Lorde

"ROYALS" CROWNED: The ascent of Lava/Republic's teen phenom Lorde to #1 at Alternative marks the first time a female artist has topped the format's chart since 1996 (when Tracy Bonham's "Mother Mother" beat out the boys). Kudos to Republic's Walk, Blair and DiMaio. Lorde's "Royals" recently cracked the Top 10 at iTunes, while her EP The Love Club is now #8 on the album chart. Stay tuned for an exclusive Q&A later this week with Lava ruler Jason Flom, featuring the story of her discovery. And for further evidence of how "Royals" has permeated the pop-cultural bloodstream, check out this inventive cover version. (8/12a)