As if reaching 4x platinum status in the United States and topping the singles charts of over 30 countries at its height wasn’t enough, Ed Sheeran‘s comeback hit – ‘Shape of You’ – is still helping the singer reshape Spotify and Hot 100 history books months after its debut.

That’s right, after smashing 1 day streaming records for Spotify, the tune has become the third song ever to reach the “1 billion streams” mark on the platform (first ever by a solo male vocalist).  Add to this, ‘Shape’ – which spent 12 non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the Hot 100 – is still in the top 5 this week.  Actually moving back up charts, Billboard reports:

Ed Sheeran‘s former 12-week Hot 100 No. 1 “Shape of You” rebounds 5-4, and extends its record for the most weeks spent in the top five from a song’s debut, having now collected its first 22 weeks on the Hot 100 in the top five, dating to its arrival at No. 1 (Jan. 28).

Congratz are in order for Sheeran.  Now, tuck in below to see who joins the redhead hitmaker in this week’s refreshed ‘TGJ Chart Check.’

Billboard Hot 100 This Week

Your thoughts?

Nicki Minaj is determined to reach higher creative ground.

Often criticised for failing to deliver moment-making music videos and performances, the rapper has employed the services of Jamie King to take her next era and its visuals to dizzyingly high levels.

Unfamiliar with King’s work?

The pair’s creative union birthed her stellar Billboard Music Awards performance and will see them erect a number of high-end creative pieces for the campaign she is building to support her next studio album.

How she feels about her exciting new direction?

Listen to her interview with DJ Whoo Kid below…

After failing to support her material with impressive visuals for years Minaj is taking ten steps in the right direction by hiring King.

For, while she outperforms the majority of her contemporaries on a sales and impact front, she often finds herself at the bottom of the list when it comes to videos and performance.

Bring on #NM4.

#NowPlaying: Kelis – ‘Get Along With You’.

Your thoughts?

Rita Ora has achieved global fame, yet throughout her journey she has always repped her West London rooting.

Hence, it’s little surprise that – like millions the world over – she has been left devastated by the Grenfell Tower fire.

The tragedy, which has made headlines globally, occurred in the singer’s hometown in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Jetting into London following filming commitments in LA later in the afternoon, Ora immediately journeyed to the scene.

Joining other do-gooders, the singer helped hand out water and other essentials to the thousands lefts displaced by the disaster.

She also took to social media to encourage others to do the same:

Much respect to the likes of Rita and Adele, who are using their time and platforms for good.

See more of Rita doing her part below…

A post shared by SummerLove&Girls coming soon? (@ritaoraslaysx) on Jun 14, 2017 at 11:27pm PDT

A post shared by SummerLove&Girls coming soon? (@ritaoraslaysx) on Jun 14, 2017 at 11:28pm PDT

A post shared by SummerLove&Girls coming soon? (@ritaoraslaysx) on Jun 14, 2017 at 11:29pm PDT

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SZA‘s ‘CTRL’ is expected to welcome modest opening week sales in the United States this week.

Supported by the single ‘Drew Barrymore’, the soulful set made its way to retailers on June 9th 2017 and received a score of 86/100 on Metacritic .

Its projected opening week number?

Via Hits Daily Double:

1. (*) Katy Perry (Capitol) 180-195k SPS, 160-175k albums
2. Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Interscope) 64-69k, 14-16k
3. (*) Lady Antebellum (Capitol Nashville) 55-60k, 47-52k
4. (*) SZA (TDE/RCA) 48-53k, 19-22k
5. Ed Sheeran (Asylum) 42-46k, 12-14k
6. Drake (YMCMB/Republic) 39-43k, 1-2k
7. Post Malone (Republic) 28-31k, 1-2k
8. Bruno Mars (Atlantic) 28-31k, 9-11k
9. Halsey (Astralwerks) 25-28k, 10-12k
10. (*) Rise Against (Virgin) 23-26k, 22-25k
11. Chris Stapleton (Mercury Nashville) 23-26k, 19-22k
12. Migos (Quality Control) 22-25k, 1-2k
13. Bryson Tiller (Trapsoul/RCA) 21-24k, 1-2k
14. Moana (Walt Disney) 21-24k, 10-12k
15. Harry Styles (Columbia) 21-24k, 10-12k
16. Khalid (Right Hand Music/RCA) 21-24k, 1-2k
17. (*) Lindsey Buckingham-Christine McVie (Atlantic) 20-23k, 19-22k
18. Future (FREEBANDZ/Epic) 20-23k, 1-2k
19. Beatles (Capitol) 19-22k, 16-18k
20. Chainsmokers (Disruptor/Columbia) 19-22k, 3-4k

Sales Plus Streams are set to place the project at #4 with numbers north of 48,000 units.

What do you make of these numbers?

The world is still buzzing from the day’s early reports that music diva Beyonce had indeed delivered her twins in Los Angeles.

Though as of the time of this article’s publishing no official news from the singer’s camp has confirmed the news, that hasn’t stopped media outlets and fans alike from speculating the ‘Baby Boy’ beauty is celebrating the babies’ arrivals.

As the speculation mounts, Twitter has become a breeding ground for GIFs and hilarious #Beyhive reactions to the hoopla – which includes some seriously funny jabs at President Donald Trump (who celebrates his 71st birthday today).

See it all inside and don’t say we didn’t warn you about the laughs to come:

(more…)

Penning hits for Whitney Houston, Rihanna, Britney Spears and Kelly Clarkson the duo Louis York rose to fame and notoriety within the music industry.

This year, by way of their own material, they find themselves on course to receiving the same from the critical mass with help from their visual for the single ‘NERDS’.

The cut appears on their ‘Masterpiece Theatre- Act 1′ release and was inspired by the acts’ personal journey.

