Guetta & Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” (via Parlophone) had its chances for a second stint at No. 1 dashed last week when another collaboration, Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy” (EMI), completed a late sprint to the finish line.
“I’m Good (Blue),” which interpolates Eiffel 65’s “I’m Blue,” returns to pole position on the latest Official Chart Update, published Oct. 3, with “Unholy” slotting back to No. 2.
Further down the chart blast, Beyoncé’s “Cuff It” (Columbia/Parkwood Ent) is surging due to a new viral trend, the Official Charts Company notes, and is on track for its first top 10 appearance. The Renaissance tune lifts 16-9 on the midweek chart.
The highest new entry on the midweek survey belongs to Ed Sheeran, witch “Celestial” (Asylum), the theme song for the upcoming new Pokémon games Scarlet and Violet. The track is set for a No. 17 start, and should give Sheeran his 57th U.K. top 40 hit.
Another Brit Award-winning homegrown favorite is set for a chart return — the Arctic Monkeys. Alex Turner and Co. drive to No. 21 on debut with “Body Paint” (Domino Recordings), lifted from their forthcoming seventh studio album, The Car, due out Oct. 21. “Body Paint,” the followup to “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball,” should become the indie rockers’ 17th U.K. top 40 hit.
And finally, KSI’s surprise new release “Summer Is Over” (Atlantic) is hovering just outside the top 20, set for a No. 22 start. The London-raised YouTuber and artist (real name Olayinka Williams “JJ” Olatunji) already has 16 top 40 singles to his name, including eight top 10s.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published late Friday, local time.
George Michael is set for a posthumous return to the U.K. chart summit, with Older (via Sony Music CG).
The former Wham star leads the midweek survey with his 1996 album, which enjoys the reissue treatment, including its first-ever release on vinyl.
The third solo album from Michael, Older hit No. 1 on the Official U.K. Chart following its original release, and spawned two U.K. chart-topping singles, “Jesus To A Child” and “Fastlove.”
Michael had a stellar recording career, both with ‘80s pop duo Wham and, later, as a solo artist, which yielded seven No. 1 singles and as many best-selling albums. He died on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2016, at the age of 53.
Coming in at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update is Slipknot’sThe End So Far (Roadrunner). It’s the followup to 2019’s U.K. chart-leader We Are Not Your Kind, and it trails Older by less than 2,500 copies at the halfway point, the Official Charts Company reports. We Are Not Your Kind is the most downloaded title so far this week.
Meanwhile, Scottish indie-rock outfit the Snuts are poised for a No. 3 debut with Burn The Empire (Parlophone), their second album. The Snuts last year became the first Scottish band to bag a U.K. No. 1 debut album in 14 years last year, with W.L.
In a midweek top 10 flush with new releases, Craig David returns with his eighth studio album 22 (BMG), new at No. 4, while U.S. indie-rock veterans the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are ready for a return to the top tier with Cool It Down (Secretly Canadian), new at No. 5.
Close behind is Bjork with her comeback creation, Fossora (One Little Independent), new at No. 6, which could earn the veteran Icelandic artist her first U.K. top 10 since 2007’s Volta — 15 years ago.
Finally, alternative rock legends Pixies could snag a seventh top 10 LP with Doggerel (Infectious Music), new at No. 7 on the chart blast, as alternative pop act Shakespears Sister is on track for chart return with their second album Hormonally Yours (London Music Livestream), which originally peaked at No. 3 on its release in 1992. The 30th anniversary edition of Hormonally Yours blasts to No. 8 on the midweek survey. The Official U.K. Albums Chart is published late Friday.
BMI honored Ed Sheeran and Johnny McDaid with the European song of the year award for their global hit “Bad Habits” at the 2022 BMI London Awards. The private event was held at London’s Savoy Hotel on Monday (Oct. 3).
The award is given to BMI’s most performed song of the previous year by U.K. or European writers. The single spent 11 consecutive weeks at the top of the Official U.K. Singles Chart.
Accepting the award via video message, Sheeran said, “We had so much fun making the song and it has been so much fun playing the song out on the road and seeing the reactions of people all around Europe and I can’t wait to go out and do some more.”
Accepting alongside Sheeran, McDaid said, “Ed, I’m so grateful, man, for the fact that you still trust me to make music with you after over a decade of us writing songs together and I hope we have many more to come.”
Sheeran previously won the award in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The 2018 award was for “Shape of You,” which he also co-wrote with McDaid.
