I hope everyone had a relaxing and stress-free Labor Day weekend. All the kids are officially back in school, and stations are in full swing putting their holiday shows together.

With the fourth quarter upon us, I have a question. Back in the old days (eight years ago) when people were still buying physical albums, the fourth quarter was truly the money season for the labels, as they had Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa to sell massive amounts of albums. Now that it is virtually all downloads and streaming, how will this affect them? Is the fourth quarter now just like every other quarter? Will music become something that is not a gift to give anymore? Will the holidays be just like any other week? I guess we will find out.

Well, one thing’s for sure: Drake is going to sell. His current track “Too Good” f/ Rihanna (YMCMB) is at #3, up 875 spins. It is sure to be the next #1 record next week. Staying with Republic, Gary Spangler, Davey Dee and Stef Cole also have Marc E. Bassy f/G-Eazy’s “You & Me” at #11. It was up triple digits. Ariana Grande’s “Into You” slides into the top 15, while Kungs & Cookin’ on 3 Burners’ “This Girl” (Casablanca) comes in at #27, gaining 155 spins. The new Grande f/Nicki Minaj “Side To Side” is just getting started, and was up 125 spins.

Over at Def Jam, Rick Sackheim, Noah Sheer and Scott Maness take Major Lazer f/Justin Bieber and MO’s “Cold Water” (Mad Decent) to #8. It was up 170 spins, and has its sights set on top 5. Kanye West f/Kid Cudi’s “Father Stretch My Hands” (G.O.O.D.)is at #13, gaining 75 spins. DJ Mustard f/Nicki Minaj and Jeremih’s “Don’t Hurt Me” moves to #37, up 95 spins. Logic’s “Flexicution” lands at #50.

Ayelet Schiffman and James White at Columbia have three red hot records as The Chainsmokers f/Halsey’s “Closer” (Disruptor) shoots to #17 after gaining 565 spins. It is also a monster at top 40. Beyonce’s “Hold Up” is this week’s biggest debut, as it lands at #30, tacking on 420 spins. They also debut Russ’ “What They Want” this week at #36. He is a brand new artist, so to be on the chart and up 360 spins is pretty damn impressive.

RCA’s Inca and Lori G welcome Usher’s “No Limit” inside the top 5. He was up 310 spins. Bryson Tiller’s “Sorry Not Sorry” was up 100 spins, and moves to #28. Tinashe’s “Superlove” climbs to #34, thanks to an increase of 135 spins. Rob $tone’s “Chill Bill” has an impressive first week, as it gains 130 spins, landing him at #59. Ayo Jay’s “Your Number” continues to grow as well. It was up 60 spins.

Sujit Kundu and Epic see DJ Khaled f/Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown’s “Do You Mind” (We The Best) gain 280 spins, moving it to #23. Young Thug & Travis $cott’s “Pick Up The Phone” is at #44 this week. Jidenna’s “Little Bit More” continues to develop. It is at #53 this week, gaining 45 spins. French Montana f/Drake’s “No Shopping” is at #56, and Meghan Trainor f/Yo Gotti’s “Better” gains 70 spins and is just gaining momentum. They are impacting both Kent Jones’ “Alight” and Zara Larsson’s “Ain’t My Fault” on 9/19.

Dixie Tipton and Capitol are driving Lil Yachty’s “1 Night” (QC/Motown) toward the chart. This week it was up 200 spins and just misses. Look for this one to debut next week.

MOST INCREASED:

Drake f/Rihanna “Too Good” (YMCMB/Republic)
The Chainsmokers f/Halsey “Closer” (Columbia)
Beyonce “Hold Up” (Columbia)
Russ “What They Want” (Columbia)
Usher “No Limit” (RCA)

BUZZ RECORDS:
Russ “What They Want” (Columbia)
Lil Yachty “1 Night” (QC/Motown/Capitol)
Ariana Grande f/Nicki Minaj “Side To Side” (Republic)
Rob $tone “Chill Bill” (RCA)
Desiigner “Tiimmy Turner” (G.O.O.D. /Def Jam)

We The Best/Epic's DJ Khaled holds at #1 with his Drake collab “For Free," as Drake competes with himself inside the Top 5 with “Too Good” f/ Rihanna (YMCMB/Republic) surging right behind it off his unstoppable momentum. Def Jam will have another solid week on Major Lazer's “Cold Water” f/ Justin Bieber and MØ (Mad Decent) along with the Kanye West single “Father Stretch My Hands” (G.O.O.D.). The Chainsmokers f/Halsey's “Closer” (Disruptor/Columbia) and DJ Khaled's “Do You Mind” (WTB/Epic) will both see increases over 350+ spins. And look for RCA’s Tinashe to debut with “Superlove.”

