Innholdsfortegnelse for May-30-15 i Billboard Magazine

TAYLOR SWIFT’s super powers know no bounds: The country-turned-pop star managed to simultaneously be a show-starter and a showstopper, as the exclusive world premiere of her celebrity-studded video for “Bad Blood” kicked off the 2015 Billboard Music Awards (broadcast live from Las Vegas by ABC on May 17) — and remains one of its most talked-about highlights. (Full coverage begins on page 26.) With cameos from Cindy Crawford, Lena Dunham, Selena Gomez, Ellie Goulding and Kendrick Lamar (the rapper is featured on the song’s new single edit), the video has given the fourth single from Swift’s blockbuster album 1989 a bump: The song re-enters the Billboard Hot 100 at a new peak, No. 53, spurred by its re-entry on Digital Songs at No. 26. The track surges by a monstrous…

WITH FIVE GRAMMY AWARD nominations and two crossover hits that have cracked the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, Hunter Hayes, 23, is among country music’s most identifiable young newcomers. But with digital downloads in steady decline (down 10.5 percent year to date, nearly 50 million units behind the first five months of 2014) and streaming on an upswing, can the “I Want Crazy” singer-songwriter help usher in a much-needed digital era for country? The May 21 debut of his latest single, “21,” which premiered on Spotify and 125 iHeartMedia radio stations, marks the beginning of country’s biggest digital experiment to date: Hayes plans to roll out an EP’s worth of singles only through streaming services, eschewing iTunes and physical retail partners. “We’re constantly looking for new ways to…

VIDEO, NOT MUSIC, could end up being spotify’s secret weapon. With Apple’s streaming service expected to relaunch in June, Spotify announced at a May 20 press event the most significant overhaul to its service since its arrival in 2008: the addition of non-music video content. Clips from ABC, BBC, ESPN, Vice News, evening talk shows and more — although no music videos — will be available to both free and paying Spotify users initially in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden. “After years of decline, music is ready to grow again.”Daniel Ek, spotify Along with other new content like podcasts and original audio programming, video seems likely to continue the company’s growth. Spotify’s offer of unlimited free streaming — which it claims drives 80 percent of its…

MORRIS ON MORRIS Sony Music Entertainment CEO Doug Morris has learned a few things during his five decades in the music business. “Lessons Learned” is the title of a keynote that Morris will give June 6 at MIDEM. 40-PLUS SHOWS More than 180 artists will perform at 45 concerts during the MIDEM Festival. A new talent competition, Midem Artist Accelerator, will be judged by industry notables including Epic Records chairman/ CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid. WHAT A SONG’S WORTH Songwriter Paul Williams, who also is president/chairman of the board of ASCAP, will give a MIDEM address on June 7 on the value of music in the digital age. His remarks take place amid the debate over earnings from new digital music services. DIGITAL DREAMS Midemlab, a pitching competition for digital startups…

1935-2015 Bruce Lundvall, former CEO of Blue Note Records and a key figure in jazz music, died May 19 at the age of 79. Blue Note president Don Wasremembers Lundvall’s life and legacy. It’s with a heavy heart that I write about the passing of our courageous friend and Blue Note Records chairman emeritus and longtime president, Bruce Lundvall. He was a beautiful, one-of-a-kind, larger-than-life human being whose joie de vivre was equaled only by his love for music, impeccable taste and kind heart. My deepest sympathy goes out to every one of you who knew him and loved him. To say that he profoundly affected our lives is an understatement. In fact, it’s not out of line to say that there would be no Blue Note Records today without…

CHURCH GÜIN’ UP — ON A SATURDAY!” YELLS Carl Lentz, the toned, tattoo-covered co-pastor of the New York outpost of Hillsong church. it’s a timely reference to rapper-singer ILoveMakonnen’s hit “Tuesday,” and one that the 5,000 diverse, mostly young attendees of the first of two Saturday services at Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield on a cloudy May afternoon knowingly laugh at. With a hip haircut and leg-hugging black pants, Lentz, 36, spiritual adviser to celebs like Justin Bieber and Kevin Durant, could easily be mistaken for a rock star. “if I dive, would you catch me?” he asks, perched at the edge of the stage and clutching a Bible brandishing an “Occupy All Streets” sticker. Welcome to Hillsong United, the hippest, loudest church service-cum-rock band on the planet. What is it?…

Solange Purrs Over Puma Solange isn’t hazarding any guesses about when her next album will be out — “We’re Solange now at the end zone” is the most she told Billboard the week of May 11 — but fans can look forward to the imminent release of another project that bears her creative input. Athletic apparel designer Puma hired Beyoncé’s 28-year-old little sister to art-direct two lines of athletic shoes in 2014, and now, a third “is coming out in a couple of months. It is my favorite of the bunch,” says Solange, who won’t be in the ad campaign, but says she handpicked a diverse group of women “from all walks of life” for the marketing push. David Lee Roth: Van Halen Is Dance Music Even If The Van…

