this probably now, but at the time she didn’t, which was great.”

Elsewhere during the chat, Anitta plugged her intimate perfume Puzzy. “This is a spray that you spray in your most intimate areas?” asked a curious Stern, to which she replied, “In your p—y, in your butt, in your d–k, in your balls — everything … [It’s for] men, women, everybody.”

Just days before the interview, the Latin superstar — who recently inked a new record deal with Republic Records after publicly parting ways with longtime label Warner Music Group — attended both the star-studded party to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Tiffany & Co. flagship store in New York City and the even grander 2023 Met Gala.

Watch Anitta hold nothing back on Howard Stern below.

04 May 2023

BTS’ Jung Kook Begs Fans to Stop Sending Food to His House: ‘I Won’t Eat It’

Jung Kook is getting a little fed up with unsolicited attempts to feed him. In a Thursday (May 4) post on Weverse, the BTS star pleaded with fans to stop sending food to his house, noting he’ll take action if the deliveries don’t let up anytime soon.

“Don’t send home delivery food,” the 25-year-old K-pop star wrote in a message translated from Korean to English by the app. “I won’t eat it even if you give it to me. I’m thankful, but I eat well. You can buy it yourself.”

“I beg you,” Jung Kook continued. “If you send it one more time, I will check the receipt order number you sent and take action. So stop it.”

Following the “Left and Right” singer’s post, ARMY took to Twitter to back Jung Kook’s request — so much so, the phrase “respect his privacy” trended on the platform. “This is actually getting out of hand,” tweeted one fan. “sending him food delivery literally on his address u all have lost humanity he is literally begging at this point.”

“I wish jungkook would have really took some action already,” wrote another. “No need to be so kind to anyone who can’t even respect his privacy. He must feel so uneasy and maybe even scared. Some of you really need to stop overstepping your facking boundaries boundaries.”

According to fans, this isn’t the first time Jung Kook has had his personal boundaries invaded. Many are recirculating a video from a past Weverse livestream in which the musician — according to translated subtitles — asks ARMY not to show up and/or harass him while he works out.

“I’m a human too,” he reminds viewers, according to the subtitles.

See fan reactions to Jung Kook’s plea for privacy below:

04 May 2023

Jon Bon Jovi Reveals His Pick For Greatest Guitarist Of All-Time During Surprise Howard Stern Pop-In

During Howard Stern’s trip to Miami this week to help open SiriusXM’s new studios, he sat down with his old pal Jon Bon Jovi for some serious talk about rock and roll. In between his incessant complaining about being forced by his bosses to leave the house after working from home for the past three years, Stern took time to ask Bon Jovi singer Jon Bon Jovi to play one of his favorite games: who is the greatest guitarist of all time?

“Beck,” Bon Jovi said without hesitation during the surprise studio pop-in. “Jeff Beck,” he confirmed of the legendary guitarist who died in January at 78 as a surprised Stern rattled off the list of artists he expected the singer to mention, including Jimi Hendrix. “Jimi Hendrix, would of course be in the starting lineup, but you put me on the spot,” said Bon Jovi. Stern’s inquisition went on, with the host dropping names including Eddie Van Halen and Prince, with the latter seconded by Bon Jovi’s wife, Dorothea.

“Eddie, Prince… all different, but I was in the room with Jeff Beck when he took a guitar out of a cardboard box with a rented amplifier and no pedals and created that sound when we did the ‘Young Guns’ record and he was my guitar player,” Bon Jovi said of the solo Young Guns II soundtrack collab with Beck on the 1990 Billboard No. 1 hit “Blaze of Glory.”

“I sat there flabbergasted because Jeff Beck did things with his fingers, with his thumb that would blow your mind,” Bon Jovi recalled, then listing Hendrix, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler as greats as well, noting that while all stellar, it really comes down to their songwriting ability as well.

The guitar talk came after Stern’s wife, Beth, arrived with her surprise guests in the spanking new studio, with the host welcoming the couple in, then promptly insisting on the lascivious details of how they celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary. Dorothea then admitted that Jon was always the cutest boy in high school while the rocker reminisced about his long friendship with fellow New Jersey icon Bruce Springsteen, including the first time they played together when Bon Jovi was just 17-years-old.

