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Mac Miller Tops Album Sales, Rap Albums Charts With ‘Balloonerism’

Mac Miller’s Balloonerism bows at No. 1 across multiple Billboard album charts, including Top Album Sales, Top Rap Albums, Vinyl Albums and Indie Store Album Sales. Plus, seven of the album’s tracks dot the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Balloonerism’s songs date back to 2014, but the project was shelved in favor of other releases.

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Balloonerism is the second No. 1 on Top Album Sales for Miller, who died in 2018. It’s also his third leader on Top Rap Albums, his sixth chart-topper on Vinyl Albums and his first on the Indie Store Album Sales ranking.

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Balloonerism sold a little over 41,000 copies in the U.S. in the tracking week ending Jan. 23, according to Luminate. Vinyl sales comprise the bulk of that sum – 32,000, marking his best sales week ever 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 (TEA) units and streaming equivalent album (SEA) units.

On Top Album Sales, Miller triumphs over a surging Gracie Abrams, whose The Secret of Us vaults 33-2 with 21,000 sold (up 689% after the vinyl and CD release of a deluxe edition of the album). Rounding out the rest of the top 10: the Wicked soundtrack (moving 2-3), Stray Kids’ HOP (5-4), Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (3-5), Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet (holding at No. 6), Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft (9-7), ROSÉ’s Rosie (11-8), Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours (13-9) and Tyler, The Creator’s IGOR (15-10).

On the Billboard 200, Balloonerism debuts at No. 3 – the eighth top 10-charting set for Miller on that ranking.

Miller On the R&B/Hip-Hop & Rap Charts: Miller earns his third No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart. He first ruled with Blue Slide Park in 2011 and followed with The Divine Feminine in 2016, both of which led for one week. On the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list, Balloonerism debuts at No. 2 andgives the late rapper his seventh top 10 effort. In addition to the No. 1s Blue Slide Park and The Divine Feminine, he also reached the region with Watching Movies With the Sound Off (No. 3 in 2013); GO:OD AM (No. 2, 2015); Swimming (No. 3, 2018) and Faces (No. 3, 2021).

Seven of Balloonerism’s tracks land on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, led by a No. 16 debut for “Funny Papers.” The arrival instantly makes it Miller’s second-highest peak on the chart among his 23 entries, trailing only the No. 10 best for “Good News” in 2020.

Notable among the other tracks, “5 Dollar Pony Rides” bolts 32-19 in its second week on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and wins the weekly Streaming Gainer and Sales Gainer honors. “DJ’s Chord Organ,” featuring SZA, begins at No. 23 and opens at No. 7 on the Hot R&B Songs chart.

Over On the Billboard Hot 100: On the all-genre, multi-metric Hot 100, four of the album’s songs debut: “Funny Papers” (No. 77), “5 Dollar Pony Rides” (No. 85), “DJ’s Chord Organ” (No. 95) and “Stoned” (No. 97).

Miller Hits a New Peak on the Billboard Artist 100 Chart: Activity surrounding Ballonerism drives Miller 66-2 on the Billboard Artist 100, a new peak for the rapper at his 83rd nonconsecutive week on the chart. The Billboard Artist 100 measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption – album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming – to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of the most popular artists in the U.S.

Julia Fox Consults Magic 8 Ball to Ask: Will She Ever Be a Billboard Hot 100 Artist?

Nearly a year after Julia Fox debuted her first single “Down the Drain” at Charli XCX’s February 2024 Boiler Room DJ set, the actress is thinking big when it comes to the future of her music career.

In fact, Fox is setting her sights on the Billboard charts. While partnering with MAC for a new campaign, the Uncut Gems star asks a Magic 8 Ball for some guidance on her goals as a musician — but the answer might come as a disappointment to those who are fans of her burgeoning sound.

“Will I be a Billboard [Hot] 100 artist?” Fox, sitting on a subway platform bench while dressed in a revealing nude dress and pale purple glam, asks the toy before giving it a shake. “My reply is no!” she quickly reports back, laughing. “I kind of had a feeling it was no.”

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The new video is part of MAC’s Eight Ball Questions series, which also includes new clips with Martha Stewart and Tiffany “New York” Pollard.

While Fox’s 8 Ball might be counting her out, there’s no telling what the future might actually bring. After all, the model did enter the music game last year with the release of “Down the Drain,” produced by Ben Draghi and accompanied by an envelope-pushing music video filmed at a dominatrix dungeon where she used to work.

