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29 Nov 2023

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

Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up column, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip. 
 
This week: Thanksgiving songs quickly peek their heads onto streaming before making way for the Christmas avalanche — including a quickly growing new song from a pop icon — and a side-splitting viral trend brings a late-’00s pop-rock classic back to the mainstream.

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Thanksgiving Songs Beat the Holiday Rush on Streaming



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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

29 Nov 2023

Lola Brooke Explains the Stories Behind the Photo | Billboard

Lola Brooke explains the stories behind these photos with Billboard.

Lola Brooke:
What’s up, y’all? It’s your girl, Lola Brooke, and I am going behind the photos with Billboard.

Oh, she’s smiling at me like she’s proud. OK, so this was in Atlanta, I just couldn’t believe she wanted me to come out because this is the thing — I performed with Ciara and then she allowed me to perform my single “Don’t Play With It.” As an artist, when you come on somebody’s set and they allowed you to do that, that means, like, they really respect your craft, so I had to make sure I put on the show for CiCi OK. I love you CiCi, thank you so much.

Oh my god. I’m literally the size of the baby and I act like a baby sometimes too, and I’m really, really, really spoiled. I like to be carried around because sometimes, everyone is so huge that I can’t see where I’m going. When I’m being carried, I can see literally everything that’s around me, so this is when I’m tall.

Ah! Don’t play with them girls! Do not play with them girls at all. They’re not to be played with. This was literally before we shot “Don’t Play With It (Remix),” and we were sitting in a sprinter trying to cope with the weather. It was freezing outside. We wanted to look cute. The girls were a vibe and I appreciate them so much because for one, it was a long day. We literally went to every single borough to shoot “Don’t Play With It (Remix),” and they were willing, like, they didn’t leave me out there by myself. They were willing, so love you guys.

Now this right here is, Billboard, you is so funny for this one because this was SXSW. It’s, like, two fun facts about this event.

Watch the full video above!

29 Nov 2023

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

The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week (for the upcoming Billboard Hot 100 dated Dec. 9), the now-annual holiday rush has begun on the Hot 100 – but for the first time, the usual pace-setter is in danger of being passed for the top spot. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IN THE MIX 

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

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

29 Nov 2023

End of the Road: How to Watch the Final Kiss Concert Live on Pay-Per-View

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Kiss fans from around the world will be able to watch the final stop on the End of the Road Tour at Madison Square Garden on Saturday (Dec. 2). The final KISS concert will be available to live stream on pay-per-view.

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Read on for more details on the show, plus when and how to watch from anywhere.

How to Watch

The End of the Road concert will stream live from Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Kiss fans can purchase the concert live stream for $39.99 at PPV.com. The digital ticket includes replay access.

Visit PPV.com to watch live or stream through the PPV app — you can find it in Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store. Watch live on a PC, laptop, TV, mobile phone and other compatible devices. PPV.com is compatible with Android 10+, iOS 15.0+, Mac OS 11, Window 10+ and Chrome, Safari and Firefox browsers.  

Kiss is back on stage after canceling several dates on the End of the Road Tour as frontman Paul Stanley came recovered from the flu. The band has just two more shows ahead of the final show on Saturday.

Kiss will perform at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore on Wednesday, Nov. 29 before heading to New York for two, back-to-back performances at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2.

Last-minute tickets to the three remaining shows in Baltimore and New York City are available online. Prices range from $89-$334 at Vivid Seats and $67-$319 at Seat Geek (use code: BILLBOARD10 to save $10 off eligible purchases of $250+. Valid on first purchase only).

Kiss announced the pay-per-view concert on Nov. 9 writing in an Instagram post “50 years of Rock ‘n’ Roll. 1 Final Show. Rock out with @kissonline one last time! Their final concert ever, LIVE from @thegarden, streaming exclusively worldwide on PPV.COM.”

Need something to wear to the Kiss concert? Shop End of the Road tour merch here.

Watch the trailer for the final concert below.

29 Nov 2023

Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ Dances Its Way Into YouTube’s Billion Views Club

The King of Pop reigns forever. Despite coming from a completely different era of media, Michael Jackson‘s seminal “Beat It” music video has become the latest clip to reach one billion views on YouTube, as confirmed by the streaming giant on Wednesday (Nov. 29).

“Beat It” is Jackson’s third music video to enter the Billion Views Club, following the Moonwalk-featuring “Billie Jean” and 1996’s “They Don’t Care About Us.” For the period of Nov. 17-23, MJ ranked at #58 on YouTube’s U.S. Top Artists chart and at #96 on their Global Top Artists chart.

