Streaming
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As country music consumption on streaming services has surged in recent years, so has the slate of country songs reaching the coveted milestone of being certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), signifying 10 million units moved (with each permanent digital download counting as one unit, while 150 on-demand audio and/or video streams count as one unit).
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Luke Combs notched the 10th and 11th country singles to earn Diamond status from the RIAA, with his songs “Hurricane” and “When It Rains It Pours.” These are added to his previous RIAA Diamond-certified song “Beautiful Crazy,” which reached the milestone last year, making Combs the country artist with the most Diamond-certified singles.
RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier said in a statement, “The power of artists’ voices and their ability to create connections with fans through music resonates across live shows and playlists that builds community and shapes culture. RIAA has the honor of celebrating the impact of those moments, and today we acknowledge the 10th (and 11th) country singles to earn Diamond recognition for US sales and streams — each surpassing 10 million. Congratulations to these amazing artists and incredible label partners who continue serving hits to loyal fans and those just discovering them!”
In addition to Combs, the country artists who have had songs reach the RIAA Diamond milestone include Lady A, Kane Brown, Brett Young and Darius Rucker.
During a celebration held in Nashville in March to celebrate the Diamond certification for Brett Young’s “In Case You Didn’t Know,” the singer-songwriter stated, “This has truly been the song that keeps on giving. As grateful as I am to this song, and what it is meant to my career, I’m even more grateful to all the people behind the scenes that works so hard to make sure it would be the successful. I think we all had high hopes, but never imagined this song earning an RIAA Diamond certification. Thank you to everybody that came out, and everybody that had a hand in all of the success.”
Notably, the Bebe Rexha/FGL hit “Meant to Be,” which is certified Diamond by the RIAA and topped the Hot Country Songs chart for 50 weeks (and rose to No. 2 on the Hot 100), is classified in the pop genre in the RIAA’s tally, while the Diamond-certified Lil Nas X/Billy Ray Cyrus collaboration “Old Town Road” is classified in the country genre in the RIAA’s tally — based on how the songs were classified when submitted for certification. There are, of course, more country songs on the cusp of being added to the Diamond club, such as Morgan Wallen’s “Whiskey Glasses,” which is currently certified 9x Platinum by the RIAA. Meanwhile, songs from Taylor Swift, pre-pop stardom ascension, are also close in the running, such as “Love Story,” which has been certified 8x Platinum.
Here, we look at the 11 country songs that have earned the Diamond certification distinction from the RIAA, starting with the most recently certified.
Luke Combs, “When It Rains It Pours”
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John Cena is tasked with protecting Awkwafina in the new Prime Video original movie Jackpot. The comedy premiered on Thursday (Aug. 15), which means you can finally watch Jackpot online.
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Set in a not so distant future, the movie follows Katie Kim (Awkwafina) who wins the lottery shortly after moving to Los Angeles. The catch? The Grand Lottery comes with a price for the winner: they have until sundown to stay alive or anyone who kills them has a chance to legally claim the multi-billion dollar jackpot. Out of desperation, Katie teams up with an amateur lottery protection agent (Cena) who promises to protect her until sundown in exchange for part of the prize.
Jackpot also starts Simu Liu (who also starred in Barbie) as one of the main antagonists vying for Katie’s cash prize. Keep reading to learn the streaming options available.
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How to Watch Jackpot Online for Free
Jackpot was produced through Amazon MGM Studios, which means the movie is available to watch exclusively through Prime Video. Prime members can stream Jackpot instantly and for no added cost when you sign into your account.
Don’t have a Prime membership? Amazon is offering a free 30-day trial for new users when you sign up, which means you’ll be able to watch Jackpot online for free and take advantage of all the member-exclusive benefits. After the free trial ends, you’ll be charged the regular subscription fee of $14.99 a month or $139 a year.
For additional savings, students can take advantage of a six month free trial and 50% off subscription cost when you sign up for a student membership. Qualifying government programs will get you access to the EBT/Medicaid membership that comes with a 30-day free trial at sign-up, then half-off membership fee once the promo is over.
