Music

27 Apr 2023

Joey Moi Sets New Record for Most Weeks Spent at No. 1 on Hot 100 Producers Chart

Joey Moi makes history on Billboard’s Hot 100 Producers chart, as he scores a 28th total week at No. 1 (on the list dated April 29), surpassing Dan Nigro for the most weeks spent on top in the chart’s five-year history.

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Moi continues his reign thanks to 13 production credits on the latest Billboard Hot 100, nearly all of which are from Morgan Wallen’s latest album, One Thing at a Time. The set tallies a seventh consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Leading Moi’s Hot 100 haul is “Last Night” at No. 2, after spending three weeks at No. 1. Here’s a recap of all 13 of his production credits on the latest chart:

Rank, Artist Billing, Title:
No. 2, Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
No. 18, Morgan Wallen, “You Proof”
No. 22, Morgan Wallen, “Thinkin’ Bout Me”
No. 24, Morgan Wallen, “One Thing at a Time”
No. 25, Morgan Wallen, “Thought You Should Know”
No. 34, HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson, “Wait in the Truck”
No. 61, Morgan Wallen, “Ain’t That Some”
No. 64, Morgan Wallen, “Everything I Love”
No. 66, Morgan Wallen, “I Wrote the Book”
No. 67, Morgan Wallen feat. ERNEST, “Cowgirls”
No. 68, Morgan Wallen feat. Eric Church, “Man Made a Bar”
No. 84, Morgan Wallen, “Sunrise”
No. 98, Morgan Wallen, “‘98 Braves”

Notably, all 36 of One Thing at a Time’s tracks hit the Hot 100 in the set’s debut chart week (March 18), setting a new one-week record for Wallen for the most simultaneously-charted titles.

With his 28th week at No. 1 on Hot 100 Producers, Moi surpasses Dan Nigro, who scored 27 weeks on top, all in 2021, thanks to his work on Olivia Rodrigo’s LP Sour, fueled most heavily by its two No. 1 Hot 100 hits, “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U.”

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot 100 Producers:
28, Joey Moi
27, Dan Nigro
18, Louis Bell
14, Greg Kurstin
13, MAG
11, Owen Bradley
9, 30Roc
8, Finneas
7, Dr. Luke
7, OZ
7, Taylor Swift

Moi concurrently scores a record-extending 105th week at No. 1 on the Country Producers chart. He’s just the second person to amass at least 100 weeks at No. 1 on a Billboard producers chart, along with Tainy (119 weeks atop Latin Producers).

Billboard’s weekly Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts are based on total points accrued by a songwriter and producer, respectively, for each attributed song that appears on the Hot 100. As with Billboard’s yearly recaps, multiple writers or producers split points for each song equally (and the dividing of points will lead to occasional ties on rankings). Billboard launched its Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts, as well as genre-specific rankings for country, rock & alternative, R&B/hip-hop, R&B, rap, Latin, Christian, gospel and dance/electronic in June 2019. Alternative and hard rock joined in 2020, along with seasonal holiday rankings in 2022.

27 Apr 2023

8 Highlights of ‘The Power of Song: A Songwriters Hall of Fame Exhibit’ at Grammy Museum in L.A.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame hosted a preview of a new exhibit devoted to songwriters at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on Wednesday April 26. At least nine SHOF inductees were present, including Charles Fox, Steve Dorff, Jimmy Jam, Holly Knight, Billy Steinberg, Rick Nowels, Mike Stoller, Jimmy Webb and Diane Warren.

The exhibit, which occupies an entire floor of the Grammy Museum, has a treasure trove of artifacts and memorabilia on display. Linda Moran, president and CEO of the SHOF, personally twisted arms to get songwriters, or their families, to loan out prized items.

One display case focuses on recipients of the Hal David Starlight Award, which goes to current writers at the peak of their game, who have not yet been inducted into the SHOF (but in many cases, probably will be). This brought in memorabilia by such younger writers as John Legend, Taylor Swift, Benny Blanco, Ne-Yo and Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons).

