Representatives from most labels and many of the top iHeart programmers are converging in L.A. this week for the semi-annual ‘meeting of the minds’ and listening sessions. Each label has a set amount of time to play songs from new and upcoming artists for a select group of PDs and MDs from around the country. It’s a great way for them to expose new music to the tastemakers of iHeartMedia. And speaking of iHeart, they’ve announced their line-up for this year's upcoming festival. The Who, Kanye West, Sam Smith, Lil Wayne, Jason Derulo, Coldplay and The Weeknd are some of the big names slated to perform 9/18 & 19 at the MGM Grand.


The timing is perfect for The Weeknd to hit the big stage, as “Can’t Feel My Face” (Republic/XO) sits at #1 and “The Hills” (Republic/XO) moves #31-19, adding 933 spins. The sales and Shazam numbers are most certainly there, both of which seem to be the barometer of a hit song. Gary Spangler, Davey Dee and Stef Cole also have Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” (Big Machine) at #6, up 120 spins. They’re trying to give her the first Top 5 record of her career at this format. Sage The Gemini f/Nick Jonas’ “Good Thing” is at #12, and Natalie La Rose f/Fetty Wap’s “Around the World” climbs to #13, gaining 170 spins.

Def Jam’s Rick Sackheim, Noah Sheer and Scott Maness take Big Sean f/Kanye West & John Legend’s “One Man Can Change the World” inside the Top 20 this week, grabbing 140 new spins. Jeremih f/J. Cole’s “Planes” slides into the #27 slot, up 110 spins. Meanwhile, YG’s “Twist My Fingaz” climbs to #43, and will chart next week; it was up 215 spins. Alessia Cara’s “Here,” up 90 spins, is starting to pick up some steam. The label has started a countdown to the release of Justin Bieber’s “What Do You Mean?” It’s been a minute since we’ve had a Bieber song (excluding the Skrillex and Diplo track); it’ll be interesting to see how the Rhythm audience reacts.


Columbia’s Ayelet Schiffman and James White are pushing to take the #1 slot this coming week with OMI’s “Cheerleader” (Ultra); it’s at #2, up 310 spins, and about 700 spins away. Samantha J’s “League of My Own” is at #31, up 75 spins. Dej Loaf f/Big Sean’s “Back Up” moves to #59, up 140 spins; there’s a good buzz on this track. They’re impacting J. Cole’s new “No Role Modelz” this week, as well as a new track from Rita Ora, featuring Chris Brown, which is due out later this week.

The crew of John Strazza, Inca and Lori G at RCA debut Miguel’s “Coffee” this week at #40. R. City f/Adam Levine’s “Locked Away” climbs to #44, up 85 spins, and Prince Royce f/Pitbull & Jennifer Lopez’s “Back It Up” slides to #47, also up 85 spins. Chris Brown’s “Liquor,” meanwhile, is up 125 spins, and has already charted at Urban. New to the party, Pitbull f/Jason Derulo & Juicy J’s “Drive You Crazy” is just now being serviced to mix show.

Epic’s Sujit Kundu has Future f/Drake’s “Where Ya At” at #42, up 270 spins. That one’s sure to debut next week. Casey Veggies f/Dej Loaf’s “Tied Up” sits at #45 this week, while Ciara’s “Dance Like We’re Making Love” climbs to #64, up 50 spins.


Lee L’Heureux and Warner Bros. have Jason Derulo’s “Cheyenne” (Beluga Heights) leaping #26-22 and increasing 250 spins; the sales are picking up as well. Nico & Vinz’s “That’s How You Know” also has a great week, as it gains 200 spins and moves to #46.

Largest increases:
1) The Weeknd “The Hills” XO/Republic
2) Silento “Watch Me” Bolo Productions/Capitol
3) Major Lazer f/DJ Snake “Lean On” Mad Decent
4) OMI “Cheerleader” Ultra/Columbia
5) Drake “Back to Back” YMCMB/Republic

The Pulse:
1) Dej Loaf f/Big Sean “Back Up” Columbia
2) YG “Twist My Fingaz” CTE/Def Jam
3) Nico & Vinz “That’s How You Know” Warner Bros.
4) Drake “Back To Back” YMCMB/Republic
5) Alessia Cara “Here” Def Jam

J. Cole, "No Role Modelz" (Roc Nation/Columbia)

For a second week in a row, and with fresh momentum from a super hot video release that literally shows him ON FIRE, XO/Republic's The Weeknd holds off fierce competition. OMI's worldwide smash, "Cheerleader" (Ultra/Columbia), and Silento's viral dance anthem, "Watch Me" (Capitol), put up a fight, but "Can't Feel My Face" holds the #1 spot this week. The aforementioned two are right on Tesfaye's heels, though, as both songs clock major spins and gain sales momentum. But The Weeknd clearly owns the format at the moment, after a monster week for "The Hills" as well; it was up over 750 spins. Meanwhile, A1/Freebandz/Epic's Future is benefiting from the high profile Drake/Meek Mill beef, as his collabo with the Toronto superstar, "Where Ya At," sees impressive gains at radio. Speaking of impressive gains, the same can be said for the refreshing acoustic jam from Warner Bros.' Nico & Vinz, "That's How You Know."

It was a three-way battle to the finish but at the end, the winner for Most Added this week was Def Jam’s YG with “Twist My Fingaz." RCA’s Chris Brown came in second with “Liquor" and IBGM/Columbia’s Dej Loaf f/Big Sean's “Back Up” ranked third. XO/Republic continues to build a hell of a story as The Weeknd gets a solid add week for "The Hills," with a nice week of new stations for G.O.O.D./Def Jam’s Big Sean with “OMCCTW” and Freebandz/Epic’s Future f/Drake's “Where Ya At."