After an impressive performance at the MTV VMAs this past Sunday, Beyoncé's new single "Hold Up" (Columbia) secures the Most Added position at Rhythm with 16 stations on impact. Ariana Grande's "Side to Side" f/ Nicki Minaj (Republic) grabbed 14 adds while RCA's new artist Rob $tone also had double digits with "Chill Bill." DJ Khaled's "Do You Mind" (We The Best/Epic), Russ' "What They Want" (Columbia) and Lil Yachty's "1 Night" (QC/Motown/Capitol) all have solid clean up weeks.

It was a somewhat strange, yet kind of enjoyable MTV Video Music Awards. Kanye was Kanye, Rihanna and Beyonce had very solid performances, and Bey was the night’s big winner. It also seemed like there were plenty of awkward moments. I feel like it could have been condensed down to an hour and a half, but what do I know?

A very happy birthday to Epic’s Sujit Kundu, who holds down the #1 spot again this week with DJ Khaled f/Drake’s “For Free” (We The Best). The current Khaled track, “Do You Mind” f/Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown (We The Best), climbs inside the Top 25, gaining 400 spins. Young Thug & Travis $cott’s “Pick Up The Phone” is at #43, and Jidenna’s “Little Bit More” comes in at #56. Meghan Trainor f/Yo Gotti’s “Better” just getting started, and looks to have a good week.

Def Jam’s Rick Sackheim, Noah Sheer and Scott Maness continue to drive Major Lazer f/Justin Bieber and MO’s “Cold Water” (Mad Decent) toward the Top 10. It was up 260 spins, and lands at #11 this week. Kanye West f/Kid Cudi’s “Father Stretch My Hands” (G.O.O.D.) slides 17-14, gaining 215 spins. DJ Mustard f/Nicki Minaj and Jeremih’s “Don’t Hurt Me” debuts at #40, while Logic’s “Flexicution” moves up to #47. Desiigner’s “Tiimmy Turner” (G.O.O.D.) is just getting started and comes in at #61.

Republic’s Gary Spangler, Davey Dee and Stef Cole see Drake f/Rihanna’s “Too Good” (YMCMB) climb inside the Top 5 this week. It gains 845 spins, this week’s greatest gainer. Marc E. Bassy f/G-Eazy’s “You And Me” comes in at #12, up 85 spins. Ariana Grande’s “Into You” was up 165 spins, and is at #16. She performed her newest single “Side To Side” with Minaj on the VMAs; they are impacting it this week. Kungs & Cookin’ On 3 Burners’ “This Girl” (Casablanca) continues to develop, as it moves 31-28, up 170 spins.

Over at Columbia, Ayelet Schiffman and James White have The Chainsmokers f/Halsey’s “Closer” (Disruptor) at #20. They had a very healthy 450-spin increase, and also performed on the VMAs. Beyonce’s “Hold Up” just missed debuting at #41, but with a 325-spin increase it will have a high debut next week. The sales saw a huge spike after her VMA performance. And new artist Russ was up 255 spins with “What They Want.” The buzz continues to grow on him, and he is looking to debut next week as well.

RCA’s Inca and Lori G have two records inside The top 10. Usher’s “No Limit” moves 8-6, gaining 410 spins, while Sia’s “Cheap Thrills” (Monkey Puzzle) moves to #9, adding an additional 80 spins to her total. Bryson Tiller “Sorry Not Sorry” lands at #29, up 150 spins, and Kid Ink’s “Nasty” moves to #32. Tinashe’s “Superlove” debuts this week at #38, and they are impacting Rob $tone f/J Davi$ and Spooks’ “Chill Bill.” Ayo Jay’s “Your Number” is also picking up new commitments each week, and is at #68.

Capitol’s Dixie Tipton had a tremendous initial week with Lil Yachty “1 Night” (QC/Motown) and looks to follow it up with another. It was up 125 spins, and moves to #57.

WB’s Lee L’Heureux is impacting the new Jason Derulo “Kiss The Sky” in the next few weeks. It has tempo and his signature sound.

MOST INCREASED:
Drake f/Rihanna “Too Good” (YMCMB/Republic)
The Chainsmokers f/Halsey “Closer” (Columbia)
Usher “No Limit” (RCA)
Major Lazer f/Justin Bieber and MO “Cold Water” (Mad Decent/Def Jam)
DJ Khaled f/Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown “Do You Mind” (YMCMB/Epic-Republic)

BUZZ RECORDS:
DJ Khaled f/Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown “Do You Mind” (YMCMB/Epic-Republic)
Russ “What They Want” (Columbia)
Lil Yachty “1 Night” (QC/Motown/Capitol)
Kungs & Cookin’ On 3 Burners “This Girl” (Casablanca/Republic)
Ariana Grande f/Nicki Minaj “Side To Side” (Republic)