A mural on a side wall captured historical music moments from 1828 to the present. The oldest entries included Stephen Foster writing “Oh! Susanna” (1847), Thomas Edison inventing the phonograph (1877), the first issue of Billboard (1894) and Scott Joplin publishing “Maple Leaf Rag” (1899).  The newest entries included the launch of YouTube (2005), the debut of the iPhone (2007), Jay-Z becoming the first hip-hop artist in the SHOF (2017) and the spate of catalog sales by such top songwriters as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen (the 2020s).   

Here are eight items showcased in the exhibit that especially caught our eye.

27 Apr 2023

Jelly Roll Puts His Spin on George Jones’ ‘Bartender’s Blues’

“Son of a Sinner” hitmaker Jelly Roll is known for a music career that has incorporated modern country, rock and hip-hop elements. But during a recent performance in Huntsville, Ala., as part of an all-star tribute concert to the late George Jones, Jelly Roll proved he can take on a country classic just fine.

During an all-star tribute concert in honor of the 10th anniversary of the death of Country Music Hall of Famer Jones, who died April 26, 2013 at age 81, Jelly Roll offered a cover of Jones’ 1978 classic “Bartender’s Blues.” The track was written by James Taylor, who included it on his 1977 album JT, before Jones recorded it the next year, as the title track of his Bartender’s Blues album (with Taylor offering harmony vocals). Jones’ version became a top 10 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in 1978. Jones would later re-record the song on his 1994 album The Bradley Barn Sessions, this time in collaboration with Trisha Yearwood.

Joining Jelly Roll on the bill for the Alabama tribute show that evening were artists including Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Jamey Johnson, Justin Moore, Lorrie Morgan, Mark Chesnutt, Michael Ray, Sam Moore, Tanya Tucker, Tracy Lawrence, Trace Adkins, Tracy Byrd, Travis Tritt, Wynonna Judd, Joe Nichols, Randy Travis and Sara Evans. The concert was also taped to air on PBS later this year.

Jelly Roll recently dominated the CMT Music Awards, held in Austin, Texas earlier this month. Jelly Roll took home male video of the year, breakthrough male video of the year (both for his “Son of a Sinner” video), and the CMT digital-first performance of the year honor, for his performance of “Son of a Sinner” on CMT All Access.

Listen to Jelly Roll’s cover of “Bartender Blues” in the video above.

27 Apr 2023

Gracie Abrams Gushes Over Taylor Swift Dedicating Surprise Song ‘Clean’ to Her on Eras Tour

Part of Taylor Swift‘s magic is her ability to make individual fans feel like she’s singing directly to them. But in Gracie Abrams‘ case, Swift actually was when she dedicated “Clean,” the April 1 Eras Tour show surprise song and a favorite of Abrams’, to the 23-year-old indie pop star.

Abrams has previously shared that she had no idea Swift — her idol since childhood — was going to make such a sweet gesture that night in Arlington, Texas, which marked the “21” singer’s first of several nights as an opener for the Eras Tour‘s North American leg. And in a recent interview with Teen Vogue, she reflected on how special the moment was for her as a lifelong Swiftie.

“I don’t think I realized the scale at which that one means something to everyone,” she told the publication. “That’s the thing about Taylor’s music. When one of her songs lands in a specific place in your life, it feels like you’re the only person in the world who has that extreme of a connection to the song.”

“I felt so grateful to hear it in that way, so stripped and raw,” Abrams continued. “That song has been kind of a constant security blanket since it came out. I have so many little memories listening to that song at times when I needed it. To hear her so thoughtfully dedicate it, I was like, ‘I could die now and be totally thrilled.’”

The L.A. native also got candid about how nerve-racking it can be to warm up a stadium-sized audience before Swift’s shows, saying she stays grounded while performing by keeping her eyes trained on the fans closest to her. “Otherwise,” says the “21” singer, “I think I would only be able to think about how I’m playing on the same stage as my favorite artist in the world, and she’s granting me that opportunity, and how did life get from being 10 years old and crying to her music in my room to being on this stage and celebrating her career in this way?”

