In an attempt to truly make these 'Fresh Out The Box' type columns a reflection of my former 'WGO (What's Going On)' posts, I will also be including a mini-breakdown of this week's #1 hits as well as relevant industry info that happened this week, so look for this as well as 'Fresh Out The Box' to be a weekly staple. Thanks, everyone!
RUMOR MILL
Hits Daily Double has posted a blind this week regarding a potential "surprise album release" from an industry heavyweight and speculation is legit everywhere in an attempt to guess who will be "pulling a Beyonce". I don't have money on any horses in this race but if I did, I'd go Nicki Minaj or Gwen Stefani. There's a lot of chatter that it might be Madonna but I feel like she would consider herself too revolutionary to follow Beyonce's example. We'll see...
APPLE & Co.
The biggest news to break this week was Apple's acquisition of the Beats music subscription service backed by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. Iovine has officially stepped down from his role of CEO at Interscope Records in favor of a larger role at Apple alongside Dre. That's a pretty huge shakeup in the music industry -- Interscope undoubtedly became one of the most successful labels in the marketplace during Iovine's tenure (think breakout success of Lady Gaga, OneRepublic and Eminem). The new CEO was announced to be John Janick, who previously had a lot of success at the Fueled By Ramen label that he co-founded. FBR is responsible for the success of Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, Paramore, fun. , Cobra Starship and Gym Class Heroes/Travie McCoy amongst others.
The biggest news to break this week was Apple's acquisition of the Beats music subscription service backed by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. Iovine has officially stepped down from his role of CEO at Interscope Records in favor of a larger role at Apple alongside Dre. That's a pretty huge shakeup in the music industry -- Interscope undoubtedly became one of the most successful labels in the marketplace during Iovine's tenure (think breakout success of Lady Gaga, OneRepublic and Eminem). The new CEO was announced to be John Janick, who previously had a lot of success at the Fueled By Ramen label that he co-founded. FBR is responsible for the success of Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, Paramore, fun. , Cobra Starship and Gym Class Heroes/Travie McCoy amongst others.
TEENAGE DREAMS & HEARTBREAK
Other big news to break this week: two of the reigning heartthrobs went through scandal. A video was popped online from four years ago featuring Justin Bieber using a racial slur and One Direction caught a lot of flak when a video discussing them smoking pot broke the surface. (Oh, the humanity!) The result of the 1D-bacle (get it?) was a lot of teenage tears but its unclear if this will be the hurdle that thwarts the snowball that is their popularity. (In the case of Bieber, just throw it on to his stack of terrible.) A member of the group has since publicly apologized. Also, Billboard debuted their first "real time" chart, tracking tweets that use "music" and relevant "#nowplaying", etc. Unsurprisingly, Austin Mahone dominated the debut charting (and I think it's a safe bet that any and all other teen heartthrob related artists will do very well here -- including One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer, Ariana Grande, Cody Simpson, etc. etc.). Most upsetting to me was the fact that the chart was promoted ad naseum where else but on Twitter, where it was gleefully stated to be brought to us by Hollister. This world, man.
Other big news to break this week: two of the reigning heartthrobs went through scandal. A video was popped online from four years ago featuring Justin Bieber using a racial slur and One Direction caught a lot of flak when a video discussing them smoking pot broke the surface. (Oh, the humanity!) The result of the 1D-bacle (get it?) was a lot of teenage tears but its unclear if this will be the hurdle that thwarts the snowball that is their popularity. (In the case of Bieber, just throw it on to his stack of terrible.) A member of the group has since publicly apologized. Also, Billboard debuted their first "real time" chart, tracking tweets that use "music" and relevant "#nowplaying", etc. Unsurprisingly, Austin Mahone dominated the debut charting (and I think it's a safe bet that any and all other teen heartthrob related artists will do very well here -- including One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer, Ariana Grande, Cody Simpson, etc. etc.). Most upsetting to me was the fact that the chart was promoted ad naseum where else but on Twitter, where it was gleefully stated to be brought to us by Hollister. This world, man.
Hot 100: IGGY AZALEA (feat. CHARLI XCX) - "Fancy"
Radio Songs: JOHN LEGEND - "All Of Me"
Billboard 200: COLDPLAY - 'Ghost Stories'
Heatseeker Albums: SAM SMITH - 'Nirvana EP'
Heatseeker Songs: KONGOS - "Come With Me Now"
Pop Songs: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE - "Not A Bad Thing"
A/C Songs: PHARRELL WILLIAMS - "Happy"
Dance/Electro: DJ SNAKE/LIL JON - "Turn Down For What"
UK Singles: SAM SMITH - "Stay With Me"
Korea KPOP Chart: HIGH4 (feat. IU) - "Not Spring, Love Or Cherry Blossoms"
Japan Hot 100: AKB48 - "Labrador Retriever"
Canada Hot 100: JOHN LEGEND - "All Of Me"
Germany Singles: CRO - "Traum"
France Singles: MILKY CHANCE - "Stolen Dance"
You, my friend, are very smart. The Gwen Stefani thought is BRILLIANT, esp if they do it the week she debuts on the Voice. As for the Real-Time chart? Yeah...Billboard makes me sad these days. There was an article this week promoting their award show having increased digital track sales. They seem to promote themselves as much as the music industry they're supposed to cover.
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