Sheeran was also awarded several other BMI London Awards this year, honoring 4 million performances of “I Don’t Care” and 5 million performances of “Perfect.” He was also honored in the pop songs category with “Afterglow,” co-written with David Hodges, and “Shivers,” co-written with McDaid and Kal Lavelle.
BMI honored Ellie Goulding with the BMI President’s Award. Global breakout star Tems received the BMI Impact Award. Both awards were previously announced.
Goulding was presented with the honor by BMI president & CEO Mike O’Neill. “I’ve never won anything like this before and it means so much to me,” she said. “I moved out of my home when I was 16 and I kind of started then. And I felt I had so much to lose making a living out of something that everyone told me was definitely impossible. … In the U.K. particularly, and as a woman, it’s sort of ingrained into you that ambition is a bad thing and it’s not very cool, but it shouldn’t be. Ambition is an essential ingredient for what we all do, and along with the talent and a bit of luck, for anyone who hopes of a long-lasting career, in a really tough industry actually, it’s essential, so to anyone who’s on their way there, please don’t listen to those people who have anything to say about you wanting bigger and better because you deserve it. … In a world now that needs urgent action, in a country that demands empathy, may music play its part in empowering others to begin.”
Goulding performed her singles “Woman” and “New Heights,” from her 2020 album Brightest Blue, accompanied by a pianist and backing vocalists.
Upon being presented with the BMI Impact Award, Tems said simply, “I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for this award… I’ve come a long way and I’m so grateful.”
Among the multiple Million-Air awards presented throughout the evening were Tom Barnes and Sam Roman for 4 million performances of “Someone You Loved” performed by Lewis Capaldi; and Sam Smith and Normani for “Dancing With a Stranger.” With 6 million performances, Stig Anderson, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus were honored for “Dancing Queen” as performed by ABBA. Elton John was honored with three BMI London Awards, honoring 7 million performances of “Rocket Man,” 6 million performances of “Tiny Dancer” and in the pop songs category with “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix),” co-written with Andrew Meecham and Dean Meredith.
The event was hosted by O’Neill and Shirin Foroutan, BMI’s vice president, creative, Europe.
Alongside the BMI President’s Award, BMI Impact Award, Million-Air Awards and European Song of the Year, awards for pop, dance, film, television and cable and streaming were also presented throughout the ceremony. A complete list of 2022 winners will soon be available here.
Music’s biggest stars took over the City of Love for Paris Fashion Week, and if they weren’t attending some of the most prominent designers’ shows, they were walking the runway.
Cher helped Olivier Rousteing close out the Balmain show by walking out, arm-in-arm with the designer. The 76-year-old Oscar winner was all smiles as she strutted down the runway — to screams from the crowds — in a marbled spandex bodysuit, plunging neck, platform wedges and the house’s famed peaked shoulders.
Over at Balenciaga, Kanye West opened the show, tromping through the mud in a black hoodie worn over a Balenciaga baseball cap of the same shade. His look was complete with an oversized security jacket, baggy leather moto jeans and a Balenciaga-branded mouth guard. The runway presentation marked Ye’s first time ever walking the runway for a major fashion house.
Doja Cat attended Mônot’s spring/summer show wearing an all-black ensemble, turned up a notch with arm makeup resembling sleek gloves, white and blue face makeup and bright red lips.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to musicians spending time at Paris Fashion week. See below for all the sleek, stylish looks from Olivia Rodrigo, Zendaya, Halsey, Dove Cameron and many, many more.
Britney Spears is loving Justin Bieber‘s discography! The pop princess took to Instagram on Monday (Oct. 3) to share a video of herself dancing to the 28-year-old crooner’s Don Toliver collaboration, “Honest,” as well as Rihanna‘s “Love on the Brain.”
“TB to Maui – 2 weeks ago times flies [winking emojis] !!!” she captioned the self-recorded clip. “Different edit of me with Justin Bieber song … ‘Honest’ !!! Not sure what the animation is for [surprised emojis] … either way the song is hot … and different edit of SOS … me doing my thang !!!”
After seemingly checking out a few comments that pointed out her spin-heavy choreography, Spears poked fun at the trolls by sharing the Oxford dictionary definition of “spinner.” “Yes!!! That’s me [pointing emojis] The Spinner !!!” she captioned the follow-up post.
This isn’t the first time Spears has shown her love for Bieber. While vacationing in Hawaii recently, the “Piece of Me” singer soundtracked a number of her scenic, happy Instagram posts with various JB tracks, including “Holy” with Chance the Rapper and “Attention” with Omah Lay. She also shared another dancing clip while in Maui spinning around to her own song “Get Naked” before diving into some more “Honest” choreography.
