Music

23 Dec 2022

‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ Soundtrack Hits No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart

Vince Guaraldi Trio’s evergreen soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas hits a new peak on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, as the set rises 5-2 (on the list dated Dec. 24). That surpasses its previous high, notched just a week ago, when the album rose 7-5, beating its earlier peak of No. 6, achieved last holiday season (Dec. 18, 2021).

The companion album to the 1965 animated TV special sold 17,000 copies in the U.S. in the week ending Dec. 15 (up 24%), according to Luminate. Most of that sum (14,000) is driven by vinyl album sales. A Charlie Brown Christmas is available across more than 15 vinyl variants (most differing in the color of its vinyl LP), including versions exclusive to Barnes & Noble, Newbury Comics, independent record stores, Target, Urban Outfitters, Vinyl Me, Please and Walmart.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is a consistent strong performer on vinyl, as it was the top-selling holiday album on vinyl annually in the U.S. from 2012 through 2021.

Since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991, A Charlie Brown Christmas has sold 4.3 million in traditional album sales across all formats (CD, vinyl, cassette, digital download album, etc.), with 469,000 of that sum in vinyl LP sales.

Also in the top 10 of the new Top Album Sales chart, Taylor Swift’s Midnights holds at No. 1 for a eighth week in a row — the most weeks at No. 1 since Adele’s 30 also spent its first eight weeks atop the list a year ago). Meanwhile, Zach Bryan’s American Heartbreak reaches a new peak as it re-enters the chart at No. 4 following its release on vinyl.

Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

A Charlie Brown Christmas was released in 1965 but did not reach any Billboard ranking until 1987, when it debuted on the Top Holiday Albums chart, where it later peaked at No. 2 (Jan. 27, 2007). On the Billboard 200 chart, the set reached a new peak last season, climbing to No. 6 on the list dated Jan. 1, 2022. A year prior, it reached the top 10 for the first time (No. 10 on the Jan. 2, 2021 chart).

The A Charlie Brown Christmas TV special aired annually on CBS during the holiday season from 1965 through 2000. ABC picked up the rights to the show from 2001-19. In 2020, the Apple TV+ subscription service acquired the rights to the special – along with other classic animated Peanuts programs. A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of many animated TV specials based on the Peanuts comic characters. It was followed by familiar favorites like It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973).

A Charlie Brown Christmas made its Apple TV+ premiere on Dec. 4, 2020. Apple initially teamed with PBS to bring the special back to free over-the-air TV with commercial-free airings on PBS and sister network PBS KIDS in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, Apple TV+ and PBS did not collaborate on a Peanuts presentation. Instead, Apple TV+ offered free limited time screenings of three Peanuts specials for anyone that logs into the service using their Apple ID. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was available free between Oct. 28-31, followed by A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on Nov. 23-27 and A Charlie Brown Christmas on Dec. 22-25.

At No. 1 on Top Album Sales, Taylor Swift’s Midnights spends an eighth week in a row on top – the most weeks at No. 1 since Adele’s 30 also led for its first eight weeks on the list (Dec. 24, 2021-Jan. 22, 2022 charts). Midnights has spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other Swift album since 1989 logged 10 nonconsecutive weeks in charge (2014). Since 1989, she scored seven more No. 1s albums, including Midnights.

In the latest tracking week, Midnights sold 74,000 copies – up 10%. Its cumulative U.S. sales stand at 1.666 million.

Harry Styles’ former No. 1 Harry’s House falls 2-3 with 16,000 sold (down 41%).

Zach Bryan’s American Heartbreak hits a new peak as it re-enters Top Album Sales at No. 4 following its release on vinyl. The album sold 15,000 copies in the tracking week – up 956% –  with 14,000 of that sum on vinyl. American Heartbreak was released on May 20 via digital download and CD (as well as through streaming services). Its vinyl LP – a triple LP set – was not released until Dec. 9. (Unlike the many vinyl variants of the Charlie Brown Christmas album, Bryan’s set was only available in one standard black vinyl edition.)

American Heartbreak previously spent one week on Top Album Sales, debuting at No. 7 on the June 4-dated chart with 6,000 sold in its first week of availability.

