HITS ' HIGH FIVE: CLASS IS IN SESSION

As cries of “do I really have to go to school?” filled homes across the country, we were diligently using all the skills we acquired in the halls of higher learning: counting CD sales on an abacus; applying a Fibonacci sequence to radio spins; and promising not to eat paste. While we get out our Juicy Juice and Lunchables, we direct your attention to the HITS' High 5.

Our Grammy cud chewers—oops, ruminators—explore the contenders for multiple top-tier nominations. They take this so seriously the office has started to smell like hay.

Spotify’s Nick Holmstén will be transitioning from his current role as Head of Music to an advisory post working across the company’s various business.

Tool hits #1 without the assistance of D2C or a ticket bundle. Fear Inoculum—the band’s fifth studio album, and first in 13 years—was helped by a lavish, $45 retail box set. We offered a sneak peek at the set.

What do you want to know about Post Malone? That he’s dominating the digital marketplace on day one? That he’s a streaming monster? Or that he has a bunch of bold name collaborators?

Recorded revenues in the first half of 2019 hit $5.4 billion, the RIAA reported, which projects to the first $10 billion-plus year since 2007.