Nearly 15 years removed from his tragic passing, Michael Jackson continues to earn new chart achievements off the strength of his timeless catalog. Earlier this month (on the chart dated Nov. 11), Jackson’s accidental Halloween anthem “Thriller” re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 21, marking the sixth consecutive year that the song has reappeared on Billboard’s marquee singles chart. During its original chart run, the track reached No. 4.

In a matter of days (Dec. 2), a new documentary commemorating 40 years of Jackson’s historic Billboard 200-topping Thriller album will premiere on Showtime and Paramount+. Scores of chart-topping artists, including Usher, Mary J. Blige, Maxwell and Mark Ronson, are slated to appear for interviews in the new film, which will also include previously unseen footage of the making of the album.

Of course, “Beat It” appears on Thriller as one of the album’s seven Hot 100 top 10 hits alongside “Billie Jean” (No. 1), “The Girl Is Mine” (with Paul McCartney, No. 2), “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” (No. 5), “Human Nature” (No. 7), “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” (No. 10) and the aforementioned title track.

Celebrate the King of Pop’s latest achievement by watching the official “Beat It” music video above.

29 Nov 2023

10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: Wyatt Flores, Ye Vagabonds, Nicotine Dolls & More

Billboard has more than 200 different weekly charts, encompassing numerous genres and formats.

While established artists often compete for a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard 200 albums ranking, which track the most popular songs and albums of the week, respectively, up-and-coming talents typically start off on genre-specific lists.

Here’s a look at 10 titles by artists who appear on surveys for the first time on the Dec. 2-dated charts:

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Wyatt Flores



The singer-songwriter from Stillwater, Okla., arrives on Billboard’s charts for the first time with his breakout single “Please Don’t Go,” and his two sets The Hutson Sessions and Life Lessons. The track, released in July 2022 via OEG Records, debuts at No. 43 on Hot Country Songs with 3.4 million U.S. streams (up 26%) Nov. 17-23, according to Luminate. TikTok has been a significant factor in the song’s growing profile, as a portion has been used in over 40,000 clips on the platform.

Flores’ 2022 debut four-track EP The Hutson Sessions (which includes “Please Don’t Go”) debuts at No. 19 on the Heatseekers Albums chart with 3,000 equivalent album units earned, and his new seven-track set Life Lessons enters at No. 24 (2,000 units). Flores released Life Lessons Nov. 17 on OEG/Island/Republic Records – his first release on a major label.

Flores is currently on the road on his Times Are Getting Hard Tour, which runs through mid-December. On Dec. 7 and 8, he’ll support recent Billboard first-timer Charles Wesley Godwin at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Ye Vagabonds



The Irish folk duo, comprising brothers Diarmuid and Brían Mac Gloinn, scores its first Billboard chart appearance, thanks to “The Parting Glass,” with boygenius. Released Nov. 17 on Interscope Records, the collaboration debuts at No. 10 on the Alternative Digital Song Sales chart with 1,000 sold.

“The Parting Glass” is a traditional Scottish folk ballad, also popular in Ireland. It’s often sung at the end of a gathering of friends, similar to “Auld Lang Syne.” On the new version, boygenius’ Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus trade vocals, while the Gloinn brothers provide instrumentation. The song was released as a tribute to the late Sinead O’Connor, who also recorded it for her 2002 album, Sean-Nos Nua. The cover art for the new song is a photo of O’Connor, with proceeds going towards the Aisling Project, an after-school initiative to help children growing up in disadvantaged areas of Dublin, Ireland.

Ye Vagabonds have released three LPs: Ye Vagabonds (2017), The Hare’s Lament (2019) and Nine Waves (2022).

Nicotine Dolls



The New York City-based band lands on Billboard’s charts for the first time, thanks to its cover of Tina Turner’s classic hit “The Best.” The song, released Nov. 17 on Nettwerk Music Group, debuts at No. 9 on Rock Digital Song Sales with 1,000 sold. TikTok has been a key factor in the song’s rise, as the cover went viral on the platform leading up to its official release.

Nicotine Dolls are fronted by lead singer Sam Cieri and also comprises John Hays (guitar), John Merritt (bass) and Abel Tabares (drums). Cieri appeared on NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2022 and was part of the second national tour of the musical Once (playing one of the leads, Guy) in 2016-17.

