I won’t make this week’s column about how I cast my vote. I just hope everyone got out and exercised their individual right to vote for the candidates they feel would help this country, its economy and whatever their personal beliefs would most be positively impacted by that candidate. This is a very pivotal time in our nation, and we need to figure out how to better work together, be less divided, and grow our economy. Here’s to four years with a new president! And if you did not vote, no one wants to hear you bitch.

Gary Spangler, Davey Dee and Stef Cole at Republic are certainly not bitching, as they hold The Weeknd f/Daft Punk’s “Starboy” (XO) at #1. It has enough of a cushion to hold there for at least another week. Ariana Grande f/Nicki Minaj’s “Side To Side” moves to #11, gaining 280 spins. It has its sights set on top 5. Amine’s “Caroline” continues to impress, as it leaps #19-16, up 385 spins. This one continues to build momentum, and shows no signs of slowing down. Post Malone f/Justin Bieber’s “Déjà vu” comes in at #29, and they debut Drake’s new “Fake Love” (YMCMB) at #38. It was 460 spins, and it set to explode this week. Belly’s “Ballerina” is at #54, and is still growing.

Columbia’s Ayelet Schiffman and James White have another very solid week with Russ’ “What They Want.” It comes in at #13, gaining a healthy 245 spins. The goal is top 10 in the next few weeks. WJMH and Music Choice both move it to a power. John Legend’s “Love Me Now” is up 80 spins, and continues to pick up new believers each week. it is also having a nice run at pop. John gave a sneak-peek, 30-second clip of the video on GMA, and the sales shot to top 25! He is performing on the American Music Awards, followed by Jimmy Fallon, James Corden, then Today. Make sure you check it out.

Over at Def Jam, Rick Sackheim and Noah Sheer are bringing some new heat: Kanye West’s “Fade” (G.O.O.D.), at #14, is up a very impressive 450 spins; and Rihanna’s “Love On The Brain” (Westbury Road) rockets 25-19, thanks to a 245 spin increase. 2 Chainz f/Drake’s “Big Amount” sees a 115 spin jump, and lands at #50. Alessia Cara’s “Scars To Your Beautiful” continues to develop, moving to #62, while Big Sean’s “Bounce Back” (G.O.O.D.) is impacting this week. it was up 125 spins already. Jeremih’s “London” is also just getting started, and sees a 70 spin increase.

The two-headed RCA team of Inca and Lori G pounds away with Rob $tone’s “Chill Bill.” It was up another 165 spins, moving inside the top 20 to #18. Afrojack f/Ty Dolla $ign’s “Gone” (Latium) has a triple-digit increase as it moves up the chart to #34. Usher f/Future’s “Rivals” as well as Sia f/Kendrick Lamar’s “The Greatest” just miss the chart. Both are inside the top 45. Khalid’s “Location” has a buzz on it, and is at #65. They are also impacting Martin Garrix and BeBe Rexha’s “In The Name Of Love” this week. This track is having a great run at pop, where it is already inside the top 20.

Epic’s Sujit Kundu has a master plan to get DJ Khaled f/Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown’s “Do You Mind” (We The Best) to #1. It is currently at #3, up 410 spins. It looks like it is two weeks away, and with continued growth it should get there. Young Thug & Travis $cott’s “Pick Up The Phone” ascends into the top 15 this week. they had another increase of 250 spins. They just signed 21 Savage & Metro Boomin and their current single, “X” f/Future, has 200 spins, and the buzz is growing. Jidenna’s “Long Live The Chief” is at #61, and make sure you check out the new Future, “Used To This” featuring Drake.

Also, make sure you are up on Dixie Tipton’s and Capitol’s “Push It On Me” by Trey Songz from the Kevin Hart mixtape What Now.

MOST INCREASED:
Drake “Fake Love” (YMCMB/Republic)
Kanye West “Fade” (G.O.O.D./Def Jam)
DJ Khaled f/Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown “Do You Mind” (We The Best/Epic)
Amine “Caroline” (Republic)
Partynextdoor “Not Nice” (OVO/Warner Bros.)