Being a Prime member won’t just let you watch Jackpot online for free, you’ll also have access to the entire Prime Video library including original and exclusive content such as The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, My Lady Jane, Fallout, Batman: Caped Crusader, Invincible, The Boys, Gen V, I’m a Virgo, Upgraded, The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Wheel of Time, Citadel and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
In addition to Prime originals, Prime Video lets you add premium channels to your subscription including Max, Starz and Paramount+ to expand your content offerings.
Outside of entertainment, you’ll also get access to Prime member-exclusive benefits like free one-day shipping, grocery delivery, Prime Reading, Prime Try Before You Buy, Amazon Music Unlimited and major discounts on Prime Day.
Check below to watch the trailer for Jackpot.
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All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Emily in Paris season four has officially landed on Netflix, which means you don’t have to wonder what to watch this […]
Spotify has been given the green light to include pricing and promotional details inside its app on iPhones for users in the European Union following a decision earlier this year by regulators to fine Apple for breaking competition laws over music streaming.
The European Commission fined Apple nearly $2 billion (1.84 billion euros) in March over its long-held policies preventing outside app makers from telling consumers about cheaper ways to pay subscriptions that don’t involve the iPhone app. [Apple appealed in May.] Spotify and other app makers have complained for years about Apple’s restrictions to outside developers and the up-to-30% fee it charges them on all purchases made through iOS apps.
The Digital Markets Act, a sweeping set of regulations for large tech companies across the 27-nation European Union, went into effect in March. Under the DMA’s provisions, app developers are supposed to be allowed to inform customers of alternative purchasing options and direct them to those offers.
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Starting today (Aug. 14), Spotify has opted into Apple’s “entitlement” policy for music streaming apps, created after the commission’s ruling, and begun listing pricing information inside its app for European users — “something as obvious as it is overdue,” the company said in an updated blog post.
iPhone users in Europe will now be able to see how much each subscription plan costs and what they include. Freemium users looking to upgrade can also see special introductory offers and the pricing once a promotion ends. Spotify will be able to list specifics about audiobook listening and pricing as well.
What European iPhone users won’t see, yet, are workable hyperlinks to purchase subscriptions or other digital goods outside the app. Under its “entitlement” terms, Apple receives a 27% commission on proceeds earned from sales on external websites that are linked-to from inside the app. If someone were to click on the link and then wait a week before actually purchasing the service or goods, then the 27% commission would not apply, according to Apple’s terms.
For now, iPhone users will be instructed to “go to the Spotify website.”
Spotify called it a “small step” and said “all music streaming services in the EU are still not able to freely give consumers a simple opportunity to click a link to purchase in app because of the illegal and predatory taxes Apple continues to demand, despite the Commission’s ruling.”
“The fight continues,” the company added. “iPhone consumers everywhere deserve basic information about how much things cost, when they can take advantage of great deals and promotions, and where to go to buy those things online. If the European Commission properly enforces its decision, iPhone consumers could see even more wins, like lower cost payment options and better product experiences in the app.”
Tencent Music Entertainment’s stock fell by 15% on Tuesday after declines in the leading Chinese music streamer’s quarterly revenue and monthly active users overshadowed higher profit and paid subscriber gains. TME’s revenues of RMB7.16 billion ($985 million) edged 1.7% lower this quarter from the year-ago quarter, and monthly active users for online music services fell […]
Universal Music Group and Facebook parent Meta have forged an expanded agreement that will “advance social music opportunities” for the music major’s roster of artists and songwriters across the tech giant’s platforms.
The new arrangement, announced Monday, Aug. 12, covers Meta’s platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Horizon, Threads and for the first time, WhatsApp.
Financial terms weren’t disclosed, although a joint statement indicates the partnership ensures that “artists and songwriters are compensated fairly.”
Also, Meta and UMG will continue working together to address, among other things, unauthorized AI-generated content that could affect artists and songwriters.