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DJ Ruckus, 31, credits his sense of style to the strong women in his life (Zoe Kravitz is his cousin), and counts Miami-based jewelry designer Alexis Dawn Geller among them. When she walked into a restaurant wearing a necklace similar to one he had been on the prowl for, the two bonded over their affinity for bold crystals. This month, they’ll release a limited-edition Ruckus for Roxhouse necklace line ($125-$325) that exemplifies what Ruckus calls “that perfect mix of bling and funky energy.”Billboard got the scoop from the in-demand deck-wrecker, who works private parties for clients like Oprah Winfrey and Kanye West. How do you like to wear your necklaces? Stacked. You get a certain energy from each one. It’s like a vitamin infusion. You need Vitamin C and B12…

THEBUFFEST DJ IN THE BI He may throw cake at his fans, but for Steve Aoki it’s all about fish (and stem cells As someone who spent 300-plus days traveling to more than 50 countries in 2014, DJ-producer Steve Aoki, 37, has become an expert at navigating the late, alcohol-fueled nights often associated with the EDM scene. While gearing up to promote his third studio album, Neon Future II (Dim Mak/Ultra), which arrived May 12, the Las Vegas-based artist let Billboard in on his strict fitness and diet routine. How do you stay in shape while you’re touring? I do a mix of CrossFit-style workouts, high-intensity cardio and core work — the variety keeps the body guessing. Are there foods you avoid? For me, it’s about less sugar intake. When…

Whether DJ’ing, modeling or curating the Dannijo jewelry Spotify channel, 28-year-old Alexandra Richards (daughter of The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards) is always on the move. Her three must-haves before she gets airborne. “Rescue remedy drops. They help your immune system stay strong and leave you with a calm sensation.”$20.55; bachflower.com “Kiehl’s travel-size refreshing face mist keeps you hydrated between flights, gigs and hot New York City summer days. It’s like a mini spa in a bottle.”$14; kiehls.com “I’ll go anywhere, anytime only if I have my purple cashmere blanket.”similar style, $495; abchome.com…

Joey Badass, standing opposite a tree branch draped with feathered dream catchers, closes his eyes and inhales deeply. It’s a Monday afternoon and inside Stick Stone & Bone, a newage specialty store on New York’s Christopher Street, the rapper, born Jo-Vaughn Scott, is surrounded by baskets of jagged geodes. He clenches one called a “spirit amethyst” in his left hand. “The energy from it... I actually feel it,” he says, opening his eyes. For Badass, 20, who grew up attending church in Brooklyn, elements of the natural world have become a form of spiritual catharsis. “As I got older, I realized I didn’t have to be in some building to feel close to God. I could be anywhere — on the street, in the park — and experience a higher…

STRAIN OG Kush THE 4ii Hailing from the Hindu Kush mountain range, the indica-dominant hybrid known for its heavy head high is a staple at long recording sessions. FANS Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa STRAIN Super Lemon Haze THE 4ii Fragrant and sweet, the two-time Cannabis Cup winner has a buzzy effect that makes it well-suited for a concert or the dancefloor. FAN Miley Cyrus STRAIN Grandaddy Purple THE 4ii Medical marijuana doctors prescribe this violet-hued leaf for pain and insomnia. Recreationally, it’s used for melting into the couch. FAN B Real…

CHOCQjJIBTOWN HAILS FROM Colombia’s rural Pacific coast, but honed its sound in Cali, a gritty city, and one can hear both in the trio’s music: a melange of hip-hop, reggaeton, electronica, ska, Afro-Latin rhythms and rapper-singer Goyo Martinez’s soulful charisma. It’s a dizzying mix that has earned acclaim, Grammy nods and collabs with Santana and Carlos Vives. But El Mismo aims to turn the group from critical curio to commercial star. Produced by Andres Castro (Vives, Prince Royce), the album appends pop song structure and stickier hooks to the band’s eclecticism. A romantic reggae sound helped “Cuando Te Veo” blow up on Colombia radio, but Chocquibtown knows its roots: The title track, which means “the same one,” is an unapologetic rap-dance blend fueled by marimbas, horns and a celebration of…

HITS EARL SWEATSHIRT AND BADBADNOTGOOD, JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! (MAY 13) Rarely do artists communicate darker emotions on late-night TV as gravely and effectively as rapper Earl Sweatshirt on Kimmel. Backed byjazz-fusion band BadBadNotGood, the Odd Future member ran through a medley of cuts including “AM // Radio,” “Grief” and “Huey,” creating a captivatingly somber atmosphere every bit as raw and real as his introspective new album, I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside. BRANDON FLOWERS, THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN (MAY 13) Like a glam Bruce Springsteen, Killers frontman Brandon Flowers stepped onto the Corden stage for an ’80s-kissed rendition of “Lonely Town,” the third single from his just-released sophomore album, The Desired Effect. The passionate performance, featuring three forceful backing vocalists and a synth-heavy band, underlined…