Matteo, Andrea and Virginia Bocelli’s A Family Christmas falls 3-5 on Top Album Sales with 14,000 sold (down 40%), Michael Jackson’s Thriller rises 7-6 with 13,000 (up 7%), Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours climbs 8-7 with nearly 13,000 (up 8%) and Swift’s former No. 1 Evermore bumps 12-8 with 12,000 (up 21%). Rounding out the new top 10 are Michael Bublé’s former leader Christmas, ascending 11-9 with nearly 10,000 (down 5%) and The Beatles’ Revolver, jumping 14-10 with 9,000 (up 21%).

In the week ending Dec. 15, there were 2.911 million albums sold in the U.S. (up 11.9% compared to the previous week). That’s the biggest week of 2022 and the largest for album sales since the week ending Dec. 23, 2021, when 4.231 million were sold.

In the week ending Dec. 15, physical albums (CDs, vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) comprised 2.526 million (up 14.7%) and digital albums comprised 375,000 (down 4.2%).

There were 1.001 million CD albums sold in the week ending Dec. 15 (up 7.7% week-over-week) and 1.521 million vinyl albums sold (up 20.1%). Both represent the largest sales weeks for each album format in 2022. Volume was last larger for both in the week ending Dec. 23, 2021, when there were 1.584 million CD albums sold and 2.113 million vinyl albums sold.

Further, the 1.521 million vinyl albums sold in the week ending Dec. 15 marks the third-largest week for vinyl since Luminate began tracking sales in 1991. (The largest week in the Luminate era for vinyl was the week ending Dec. 23, 2021.)

Year-to-date CD album sales stand at 33.822 million (down 11.3% compared to the same time frame a year ago) and year-to-date vinyl album sales total 39.659 million (up 3.5%).

Overall year-to-date album sales total 93.462 million (down 8.5% compared to the same year-to-date time frame a year ago). Year-to-date physical album sales stand at 74.013 million (down 3.8%) and digital album sales total 19.450 million (down 22.7%).

22 Dec 2022

Bad Bunny & Ñengo Flow Drop Surprise Track ‘Gato de Noche’: Stream It Now

Just two days after teasing fans with new music, Bad Bunny officially unleashed the track called “Gato de Noche” in collaboration with Ñengo Flow, out today (Dec. 22). “This is to close the year,” he said on TikTok just hours before blessing fans with the surprise song.

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Urbano veteran Ñengo recruited Bunny for “Gato de Noche,” a hard-hitting reggaeton track from the point of view of the “chico malo” (bad boy) who’s after a taken lady. “He loves you and gives you everything/ But you’re the devil and you’re crazy for me/ You like the bad boys and are playing fire with me […] although you’re a sin, I’m going to hell following that big a–/ I’m on my way/ Today I’m picking you up after midnight,” Bunny chants in the sultry lyrics.

“With the real beast,” the Puerto Rican act said of Ñengo when he revealed the collab on his Instagram stories. The pair have many collaborative efforts, including “Que Malo” and “Safaera,” which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart dated April 11, 2020. Both tracks form part of Bunny’s YHLQMDLG album.

“Gato de Noche” follows the Arcangel and Bad Bunny track “La Jumpa,” which debuted at No. 3 on the Hot Latin Songs chart dated Dec. 10, 2022 and wraps up Bunny’s fruitful year.

In 2022, Bunny ruled Billboard’s year-end Top Artists chart for the first time, while his Un Verano Sin Ti made history as the first all-Spanish album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 year-end albums chart. He also closed out the year with a record-breaking $435 million in tour grosses that combine more than 80 concerts from two separate tours (El Último Tour del Mundo and The World’s Hottest Tour).

Watch the “Gato de Noche” video below.

22 Dec 2022

Megan Thee Stallion’s Boyfriend Pardison Fontaine Shares Message in Support of Women Amid Tory Lanez Trial

As jurors decide whether Tory Lanez shot Megan Thee Stallion in the foot two years ago, Megan’s boyfriend, Pardison Fontaine, is publicly sharing some thoughts on social media.

“To any woman especially ones of color that has suffered an injustice I feel for you.. when you do find the courage to speak up.. it seems you will be ridiculed.. your credibility will [be] questioned.. your entire past will be held under a magnifying glass.. in an instant you can go from victim to defendant in the eyes of the public,” Pardi wrote in an Instagram Story Thursday evening (Dec. 22).