Abrams has fully embraced how her fandom for Swift has become a core part of her own artistic identity, never shying away from the topic in interviews. In February, as she was gearing up to release her debut album Good Riddance, the “I Know it Won’t Work” artist told Billboard that Swift’s friendship and professional solidarity “means so much” to her.

“She’s as spectacular a person and friend as she is an artist, writer, director,” she continued. “She’s really that great. To be able to lean on her in any capacity really means a lot. The opportunity [to open for the Eras Tour] is so outrageous… I feel like I don’t even really believe it’s real. I’m so stoked to watch her crush it every single night. To see her up close in that way and be able to study that is the greatest gift.”

See photos from Gracie Abrams’ Teen Vogue shoot below.

27 Apr 2023

Yng Lvcas Is Spotlighting the Rise of Mexican Reggaetón With His Smash Hit ‘La Bebe’

Yng Lvcas knew he wanted to become an artist the very first time he performed at a musical in school. In fact, his creative tick took him from acting to dancing, DJ’ing, vlogging and ultimately songwriting and singing. 

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He started exploring the music industry, especially the reggaetón and Latin trap realms, in 2015. He was inspired by acts such as Arcángel, Bad Bunny, Anuel AA and Snoop Dogg, and from the ages of 14 to 21, he “took advantage to polish his sound, see what style [he] liked or didn’t, prepared songs, saved money and invested in equipment,” he tells Billboard. 

“This was my plan: release music, get known, and once I had a following, release a hit,” he says. But fate had other plans. 

In 2021, the Guanatos-born artist unleashed the eight-track EP Wup? Mixtape1 that was all corridos, and included a preview of a reggaetón track called “La Bebe.” He quickly realized that fans were intrigued by the catchy beat and saucy hooks of that song, and decided to drop the all-reggaetón set LPM that same year. 

“I love corridos,” he explains. “But doing corridos in Mexico is like putting the best taco spot when there are 20,000 taco spots. So, what was key? Everyone is doing corridos [in Mexico], let me try doing reggaetón in Mexico. What my heart says and wants at that moment, I’ll do. My heart said: ‘Guey, people are liking ‘La Bebe,’ you know you have good reggaetón, so drop it.’”

“La Bebe,” a track about a pretty girl who likes to dance reggaetón, quickly gained virality across TikTok and social media in 2021-2022. A remix, accompanied by another then-newcomer from Mexico named Peso Pluma, officially dropped in March 2023. 

On the Billboard charts, the remix has already peaked at No. 2 on Hot Latin Songs (dated April 15, 2023) and No. 12 on the Hot 100 (dated April 29, 2023), in addition to making the top 10 of both the Global 200 and the Global Excl. U.S. charts. 

But despite his rapid success, the 23-year-old chart-breaker admits that in the beginning, very few people believed in him. “Today I have a team but I’m not going to lie. I started alone. Nobody believed in me, nobody supported me,” he recalls. “I was looking to make good videos and I had no budget, I only had like 12,000 pesos to invest in videos and no one gave me a hand. Since no one wanted to join my project, I went to YouTube to investigate how to edit. That’s why I don’t appear in any of my early videos — because I was behind the camera. I had one friend who taught me how to use the programs and my mom bought me equipment.” 

But thanks to “La Bebe,” he can now put the new wave of Mexican reggaetón in the spotlight. “The song is giving me success and all, but the best thing is that people are liking the project and the music,” he says. “People actually thought I was Ecuadorean, Chilean or Colombian. Why didn’t they think I was Mexican? I’ve very patriotic, and it makes me feel that in Mexico, there’s still a lot to be done to be heard. I am excited, because there is a lot of talent behind me and much higher than me too — and we hope that little by little, people will turn to see reggaetón music in Mexico.”

Below, learn more about this month’s Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise:

Name: Daniel Oswaldo Donlucas Martinez 

Age: 23

Recommended Song: “La Bebe (Remix)”

Major Accomplishment: “What I’ve achieved in such little time is positioning myself. Thanks to the song [‘La Bebe’], I’m meeting people who I admire and respect, and at some point, in my life, I thought meeting them was far-fetched. I’m telling you, my plan was designed to make trap music for two years, and do corridos for another year or so, but imagine, everything happened as a boom. So, I feel thankful to my family who has supported me, and those who surround me, and who add to my life.”

