ON THE COVER: CHAPPELL ROAN

Few breaking-artist stories rival that of Island (Wasserman) pop provocateuse Chappell Roan for commercial impact, critical acclaim and bold originality. Roan’s initial hit, “Good Luck, Babe!,” has been a constant in the upper reaches of the DSP charts; it was recently joined by several other big cuts, notably the pop rocket “HOT TO GO!,” as fans await her Dan Nigro-helmed sophomore set. Roan's Coachella triumph amply proved her status as a killer live act. If only she’d had the “good luck” to avoid this HITS cover appearance.