With an entirely different track impacting Pop radio, Avicii hits Rhythm with this mutated work song (peep the gritty, violent video below):

Avicii, "Pure Grinding" (PRMD/Island)

Republic’s The Weeknd is back on top this week, this time with “The Hills” (XO). It will go #1, with another 900 plus increase. Jeremih f/J. Cole's “Planes” (Def Jam), R. City f/Adam Levine's “Locked Away” (Kemosabe) and Rita Ora f/Chris Brown's “Body On Me” (Roc Nation/Columbia) will all see significant gains inside the Top 20. RECORDS' Nelly will climb into the Top 25 with “The Fix.” Meanwhile, this week's three big debuts are Drake's “Hotline Bling” (YMCMB/Republic), Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' “Downtown” (Warner Bros.), and Justin Bieber's “What Do You Mean” (Def Jam), as they all storm the chart.

It was an exciting week with four superstar acts launching new songs at Rhythm radio. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' “Downtown” (Warner Bros.) takes home the top honors with 43 adds, with Drake's “Hotline Bling” (YMCMB/Republic) not far behind with 37. RBMG/Def Jam’s campaign for Justin Bieber's “What Do You Mean?” comes in with 31 adds, and Republic/YMCMB powerhouse Nicki Minaj nabs 23 for “Trini Dem Girls." Latium/RCA’s Shy Carter has a nice impact week with 9 commitments on “Bring It Back."

We learned some valuable things on Sunday night during the MTV VMAs: Nicki Minaj is not exactly a big fan of Miley Cyrus, Kanye West enjoys a good smoke before a speech and we have a new presidential candidate for 2020. Those were just a few highlights of the evening, though. Others include Taylor Swift taking home four Moonmen and Miley dropping her new LP, Miley Cyrus and her Dead Petz.

On to the week’s happenings, Republic’s Gary Spangler, Davey Dee and Stef Cole are staring another #1 record in the face. The Weeknd’s “The Hills” (XO) moves to #5 this week, gaining 975 spins. FYI, this will be his third #1 in a row. YMCMB's Drake has two records out right now, and both are on the move. “Back To Back” breaks inside the Top 25, up 220 spins. And they officially impact “Hotline Bling” this week; it’s already at #42, up 325 spins. They debut Post Malone’s “White Iverson,” which was also up 325 spins, this week, coming in at #37. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj f/LunchMoney Lewis’ “Trini Dem Girls” (YMCMB) impacts.

Def Jam’s Rick Sackhiem, Noah Sheer and Scott Maness had a flawless set-up and delivery of Justin Bieber’s “What Do You Mean?” It got 250 spins in just two days, and will debut next week—its first full week. The smash debuted at Pop at #27, up 2200 spins. Big Sean’s “One Man Can Change the World” (G.O.O.D.) is at #12, up 140 spins. Jeremih f/J. Cole’s “Planes” slides into the Top 15, up 420 spins, again surpassing his previous best week. Alessia Cara’s “Here” tacks on an additional 240 spins and moves #33-28. YG’s “Twist Ya Fingaz” moves into the #30 position, gaining 90 spins.


At RCA, John Strazza, Inca and Lori G are going full throttle on R. City f/Adam Levine’s “Locked Away” (Kemosabe) which climbs #25-20 this week, adding 465 spins. It’s doing the same thing at Pop, motoring up to #8 this week. Chris Brown’s “Liquor” ascends to #33, up 90 spins, and Nicky Jam f/Enrique’s “Forgiveness” moves to #50. Pitbull f/Jason Derulo’s “Drive You Crazy” (Mr. 305/Polo Grounds) continues to bubble in the mix shows and nights, and is at #52 this week. They impact Shy Carter f/Aleon Craft’s “Bring It Back” this week. T-Pain f/Juicy J’s “Make That Sh*t Work” is just getting started, and was up 40 spins.


Columbia’s Ayelet Schiffman and James White are off to the races with Rita Ora f/Chris Brown’s “Body on Me” (Roc Nation) which quickly moves into the Top 25, up 415 spins. Dej Loaf f/Big Sean’s “Back Up” just misses a chart debut, landing at #41. J. Cole’s “No Role Modelz” (Roc Nation) is up 75 spins, and sits at #46. OMI, meanwhile, has a new track “Hula Hoop.” It’s a few weeks away from Rhythm, but impacts Pop this week.


Sujit Kundu and Epic have Future f/Drake’s “Where Ya At” at #32, gaining 90 spins. Travi$ Scott’s “Antidote” is getting going, up 75 spins.

Warner Bros.’ Lee L’Heureux has a number of irons in the fire, including Jason Derulo’s “Cheyenne” (Beluga Heights), which moves to #17, up 45 spins. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/Ed Sheeran’s leaked first single, “Growing Up,” rises to #27, gaining 130 spins. The “official” single, which dropped Thursday, is “Downtown.” The latter grabbed 470 spins in a partial week and should be next week’s highest debut. It’s also vying for the #1 Most Added spot this week.

And RECORDS’ Christine Chiappetta and Paula Tuggey take Nelly f/Jeremih’s “The Fix” to #31 this week, up 385 spins.

Largest increases:
1) The Weeknd “The Hills” XO/Republic
2) R. City f/Adam Levine “Locked Away” Kemosabe/RCA
3) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “Downtown” Warner Bros.
4) Jeremih f/J. Cole “Planes” Def Jam
5) Rita Ora f/Chris Brown “Body On Me” Roc Nation/Columbia

The Pulse:
1) Justin Bieber “What Do You Mean?” Def Jam
2) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “Downtown” Warner Bros.
3) Rita Ora f/Chris Brown “Body On Me” Roc Nation/Columbia
4) Post Malone “White Iverson” Republic
5) R. City f/Adam Levine “Locked Away” Kemosabe/RCA