He continued, “To any one with a daughter sister mother niece or aunt.. I pray for their protection.. I pray for their covering.. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”

Megan and Pardi celebrated their second anniversary in October. The couple showed off their anniversary date night but Meg squashed any rumors that the couple were engaged in a tweet on Oct. 19. “Lol as nice as last night was we are not engaged,” she said.

In court last week, Megan recounted the alleged shooting and pinned the blame on Lanez. “I wish he would have just shot and killed me if I would have known I was going to go through this torture,” she said in her emotional testimony.

Lanez, who stands accused of three felony counts over the July 12, 2020 incident — during which prosecutors say he yelled “Dance, b—-” and shot at Megan’s feet — did not take the witness stand to testify in the trial. His lawyers have maintained his innocence, suggesting that the trigger might instead have been pulled by Megan’s former friend and assistant Kelsey Harris, who was also in the vehicle that night.

22 Dec 2022

Thom Bell, Philadelphia Soul Icon, Dies at 79

Thom Bell, the iconic pioneer of Philadelphia soul in the 1970s, passed away on Thursday (Dec. 22) in Bellingham, Washington. He was 79 years old.

The news was first reported by Philly R&B radio station 105.3 WDAS-FM, with host Patty Jackson saying, “We remember Thom Bell: record producer, arranger and songwriter known for his work with Linda Creed, Gamble and Huff, the many hits, the creators of Philly soul.” The station also paid special tribute to the late musician on its website by sharing a video of the Stylistics’ 1972 Bell-produced single “People Make the World Go Round.”

Bell’s attorney confirmed his passing to Billboard, saying, “Thom Bell left an indelible and everlasting mark on the history of popular music, but even more so, he will be remembered by all who knew him as a kind and loving friend and family man. The music world has truly lost one of the greats.”

Nile Rodgers also took to social media to pay his respects to Bell, tweeting, “#RIPThomBell He is one of the greatest writers and producers of all time. My condolences go out to his family and friends. He was the architect of the relationship between #BernardEdwards & me as we were the band for the group New York City (I’m Doing Fine Now) a Thom Bell smash.”

Bell, who was born in 1943 and studied classical music when he was a child, was known for working with early R&B acts like the Delfonics, the Spinners and Deniece Williams. With Linda Creed, he co-wrote a number of soul classics like “Betcha By Golly, Wow,” “You Are Everything,” “You Make Me Feel Brand New” and “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart).” In the late ’70s and early ’80s, he also co-wrote and produced tracks for a young Elton John including “Are You Ready for Love” and “Mama Can’t Buy You Love.”

In 1975, Bell became the inaugural Grammy winner for producer of the year, non-classical. He had previously been nominated for co-writing the Delfonics’ “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” and arranging the Stylistics’ “Betcha By Golly, Wow.” In 2017, the Recording Academy presented him with a trustees award — the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award for non-performers.

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006 as well as the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum a decade later.

Bell is survived by wife Vanessa and his children, Royal, Troy, Tia, Mark, Cybell and Christopher.

Read tributes to Bell below.

22 Dec 2022

9 Can’t Miss Moments from ‘Homeward Bound: Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon’

It’s not a surprise that Homeward Bound: Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon, which aired on CBS on Wednesday Dec. 21, was so satisfying.

Paul Simon has long been regarded as one of our top songwriters. He won the 1970 Grammy for song of the year for “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and was nominated in that category for “Mrs. Robinson” and “Graceland.” He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1982 and received that organization’s highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award, in 1998. In 2007, he became the inaugural recipient of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Many of the participants on the two-hour special spoke warmly about Simon’s songs. Elton John recalled early days when he and Bernie Taupin would sit on the floor listening to Simon & Garfunkel’s Bookends through headphones and marvel at the songs and the sounds. Garth Brooks sai,d “When your stuff was playing, our house was a sweet place to be in.” Dustin Hoffman said, “The Graduate would not be The Graduate” without Simon’s songs. Sting, Herbie Hancock, Oprah Winfrey and actor Woody Harrelson also paid tribute to the master songwriter.

Ken Ehrlich, who was the producer or executive producer of the annual Grammy telecast for four decades from 1980-2020, executive produced this special (and co-wrote it with David Wild). Ehrlich’s talent, taste and connections are a big reason the show was so compelling.

Here are nine of the most memorable performances from the special, which is available to stream on demand on Paramount+.