“In all seriousness, music was my first love,” she told Rolling Stone of her musical ambitions in May. “I’ve always wanted to do it, but I got discouraged by [my] mom at a young age, so I’m just healing my childhood wounds and making my lifelong dreams come true. [I’m] not trying to get rich off music or win Grammys. I have realistic expectations.”

Watch Fox consult her Magic 8 Ball below.

What to Know About the Best New Artist Nominees for the 2025 Grammys | Billboard News

Who will win Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammy Awards, we’re giving you the scoop on all the nominees, who have captured everyone’s attention with their music.

Victoria Monét
This award was a 15 year pursuit.

Tetris Kelly
Best New Artist is one of the biggest categories at the Grammys, and this year is packed with some of music’s hottest stars, who will take home the title. We’re reviewing the nominees.

Shaboozey
Put in a lot of time and a lot of work into just my music and my career, so to see it all kind of take off like this has been a blessing.

Tetris Kelly
Shaboozey tied the record for the longest running Hot 100 No.1 with “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” Sabrina Carpenter had her own string of Hot 100 hits with “Espresso,” “Please, Please, Please,” and “Taste.” Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” has spent 75 weeks on the Hot 100.

Teddy Swims
I felt like, when we, when we recorded it, when we first wrote it, I felt like this is going to change my life. You just had that feeling.

Tetris Kelly
And his Warner Brother Benson Boone has one of the year’s most recognizable anthems. Chappell Roan has had a colossal year with massive hits and some hot, big performances. Doechii, is an icon, and this Best New Artist nominee is also up for Best Rap Album, and from making music in the barn, Texas based Khruangbin’s inaugural album turned 10 this year.

RAYE
Like we’ve really come far because, yeah, back in the day, it was definitely not those vibes.

Tetris Kelly
And RAYE’s soulful voice has blessed us from across the pond, and everyone is listening.
Six of the Best New Artist nominees will also be performing at the ceremony on February 2nd. You can vote for who you think will win the Grammy for Best New artist at Billboard.com.

Could Chappell Roan Sweep the Big 4? Or Is It Beyoncé’s Time for Album of the Year? What to Expect at 2025 Grammys

As we near the 2025 Grammy Awards this Sunday, predicting what will happen in the Big Four categories — album, record and song of the year, along with best new artist — feels more challenging than ever.

Could Chappell Roan sweep the Big Four? Or could it be Beyoncé’s time to notch her first win for album of the year? On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are chatting through Billboard awards editor Paul Grein’s final predictions and sharing our own takes as we try our best to guess how the night could go.

Listen here:

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Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Bad Bunny holds at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, as does Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” atop the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. Plus, another song by Mars, “APT.” with ROSÉ, hits No. 1 on Pop Airplay, and the late Mac Miller’s Balloonerism debuts in the top three on the Billboard 200 chart.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)

Capitulation At Its Finest: US Google Maps Users Will See Trump’s “Gulf of America” Instead of “Gulf of Mexico”

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Google Maps Will Show

Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty / Google Maps / Gulf of America

Donald Trump’s presidency is wasting no time with absurdity, and sadly, people are bending their knees to please his ridiculousness.

Google is capitulating to Orange Mussolini and will show US Google Map users the Gulf of America on maps after Trump signed an executive order rebranding the body of water we all know as the Gulf of Mexico.

Google Maps users in Mexico will still see the Gulf of Mexico when they open the app. International users will see both names when they use Google Maps.

Google’s decision comes after Trump went on a renaming spree because he’s a petulant child in a grown man’s body.

“As directed by the President, the Gulf of Mexico will now officially be known as the Gulf of America,” the Interior Department said in a statement.

To justify the decision, the EO claims the area is an “integral asset” to the United States because it produces 14% of US crude oil, has “vibrant American fisheries,” and is “a favorite destination of American tourism.”

The tech giant, which donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration and saw Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai attend the celebration of America’s downfall, said it was following its longstanding policy of aligning map labeling with updates in official government databases.

The Gulf of Mexico Was Not The Only Thing Renamed By A Trump Executive Order

The Gulf of Mexico being stupidly renamed to the Gulf of America isn’t the only thing the Orange Menace renamed via an executive order. Trump reverted the Denali, North America’s tallest peak, back to Mount McKinley, reversing the move by Barack Obama in 2015 as a symbolic gesture to Alaska Natives.

We all know Trump changed the name because he can’t stand Barack Obama because he’s a very petty man.

Buckle up; this is going to be a LONG 4 years.

Madonna Says the Government Is ‘Dismantling All the Freedoms We Have Been Fighting For’

Madonna is calling out the Donald Trump administration following a number of anti-trans executive orders, including barring transgender people from serving and enlisting in the military, as well as banning federal funding for youth gender-affirming care.

