Four weeks ago, Paul Russell arrived on Billboard‘s charts for the first time, and now he achieves another distinction as he scores his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 (dated Sept. 30).
Russell’s breakthrough viral hit “Lil Boo Thang,” released Aug. 18 via Arista Records, debuts at No. 99 with 9.6 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 46%), 4 million U.S. streams (up 11%) and 4,000 downloads sold in the Sept. 15-21 tracking week, according to Luminate.
The feel-good song also rises 30-27 on Pop Airplay, 32-28 on Adult Pop Airplay and 33-28 on Rhythmic Airplay.
Likely sparking further gains, the track’s official music video premiered Friday (Sept. 22).
“Lil Boo Thang” interpolates the Emotions’ classic hit “Best of My Love,” which was written by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire. The song spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1977 and finished as Billboard’s No. 3 year-end Hot 100 song that year. White and McKay are both credited as writers on Russell’s song.
Russell, from Texas and now based in Los Angeles, first teased a snippet of “Lil Boo Thang” in a June 28 TikTok that has since garnered more than 10 million views and launched over 190,000 creations from fans who’ve paired it with other clips. He later repurposed the post on Instagram Reels, where it has generated another 10 million views and launched over a million creations. That virality helped Russell land a deal with Arista. (Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard‘s charts except for the newly launched TikTok & Billboard Top 50.)
“First and foremost, ‘Lil Boo Thang’ is meant to be a good time,” Russell told Billboard ahead of the full track’s release. “When I wrote it, I was stressed out on a Thursday afternoon, so I just turned on some of the music that makes me happy and imagined that I was celebrating something. I think what makes the song special is the fact that so many of us are ready to just forget about whatever is happening around us and enjoy the good things in life — not just thinking back to good times in the past but creating new ones in the present day.”
Outside of “Lil Boo Thang,” Russell has released two LPs: Via Text with Ruslan in 2018, and Once in a Dry Season in 2019.
The singer-songwriter, born in South African and raised in the U.K., debuts with her breakthrough hit “Strangers,” released Sept. 1 via Major Recordings/Warner Records. The song enters at No. 88 with 6.4 million U.S. streams (up 42%), 41,000 in early airplay audience and 1,000 downloads sold (up 12%) in the Sept. 15-21 tracking week, according to Luminate. It also holds at its No. 2 high on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs and vaults 21-4 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart and 35-12 on the Billboard Global 200.
TikTok has been a major factor in the song’s growing profile, as a portion of its audio has been used in more than 570,000 clips on the platform to date. One such video, on Grace’s profile, has logged more than 35 million views. (Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard‘s charts except for the newly launched TikTok Billboard Top 50.)
The song has also been boosted by a new remix with Sam Shredder, released Sept. 22. In a Sept. 15 TikTok, Grace teased a new “slower and sadder” version of the song.
Elsewhere, the track earns Grace her first No. 1 among surveys in Billboard‘s international charts menu, as it rises to the top of the latest Austria Songs chart. On the Official UK Singles Chart, it jumps 12-3, and is challenging for the top spot on next week’s list. “Strangers” became her first Billboard No. 1 overall a week earlier when it topped Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs, where it reigns for a second week.
Grace has released five other songs: “Oranges”; “Someone Else” with 3STRANGE; and “Venus” with Homebodi (all in 2022); and “Afterparty Lover” and “Meteor” (this February and May, respectively).
The Golden Globes announced two new categories on Tuesday (Sept. 26) recognizing cinematic and box office achievement in motion pictures, and best stand-up comedian on television. Winners will be announced live at the 81st Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024.
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The Golden Globe for cinematic and box office achievement will include nominees from among the year’s highest earning and/or most viewed films that have gained extensive global audience support and produced exceptional creative content. The award for best performance in stand-up comedy on television recognizes outstanding work by a comedic performer.
“We are proud to recognize the hard work and innovation that goes into making a film that is both a blockbuster and artistically exceptional,” said Helen Hoehne, Golden Globes president.
“The new cinematic and box office achievement award is more than just rewarding the year’s top earning and most viewed motion pictures,” said Tim Gray, Golden Globes executive vice president. “These films have typically not been recognized among industry awards, but they should be.”
The category is reminiscent of one the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced five years ago — outstanding achievement in popular film. Announced on Aug. 8, 2018, it was the first new category at the Oscars since best animated feature film in 2001. The category was not well-received by the media or by some Academy members, with many saying it appeared to be transparent attempt to pander to mainstream audiences in an effort to boost the ratings of the annual telecast.
Some worried that having a separate category for blockbusters could diminish those films’ chances of being nominated for best picture (even though the Academy had said they would still be eligible in that category). The name of the category was also criticized, with some arguing that using the word “popular” implied that films nominated in other categories were not popular or were not of interest to mainstream audiences.