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UMG has been proactive on the issue of AI in music over the past year, and taken stands to protect against what it sees as harmful uses of AI. It was UMG that partnered with YouTube on a series of AI principles and an AI Music Incubator to help artists use AI responsibly, formed a strategic partnership with BandLab to create a set of ethical practices around music creation, and partnered with Endel on functional music, among other initiatives.
The origins of this arrangement can be traced back to 2017, when Facebook and Universal entered into what Billboard described at the time as an unprecedented and global licensing partnership that would shake-up the way people listen to and share music on the popular social platform.
With that deal, Facebook was finally on good terms with its content partners after a years-long relationship that was, for the most part, frosty.
This renewed partnership “builds on the recognition that music can help connect us and bring fans, artists, and songwriters closer together, not only on established platforms such as Instagram and Facebook,” says Tamara Hrivnak, VP music and content business Development at Meta, in a statement, “but also in new ways on WhatsApp, and more. “We’re extremely grateful to the Universal team, and look forward to growing our partnership in the future.”
Adds Michael Nash, chief digital officer & EVP, Universal Music Group: “Since our landmark 2017 agreement, Meta has consistently demonstrated its commitment to artists and songwriters by helping to amplify the importance music holds across its global network of engaged communities and platforms, creating new opportunities and applications where music amplifies and leads engagement and conversations.”
In recent months, both parties have collaborated on “landmark campaign rollouts” across the Meta ecosystem for artists including Billie Eilish, Karol G and Taylor Swift.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Tensions are high in the second season of House of the Dragon as the Greens and the Blacks rally their troops […]
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Thanks to platforms such as Hulu, Paramount+, Netflix, Apple TV+, Peacock, Max, Disney+ and Prime Video, the amount of TV shows and movies to watch is practically endless. With so many streaming options available, it can be overwhelming trying to keep track of what to watch every weekend. Rather than endlessly scroll to figure out the best new shows to stream, ShopBillboard has put together a guide of some of the most anticipated releases to put on your radar.
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No matter whether you’re a fan of thrillers, dramas or even cartoons, each month, streaming platforms have a lineup of exciting and new releases to add to your watch list. From Hard Knocks: Training Camp With the Chicago Bears to channel-exclusive content from MTV, ABC and even USA Network, find our picks for the best TV series and movies to watch this weekend below.
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What to Watch on Max This Weekend
Max subscribers can look forward to dramatic new releases when logging. If you don’t have a subscription, you can sign up for as low as $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year for the ad-supported plan or you can go ad-free for $15.99 a month ($149.99 a year).
Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes (2024)
Release date: Aug. 3
Viewers can learn more about the legendary Elizabeth Taylor from her own voice in this new documentary. Through home videos, audio clips and interviews, you’ll have a chance to see the challenges and struggles she endured even while filming some of her most iconic roles.
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Hard Knocks: Training Camp With the Chicago Bears (Docuseries)
Release date: Aug. 6
Football fans can follow the Chicago Bears in this documentary that takes you through the athletes’ training camp as they prepare for the upcoming NFL season. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the players as they prepare for another season on the field.
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Industry (Season 3)
Release date: Aug. 11
The newest season of the financial drama follows a group of recent graduates who are thrown into the cutthroat world of London’s fictional bank Pierpoint & Co. Ethics will be questioned and the stakes are high as the aftermath of season two are examined.
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What to Watch on Prime Video This Weekend
Prime members have all of the Prime Video library at their fingertips, including Prime originals and exclusive content. If you’re not a member, Amazon is offering a 30-day free trial for new users. You’ll get access to the entire Prime Video library in addition to Prime exclusive perks. Once your free trial is over, you’ll be charged the regular membership fee of $14.99 a month or $139 a year.
Batman: Caped Crusader (Season 1)
Release date: Aug. 1
Gotham City’s hero Batman gets a cartoon makeover in this animated series from DC. The cartoon follows Batman as he takes on villains and protects Gotham City’s citizens from the crimes and evil schemes of his enemies.