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“It’s so sad to watch our new Government slowly dismantling all the Freedoms we have been fighting for and WON over the years,” she wrote alongside a selfie via X on Tuesday (Jan. 28). While she didn’t indicate which freedoms she’s referring to, she added broken heart and Pride flag emojis to her post. “Don’t give up the Fight!”

Madonna has been clear about her disapproval of Trump over the years. After the election in November, she took to her Instagram Stories to post a photo of a yellow and orange cake with “F— Trump” written across the top, surrounded by cherries. “Stuffed my face with this cake last night,” she captioned the snap.

She followed up the photo of the cake with a selfie, over which she wrote, “Trying to get my head around why a convicted felon, rapist, bigot was chosen to lead our country because he’s good for the economy?”

The star also shared a post to her feed, writing in the caption, “I woke up this morning and the first thought that came to my head was-America hates Women! – Not that I haven’t always felt the wrath of misogyny breathing down my neck.”

She continued, “They straight up hate Freedom. They want lower taxes, but they don’t mind if they live in a Totalitarian government to get them. I don’t want to let go of our democracy!! Now we will all have to fight even harder to hang onto it. Americans who voted for Trump or didn’t vote at all- showed that many people are OK with a dictatorship to take over . I don’t want my friends that are not naturally born Americans to live in internment camps.!! I want my daughters and all of their friends to have agency over their bodies!! To feel valued. Not like second-class.citizens. How could women vote for Trump? We fought for so long for so much!”

‘Chicken Shop Date’ Star Amelia Dimoldenberg Returns as Oscars’ Social Media Ambassador & Red Carpet Correspondent 

U.K. comedian, broadcaster, and producer Amelia Dimoldenberg will serve as the Oscars’ social media ambassador and red-carpet correspondent for the second year in a row. She will again participate in multiple events throughout the awards season, including hosting interviews with nominees and talent on the Oscars red carpet on March 2.

Dimoldenberg, who turns 31 on Thursday (Jan. 30), is best known as the creator and host of the series Chicken Shop Date, in which she conducts humorous interviews with actors, musicians, athletes and other pop-culture figures in fried chicken restaurants. Her guests on the show have included Cher, Ed Sheeran, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Billie Eilish and more.

“We are thrilled to welcome back Amelia as our social media ambassador and red-carpet correspondent to provide viewers with exclusive access to the Oscars,” Jennifer Davidson, the Academy’s chief marketing and communications officer, said in a statement. “Amelia’s widespread appeal and unique approach resonated with global audiences, and we are looking forward to her affable and engaging perspective on the Oscars experience.”

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The Oscars, hosted for the first time by Conan O’Brien, will air live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide on Sunday, March 2 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan are returning as the show’s executive producers for the second year in a row. The show will be held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and streamed live on Hulu.

The official live red-carpet show will air at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Billboard to Co-Livestream L.A. Gives Back Wildfire Relief Benefit: See the Lineup

The electronic music-focused Los Angeles wildfire relief benefit happening on Wednesday (Jan. 29) in L.A. has announced a stacked lineup.

Take place at The Bellwether, L.A. Gives Back: Fire Relief will feature sets from artists including AC Slater and Chris Lorenzo, Alice Glass, Chrome Sparks, Corey Sizemore, Goddollars, Ladies of Leisure, Love Bailey, Miss Tosh, Niohuru X, Paradise, Richie Panic, Spank Rock, Thee Mike B, Tech Grl, Walker & Royce, Poolside and more, including a group of acts who won’t be announced until they step onstage. Visuals will be provided by Strange Loop. See the complete lineup below.

Additionally, a livestream pre-show will feature performances exclusive to the stream from Sylvan Esso, Fat Tony, Marc Rebillet The Bob Baker Marionette Theater and more. The livestream will be hosted by Reggie Watts, Hannah Rad, Jesse Camp, Avita Ash and Samantha Urbani.

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The L.A. Gives Back: Fire Relief livestream will stream on the event’s website and through Billboard’s YouTube channel along with Brownies and Lemonade’s Twitch, VEEPS and on ON AIR from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., starting on the evening of Jan. 29.

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Tickets for the 18+ live show, beginning at 7 p.m. at The Bellwether, are available here, with 100% of the proceeds going to the California Fire Foundation, MusiCares, Anti-Recidivism Coalition and the Pasadena Humane Society.