The following month, the Academy announced that the award would not be presented at the 91st Academy Awards as planned. It would be postponed to “examine and seek additional input regarding the new category.” The Academy appears to have shelved the category.
The Golden Globes, of course, are not the Oscars, and what was widely seen as misstep for that show might not be seen in the same light here. Also, they are not using the word “popular” in the name of the new category.
The Golden Globes’ submission website for motion picture and television entries will open on Oct. 2. Nominations are set to be announced on Monday, Dec. 11.
Multi-Emmy Award-winning producing duo Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner of White Cherry Entertainment will serve as executive-producing showrunners for the 81st Golden Globe Awards, with Weiss also set to direct. Dick Clark Productions will plan, host and produce the annual show.
Here are more details on the two new Golden Globe categories.
Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
The cinematic and box office achievement award will recognize the year’s most acclaimed, highest-earning and/or most viewed films that have garnered extensive global audience support and attained cinematic excellence. A total of eight nominees will be named in this category.
Eligibility:
Motion pictures are eligible for the cinematic and box office achievement award if they achieve a box office receipt total/gross of $150 million, of which $100 million must come from the U.S. domestic box office, and/or obtain commensurate digital streaming viewership recognized by trusted industry sources.
Films that are released after Nov. 22 up until the end of the year may qualify based on projected box office performance and/or digital streaming views from trusted industry sources.
Cinematic and box office achievement contenders can also be considered for best motion picture in their respective categories, i.e., drama, comedy or musical, animated or non-English language if they meet the eligibility requirements for each of those awards.
Box office and streaming views will determine eligibility; once a film meets the box office-related qualifying criteria or streaming criteria, Golden Globes voters will determine the nominees and winner based on excellence.
Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television
This new category, also known as best stand-up comedian on television, gives standups a dedicated award for an individual performance or as part of a comedy group/ensemble. A total of six nominees will be named in this category.
“The Golden Globes has a rich history of supporting and celebrating the work of comedians, and we’re thrilled to honor their brilliance alongside outstanding motion picture and television performances of the year,” said Hoehne.
Eligibility:
Traditional stand-up comedy performances of at least 30 minutes, other than roles in television series, limited series, anthology series or motion pictures made for television, are eligible for this award.
Television includes works released by broadcast, basic and premium cable, streaming, and pay-per-view cable. To be eligible for Golden Globe awards, television programs must be released on a recognized media platform (individual social media accounts do not qualify).
Only programs first aired (or made available for viewing on demand) in the U.S. during the qualifying calendar year are eligible.
Penske Media Corporation, Billboard‘s parent company, is a part-owner of dick clark productions and has a partnership with Eldridge.
Olivia Rodrigo‘s second album Guts has officially been out in the world for about three weeks, meaning fans have had just enough time to decide which of the project’s 12 tracks are their favorites. But which ones are Rodrigo’s?
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In a recent interview with Amazon Music, the 20-year-old pop star revealed her top three picks from her sophomore effort’s tracklist, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and saw all 12 of its songs ranked on the Hot 100. And even though lead single “Vampire” went to No. 1, it didn’t make Rodrigo’s cut — nor did “Bad Idea Right?” or “Get Him Back,” both of which have gotten the music video treatment.
“My three favorite songs off the album right now,” she began, emphasizing that the following are simply her favorites at the moment, “are ‘All-American Bitch,’ ‘Logical’ and ‘Love Is Embarrassing.’”
The singer-songwriter was also tasked with picking out three emojis to describe each of the tracks, which dropped alongside the rest of Guts on Sept. 8. For “All-American Bitch,” she chose a baseball emoji, a firework and a lipstick “because the song is kind of about being a girl and fitting into gender norms.”
For “Logical,” a vulnerable piano ballad about an unhealthy relationship, she selected three back-to-back crying face emojis. And for “Love Is Embarrassing,” a shocked face emoji, a sad face emoji and an engagement ring, the last symbolizing the song’s lyric “I’m planning out my wedding with some guy I’m never marrying.”
“All-American Bitch” also happens to feature Rodrigo’s favorite lyric on the album, which she revealed last week on the TODAY show. “I don’t know, the one that’s really jumping out me is — I love the line ‘I got class and integrity/ Just like a d–n Kennedy,” she said on NBC’s morning program.
Watch Olivia Rodrigo share her three favorite Guts songs below:
Next year’s Super Bowl performer has found its star in Usher, who is slated to take stage during the football game’s Apple Music Halftime Show at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11, 2024.
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Following the news of the announcement, the “Yeah!” singer appeared on CBS Mornings to discuss how his career has prepared him for the big game set. “Thirty years ago I made a commitment to offer my best, and here 30 years later, now it’s being rewarded with one of the most prestigious performances and stages anybody could ever play on,” he said, adding that performing on the Super Bowl stage “is a moment that I’ve waited my entire life for and I’m not coming to disappoint.”