What’s Next: “Reggaetón and full collabs. Right now I’m working on corridos, trap, and drill music but I want to focus on making more reggaetón and collaborations. I don’t want to say with whom yet, because then the plans can be ruined — but I can assure you that they are collabs with strong artists I listen to.”

Get tickets to the first-ever #BBMujeresLatinas on May 6 in Miami: billboardmujeresenlamusica.com

27 Apr 2023

Priyanka Chopra Admits She Didn’t Give Nick Jonas ‘Much of a Chance’ at First

Priyanka Chopra opened up about the start of her relationship with Nick Jonas in a new interview on Thursday (April 27), and revealed it was a relationship that almost wasn’t!

“I didn’t give it much of a chance because, I was like, ‘He’s 25 years old, he’s a rockstar. I want to get married, I want to settle down, I want to have a baby,’” the Citadel star explained in TODAY‘s first-ever cover story. “I was 35 at the time. I wanted stability, and I didn’t give Nick enough credit until I went out with him on our first date. We spent the whole evening together, and I realized my husband is just like an old soul. He’s stability in human form.”

The Jonas Brothers singer persevered, and they were eventually married in two separate, lavish ceremonies in Jodhpur, India — one Hindu and one Christian — back in 2019. Nowadays, they’re parents to baby Malti Marie, and Chopra reflected in her conversation with Hoda Kotb about the tot’s scary, premature arrival.

Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra

Phylicia J. L. Munn for TODAY

“I remember he just held me by my shoulders,” she said of Jonas, “and I said, ‘Just tell me what to do, because I don’t know what to do.’ And he’s like, ‘Just get into the car with me.’ And we drove to the hospital. She was born, and from the moment she took her first breath to now, she’s never been without one of us, ever.” (The newborn spent 100 days in the newborn intensive care unit following her 2022 birth.)

While Citadel, Chopra’s new action series on Amazon’s Prime Video, premieres Friday (April 28), her husband’s new album with his fellow JoBros, The Album, is set to be released May 12.

27 Apr 2023

Gayle Reveals the Advice Taylor Swift Gave Her on Dealing With ‘ABCDEFU’ Backlash

Gayle used to have trouble dealing with hate, but recently, she’s learned how to shake it off. That’s thanks to some advice given to her by idol-turned-confidante Taylor Swift, whom the 18-year-old Nashville musician credits with helping her put backlash into perspective when it comes to her success or her polarizing smash hit “abcdefu.”

Gayle revealed in an interview with Teen Vogue published Thursday (April 27) that, in touring with Swift and sitting next to her at award shows, she has gleaned some well-earned wisdom from the 33-year-old pop star about tuning out negativity. “She’s like, ‘Baby child. Come on. What controversy could you have had for the five minutes you’ve been making music?’” Gayle recalled Swift telling her.

“And that’s true,” the “Everybody Hates Me” singer continued. “That’s fair. It was really, really nice for her to say, when I’ve told her my biggest, deepest worries, she’s like, ‘You’re right. And it’s fine.’”

Gayle’s career skyrocketed after her angsty breakup chart-topper blew up on TikTok in 2021. There was already some people who openly scorned the trendiness and success of “abcdefu” before the 2023 Grammy nominations were announced last year, but when Gayle earned a nod for song of the year alongside Swift’s “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” her critics got even louder. (Both she and Swift lost the category to Bonnie Raitt’s “Just Like That.”)

According to Teen Vogue, though, Swift’s advice was simple, that Gayle had to make the music she wanted and grow as a musician, and learn how to deal with people’s responses.

“[I had to decide] if I won’t take advice from you, I won’t take criticism from you,” Gayle added. “I can’t not give it all I got just because I’m scared of the possibility of people not liking it. … My music, at the very least, is supposed to make you feel something. If it’s hatred, you’re still feeling something. I’m still winning a little bit. I’ll take it.”

The young star also recounted the story of how Swift asked her to be one of the Eras Tour openers, an invitation that essentially went down the very first time Gayle met her hero at the Nashville Songwriter Association International awards ceremony last year. “She was like, ‘Oh my God, are you touring? Do you tour?’ I’m like, ‘Oh my God. Yeah, I do tour,’” she said.