’NERDS’ is an honest depiction of the many emotions Chuck and I face daily. Two musicians, two cities, same concerns. Are we winning? Are we completely messing things up? Are we doing it right? We often doubt ourselves, but are still so full of hope. These ARE indeed the things that keep us up at night. This song sounds epic because our lives have been epic. We’ve had major successes, suffered crazy losses and gone through lots of unexpected twist and turns. The song goes from unapologetic rock & roll to moody pianos and finally to a gritty, dark uptempo. We want to take listeners on the actual journey from our childhood to the present so everyone can experience the fears and concerns that have shaped us. It’s a song that’s culturally relevant without being bitter. In the end, we’re patriotic dreamers with success on our minds and a desire to spread a lot of love. We are the ‘NERDS.’

Watch below…

Your thoughts?

Times are a-changing over at the Grammys.

Keen to ensure that its system stands strong against the threat of errors and fraudulent voting, the powers-that-be have announced major changes today.

For the very first time, voting members will be allowed to vote online to create flexibility for touring acts and pull the heat out of any attempts to cheat the system by way of fraudulent voting.

There’s more.

Hits Daily Double explains…

Nominations Review Committees will be created for the Rap, Contemporary Instrumental and New Age fields. The nominations review process was established in 1989 as an additional round of checks and balances to eliminate the potential for a popularity bias that puts emerging artists, independent music, and late-year releases at a disadvantage.

There’s good news for songwriters too.

As of next year, they will be added to the Album of the Year category alongside producers, engineers, mixers, mastering engineers, featured artists who are credited with at least 33% of publishing on the winning release!

Bill Freimuth, Senior Vice President of Awards for the Recording Academy shared:

As an Academy, it’s imperative that we continue to meet the needs of music creators everywhere, and this year’s transition to online voting is an enormous step forward in the evolution of our voting process. We work diligently to ensure we’re keeping up with our ever-changing industry and team up with music people year round, across all genres and disciplines, to make sure we are doing everything we can to support the creative community.

Your thoughts?

Keke Palmer dances up a storm in the newly hatched video for ‘Wind Up.’

Migos star Quavo, who’s guests on pretty much every song out, makes an appearance on the high-octane release.

Following last year’s ‘Lauren’ EP, the single and its accompanying visual see Palmer on a continued quest to shed her child-star tag and embrace womanhood.

Does the 23-year-old succeed? Watch ‘Wind Up’ below and let us know…

We have ample time for any act that commits to upping their craft – and, watching this, it’s clear Keke is putting in the time and effort. That choreography was great.

The only (slight) drawback is that there could be better management of how she showcases her eagerness. Because at points it felt like she wanted to show and prove with every dance she knew.

Still, in an era where minimalism has become the norm, it’s awesome to see an act go all out.

Your thoughts?

Despite a number of road blocks, Iggy Azalea is pressing on with promotion for current single ‘Switch.’ 

As reported, the visual for the Anitta assisted release leaked and subsequently never made its way to VEVO. What instead followed was the Aussie star lashing her label for mishandling the melee.

It remains to be seen what the plan is, but Azalea stopped by The Late Late Show With James Corden last night to perform the track.

Check it out below…

A combination of the song being a bop and rooting for the underdog has us willing a win for Iggy. However, something about that felt…off.

She’s hitting her marks, but in a lazy, laxed manner. Almost as if she were sleep walking her way through it.

Where were the pow and pizzazz? There was no excitement nor urgency in anything she was doing.

Paired with the grating fog effect (which made actually seeing her a task), this performance gets a chop.

Echoing earlier sentiments, the track is fire; so fingers crossed she brings some next time around.

Your thoughts?

Heavy security spotted outside a Los Angeles hospital has given Beyonce‘s fans reason to believe that she is in labor.

Expected to deliver her twins this month, the 35-year-old vocalist is said to have been seen leaving her home with two baby seats shortly before several pedestrians spotted a security team circling the aforementioned hospital.

A source close to her camp revealed:

Beyonce’s due date was yesterday and she has been seeing her OB/GYN on a regular basis at a different location. This trip to this hospital is unique.

Keep it locked on TGJ for more on this developing story.

Your thoughts?

Unless something dramatic happens, Katy Perry will be #1 on the Billboard 200 this week with her new album ‘Witness.’

However, after experiencing the bumpiest of rides pre-release, all eyes are on what numbers the set will deliver first week.

Initial forecasts had the ‘Chained To The Rhythm’ led LP on-course to open with 200-225k SPS / 175-200k in pure sales.

However, the predictions have since been revised down.

Per Hits Daily Double, Perry’s 4th studio effort is now set to debut with 180-195k SPS / 160-175k in pure sales.

The news comes as the star wrapped an ambitious Big Brother style live stream designed to promote the project. Stationed in the “Witness House” for three days, the singer was shown rehearsing, hosting “visitors,” doing interviews, having therapy and yoga sessions, and even sleeping.

**********

Sure, the numbers aren’t what they should be for an artist who has theoretically become bigger since her last era (see: Super Bowl, benefits of mega hits, and the like).

However, the figures are still respectable. Surprising too, given how few showed interest in its preceding singles.

Moving forward, it’ll be interesting to see whether she opens strong and sells consistently or if everyone who wanted the album buys it in its first week and then….*crickets.*

Stay tuned.

Your thoughts?

Justin Bieber has been assaulted by a fan this week.

Yes, after taking to the 2017 Summerburst Festival in Stockholm, the vocalist was asked by fans to perform the  song ‘Despacito.’

What happened when he told them that he wasn’t interested in doing so?

Fortunately, the swift  Pop purveyor dodged the bottle.

Don’t throw things at me please.

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Your thoughts?