Turner’s original recording only reached No. 15 on the Hot 100 in 1989, but has since become one of her seminal songs. The track is her second-most-streamed song in the U.S. in her career (after “What’s Love Got To Do With It”), since Luminate began tracking music data in 1991.

Ocean Alley



The Australian psychedelic rock band draws its first Billboard chart placement with its single “Confidence.” The song, released in 2018 on the act’s album Chiaroscuro, debuts at No. 27 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart with 2.6 million U.S. streams (up 35%), boosted by buzz on TikTok. It’s also new at No. 15 on Hot Alternative Songs and No. 21 on Hot Rock Songs.

Ocean Alley, from the Northern Beaches of New South Wales, Australia, has released four LPs: Lost Tropics (2016), Chiaroscuro (2018), Lonely Diamond (2020) and Low Altitude Living (2022). The latter two sets both reached No. 3 on the Australian Albums chart. The band comprises Nic Blom, Baden Donegal, Lach and Mitch Galbraith, Angus Goodwin and Tom O’Brien.

Sistek & Sadie Rose Van



Both artists score their first Billboard chart entry, as their collaboration “Pull You Closer,” released Sept. 29 on Armada Music, begins at No. 36 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay (up 17% in plays). Sistek, a DJ and producer from Santiago, Chile, has been releasing music since 2017. He has also collaborated with Rosie Darling, Ethan Hodges and Mark Mendy, among others. Sadie Van Rose, from Southern California, has released over a dozen songs, all since 2019, including tracks with Ryan Ennis and Matoma.

Maxine Ashley



The singer-songwriter reaches Billboard’s charts for the first time with her single “Somebody Else.” Released Oct. 13 on JBR, it debuts at No. 40 on Rhythmic Airplay (up 34% in plays). Ashley has been releasing music since 2014. She dropped her debut four-track EP Intuition in 2019 and collaborated with Black Coffee and Sun-El Musician on “You Need Me” in 2021. The song is from Black Coffee’s Subconsciously, which won for best dance/electronic music album at the Grammy Awards in 2022.

Saxl Rose



The multi-instrumentalist, producer and touring musician earns his first-ever Billboard chart hit, thanks to his featured appearance on Jacob Webb’s “All In.” The song, released in August on Next Paradigm, debuts at No. 23 on Smooth Jazz Airplay (up 32% in spins).

Saxl Rose (real name: Antonio Hancock; his name is a play on his go-to instrument, the saxophone, and Guns N’ Roses’ Axl Rose) has performed onstage alongside many other artists, including Chris Brown, Paramore, The Used and Wiz Khalifa. Earlier this year, he collaborated with Motionless in White on a “synthwave” version of the group’s viral track “Werewolf.” He is also active on social media, where he posts videos of himself adding his signature saxophone solos to popular songs.

Cody Webb



The singer lands his first Billboard-charting hit, thanks to “Out of This World.” The track, which he self-released in November 2018, debuts at No. 24 on the Holiday Digital Song Sales chart with 1,000 sold. Webb released his debut self-titled six-track set in 2016. He has served up a string of songs in 2023 alone, including “If Daddy Didn’t Have a Truck,” “Don’t Grow Up Too Fast” and “Peaches.” Outside of his own recorded music, he’s also written songs for other artists, including Luke Combs (“Memories Are Made Of”).

Riordan



The DJ makes his Billboard chart debut with “Needle on the Record.” The song dropped Nov. 10 on REALM Records and debuts at No. 11 on Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales. Riordan, from the United Kingdom, has released eight house tracks on streaming services, all since 2020.

Melinda Lindner



Lindner notches her first Billboard chart hit thanks to her new cover of “White Christmas.” The song, released Oct. 20 on her holiday album Melinda Lindner… At Christmas on Heaven Records, debuts at No. 25 on Adult Contemporary. Lindner has been releasing music, including other covers of popular hits, since 2020. She released her debut eight-track studio album It Only Happens With You in July.

Lindner’s new recording was produced by Michael Lloyd who, notably, hit the Hot 100 in 1975 as a member of the trio Cotton, Lloyd & Christian with its cover of Peter and Gordon’s “I Go to Pieces.” He also produced songs by Shaun Cassidy and the Osmonds in the ‘70s and Belinda Carlise’s No. 3-peaking 1986 hit “Mad About You.”