“She’s like, ‘Oh my God, are you touring next year?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I am.’ She’s like, “That’s amazing. Do you open up for people?’ I don’t know why my dumb a– said this, but I was like, ‘I open up for people who ask me to open up for them.’ She was like, ‘I’ll call you.’ I was like, oh my God, I’m going to die.”

27 Apr 2023

Foo Fighters Tie Shinedown for Most Rock & Alternative Airplay Top 10s

Foo Fighters match Shinedown for the most top 10s in the 14-year history of Billboard’s Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, as “Rescued” bounds in at No. 3 on the April 29-dated ranking.

“Rescued” starts with 4.9 million audience impressions earned in the April 14-20 tracking week, according to Luminate.

That count was accrued over just two days, as “Rescued” was released April 19.

“Rescued” is the second song to debut in the top three of Rock & Alternative Airplay in 2023, following Linkin Park’s “Lost,” which launched at No. 1 on the Feb. 25 tally and has remained atop the list since — it tallies its 10th week on top on the latest list.

Foo Fighters now boast 15 top 10s on Rock & Alternative Airplay, dating to the chart’s 2009 inception. That ties the band with Shinedown for the most top 10s, with Shinedown’s 15th, “Dead Don’t Die,” currently at No. 5 (3.9 million impressions).

Most Top 10s, Rock & Alternative Airplay:

  • 15, Foo Fighters
  • 15, Shinedown
  • 13, Cage the Elephant
  • 13, Imagine Dragons
  • 13, twenty one pilots
  • 11, The Black Keys
  • 11, Muse
  • 10, Weezer

Should it reach No. 1, “Rescued” would mark Foo Fighters’ record-extending 10th chart-topper. The next-closest acts — Cage the Elephant, Green Day and Twenty One Pilots — have six apiece.

Foo Fighters’ most recent No. 1, “Making a Fire,” crowned the survey for seven weeks in 2021. In between “Fire” and “Rescued,” they also charted with “Love Dies Young,” which peaked at No. 3 in March 2022.

Concurrently, “Rescued” starts at No. 18 on Alternative Airplay and No. 20 on Mainstream Rock Airplay.

The track also bows at Nos. 7, 23, 24 and 33 on the multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs, Hot Alternative Songs, Hot Rock Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs tallies, respectively. In addition to its radio audience, “Rescued” earned 744,000 official U.S. streams and sold 1,000 April 19-20.

That download count sends “Rescued” to a No. 1 debut on Alternative Digital Song Sales, marking Foo Fighters’ first leader in the ranking’s 12-year history. Previously, the band’s bests were No. 3 peaks with “My Hero” in 2022 (after originally becoming a hit in the late 1990s) and “Run” in 2017.

“Rescued” is the lead single from But Here We Are, Foo Fighters’ 11th studio album, due June 2. The Dave Grohl-fronted band’s first LP since 2021’s Medicine to Midnight is its first since the 2022 death of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins, for whom a replacement has not yet been named.

27 Apr 2023

Afrobeats Fresh Picks of the Month: Davido, Uncle Waffles, Asake, Inkabe Zezwe & More

As we get closer and closer to warmer weather, the song of the summer debate heats up. One of Billboard‘s front runners is Rema‘s “Calm Down” remix with Selena Gomez, but it’s not the only Afrobeats track that’s bound to bring people to the dancefloor all summer long.

The winner of our Song of the Summer Face-Off bracket game last year — Harry Styles‘ “Watermelon Sugar” — has found its African counterpart: Suté Iwar’s “SHUGA PEACH.” Listeners can sink their teeth into this juicy song, or sip on “Casamigos (Pour It In My Cup),” courtesy of Afro B and Sukihana. There’s also the breezy “Trumpet” from Olamide and Ckay, as well as Asake‘s amapiano dance floor banger “2:30” and the effortlessly gorgeous debut single from Inkabe Zezwe. But Davido‘s latest album, Timeless, ensures endless vibes that he explores through various triumphant sounds — and we clearly couldn’t get enough of it, considering we shouted out multiple tracks. Just try getting through the summer without dropping “In the Garden,” “Na Money” or “U (JUJU),” just to name a few.