Last month, Spears gushed over Maui — which she has visited a number of times — in a since-deleted Instagram post. The “Me Against the Music” singer wrote that the Hawaiian island “never gets old,” adding, “I find my inner goddess!!! I sweat, cry, run, swim, and play!!!! Mother Nature speaks to me in a different way !!! I feel like I’m guided to where my heart flies!!! Life can be so crazy!!! So in times like this I reel it in to find my grounds and pray !!! Sitting still and listening to my voice within!!! I meditate everyday and try to understand the meaning of self love.”
Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti is back atop the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Oct. 8) for a 12th nonconsecutive week, as the set steps from No. 2 to No. 1. Steve Lacy‘s “Bad Habit” ascends to No. 1, after four weeks at No. 2, on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as the genre-spanning single becomes his first leader on the list.
Fresh off her performance on James Madison’s crystal flute, Lizzo has caught the eye of the former president’s estate, Montpelier.
TMZ was the first to report that the “About Damn Time” singer has been invited to perform at the 2,650-acre Virginia estate where Madison called home during his lifetime, and a source confirms to Billboard that an invitation was extended to Lizzo.
When Billboard reached out to Montpelier, we received this exclusive statement from the historic estate:
“The talented and classically-trained Lizzo brought history to life last week when she played President James Madison’s crystal flute at a packed arena in Washington, DC,” a spokesperson for James Madison’s Montpelier responded to Billboard. “The three-time Grammy Award winner’s songs exemplify how music is a universal language that brings people together. Whatever genre, music helps people connect, express emotions, and create deep, lasting bonds. As Lizzo continues her concert tour in the coming weeks, we’re crossing our fingers that she would consider adding a stop at James Madison’s Montpelier, once home to Madison, father of the U.S. Constitution.”
During her recent tour stop in D.C., Lizzo also toured the Library of Congress, where she played a number of flutes from the institution’s archives and even became the first person to perform music in the storied Reading Room.
Next, the R&B star will lead the star-studded lineup of the 2022 Jingle Ball along with Demi Lovato, Jack Harlow, Sam Smith, Dua Lipa, Charlie Puth, The Kid LAROI, Tate McRae and more.
Seth Rogen and his wife, fellow actress and screenwriter Lauren Miller Rogen, co-hosted their Hilarity for Charity 10th Birthday Extravaganza on Saturday (Oct. 1), bringing together some of today’s biggest music and comedy stars for a night of fun for a good cause.
“We started this at a time where we felt very hopeless about the situation that my family was facing with my mom,” Lauren told Billboard of the famous couple’s Alzheimer’s care organization, as the Like Father director has a personal connection to the cause. Both of her grandparents died from the condition in the 1990s, and her mother developed young-onset Alzheimer’s at 55 years old, and died in 2020.
“10 years later, I’m incredibly proud that we’ve improved people’s lives that are in the same situation like ours or worse. Making a difference in anyone’s life makes me feel hope about something that felt really hopeless for me then,” she shared.
Seth chimed in with a laugh, “Someone once said that laughter is the best medicine, but it’s a good medicine. [Alzheimer’s is] already so depressing, so whatever you can do to offset that is good. That goes for any aspect of life.”
The birthday bash was part carnival — with rides, amusement park games hosted by the Superbad writer himself, food, treats and drinks — part auction and show with performances by comedians Nicole Byer and Ron Funches, magician Justin Willman and tap dance group Chloe Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies.
The event raised over $860,000, with proceeds directly benefitting HFC’s care grant respite program, caregiver support groups and brain health education initiatives for young people. The silent and live auction to support the cause included a cooking class with restaurateur David Chang, a private skateboarding lesson with Tony Hawk, a Steph Curry-signed jersey, Harry Styles concert tickets and a pottery class with Seth and Lauren, among many other generous offerings.
Initially, the silent auction included a signed guitar from John Mayer, but during the event, the “Love on the Weekend” singer hopped onstage to turn the auction of his item into a live one. He even offered a surprise private virtual song of the winner’s choice.
Later on in the night, Mayer performed an acoustic set of six hits, including “New Light,” “Neon,” “Gravity,” “Waiting on the World to Change,” “Free Fallin’” and “Who Says,” which the Grammy winner playfully dedicated to Seth Rogan due to its marijuana-themed lyrics.