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One Fast Move (2024)
Release date: Aug. 8
Riverdale‘s KJ Apa stars as Wes Neal, a young man who reconnects with his estranged father and looks for support as he aspires to become a professional motorcycle rider. The story is one that not only deals with the undoing years of emotional barriers between father and son, but the inspiring story of achieving one’s dreams.
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What to Watch on Peacock This Weekend
Peacock is home to all NBC, Bravo and USA Network originals, but you can also find exclusive Peacock originals such as the new series Mr. Throwback starring Stephen Curry. Peacock subscribers have free and instant access to the new series and movies offered. While there isn’t a free trial, new users who sign up can take advantage of the affordable packages starting at $7.99 a month.
Mr. Throwback (Season 1)
Release date: Aug. 8
Stephen Curry stars in this new comedy series that follows Danny Grossman (Adam Pally), who, after being a part of a middle-school basketball scandal, has endured a life of failure. In order to try and get on the right path to success, he attempts to reconnect with his sixth grade pal, NBA legend Curry.
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The Bikeriders (2024)
Release date: Aug. 9
This star-studded movie features Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer, Norman Reedus, Mike Faist and Michael Shannon. The film examines a motorcycle gang in the ’70s and its evolution over a decade.
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What to Watch on Apple TV+ This Weekend
Apple TV+ isn’t stingy on providing new and exclusive TV shows and movies for subscribers. A subscription is required in order to watch the original content, but new users can take advantage of a seven-day free trial. Once the free trial is over, you’ll be charged the regular subscription price of $9.99 a month.
Cowboy Cartel (Docu-series)
Release date: Aug. 1
See what happens when a rookie FBI agent uncovers a money laundering operation in American horse racing and how he risks his life to take down the culprits: Mexico’s cartel.
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The Instigators (2024)
Release date: Aug. 2
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck team up for this comedy shows when two unlikely people are thrown together to try and pull off a heist. When things go awry, the two must outrun the police, a crime boss and questionable bureaucrats.
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What to Watch on Paramount+ This Weekend
Besides offering Paramount+ originals and exclusive series and movies, the streamer is also the official platform for Showtime. New subscribers can sign up and take advantage of a seven-day free trial. When the promo is over, you’ll be charged as little as $5.99 a month for the basic plan and $11.99 a month for the plan that includes Showtime.
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Season 1)
Release date: Aug. 9
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are spotlighted in a new series that takes viewers on all of the wild crimefighting adventures of turtle mutants that live in the underground sewers with their karate master.
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What to Watch on Hulu This Weekend
Hulu comes with a full library of original shows in addition to cable shows from FX and ABC that premiere the day after airing. If you don’t have a subscription, you can get a 30-day free trial when you sign up. When the free trial ends, you’ll be charged as little as $7.99 a month. For even more content options, you can bundle Hulu with with Disney+ and ESPN+ and Max for as low as $14.99 a month. And for live TV options, you can get Hulu + Live TV for $76.99 a month.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
Release date: Aug. 2
The latest movie in the Planet of the Apes franchise can now be streamed on Hulu. The new movie takes place years after Caesar’s reign, as a young ape begins to question the environment that his society has established and makes choices that may transform the way apes and humans interact forever.
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Dance Moms: A New Era (Season 1)
Release date: Aug. 7
A new dance coach takes center stage in the latest era of the popular reality series Dance Moms. Each week, Studio Bleu will take on new competitions in addition to scheming moms and challenging dance routines.
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What to Watch on Netflix This Weekend
Besides signing up the traditional way, new Netflix subscribers can take advantage of free trials and promos going on through Xfinity, T-Mobile and Verizon.
Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024)
Release date: Aug. 2
Sandy Cheeks is the focus of this Netflix original film as she and SpongeBob work together to save Mr. Krabs, Patrick, Squidward and the rest of their friends after Bikini Bottom is scooped out of the ocean.
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The Umbrella Academy (Season 4)
Release date: Aug. 8
The Hargreeve siblings reunite for one final mission in the last season of the comedy-action series. In a new timeline that leaves all the siblings powerless, they must put aside their differences and work together to save the world, again.