The old pals — Stern very reluctantly inducted Bon Jovi into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 2018 — also reminisced about the recent hourslong car ride they took at Jon’s insistence to get Stern out of the house after his extended COVID lockdown.

Check out Bon Jovi talking Beck, their three-hour dar ride and more below.

04 May 2023

Record Store Day 2023’s Top Sellers: Taylor Swift, Pearl Jam, The Cure, Stevie Nicks & More

New releases from Taylor Swift, Pearl Jam, The Cure, Stevie Nicks and more were among the top sellers from Record Store Day 2023 in the United States, according to data tracking firm Luminate.

Swift’s vinyl debut of her acoustic live set Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions leads the best-sellers among the albums released for the annual indie record store celebration. The vinyl debut of Pearl Jam’s concert album Give Way, recorded on March 5, 1998, during its Yield Tour, was the second-biggest title. (See lists below, which are ranked by album sales generated in the week ending April 27.)

Dozens of unique and limited-edition albums and singles, mostly vinyl pressings, are released for Record Store Day. Often, these titles will be produced in relatively small quantities, though Swift’s Long Pond had an extraordinarily large number of albums available: 75,000 in the U.S. She sold through the entire pressing, and the album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart dated May 6. (Typically, a high-profile Record Store Day title might have a production run of 10,000 – 25,000.)

Tied for the third-biggest Record Store Day 2023 albums are The Cure’s picture disc release of the live album Show and Nicks’ Bella Donna: Live 1981. The former was recorded during The Cure’s 1992 Wish album tour, while the latter was recorded during Nicks’ White Winged Dove Tour on Dec. 13, 1981. (Thus, the top four Record Store Day albums were all live efforts.)

Top-Selling Record Store Day 2023 Exclusive Albums at Independent Record Stores in U.S.
Rank, Artist, Title

1. Taylor Swift, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (grey colored double vinyl)
2. Pearl Jam, Give Way (double vinyl)
3 (TIE). The Cure, Show (double vinyl picture disc)
3 (TIE). Stevie Nicks, Bella Donna: Live 1981 (double vinyl)
5 (TIE). Grateful Dead, Boston Garden, Boston, MA 5.7.77 (five vinyl LP box set)
5 (TIE). The Rolling Stones, Beggars Banquet (swirl-colored vinyl)
7. Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes: B-Sides (vinyl)
8. Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, The Sound Emporium EP (vinyl)
9. Larry Lovestein & The Velvet Revival, You (gold-colored 10-inch vinyl)
10. The Ramones, Pleasant Dreams (vinyl)
11. Beach House, Become (crystal clear-colored vinyl)
12. Billy Joel, Live at the Great American Music Hall, 1975 (double vinyl)
13. The Allman Brothers Band, Syria Mosque Pittsburgh, PA January 17, 1971 (steel grey-colored double vinyl)
14. Van Halen, Live: Right Here, Right Now (four vinyl LP set)
15. Jerry Garcia Band, How Sweet It Is… (double vinyl)
16. Madonna, American Life: Mixshow Mix (Honoring Peter Rauhofer) (180 gram vinyl)
17. Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Return to the 36 Chambers (double vinyl picture disc)
18. Miles Davis, Turnaround: Rare Miles From the Complete On the Corner Sessions (sky blue-colored vinyl)
19. Dolly Parton, The Monument Singles Collection: 1964-1968 (vinyl)
20. Chet Baker, Chet (180 gram vinyl)
21 (TIE). The Black Keys, Live at Beachland Tavern March 31, 2002 (tangerine-colored vinyl)
22 (TIE). Paul McCartney and Wings, Red Rose Speedway (half-speed vinyl)
23. Blur, Blur Present the Special Collectors Edition (colored double vinyl)
24. Tom Tom Club, Tom Tom Club (Expanded Edition) (double vinyl)
25 (TIE). Sisters of Mercy, The Reptile House E.P. (smoky-colored vinyl)
25 (TIE). Various Artists, Jazz Dispensary: Hotel Jolie Dame (psych-sunset orange marble-colored vinyl)
25 (TIE). Wilco, Crosseyed Strangers: An Alternate Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (vinyl)