Irving Berlin wrote “White Christmas” for the 1942 film Holiday Inn, and it has since become a holiday standard. Bing Crosby’s recording, with Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra, debuted on the Hot 100 in 1958 (the chart’s inaugural year) and peaked at No. 12 in 1962. The song has re-entered the Hot 100 every year since 2018. Last season, it reached No. 16, its highest rank since its 1962 peak. One other version of “White Christmas” has charted on the Hot 100: The Drifters’ 1956 classic, featuring Clyde McPhatter and Bill Pinkney, reached No. 88 in 1962.

“It’s been a forever dream of mine to have my first Billboard hit,” Lindner tells Billboard. “‘White Christmas’ is one of my and my mom’s very favorite holiday songs. It has a very special place in my heart.”

29 Nov 2023

Paris Hilton Said She ‘Was Crying’ When She Read the Kind Thing Britney Spears Said About Her in Memoir

On Wednesday’s (Nov. 29) Kelly Clarkson Show, the host asked guest Paris Hilton about a throwback picture the socialite/DJ recently posted of herself and pal Britney Spears way back in 2006 in which Hilton bragged that the dynamic duo “created” the idea of the selfie. Clarkson noted that like HIlton — who earlier this year released Paris: The Memoir — Spears has stepped up to give a first-hand account her life story in her recent best-selling tell-tell, The Woman in Me.

In the book, Clarkson noted that Spears wrote, “one of the people who was kindest to me when I really needed kindness was Paris Hilton.” Lamenting that good news doesn’t often get as much attention as awful news, Clarkson said it was cool to read something kind that lifted someone else up.

“I was crying when I read that, that really touched me,” said Hilton, who, like Spears, wrote about some very challenging times in her life in her book. “She’s just so strong, I love her so much and I’m just so proud of her for speaking her truth and writing this whole book. That quote meant a lot me when I read it.”

Clarkson — who also knows the rigors of being a young person thrust into the spotlight thanks to her rise to fame at 20 after winning American Idol in 2002 — said she could relate to both women’s rocky journeys. “I feel like there has to be purpose in the things that happen to us, the good and the bad. And I love that you’re a really big advocate for [the] troubled teen industry… because you had struggled,” Clarkson said.

Hilton said she’s proud of the impact she’s made by advocating for changes in the “troubled teen” industry to prevent the kind of abuse she said in her book she suffered she she was shuttled between different facilities where she was physically and mentally abused between the ages of 16-18.

Watch Hilton talk Spears on The Kelly Clarkson Show below.

29 Nov 2023

Here Are Five Things You Didn’t Know About Jharrel Jerome | Billboard

Jharrel Jerome reveals five things you didn’t know about him!

Jharrel Jerome:
Hey, what’s up? I’m Jharrel Jerome and these are five things you might not know about me. One, I grew up in a house of ten people. So I grew up with my mom, my dad, my sister, my aunt, my uncle, my grandparents, and my cousins all in one house.

Two, I went to LaGuardia High School, which is a performing arts school in the middle of New York City, and I would have to take the train, the D train 45 minutes every morning from the Bronx into the city for high school.

Three, I’m allergic to a lot of things. I’m like a bubble boy, I’m gonna do to all seafood or shellfish, every nut, macadamia nut, cashews, almonds, can’t none of it. And sesame seeds. The good things in life.

Four, I love watching cartoons before asleep. The Fairly OddParents or something like that. I love cartoons. And five, when I was a kid, my favorite rapper was Eminem, and I used to think that you could pay a celebrity to show up to your birthday party. So I begged my mom every year for my birthday to make sure Eminem would show up to my party. And one year she told me that it would happen. I don’t know why she told me that because it didn’t.

Watch the full video above!

29 Nov 2023

Bad Bunny Has Spotify’s Most Streamed Album Globally of 2023

Today marks the launch of Spotify‘s Wrapped program, revealing the most streamed artists, songs and albums of 2023. Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti has secured the title of most streamed album globally, accumulating 4.5 billion plays on the streaming platform, according to Spotify. Notably, Bunny’s top-charting album — produced by Mag and Tainy — wasn’t a new release this year; rather, it retains its position from the previous year.

In the most streamed artist globally category, El Conejo Malo takes second place; he topped the list the previous three years in a row. Taylor Swift takes the prize as Spotify’s most streamed artist of 2023.

Overall on the Latin music scope, the genre continues its global dominance, achieving a historic milestone on the streaming platform with the highest number of Latin songs reaching the No. 1 spot with eight. The top 50 most streamed global artists featured 16 Latin artists, including Bad Bunny at No. 2, as mentioned above, and Peso Pluma, the year’s breakout Mexican star at No. 5, who debuted with more than 9 billion streams.