22 Dec 2022

Cardi B Lets a Troll Know She’s Worth More Than $40 Million & That She Could Lose It at Any Second

Looks like we can add financial planner to Cardi B’s résumé. Earlier this week, the superstar schooled a fan who criticized her wealth on social media.

The exchange started when Cardi tweeted, “We going through a recession…..Merry Christmas,” along with a festive Christmas tree emoji. The statement then prompted a follower to clap back, “Says the rapper worth 40 million,” using a GIF of an irritated man nodding his head and rolling his eyes.

Well, naturally, the “Hot Sh–” rapper wasn’t going to take that shade lying down. “I’m worth more [than] that and guess what? If I don’t save, work and budget I could lose it too!” she replied. “What makes you think that no matter how much money you got you can’t lose it all if you don’t manage your money correctly. I too have bills, responsibilities and people I have to help.”

Whatever the number above 40 million, Cardi’s net worth was certainly helped this year by her savvy career moves and various successes — from collaborating with GloRilla on their smash hit “Tomorrow 2” and Rosalía on the new “Despecha” remix to banking a cool million-dollar payday to perform a 35-minute set at a private backyard party during Art Basel in Miami.

Meanwhile, she recently teased that her long-in-the-works sophomore album should be arriving sometime in 2023, and even dropped a snippet of an unreleased song as an early Christmas gift to her fans.

Cardi and her family also experienced tragedy this year, mourning the brutal murder of her brother-in-law Takeoff after the Migos rapper was gunned down in the early morning hours of Nov. 1 at a Houston bowling alley.

Check out Cardi’s sound financial advice below.

22 Dec 2022

Gwen Stefani Remembers Late No Doubt Member John Spence: ‘Today and Always’

Gwen Stefani honored the memory of one of No Doubt‘s founding members, John Spence, in a tribute posted 35 years after his death.

Spence was the original lead singer in the earliest days of the Anaheim, Calif., group, while Stefani provided backing vocals. The first version of No Doubt — with a name inspired by a phrase Spence often said — was formed in 1986. “For some reason there was automatically this built-in following,” Stefani said in a 1996 interview with Spin. “People loved the fact that it was a girl, that it was 2-Tone, that it was me and John up there.” A year later, Spence died by suicide at the age of 18.

“remembering John Spence today, and always,” Stefani wrote of the late singer and friend on Instagram Wednesday (Dec. 21).

The pop star and Voice coach shared six photos on her post, leading with a black-and-white image of the two of them together. Some of the other pictures included performance shots and what appears to be a school yearbook photo of Spence.

See her collection of personal photos with Spence on Instagram.

22 Dec 2022

Lizzo & Austin Butler Want to Wish You a Merry Christmas With a Classic Carol: Watch

Lizzo and Austin Butler still have some Christmas leftovers from their joint Saturday Night Live appearance. On Thursday (Dec. 22), the pop star and Elvis actor joined forces on TikTok to wish their fans and followers happy holidays with one of the iconic songs of the season.

“We wish you a merry Christmas/ We wish you a merry Christmas/ We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year,” the pair sang in unison. After finishing their brief song, Lizzo — who was holding the camera — and Butler embrace, much to her delight and surprise.

“If we show up as Christmas carolers at your house wyd?” Lizzo captioned the jolly video.

The pair joined forces on the Dec. 17 episode of SNL. While it marked Butler’s first time hosting the program, Lizzo originally made her debut in December 2019, when she performed a holiday-themed version of “Good as Hell,” and she returned last season in April, when she hosted and performed “About Damn Time” and “Special.” For the latest episode, Lizzo performed her cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas.”

Lizzo appears to be into the Christmas spirit this year — in a preview of her upcoming interview on CBS Sunday Morning, the three-time Grammy winner chatted about owning her first-ever home in Los Angeles, which was decorated to the brim with Yuletide flair. “It’s like not having stuff for a long time, and now [that] I’ve got it, I’m going overboard,” Lizzo gushed in the preview. “I’m literally Santa Claus.”

See Lizzo and Austin Butler’s TikTok below.

22 Dec 2022

‘2’ to 1: GloRilla & Cardi B’s ‘Tomorrow’ Tops R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart

GloRilla and Cardi B’s collaboration “Tomorrow 2” hits No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart (dated Dec. 24). The song rises from No. 2 to top the list after a 6% boost to 21.1 million audience impressions made it the most-heard song on U.S. monitored R&B/hip-hop radio stations in the week ending Dec. 18, according to Luminate.