Top-Selling Record Store Day 2023 Exclusive Singles at Independent Record Stores in U.S.
Rank, Artist, Title

1. The Mars Volta, Frances the Mute / The Widow (12-inch vinyl)
2. U2, Two Hearts Beat as One / Sunday Bloody Sunday (180-gram 12-inch white-colored vinyl)
3. Motley Crue, Helter Skelter (12-inch picture disc vinyl)
4. Post Malone, Waiting for Never / Hateful (12-inch translucent red-colored vinyl)
5. Fleetwood Mac, Albatross / Jigsaw Puzzle Blues (12-inch vinyl)
6. Bjork, The Fossora Remixes (12-inch vinyl)
7 (TIE). Maya Hawke, To Love a Boy / Stay Open (7-inch vinyl)
7 (TIE). Sam Smith & Kim Petras, Unholy (colored 7-inch vinyl)
9. The Doors, Break on Through (3-inch vinyl)
10. The Doors, Love Her Madly (3-inch vinyl)

Source: Luminate, for the week ending April 27, 2023

04 May 2023

Record Store Day 2023 Gives Indie Stores Biggest Boost in 15 Years

Record Store Day once again spurred big sales of music on vinyl and at independent record stores in the United States, according to data tracking firm Luminate – resulting in some eye-popping numbers.

This year’s edition of the indie record store celebration, held on April 22, helped sell 1.809 million vinyl albums in total across all retailers and sellers (not just indie stores) in the U.S. in the week ending April 27, according to Luminate. That sum marks a record number of vinyl albums sold in a Record Store Day (RSD) week (including Black Friday-related RSD celebrations), and the fourth-largest week for vinyl album sales since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991.

RSD 2023 also drove a modern-era record of 1.426 million vinyl albums sold in the U.S. at independent record stores April 21-27. That is the largest week ever for the format at the indie sector in Luminate history, since the company began tracking sales in 1991. It surpasses the previous Luminate-era high for weekly vinyl album sales at indies, with 1.012 million sold in the week ending April 28, 2022 (during RSD 2022). (Vinyl was so big at indies – 79% of all vinyl albums sold that week, industry-wide, were sold through indie record stores.)

Further, independent record stores sold 1.673 million albums in total across all formats (vinyl, CD, cassette, etc.) in the week ending April 27 – marking the biggest album sales week at indie stores since at least before January 2008, when Luminate began archiving data specific to this sector. Fifty-seven percent of all albums sold in the U.S. (across all formats, both physical and digital) in the week ending April 27 were sold via independent record stores.

Traditionally, Record Store Day is held on one Saturday in the springtime, when hundreds of albums (and many singles) are released specifically for the event, and available only at participating independent record stores. (In 2020 and 2021, RSD celebrations were heavily altered and spread across multiple events [dubbed “Drops”] due to COVID-19, while the event was mostly back to its pre-pandemic self for the 2022 edition, and it was business as usual for the 2023 installment.)

Among the unique titles that hit shelves for Record Store Day 2023: the vinyl debut of Taylor Swift’s acoustic live set Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (pressed on grey-colored double vinyl, in a massive 75,000-production run in the U.S. – an unusually high quantity for a RSD title), the vinyl and CD debut of Pearl Jam’s 1998 concert recording Give Way, the vinyl premiere of Stevie Nicks’ Bella Donna: Live 1981 concert recording, Tori Amos’ Little Earthquakes: B-Sides on vinyl and a reissue of The Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet on grey, blue, black and white swirl-colored vinyl. All five releases are among the top-selling RSD-exclusive titles for the week (see lists, below).

The husband-and-wife team of Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires (Record Store Day Ambassadors for 2023) gifted RSD with two releases: a four-track EP from the duo (The Sound Emporium EP) and a four-track EP from Shires (Live at Columbia Studio A) that includes a guest appearance from Isbell.

Here are some facts on Record Store Day 2023’s impact, plus a look at the top-selling Record Store Day-exclusive albums and singles:

(All data is according to Luminate, for the week ending April 27, 2023, in the U.S, unless otherwise indicated. Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991. References to the Luminate era mean from 1991-onwards.)