We’ve highlighted 10 of our favorite new Afrobeats (and related) songs that have come out roughly within the last month. Check out our latest Fresh Picks, and catch a vibe with us by listening to our Spotify playlist below.

Davido feat. Skepta, “U (JUJU)” 

Davido and Skepta got their girls covered in the utterly enchanting “U (JUJU)” collaboration, from the former’s latest album, Timeless. The Afrobeats superstar worries if he’s stuck under a woman’s spell when he sings in the mesmerizing chorus, “You dey do me like juju, dey worry me” (a nice nod to Ice Prince’s 2011 track “Juju”), and promises her anything she so desires. Meanwhile, the British-Nigerian grime MC commends his partner for sticking by his side and reassures her he won’t leave hers.  

Sukihana & Afro B, “Casamigos (Pour It in My Cup)” 

British-Ivorian DJ/singer/songwriter Afro B and American rapper Sukihana craft a refreshing summer vibe with “Casamigos (Pour It in My Cup).” While blending his instantly party-starting vocals with her seductive, smooth melodies that slip right off her tongue, “Casamigos” isn’t just an ode to George Clooney’s ultra-premium tequila brand, but just a little taste of warmer weather and the frivolousness that it brings. Once the song’s amapiano production (courtesy of Team Solut and co-producer Oghenekevwe Bojeghre) takes hold of the song toward the end, it’ll have everyone in a chokehold.  

L.A.X, “Zaza” 

Afrobeats star L.A.X only provides the best vibes, as confirmed by his new album No Bad Vibes. On its highlight track “Zaza,” he expresses his feelings for a woman while gassing her up (“On the dance floor you fire them/ On the finish line you finish them,” he boasts in the pre-chorus) – all while staying true to his characteristically laidback demeanor. “Zaza” will have any listener whining their hips to its mesmerizing, chugging beat pattern (courtesy of Clemzy). 

Suté Iwar, “SHUGA PEACH” 

For those craving another “Watermelon Sugar”-like summer anthem, look no further than Suté Iwar’s “SHUGA PEACH” highlight track from his new album, ULTRALIGHT. The Nigerian singer’s mouth waters at the sight of a “golden lady,” whom he later describes as his “favorite late-night craving” because… well, you get the picture. Iwar wrote on his Bandcamp page that ULTRALIGHT is a “journey that takes you through a range of emotions, from the high energy and excitement of life to the introspection and self-reflection that comes with it.” Listeners experience that entire range in the 3:51 runtime of “SHUGA PEACH,” as its tender keys and sultry saxophone runs accentuate Iwar’s carnal desires, while a wavy guitar and meditative beats introduce his self-aware rap about commitment in the track’s latter half. 

Uncle Waffles, Tony Duardo, Jelly Babie & Chley, “Babiee”  

Ahead of her historic Coachella performance this month, rising amapiano star Uncle Waffles set a moody, yet mesmerizing tone on her new Asylum project. On the highlight track “Babiee” – alongside Tony Duardo, Jelly Babie and Chley – listeners tiptoe into Waffles’ world with the guidance of a pitter-pattering synth loop that’s supplemented by steadily building percussion. Babie seizes the song’s peak by praising two of South Africa’s house genres, bacardi and amapiano, before chanting hers and Waffles’ stage names until “Babiee” fizzles out in a hypnotic rhythm.

Davido feat. Morravey, “In the Garden”

A simple major-key guitar line, a stripped down drum pattern with a supplementary amapiano log drum and a positive vibe underlines this breezy, beautiful track from Timeless — but it is the power of Morravey’s voice that elevates this track into something special, and possibly the best song on the entire album. It’s at heart a wistful love song, but the driving hook — “I’ll change your status, yeah” — adds a coy determination to take the initiative, while Davido’s verse adds another layer of catchiness to a song that has the capacity to dig into your head and never leave.

