NEAR TRUTHS: REALIGNMENT AND RECOGNITION
Underscoring the year's biggest stories (11/19a)
NEAR TRUTHS: THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Nervous time in the music biz and beyond. (11/16a)
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NOW WHAT?
We have no fucking idea.
COUNTRY'S NEWEST DISRUPTOR
Three chords and some truth you may not be ready for.
AI IS ALREADY EATING YOUR LUNCH
The kids can tell the difference... for now.
WHO'S BUYING THE DRINKS?
That's what we'd like to know.
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As we inch closer to the official start of summer—and with school letting out for a long break—I start to think about what the "song of the summer" will be. OMI's “Cheerleader”? Maybe Major Lazer ‘s “Lean On”? Or Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood”? All worthy contenders, but my vote for Song of the Summer goes to The Weeknd‘s newest hit, “Can’t Feel My Face” (XO/Republic), which made its worldwide debut at Apple's WWDC this week, impacting radio immediately thereafter. Abel follows up his #1 smash “Earned It” with another female-friendly, thought-provoking track. With an amazing following and passionate fan base, there's no stopping him, as witnessed by the first week sales of “The Hills,” which moved over 100k on iTunes last week ("Face" is already Top 5 there, by the way). Gary Spangler, Davey Dee, and Stef Cole will bring this one home quickly. Republic also keeps the momentum on YMCMB’s Nicki Minaj and “The Night Is Still Young,” up 215 spins to #14 while Taylor Swift f/Kendrick Lamar’s “Bad Blood” (Big Machine) jumps 23-17, collecting an additional 510 spins. Sage The Gemini ‘s “Good Thing” f/ Nick Jonas takes a substantial leap as well, climbing 31-23 and gaining 460 spins.
Columbia’s Ayelet Schiffman and James White take J. Cole‘s “Wet Dreamz” deep inside the top 15 this week, with the song up 150 spins and still developing in callout. Right behind at #16 is OMI's super-reactive “Cheerleader,” this week’s Greatest Gainer, up a whopping 530 spins with massive momentum. Sales are huge, and it's proving to be just the multi-format smash the label envisioned. Samantha J ‘s “League of My Own” is just getting started after a great initial week of adds. Snoop Dogg ‘s “California Roll” is developing a profile on the West Coast, up 35 spins this week.
RCA’s John Strazza, Inca, and Lori G have a few records on cruise control, like Kid Ink’s “Be Real” f/Dej Loaf with a 430 spin gain while Tinashe's “All Hands On Deck” holds at #12, up 140 spins. The top of the chart is fairly tight right now, with only two records inside the top 20 at a deficit in spins. Pitbull f/Chris Brown ‘s “Fun” is at #18, up 140 plays this week while Deorro X Chris Brown‘s “Five More Hours” holds at #46. Miguel ‘s “Coffee” f/Wale climbs to #49 this week.
Epic’s Sujit Kundu moved Jidenna‘s “Classic Man” into the Top Ten, up 480 spins. With this tremendous success and huge Beats Music sync, they have impacted at Pop now. Epic also takes SYCOs Fifth Harmony f/ Kid Ink’s “Worth It” inside the top 20 with an 110 spin gain. It took 12 long weeks to get to this point, but new believers are coming on board each week. Tink “Million” has a great debut, adding 160 spins and climbing to #45. Janelle Monae & Jidenna‘s quirky “Yoga” (Wondaland) sits at #48, up 50 spins this week. They just impacted Casey Veggies f/Dej Loaf’s “Tied Up” and are getting started.
Rick Sackhiem, Noah Sheer and Scott Maness at Def Jam have Rihanna “BBHMM” up 140 spins to #6 this week, inching closer to the Top 5 while Jeremih f/ Flo Rida’s “Tonight Belongs To U!” goes to #32 this week. Big Sean ‘s “One Man Can Change The World” takes an impressive leap to #53, up 145 spins. They are impacting Elijah Blake’s “I Just Wanna..” this week.
Largest increases:
1) OMI, “Cheerleader” Ultra/Louder Than Life/Columbia
2) Taylor Swift f/Kendrick Lamar, “Bad Blood” Big Machine/Republic
3) Jidenna, “Classic Man” Wondaland/Epic
4) Sage The Gemini f/Nick Jonas, “Good Thing” Republic
5) Kid Ink f/Dej Loaf, “Be Real” Alumni/88Classic/RCA