Fans are already counting down to game day, with some users on social media trying to guess what songs — be it hits, deep cuts, slow jams or wild cards — Usher will perform during the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Online discourse shows that Usher’s 2004 hit “Yeah!” is a popular choice for him to play during the halftime show. The track, Usher’s most successful song on the Billboard Hot 100 with 12 of its charting weeks at No. 1, provides the opportunity to bring out Lil Jon and Ludacris for a truly show-stopping finish.
In Billboard‘s dream setlist for Usher’s set, “OMG,” “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” (with Pitbull) and “Without You” (with David Guetta) get a medley treatment, while old favorites such as “U Remind Me” and “U Don’t Have to Call” have time to shine among slower jams including “Good Good” and “My Boo,” which could produce Summer Walker, 21 Savage and Alicia Keys cameos, respectively.
Which song do you want Usher to perform at the Super Bowl? Vote in our poll below!
Kylie Minogue won’t be beaten in the race to No. 1 in the U.K.
Australia’s “princess of pop” races to the lead on the midweek chart with Tension (via BMG), her 16th studio album, which is currently outselling the rest of the top 20 combined, the Official Charts Company reports.
When the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published late Friday, Sept. 29, Kylie should have her ninth U.K. No. 1, across a career spanning 35 years.
Along the way, Kylie has set several chart records.
Tension is the followup to 2020’s Disco, which debuted at No. 1, making Minogue the first female artist to score a leader on the U.K. albums chart in five consecutive decades, doing so in the 1980s, ‘90s, ‘00s, 2010s and ‘20s.
The first track from her latest album, “Padam Padam,” recently peaked at No. 8 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, completing a run of top 10 hits that spans five decades –1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and ‘20s.
The only other female solo artists to land top 10 hits in five consecutive decades are Cher, Diana Ross and Lulu, who each achieved the feat in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
Meanwhile, Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore LP Guts (Geffen) will drop to No. 2 following two weeks at the U.K. summit, while Doja Cat’s fourth and latest studio album Scarlet (Ministry of Sound) is set to arrive at No. 3.
Rounding out the top five on the chart blast are Headie One and K-Trap’s new collaborative mixtape Strength To Strength (One Thousand8), at No. 4; and Scottish alternative rock veterans Teenage Fanclub with Nothing Lasts Forever (Pema), new at No. 5. If Teenage Fanclub’s new record holds its spot, it’ll give the band their highest-charting album in 26 years, since 1997’s Songs from Northern Britain reached No. 3. Nothing Lasts Forever should become Teenage Fanclub’s 10th U.K. top 40 album.
Finally, North London experimental artist Baker (real name: Abubakar Baker Shariff-Farr) is cooking up a first-ever top 10 with Halo (Black Butter), predicted to bow at No. 8. Baker’s previous best was No. 31 for 2022’s Nobody’s Home.
Doja Cat is still top cat on the U.K. singles chart, but she’s facing stiff competition.
The U.S. singer, rapper and producer’s hit “Paint the Town Red” (via Ministry of Sound) leads the midweek chart, and is on track for a fourth consecutive week at No. 1.
Victory is not guaranteed.
Based on sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company, Kenya Grace’s “Stranger” (FFRR) is close behind, lifting 3-2, ahead of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” (Geffen), down 2-3.
Born in South Africa, based in Britain, Grace’s breakthrough drum ‘n’ bass leaning number is her first through a major label. And she’s posing a real challenge to the leadership, blasting 20-2 in less than a month.
Further down the chart blast, another track from Doja Cat’s fourth and latest album, Scarlet, is set to enter the top 40; “Agora Hills” is forecast to arrive at No. 35.
English singer and songwriter Tom Odell could have the week’s highest new entry with “Black Friday” (Urok). It’s new at No. 17 on the Official Chart Update, for what should be his fourth U.K. top 40 (Odell has a U.K. No. 1 album to his name, with his 2013 debut Long Way Down).
U.S. pop-punk heroes Blink-182 are back, and they’re heading for a highest-charting single in two decades. The title track from the trio’s forthcoming ninth studio album is set to start at No. 21 on the chart, based on midweek data. ONE MORE TIME (via Columbia) is due out on Oct. 20 via Columbia Records, and sees the classic lineup reunite with singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge for the first time since 2011.
“One More Time” should be the trio’s 12th U.K. top 40 single, and best performer since “I Miss You” hit No. 8 back in 2004.
Also, new singles from Nines (“Daily Duppy” featuring GRM Daily at No. 25 via Zino) and a hip-hop team-up of Headie One, K-Trap and Clavish (“Triple Threat” at No. 31 via One Thousand8) are eyeing top frame berths.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, Sept. 29.
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