Industry-wide total album sales in U.S. across all formats (physical [including CD, vinyl, cassettes, etc.] and digital downloads): 2.923 million – up 44.4% compared to the previous week (2.02 million). It’s the largest album sales week in 2023.

The last larger week was the week ending Dec. 22, 2022, when 3.897 million albums were sold. (Outside of the holiday shopping season – from the week containing Thanksgiving through the end of the year – the last larger week was the frame ending April 26, 2018, during RSD 2018, when 3.267 million albums were sold.)

Industry-wide total physical album sales in U.S. (CD, vinyl, cassette, etc.): 2.583 million – up 54.3% compared to the previous week (1.675 million). It’s the largest sales week for physical album sales in 2023.

The last bigger week was the week ending Dec. 22, 2022, when 3.526 million physical albums were sold. (Outside of the holiday shopping season – from the week containing Thanksgiving through the end of the year – the last larger week was the frame ending Feb. 18, 2016, when 2.710 million physical albums were sold.)

Industry-wide CD album sales in U.S.: 760,000 – up 9.6% compared to the previous week (693,000).

Industry-wide vinyl album sales in U.S.: 1.809 million – up 878.5% compared to the previous week (965,000).

That 1.809 million sum translates to a record number of vinyl albums sold in any Record Store Day-related week (including Black Friday-related RSD festivities) and the fourth-largest week for vinyl album sales since Luminate began tracking data in 1991. It’s also the biggest week outside of the holiday shopping season for vinyl album sales, in the Luminate era.

The largest week for vinyl album sales in the Luminate era occurred in the week ending Dec. 22, 2022, when 2.232 million vinyl albums were sold. The Nos. 2-5 largest weeks are: week ending Dec. 23, 2021 (2.115 million); Dec. 24, 2020 (1.842 million); April 27, 2023 (1.809 million; includes RSD 2023) and Dec. 29, 2022 (1.57 million).

62% of all albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were vinyl albums (1.809 million of 2.922 million). For context, year-to-date, vinyl albums comprise 48% of all album sales (16.296 million of 33.707 million).

70% of all physical albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were vinyl albums (1.809 million of 2.583 million). Year-to-date, vinyl albums represent 59% of all physical album sales (16.296 million of 27.699 million).

Independent store album sales in U.S.: 1.673 million – up 112% compared to the previous week (789,000). That marks the biggest album sales week at indie stores since at least before January 2008, when Luminate began archiving data specific to this sector.

Independent store CD album sales in U.S.: 238,000 – up 11% compared to the previous week (216,000). It’s the largest sales week for CD album sales at indie stores in 2023. The last bigger week was the week ending Dec. 22, 2022, when 268,000 CD albums were sold at indies. (Outside of the holiday shopping season, the last bigger week for CD album sales at indies was in the frame ending March 12, 2020, when 239,000 CD albums were sold in the indie sector.)

Independent store vinyl album sales in U.S.: 1.426 million – up 152% compared to the previous week (566,000). That marks the largest week ever for the format at the indie sector since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991. It surpasses the previous Luminate-era high for weekly vinyl album sales at indies, with 1.012 sold in the week ending April 28, 2022 (during the week of Record Store Day 2022).

57% of all albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were sold via independent record stores (1.672 million of 2.922 million). For context, year-to-date, indie store album sales comprise 37% of all album sales (12.459 million of 33.707 million).

65% of all physical albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were sold via independent record stores (1.672 million of 2.583 million). Year-to-date, 45% of all physical albums sold in the U.S. were sold via indie stores (12.459 million of 27.699 million).

79% of all vinyl albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were sold via independent record stores (1.426 million of 1.809 million). Year-to-date, 57% of all vinyl albums were sold via indie record stores (9.317 million of 16.296 million).

49% of all albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were vinyl albums sold via independent record stores (1.426 million of 2.922 million). Year-to-date, 28% of all albums sold in the U.S. have been vinyl albums via indie record stores (9.317 million of 33.707 million).