L.A. Gives Back: Fire Relief is being organized by IHEARTCOMIX, Brownies & Lemonade, Another Planet Entertainment (which owns The Bellwether) and Teragram. Organizers also include a fleet of L.A.’s most crucial electronic event organizers including A Club Called Rhonda, Emo Night, Ninja Tune, Mad Decent, Pangea Sound, Electric Feels, Lights Down Low, Shrek Rave and Production Club. The event also features support from Fortress Entertainment, Little Cinema, Little Secret, and Restless Nites.

LA GIVES BACK: FIRE RELIEF announces lineup

LA GIVES BACK: FIRE RELIEF

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Tyler, The Creator Earns First No. 1 on a Billboard Radio Airplay Chart With ‘Sticky’

There’s a “Sticky” situation atop Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart, as Tyler, The Creator’s single, which features GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne, climbs to No. 1 on the list dated Feb. 1.

The new champion is Tyler, The Creator’s first leader on a Billboard radio chart, more than seven years after his maiden airplay entry, “See You Again,” featuring Kali Uchis, debuted on Rhythmic Airplay in 2017. (Tyler, The Creator made his overall Billboard chart debut in May 2011 when his Goblin album arrived on several charts.)

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The track advances from the runner-up rank and was the most-played song on U.S. panel-contributing rhythmic radio stations in the tracking week of Jan. 17 – 23, according to Luminate, with a 7% jump in plays compared with the prior week.

“Sticky” knocks Kendrick Lamar’s “Squabble Up” from the Rhythmic Airplay throne after the latter’s two weeks in charge.

With the new champ, Tyler, The Creator achieves his first No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay with his sixth charting title on the radio ranking. The single is easily his most successful at the format, outdoing his prior career best of No. 12 for “Dogtooth” in 2023.

GloRilla and Sexyy Red, meanwhile, land their second and third leaders, respectively, on Rhythmic Airplay. The women share another No. 1 collaboration, “Whatchu Kno About Me,” which reigned for three weeks beginning last December. In addition to that former champ, Sexyy Red also visited the summit when she and SZA featured on Drake’s “Rich Baby Daddy,” a two-week No. 1 in December 2023.

For Lil Wayne, “Sticky” adds a 13th No. 1 to the rap legend’s ledger, moving him into a tie for the fifth-most leaders in the chart’s history. He matches Bruno Mars and Usher’s career totals, and the trio trails only Drake (39), Rihanna (17) and Chris Brown and The Weeknd (14 each) among all acts since the Rhythmic Airplay chart launched in 1992.

Elsewhere, “Sticky” repeats at its No. 8 peak on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, but improved 8% in plays for the week. It reverses 5-4 on Rap Airplay, though it added 6% in total audience impressions during the tracking week.

“Sticky” appears on Tyler, The Creator’s latest studio album, CHROMAKOPIA, which dropped on Oct. 28, 2023. The set debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with the highest first-week total of the rapper/singer’s career and topped the chart for three weeks.

BLACKPINK’s JISOO Signs With Warner Records for Solo Career

BLACKPINK member JISOO has signed a global label deal with Warner Records for her solo output, the company announced Tuesday (Jan. 28). Warner will release JISOO’s debut solo mini album, AMORTAGE, on Feb. 14.

“I’m excited about this new era and the continuation of my musical journey,” said JISOO in a statement. “I feel like I’m just getting started and I’d like to thank the BLINKs for all of their love and support. This is just the beginning and I’m thrilled to kick off this seismic moment with Warner Records.”

JISOO previously unveiled the title and other details about AMORTAGE to her 79 million Instagram followers on Sunday (Jan. 26). AMORTAGE will be her first full project outside BLACKPINK.

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“There is no question that JISOO is one of the biggest stars in the world, and we have no doubt that her solo career will be even more impactful,” said Aaron Bay-Schuck, CEO/co-chairman of Warner Records. “The energy, passion, and artistry JISOO brings to her music is on another level. Her music transcends cultures and Tom Corson and I along with the entire team are thrilled to join forces with JISOO as she continues to make history and inspire millions around the world.”

In 2023, JISOO released the singles “FLOWER” and “All Eyes on Me,” with the former track debuting at No. 2 on Billboard’s Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. tallies. As part of BLACKPINK, she’s notched nine songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including the group’s highest-charting single, “Ice Cream” with Selena Gomez, which peaked at No. 13. In 2022, BLACKPINK became the third South Korean act ever to top the Billboard 200 with its second studio album, Born Pink. The following year, the group became the first Korean act to headline Coachella.

JISOO is the last of the BLACKPINK members to sign a solo deal for her music. In December 2023, all four members split with their Korean label, YG Entertainment, for their solo output while simultaneously extending their contract with the company for group activities.