Despite struggling to fill seats on several dates, Rihanna’s ‘ANTI World Tour’ isn’t the commercial bomb many may believe it is.

Why?

Its managed to distribute 93.1% of its tickets.

More below…

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The chart-run of Rihanna‘s octonary opus, ‘Anti,’ has been nothing short of impressive…on the surface.

Excluding that confusing multi-“lead” single startup and #27 debut, the album has been a Billboard 200 juggernaut, not only capturing the top spot for multiple weeks since its February 2016 debut, but also only knowing a handful of weeks outside of the top 5 for the nearly 6 months its been available.

However, what appears a clear victory to chart-watchers has been achieved on the heels of some interesting supporting stats.  Even after earning an RIAA “double platinum” certification  (note:  some of the stats that make up this achievement include “free” downloads) and, later, a Nielsen-reported sales receipt confirming at least platinum status (a figure majorly made up of streams), Billboard confirms the ‘Work’-led work has only recently crossed the 500,000 mark…in pure sales.

Tragic or triumphant?  It’s a matter of perspective we suppose.

But, while the ‘Cheers’ singer and her team lift up a glass to ‘Anti’s continued “success,” we encourage you to tuck in below to check out who else is occupying the Billboard 200’s upper rankings alongside the Bajan beauty this week:

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Zayn continues to find his way as a solo artist and has teamed with Snakehips to aid his cause.

The British hitmakers enlisted the former One Direction star for their latest single ‘Cruel,’ which features on their upcoming album. As yet untitled, the project succeeds recent EP ‘All My Friends,’ which yielded the Tinashe assisted hit of the same name.

For Zayn, it comes after the release of debut album ‘Mind of Mine’ and its multi-Platinum lead single ‘Pillow Talk.’

Are both acts onto another smash with this one? Watch below and let us know…

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Rihanna’s venture into the world of fashion continues. The latest figure endorsing Puma’s newest creative? Naomi Campbell.

More below…

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Why?

After Ariana Grande was caught spitting on innocent donuts months ago, Danity Kane & DumBlonde singer Aubrey O’Day has been reprimanded after she was caught spitting in a sandwich she served to one of her rivals.

Full story below…

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Will Smith isn’t the only member of his family gearing up for a busy week.

For, his son Jaden has unlocked news about the soundtrack for his brand new Netflix TV series ‘The Get Down‘ today before the release of Will’s brand new movie ‘Suicide Squad‘ on Friday.

The show is set in the 70s and tells the tale of Hip-Hop’s birth in the mean streets of New York City.

Its soundtrack, which also features material by Christina Aguilera, seeks to capture the time and support the role Smith is said to have soared in.

Catch the show when it is unlocked by Netflix on August 12th and pick up its supporting sounds on the same day!

Want pre-order details?

Meet us below…

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we’re gonna rewind to ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’ – the second single from *NSYNC‘s mega-selling second album ‘No Strings Attached.’  Interestingly, while the group’s self-titled debut album sold over 10 million copies and its follow-up, ‘Attached,’ broke sales records by boasting a whopping 2.4 million units sold its first week (a record that was maintained until Adele‘s ’25’ shifted a shattering 3.38 million in 2015), the quintet’s successful narrative was devoid of one feat:  a #1 single.

That changed when ‘Me’ moseyed its way to #1 on the Hot 100 this week in 2000. Moving Matchbox 20 from the top spot, the pop tune led the pack for two consecutive weeks before being ousted by Sisqo‘s ‘Incomplete.’

Unknown to them at the time, the run would be their first and last reign over the singles chart.  Fun while it lasted right?  Anywho, tuck in below to see if any of your faves from today can be found on the summer 2000 chart:

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Wendy Williams may have angered Rihanna‘s faithful fan base, affectionately coined ‘The Navy,’ when she proclaimed the Bajan beauty would “never be a legend,” but from the looks of things her Billboard stats are already trotting on legendary ground.

Indeed, her Billboard 200 resume may have hit a sour note or two over her 11 year tenure, but her Hot 100 track record is unmatched and decorated with many an accomplishment for tying or simply demolishing the Billboard Hot 100 records of many-a-legend before her (see:  Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and more).

Already besting Queen of Pop Madonna‘s once thought untouchable record of “most top 10 singles amassed in the shortest period of time” (read more on that here), now the ‘Sledgehammer’ singer – thanks to her latest hit ‘Sex With Me’ – is looking to break yet another of the pop potentate’s history-making achievements.

Find out what it is below and recap this week’s entire TGJ Chart Check below:

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By 2012, 15-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys began seeing her once hot sales streak cool.

The ‘Girl On Fire’ – whose first three albums consecutively topped the Billboard 200 and her fourth, ‘The Element of Freedom,’ delivered fair numbers in comparison – was no longer burning up the charts in means fans had become accustomed to.  In fact, some 12 years after her commercially and critically acclaimed debut ‘Songs in A Minor’ (2000), the ivory tickling diva didn’t exactly find much to laugh about when her fifth album, ‘Fire,’ crashed and burned after making a #1 debut to the first week sum of 159,000 – almost a third of what ‘Freedom’s first week declared just three years prior

Taking a period to cool off to focus on philanthropy and family (see:  giving birth to her second child in late 2014), the singer/songwriter continued to tease new music throughout the downtime – even promising fans something they “wouldn’t expect.”

That promise was finally manifested in May 2016 thanks to ‘In Common’…

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Much like her soaring pop tune ‘Roar’ scared off the competition upon its debut (namely Lady Gaga‘s ‘Applause’), Katy Perry’s Hot 100 dominance shows no signs of cooling if the sales performance of ‘Rise’ – her latest single – is any indication.

Released the same day as Britney Spears‘ highly anticipated new single, ‘Make Me (ft. G-Eazy),’ Perry’s Olympic-inspired tune certainly lived up to its title, not only giving rise to a friendly competition between her fans (#KatyCats) and Spears’ (#BritneyArmy), but also rising to the occasion with strong sales and streaming.

Curious to see exactly where the ladies landed on the refreshed Hot 100?  Find out below:

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Welcome to the latest edition ‘That Grape Juice A&R‘, the ‘TGJ’ original feature which sees us switch critic for creative and weigh in on the directions of our staple acts.

Who we’ve set our Evan Lipschutz-sized sights on this time? Ciara.

Since ‘1,2 stepping’ onto the scene 12 years ago, the siren has etched her name in the history books thanks to a slew of chart smashes and memorable performances.

Now, as she commences work on her seventh studio album, the 30-year-old finds herself at a career crossroads.

Last year’s ‘Jackie’ didn’t resonate as hoped – critically or commercially – and ultimately saw the singer depart Epic Records.

In the time since, she’s made a number of notable changes in her team, upped her brand positioning, and is reportedly on the cusp of formalising a new deal.

So what time is better than the present to share our views of where she could (and perhaps should) veer with her next release.

Meet us below…

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The R&B siren Kehlani strikes new creative ground once again today.

How? By dropping the song ‘Distraction’ to support her Mike Caren-backed studio album which is set to impact retailers on the fall.

The performer is undeniably one of the genre’s leading “newbies” but is yet to move noteworthy sales.

Will ‘Distraction’ change things?

Hit the play button below to find out?

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