55% of all physical albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were vinyl albums sold via independent record stores (1.426 million of 2.583 million). Year-to-date, 34% of all physical albums sold in the U.S. have been vinyl albums sold via indie record stores (9.317 million of 27.699 million).

57% of vinyl albums sold via independent record stores in the U.S. in the week ending April 27 were of the rock genre (814,723 of 1.426 million). Fifty-six percent of all vinyl albums sold industry wide in the U.S. were rock titles (1,013,297 of 1,809,301 million). Year-to-date, the rock genre comprises 57% of vinyl albums sold through indie record stores (5,353,048 million of 9.317 million). While rock holds 54% of all vinyl albums sold industry wide (8.722 million of 16.296 million).

Top-Selling Record Store Day 2023 Exclusive Albums at Independent Record Stores in U.S.
Rank, Artist, Title

1. Taylor Swift, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (grey colored double vinyl)
2. Pearl Jam, Give Way (double vinyl)
3 (TIE). The Cure, Show (double vinyl picture disc)
3 (TIE). Stevie Nicks, Bella Donna: Live 1981 (double vinyl)
5 (TIE). Grateful Dead, Boston Garden, Boston, MA 5.7.77 (five vinyl LP box set)
5 (TIE). The Rolling Stones, Beggars Banquet (swirl-colored vinyl)
7. Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes: B-Sides (vinyl)
8. Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, The Sound Emporium EP (vinyl)
9. Larry Lovestein & The Velvet Revival, You (gold-colored 10-inch vinyl)
10. The Ramones, Pleasant Dreams (vinyl)
11. Beach House, Become (crystal clear-colored vinyl)
12. Billy Joel, Live at the Great American Music Hall, 1975 (double vinyl)
13. The Allman Brothers Band, Syria Mosque Pittsburgh, PA January 17, 1971 (steel grey-colored double vinyl)
14. Van Halen, Live: Right Here, Right Now (four vinyl LP set)
15. Jerry Garcia Band, How Sweet It Is… (double vinyl)
16. Madonna, American Life: Mixshow Mix (Honoring Peter Rauhofer) (180 gram vinyl)
17. Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Return to the 36 Chambers (double vinyl picture disc)
18. Miles Davis, Turnaround: Rare Miles From the Complete On the Corner Sessions (sky blue-colored vinyl)
19. Dolly Parton, The Monument Singles Collection: 1964-1968 (vinyl)
20. Chet Baker, Chet (180 gram vinyl)
21 (TIE). The Black Keys, Live at Beachland Tavern March 31, 2002 (tangerine-colored vinyl)
22 (TIE). Paul McCartney and Wings, Red Rose Speedway (half-speed vinyl)
23. Blur, Blur Present the Special Collectors Edition (colored double vinyl)
24. Tom Tom Club, Tom Tom Club (Expanded Edition) (double vinyl)
25 (TIE). Sisters of Mercy, The Reptile House E.P. (smoky-colored vinyl)
25 (TIE). Various Artists, Jazz Dispensary: Hotel Jolie Dame (psych-sunset orange marble-colored vinyl)
25 (TIE). Wilco, Crosseyed Strangers: An Alternate Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (vinyl)

Top-Selling Record Store Day 2023 Exclusive Singles at Independent Record Stores in U.S.
Rank, Artist, Title
1. The Mars Volta, Frances the Mute / The Widow (12-inch vinyl)
2. U2, Two Hearts Beat as One / Sunday Bloody Sunday (180-gram 12-inch white-colored vinyl)
3. Motley Crue, Helter Skelter (12-inch picture disc vinyl)
4. Post Malone, Waiting for Never / Hateful (12-inch translucent red-colored vinyl)
5. Fleetwood Mac, Albatross / Jigsaw Puzzle Blues (12-inch vinyl)
6. Bjork, The Fossora Remixes (12-inch vinyl)
7 (TIE). Maya Hawke, To Love a Boy / Stay Open (7-inch vinyl)
7 (TIE). Sam Smith & Kim Petras, Unholy (colored 7-inch vinyl)
9. The Doors, Break on Through (3-inch vinyl)
10. The Doors, Love Her Madly (3-inch vinyl)

Source: Luminate, for the week ending April 27, 2023