Through the new leader, GloRilla captures her first No. 1 on the list. Her sole prior entry, the viral hit “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” with Hitkidd, reached a No. 3 peak in August.

For Cardi B, “Tomorrow 2” becomes the hitmaker’s fifth on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. She previously led with this slate of chart-toppers:

“Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” 10 weeks at No. 1, beginning Sept. 30, 2017
“No Limit,” G-Eazy featuring A$AP Rocky & Cardi B, six, Dec. 23, 2017
“Money,” nine, Feb. 2, 2019
“Please Me,” with Bruno Mars, 11, April 6, 2019

Plus, the combined might of both rappers yields only the fourth all-female collaboration to reach No. 1 out of 297 total leaders on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay since the chart’s launch in 1992. Brandy and Monica inaugurated the club with the smash single “The Boy Is Mine,” which ruled for five weeks in 1998. In 2007, Keyshia Cole recruited Missy Elliott and Lil Kim as featured acts for the track “Let It Go,” a four-week champ that year, and in 2020, Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage,” featuring Beyoncé, became the third entrant into the league and spent three weeks atop the list.

Of note, there’s one more instance of multiple female acts on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay No. 1, though it isn’t an all-women billing. In 2001, Ja Rule’s “Put It on Me,” featuring Lil Mo and Vita, posted six weeks in charge.

Beyond its R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay coronation, “Tomorrow 2” retains its standing to claim a fourth week at No. 1 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart as the most-played song on U.S. monitored R&B/hip-hop radio stations. There, it continues to improve, with 5% more plays in the tracking week ending Dec. 18 than the prior seven-day period. Similarly, it wins a third term atop Rap Airplay after a 7% audience boost in the same tracking window.

On Rhythmic Airplay, meanwhile, the collaboration ascends 8-7 thanks to a 9% gain in weekly plays at the format. Success at all the formats helps the song maintain its No. 15 peak thus far on the all-genre Radio Songs chart for a second straight week, where, despite its static position, “Tomorrow 2” increased 5% in audience impressions to reach 31.9 million for the week ending Dec. 16.

22 Dec 2022

Akon Agrees ‘100 Percent’ With Nick Cannon ‘Spreading His Seed’: ‘That’s How Life Is Supposed to Be’

Akon stopped by The Zeze Millz Show this week for a wide-ranging interview and ended up giving his stamp of approval to Nick Cannon‘s rapidly growing bevy of babies.

Host Zeze Mills brought up the topic by touching on Akon’s belief in polygamy, which he clarified was part of his Senegalese culture. “So do you agree with Nick Cannon and his spreading of his seed?” Mills asked, to which Akon responded with an emphatic “100 percent!’

“I agree with him one-thousand percent. That’s how life is supposed to be. Why not? He’s rich … He’s responsible. He takes care of every one of those children … And the baby mothers with it. And they hurt for nothing and they live comfortably!” he continued over the host’s protestations.

Interestingly, Akon’s comments come on the heels of one of the mothers of Cannon’s 11 kids seemingly shading him on social media. “There’s no need to mention me or send anything to my DMs. It has nothing to do with me… and no need to be messy. It’s all love over this way,” LaNisha Cole, whose daughter with Cannon, Onyx, is 3 months old, wrote in a since-expired Instagram Story. “It’s not easy but I have to do it for my daughter. She is incredibly blessed and is surrounded by so much love – and it’s not fake IG photo op love – it’s real day in and day out love.”

Akon also shed light on collaborating with TikTok on his new EP TT Freak, saying, “Me, I see TikTok as an opportunity. I see it as a huge platform. I see it as a way of also opening up the opportunity to create and discover a new audience. ‘Cause I think it’s been a quick, what, 13, maybe 14 years since I released my last album? That’s crazy, when I look at that I’m like, ‘Man, where was I?’ Time flew by so fast. But then what woke me up was the fact that my catalog was re-streaming and kinda resurfacing through the TikTok platform.

“And I’m looking at the demographic that’s actually on TikTok, it made complete sense to me,” he continued. “‘Cause this is a generation that wasn’t around to experience my kind of music at that time.”

Watch Akon’s full chat on The Zeze Millz Show below.