BUZZ RECORDS:
Drake “Fake Love” (YMCMB/Republic)
Rihanna “Love On The Brain” (Westbury Road/Roc Nation)
Zara Larsson “Ain’t My Fault” (TEN/Epic)
Afrojack f/Ty Dolla $ign “Gone” (Latium/RCA)
2 Chainz f/Drake “Big Amount” (Def Jam)

Drake, "Fake Love" (YMCMB/Republic)
Martin Garrix f/ Bebe Rexha, "In The Name Of Love" (RCA)
Nebu Kiniza, “Gassed Up” (RCA)

The Weeknd f/ Daft Punk's "Starboy" (XO/Republic) will retain the #1 position this week, with DJ Khaled's "Do You Mind" f/ Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown (We The Best/Epic) moving up to #3. A big group of songs will see large increases this week: Ariana Grande's "Side To Side" (Republic), Amine's "Caroline" (Republic), Russ' "What They Want" (Columbia), Young Thug & Travis $cott's "Pick Up The Phone" (Epic) and Kanye West's "Fade" (G.O.O.D./Def Jam), as each moves closer to the Top 10. Partynextdoor's "Not Nice" (OVO/Warner Bros.) ascends into the Top 25 while his mentor and label boss Drake looks to debut this week with "Fake Love" (YMCMB/Republic).

As someone who doesn’t have a vested interest in either team in the World Series, I must admit this is some good baseball. I find myself pulling for the Cleveland Indians. I suppose it’s because they are an American league team, and my Orioles play them during the year and I get a chance to see them much more. May the best team win.

Congrats again to Gary Spangler, Davey Dee and Stef Cole at Republic, as they grab yet another #1 record. This time it is The Weeknd f/Daft Punk’s “Starboy” (XO). It took six very short weeks to accomplish this. It averaged over 1,000 spins a week in getting to the top. Ariana Grande f/Nicki Minaj’s “Side To Side” also had a spectacular week, gaining more than 400 spins, and moving #16-12. Amine’s “Caroline” is a unique record. The Republic staff had all the raw data, streaming numbers, etc., to tell them this was a real record, but it took well over a month for radio to put the pieces together. It sure is looking like the record Gary and company thought it would be, as it was up 335 spins, and moves #25-19. Post Malone f/Justin Bieber’s “Déjà Vu” has an increase of 120 spins, and is now inside the top 30. Belly’s “Ballerina” comes in at #56, while Justine Skye’s “U Don’t Know” is at #64. They are officially going for Drake’s “Fake Love” in the next week. it was up 200 spins, and will likely chart this coming week.

Columbia’s Ayelet Schiffman and James White continue to build Russ “What They Want.” It climbs to #14, gaining 260 spins. Calvin Harris’ “My Way” slides 31-28, tacking on 45 spins, and John Legend’s “Love Me Now” is already top 30, after a 200-spin jump.

Over at Def Jam, Rick Sackheim and Noah Sheer have Kanye West’s “Faded” (G.O.O.D.) officially top 15, thanks to a 340-spin increase. Rihanna’s “Love On The Brain” (Westbury Road/Roc Nation) also has a sizeable increase of 260 spins. This was good enough to land her inside the top 25. 2 Chainz f/Drake’s “Big Amount” impacted last week, and it is already at #58. It was up 80 spins, and should have another solid week with new commitments. Make sure you pay attention to Alessia Cara and “Scars To Your Beautiful.” She is no stranger to the format, and this track is quickly approaching top 10 at Top 40, and was up 1,000 spins.

RCA’s Inca and Lori G have done an amazing job with Rob $tone’s “Chill Bill.” It climbs #26-21, gaining 220 spins. Afrojack f/Ty Dolla $ign’s “Gone” (Latium) sees a 90 spin jump, and is at #38. Usher f/Future’s “Rivals” just misses the chart at #41, and Sia f/Kendrick Lamar’s “The Greatest” (Monkey Puzzle) has a 160 new plays, good enough for #47.

Lee L’Heureux and WB have two Partynextdoor tracks on the chart. “Come And See Me” (OVO) is at #20, up 200 spins, while “Not Nice” (OVO) debuts at #34. It was up 390 spins, and was this week’s highest debut.

Dixie Tipton and Capitol have Lil Yachty’s “1 Night” (QC/Motown) at #23. It was up 60 spins.

MOST INCREASED:
DJ Khaled f/Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown “Do You Mind” (We The Best/Epic)
The Weeknd f/Daft Punk “Starboy” (XO/Republic)
Ariana Grande f/Nicki Minaj “Side To Side” (Republic)
Partynextdoor “Not Nice” (OVO/Warner Bros.)
Kanye West “Fade” (G.O.O.D./Def Jam)

BUZZ RECORDS:
Drake “Fake Love” (YMCMB/Republic)
Rihanna “Love On The Brain” (Westbury Road/Roc Nation)
Zara Larsson “Ain’t My Fault” (TEN/Epic)
Afrojack f/Ty Dolla $ign “Gone” (Latium/RCA)
2 Chainz f/Drake “Big Amount” (Def Jam)