Davido feat. The Cavemen. & Angélique Kidjo, “Na Money”

One of the best things about Davido’s Timeless album is how seamlessly he weaves together different styles, and “Na Money” is among the best examples, blending highlife with amapiano through this collaboration with Nigerian highlife duo The Cavemen. and iconic Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo. The result is a driving, upbeat song about the intersection of love and money, with a joyful hook and highlife horns underscoring the production. A standout for its departure from the rest of the record.

Asake, “2:30”

Asake has leaned deeply into amapiano in many of his biggest songs, and this latest single, which should be on his forthcoming next album, really drives home the point in an ode to the party life. Log drums propel the verses, while a typically-choral hook gives it some of the space and majesty that has come to define Asake’s biggest records. The only complaint — voiced with some humor by his fans online — is that the actual audio of the track isn’t even 2:30 long. And yet!

Inkabi Zezwe (Big Zulu & Sjava), “Umbayimbayi”

South African rappers and singers Big Zulu and Sjava have linked up for a joint album under the duo moniker Inkabi Zezwe, with “Umbayimbayi” as the first single off that project — and from the opening notes the song unfurls as a gorgeous piano-based ballad that sonically cuts to the soul. The song has already been certified platinum in their home country, which is hardly surprising given its vibe — the Hammond organ flourishes as the song floats to its finish, emphasizing the emotion just as much as the duo’s voices. A special record.

Olamide feat. Ckay, “Trumpet”

A Nigerian hip-hop legend teaming up with one of the most successful young Nigerian singers of the past few years, this track was always going to catch the ear — and its plaintive piano base over some Afrobeats drums gives it an instantly catchy vibe. That it’s essentially a barely-disguised ode to beautiful women and the things they do makes the title amusing, but it’s a great, understated record (sonically, at least) and an absolute earworm.

27 Apr 2023

Alejandro Fernández Collects 22nd Top 10 on Latin Airplay Chart With ‘Inexperto en Olvidarte’

Alejandro Fernández adds his 22nd top 10 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as “Inexperto en Olvidarte” climbs 13-5 on the April 29-dated list. Notably, it’s the first song he’s recorded in his long career that was written by two women: Amanda Coronel and Fernanda Díaz.

“Inexperto en Olvidarte” was released Jan. 6 via Universal Music Latino/UMLE, and breaks the top 10 barrier on the all-genre chart in its 13th week with a 27% gain in audience impressions, to 8 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending April 20, according to Luminate.

The mariachi tune follows another top 10 entry, “Nunca Dudes En Llamarme” with La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho, which peaked at No. 8 in September. “Inexperto en Olvidarte” however, marks Fernández’s first top 10 as a soloist, unassisted by any other act, since “Te Olvidé’ reached the upper echelon reaching No. 7 high in May 2020.

In total, Fernández, has amassed a total of 22 top 10s, dating back to his first entry and top 10 “A Pesar de Todo” in 1994. Further, “Inexperto” becomes his best ranking since the two-week ruler “Caballero” (Jan. 2020).

With 22 top 10s on his chart account, Fernández ties with La Arrolladora, his last top 10 collaborator, for the sixth-most top 10s among reginal Mexican acts since Latin Airplay launched in 1994. Here’s a look at the scoreboard:

  • 27, Marco Antonio Solis
  • 26, Calibre 50
  • 23, Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga
  • 23, Banda MS de Sergio Lizarraga
  • 23, Intocable
  • 22, Alejandro Fernández
  • 22, La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho

As mentioned, “Inexperto” was written by two female songwriters, Amanda Coronel and Fernanda Díaz, who had collaborated prior through a Carin León track.

It concurrently returns Díaz to the top 10 on Latin Airplay: Regulo Caro’s No. 5-peaking “Cicatrices,” co-written with two other songwriters, gifted her a first top 10 in 2016 — she has placed two other top 30 tracks on the tally.

With “Inexperto,” Coronel, meanwhile, bests her previous No. 25 high entry as a songwriter also through a Caro track, “Piénsalo Bien” in 2019.

Further, “Inexperto” pushes up Regional Mexican Airplay, jumping from No. 4 to its new No. 3 peak.