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Warner Music Group (WMG) reported strong quarterly profit growth on Wednesday (Aug. 7) thanks to lower costs and solid revenue gains from streaming subscriptions and digital — which helped offset a drop in physical revenue due to release timing and a difficult year-ago comparison, according to the company. All of that led to a boost in the company’s stock, which had risen nearly 2% by the end of trading on Wednesday (though some of those gains were shaved on Thursday).
“Our strong subscription streaming growth in [the third quarter] was driven by the performance of our music and healthy industry trends,” Warner Music Group chief executive Robert Kyncl said in a statement. He added, “Our commitment to long-term artist development, combined with a flatter structure in recorded music, will enable us to super-serve talent and set WMG up for sustained future growth.”
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Here’s what else you should know about the third-largest music company’s latest quarterly earnings call.
A positive note on the company’s strategic reorganization
Kyncl kicked off the call by thanking outgoing leaders Max Lousada and Julie Greenwald and welcoming incoming Atlantic Music Group CEO Elliot Grainge while providing more detail on how WMG’s recently announced global structure will work.
“We’re making changes from a position of strength, and I’m happy to say that we’re firing on all cylinders across new releases, catalog, distribution and publishing,” Kyncl said. Read more about his comments here.
Strong subscription growth across streamers
Overall streaming revenue was up 5% for WMG this quarter, with recorded music streaming revenue up 8.7% — reflecting growth in subscription revenue of 7%. That was welcome news to investors: Warner’s stock spiked around 6% earlier in the trading session on Wednesday before settling at a gain of nearly 2%.
On the call, Kyncl was asked about the sources of WMG’s subscription streaming revenue after other music companies reported less stellar growth on that metric this quarter. That included Universal Music Group (UMG), which saw a 24% drop in its share price after reporting that overall streaming revenue fell 4.2%, leading UMG executive vp of digital strategy Boyd Muir to suggest that streamers like Apple Music and Amazon Music are struggling to add new subscribers.
Kyncl said WMG’s revenue mix has remained largely the same and cautioned the financial community to resist viewing Spotify as a proxy for the music industry. “It’s much more diversified [than Spotify],” Kyncl said.
WMG’s subscription streaming revenue is projected to grow in the fourth quarter, with that growth remaining “consistent across our handful of top DSPs, certainly led by subscriber growth and … price,” said CFO Bryan Castellani.
In a nod to the music industry’s handwringing over Spotify’s bundling practice, Kyncl said in opening remarks that the labels and DSPs are not “adversaries playing a zero-sum game.”
“That’s simply not the case,” Kyncl said. “We’re actively engaged with our partners around ways to drive growth for all of us. Streaming dynamics remain healthy, with plenty of headroom for subscriber growth in both established and emerging markets across multiple partners. Also, price optimization and improvements in the royalty models will provide ongoing opportunities for additional growth.”
Celebrating Brat summer and the Benson boon
From the “pop sensation of the summer” — Kyncl’s description of Charli XCX’s album Brat — to Benson Boone, whom Kyncl called the “breakout star of the year,” the former YouTube exec appeared pleased with Warner’s recent and upcoming slate of music releases.
“So far in 2024, WMG has more new artists debuting on the Spotify Global Top 10 than any other music company,” Kyncl said, highlighting “homegrown successes” like Benson Boone, Teddy Swims and Artemas, the English-Cypriot singer-songwriter signed to 10K Projects.
Streaming’s catalog “halo effect“
When Twenty One Pilots released their latest album, Clancy, the band’s entire body of work benefitted, with streams more than doubling during the first week after the album’s release. That’s “the beauty of streaming,” Kyncl said on the call. “Newly released hits have a halo effect on the rest of an artists’ catalog.”
While loyal fan bases can drive an uptick in an artist’s catalog streams after a new hit’s release, Kyncl added that WMG can amplify and extend that halo effect, transforming hits into “evergreen, deep catalog.”