“I’ve actually only met him in passing a few times,” Seth said of his relationship to Mayer. “I’m a huge fan of his and he’s really entrenched himself in the comedy community deeply. He does a lot of shows with comedians. I don’t do stand-up, so I’m not part of that world. But he’s friends with a lot of friends of mine, and I’ve effusively sung my praises to his face on many occasions. This is the first time that we’re doing something together, and it’s so nice of him to do this.”
See below for a clip of Mayer’s “Neon” performance, shared to Twitter.
Happy Monday! It’s officially spooky season, and this week we’ve got 10 new tracks to calm your nerves — or add to the frights. From newcomers like Chxrry22, Reggie Becton and Debbie, to staples like Smino, Kenny Mason and SPINALL, our picks are playlist must-haves, per usual.
And of course, don’t forget to share the wealth with our Spotify playlist, linked below.
Freshest Find: Kenny Mason, “Minute Forever”
Kenny Mason adds to his rock-rap arsenal with “Minute Forever.” The hardcore blend of crunching guitar riffs complemented by hi-hats and hyperpop undertones finds the Atlanta artist rapping and singing about being in his version of paradise. “Minute Forever” appears on Mason’s recent album Ruffs.
Smino feat. J. Cole, “90 Proof”
On “90 Proof,” Smino just wants to indulge. The St. Louis artist taps J. Cole for the Groove- and Monte Booker-produced neo-soul rap song, which acts as the first single off Smino’s upcoming album Luv 4 Rent. “90 Proof” also marks the pair’s third collaboration since they joined forces twice on Revenge of the Dreamers III.
Chxrry22, “The Other Side”
New artist Chxrry22 is digging deep within herself on her new debut EP The Other Side. On the project’s title track, which also acts as the intro, the Ethiopian Canadian artist sings about finding her independence post-relationship and making s–t happen for herself. “The Other Side is about coming to terms with duality — we all have two sides,” she said in a press release referencing the EP as a whole. “We can be both the villain and the victim in some story and this is me owning that.”
DDG feat. Polo G & NLE Choppa, “9 Lives”
DDG links with Polo G and NLE Choppa for his album opener “9 Lives.” With its melancholy piano and atmospheric beats, the introtrack sets the tone for his new album It’s Not Me It’s You. On “9 Lives,” the Michigan rapper reflects on his journey to stardom, giving an intimate look into his family life and the struggles that ultimately turned into his present-day success.
Reggie Becton, “Streets”
On his new single, Reggie Becton is irritable. The polished R&B track finds the DMV singer stuck in his ways as he croons about his inability to leave the streets despite wanting to. “Baby, I’m brokenhearted/ Won’t believe the things that I been scarred with, guarded/ Subconsciously, misery love company/ Wanna leave the streets, but they keep calling me,” he sings.
SPINALL, Summer Walker, DJ Snake, Äyanna, “Power (Remember Who You Are)”
Upcoming short film The Flipper’s Skate Heist is getting the all-star treatment. “Power,” the first single from the film’s soundtrack, features Nigeria’s SPINALL and DJ Snake on production, while vocalists Summer Walker and Äyanna bring the genre blending Afro-pop single together with their distinct pipes. The chaos of the visuals is beautifully captured through sonic elements: a thumping kick, pleading melodies and a pulse-racing piano riff.
Gabriels, “If You Only Knew”
Pop-soul trio Gabriels released their debut album Angels & Queens on Friday, executive produced by Kendrick Lamar collaborator and Grammy award-winning producer Sounwave. On “If You Only Knew,” Compton-made lead singer Jacob Lusk transports listeners through his emotive performance, complimented by rich, gospel-inspired harmonies and understated production.
Mavi, “Doves”
Howard University neuroscience major and rapper Mavi is back with the jazz-infused “Doves.” It’s the second single from his upcoming project, Laughing So Hard It Hurts, riddled with admissions and memories, proving to be in line with the reflective nature of the NYC-based artist.
Sofía Valdés & Pink Sweat$, “Broken”
Pop singer Sofía Valdés is dipping into R&B alongside Pink Sweat$ on their latest offering, “Broken.” On the emotionally charged track, the Panamanian artist refuses to let lost love bring her down, singing, “I’m way more than my body/ I got intelligence/ I’m sorry I won’t dim my light to please your ignorance.”
Debbie, “Cherry Wine”
Offering crisp melodies and fresh R&B instrumentation, London singer Debbie captures listeners with the vulnerable “Cherry Wine.” The soulful vocalist is honest, revealing that she sometimes relies on the sweet, deep red drink to give her a little “Dutch courage” in moments of social anxiety.
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