Notable additions in the top 50 also include Feid at No. 6, KAROL G at No. 9, Junior H at No. 18, Rauw Alejandro at No. 21, and Shakira at No. 22. This marks a significant 60% increase compared to 2022 when 10 Latin artists made it to the Global Top 50.

As for the most streamed song globally, Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” earns No. 1, which accumulated 1.6 billion streams and hit an eight-week Billboard Hot 100 streak at No. 1.

See how Latin artists fared on Spotify’s charts below, and get the full look at the streaming platform’s results across genres here.

Most Streamed Latin Artists Globally 

  1. Bad Bunny 
  2. Peso Pluma
  3. Feid
  4. KAROL G
  5. Junior H 

Most Streamed Latin Female Artists Globally 

  1. KAROL G
  2. Shakira
  3. ROSALÍA
  4. Ana Castela
  5. Kali Uchis

Most-Streamed Latin Songs Globally

  1. “Ella Baila Sola” by Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma
  2. “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” by Bizarrap, Shakira
  3. “TQG” by KAROL G, Shakira
  4. “La Bebe – Remix” by Yng Lvcas, Peso Pluma
  5. “un x100to” by Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny

U.S. Most-Streamed Latin Artists

  1. Bad Bunny
  2. Peso Pluma
  3. Junior H
  4. KAROL G
  5. Fuerza Regida

U.S. Most-Streamed Latin Songs

  1. “Ella Baila Sola” by Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma
  2. “La Bebe – Remix” by Yng Lvcas, Peso Pluma
  3. “un x100to” by Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny
  4. “PRC” by Peso Pluma, Natanael Cano
  5. “AMG” by Natanael Cano Peso Pluma

29 Nov 2023

Harvey Brittain’s Journey From Berklee Student To iTunes Charting Artist

This article was written in partnership with No Fortune

Harvey Brittain, the 21-year-old sensation hailing from the UK, is making waves in the music industry, and his journey is nothing short of inspiring. With a unique blend of pop and jazz influences, Harvey’s music stands out in a crowded field, capturing the hearts of listeners around the globe.

Harvey’s love affair with music began at the young age of four when he first laid his hands on a piano. Growing up in a musical household where his father was a musician, it’s no surprise that Harvey’s soul resonated with the magic of music. He immersed himself in melodies, and his innate talent allowed him to recreate tunes by ear, much to the chagrin of his piano teacher. Despite the classical music exams he reluctantly endured, Harvey’s heart was drawn to the world of jazz. Influenced by legendary artists like Herbie Hancock, Oscar Peterson, and Chick Corea, he yearned to improvise and explore the uncharted territories of music. As he honed his skills, he discovered his singing voice and began crafting his own compositions.

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Harvey’s journey took a pivotal turn when he started performing at small gigs while still in school. He even auditioned for major television shows like Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor, gracing stages at prestigious venues like Wembley Arena and The London Palladium. Yet, Harvey felt that these avenues weren’t authentic to his artistic vision.

In 2020, a golden opportunity arose when Harvey secured a scholarship to the illustrious Berklee College of Music in the USA. The acceptance letter was a dream come true, but the financial shortfall threatened to shatter that dream. Undeterred, Harvey embarked on a quest to secure sponsors and support. His determination led to a remarkable encounter with bestselling author Lee Child, who graciously backed his journey to Berklee. Lee Child’s act of generosity left an indelible mark on Harvey, instilling in him the importance of paying it forward. Harvey is determined to support others in their pursuit of dreams, just as he was supported on his journey.

Fast forwarding to June of 2022, Harvey used his momentum to release his debut record, “Honest.” Produced in collaboration with American producer H4RRIS, this single skyrocketed into the top 50 of the iTunes Pop Top 100 in the US. The accompanying music video, shot around Boston and executively produced by Lee Child, showcased Harvey’s creative spirit and boundless energy.

Harvey Brittain’s journey from a young piano prodigy to a rising star in the music industry is a testament to the power of talent, determination, and the support of those who believe in you. As he continues to create music that resonates with audiences worldwide, Harvey’s story serves as an inspiration to aspiring artists everywhere. Keep an eye out for his upcoming singles, and remember his promise to pay it forward, ensuring that the magic of music continues to thrive in the hearts of future generations. Harvey Brittain is a name you’ll want to remember as he continues to light up the music scene with his passion and talent.