After being crowned champion of the eighth season of NBC’s The Voice (May 19), Sawyer Fredericks (above] continues his winning ways on the Billboard Artist 100, where he bounds 63-40. The 16-year-old folk-rocker rises with all of his chart points owed to digital song sales. He adds his fifth top 10 on Hot Rock Songs as his cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” starts at No. 10 with 42,000 downloads sold, according to Nielsen Music. On Rock Digital Songs, the remake bows at No. 2, tying three other entries for his highest-peaking hit. Fredericks (guided on The Voice by Pharrell Williams, who celebrates his first season victory as a coach) also enters the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 94 with his take on Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years.”…

On your new album The Traveler, which debuts at No. 5 on Heatseekers Albums, you collaborated with the band Black Prairie, which includes members of The Decemberists. How do they compare to your main group, Old 97’s? Black Prairie is very broad, with a wide range of talents that can play a lot of different styles. They’re just really flexible. The 97’s have a big muscle, but it’s more specific. It’s like a machine: You put a song in the machine and it comes out sounding like an Old 97’s song, whereas with Black Prairie, we tried things so many different ways. That kind of flexibility is liberating, and you can hear it all over this record. You also worked with your hero, former R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. What was…

Fresh off a pair of wins at the Billboard Music Awards (May 17), One Direction vaults to a No. 1 re-entry on the Billboard + Twitter Top Tracks chart with “No Control.” The song, from the album Four, surges as the result of a fan-driven campaign to make “No Control” the group’s next single. Bandrnernber Louis Tomlinson addressed the effort in an interview with Billboard backstage at the show: “That is just a perfect example of how unique, incredible and passionate our fans are.” The crusade sparked high streaming numbers for “No Control,” which picked up 1 million U.S. streams in the week ending May 17, according to Nielsen Music. Meanwhile, Hilary Duff shoots “Sparks” to a No. 15 debut after the premiere of its music video on May 14.…

“Renegades” is the first top ten entry for X Ambassadors on the Alternative airplay tally (see Billboard.com/ charts) as it roars 14-8 in only its fourth week. The last band to zoom to the top 10 so quickly on its first try? The Jack White-led Raconteurs with “Steady, As She Goes” in 2006, on its way to a No. 1 peak. One needs to go back four more years for the prior such flight: In 2002, Zwan (led by The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan) reached the top 10 in its fourth week with the eventual No. 7-peaking “Honestly.” “We’re trying not to get too caught up in everything,” X Ambassadors vocalist Sam Harris tells Billboard. “We’re just glad people like [“Renegades”] and that it’s having a positive effect on them.”…

Rock band Needtobreathe (above) notches its first No. 1 on Hot Christian Songs since 2008 — and its second chart-topper ever — as “Brother” jumps 3-1 in its 22nd chart week. It’s the first No. 1 for Needtobreathe since “Washed by the Water” spent four weeks atop the list in 2008. “Brother” is the group’s seventh top 10 hit. “Brother” gets an assist from singer Gavin DeGraw, who wasn’t on the original version of the tune that appeared on the band’s 2014 album, Rivers in the Wasteland. The DeGraw rendition bowed commercially in early February, spurring a 30-2 jump for the song on Hot Christian Songs thanks to a sudden sales surge. The track cooled off the following week, dipping to No. 16, but then slowly crept back up the…

IN THE SPRING OF 1997, SPICE GIRLS mania ruled as the British vocal quintet rose to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with its debut album, Spice. The group’s members — Victoria Adams (now Mrs. David Beckham), then 23; Melanie Brown, 21; Emma Bunton, 21; Melanie Chisholm, 23; and Geri Halliwell, 24 — promoted a unified front of “girl power” and friendship among strikingly different personalities. Their adoption of nicknames that distilled their personas into marketing-friendly alter-egos also helped them appeal to the masses: Brown became known as “Scary Spice,” for example, a nod to her brashness and outrageous style, while the ponytail-and-tracksuit-wearing Chisholm was dubbed “Sporty Spice.” Released in February 1997, Spice would go on to sell 7.5 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen Music; spend…

What does being “classic” mean to you? Something that’s both timeless and relevant. I don’t believe in just being a retro mannequin. Any song that you say is classic, it’s classic because it speaks to the generation right then and there, but also everybody recognizes that that person or idea or song will live beyond that moment, for future generations to enjoy. You certainly have a classic fashion sense, which is becoming more popular. Why do you think that is? I’ve been wearing suits and three-piece suits for a while. It all was inspired by my father, who used to wear suits. _People are_ catching on because the context in which we’re living now is a dressed-down era, at least in relation to previous decades. My team and I just…

Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk!,” the top song of the first quarter, helped Sony/ ATV score its 11th straight quarter as the top music publisher. However, the company also suffered its third straight market-share drop, slipping two points to 24 percent (after peaking at 32 percent in Q2 2014). Elsewhere, Universal squeaked past Kobalt to No. 2; Warner/Chappell’s total top 100 radio songs increased by 10 titles to 42; BMG Chrysalis rose by eight to 22 songs. Downtown Music returns to the top 10 publishers list, placing seventh on the strength of four top 100 radio titles, and The Royalty Network lands on the tally for a second time bolstered by the quarter’s No. 2 song, Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.”…

Whatever might be debated about the inaugural Rock in Rio USA — an uneven lineup and fuzzy attendance numbers are among the contested issues — no one could argue that the two-weekend gathering in Las Vegas wasn’t as comfortable as any ever produced. That was especially true of the pricey VIP area (single-day pass: $498), where Wolfgang Puck’s team served internationally themed food. Even in the Astro Turfed non-VIP zones of the 33-acre permanent site, all felt agreeably laid-back. But if that elbow room made a cozy environment for visitors, it may have been a little too comfortable for the promoters. With a lineup that included Metallica, Bruno Mars, No Doubt and even the unofficial opening of Taylor Swift’s U.S. tour, the Circus Circus-adjacent field had a reported 172,000 admissions…

INSTANT SELLOUTS ONCE WERE A BADGE of honor, proudly touted as a testament to the demand for a show or tour. But today, it’s rare for even the hottest acts to announce that all tickets were sold in less than an hour. the latest ticketing technology certainly allows for lightning-fast sellouts. rather, several factors — including marketing considerations, a desire to maximize revenue and the need to defeat scalpers and automated “bots” that game the system by generating hundreds of ticket requests — have led to a deceleration of the on-sale, a world where fastest isn’t always best. “Our mantra is, ’If we sell out the first day, we’ve screwed up,’ “ says John Meglen, co-president of Concerts West, producer of The Rolling Stones’ Zip Code summer tour. While speedy…

IN THE EARLY 1990S I WAS WORKING WITH ETTA JAMES ON her memoir when she invited me to meet her at an upscale health resort in santa Monica, where she had come to lose weight. I arrived to find her seated at a table with B.B. king. when she introduced me, king stood up and shook my hand. “An honor to meet you, Mr. King,” I said. “B,” he said. “Friends call me B.” At this moment in their lives, both James and B were dealing with obesity. Looking a bit forlorn, they stared at their dinner plates that contained a small skinless chicken breast, two peeled carrots and a row of asparagus. “Be careful,” said James, knowing my propensity for interviewing. “You’re looking at two hungry beasts. Ask us…

Your Band Sucks: What I Saw at Indie Rock’s Failed Revolution (But Can No Longer Hear) By Jon Fine (Viking, May 19, $28) Punk guitarist-turned-award-winning journalist Jon Fine recalls his days playing for — and then being booted from —Bitch Magnet. The book then jumps ahead to show how the Internet gave new life to old cult bands, leading to a Bitch Magnet reunion that finds Fine, currently an editor at Inc., in middle age trying to juggle touring and his demanding day job. Dreams to Remember: Otis Redding, Stax Records, and the Transformation of Southern Soul By Mark Ribowsky (Liveright, June 1, $28) Otis Redding died in a plane crash weeks before the release of 1967s (Sitting On) The Dock of the Bay, the first posthumous No. 1 in…

COMPILED BY STEVEN J. HOROWITZ What is as brutal as a period? NOTHING.” — HAYLEY WILLIAMS The Paramore frontwoman on Twitter, explaining why she chose the name “The Crimson Curse” for her role in Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” video. “I’m screwed up way worse than that girl. Where do I get off criticizing her?” — DAVID CROSBY The rock legend in an interview on The Howard Stern Show, apologizing for calling Neil Young’s girlfriend, Daryl Hannah, a “poisonous predator.” “A man writing about his feelings is brave; a woman writing about her feelings is whining. “ —TAYLOR SWIFT The pop singer on sexism in the entertainment industry in an interview with Maxim. “I like to play blackjack. I played for 12 hours straight yesterday. I changed clothes in the bathroom.…

What To Buy, Wear And Know Now SEAN “DIDDY” COMBS ISN’T JUST GETTING back into the music game — releasing a new album on June 29 and acting as a producer on Kanye West’s new record — he’s sticking his nose back into the fragrance industry with 3AM, his first scent in six years. The 45-year-old says the Parlux-backed, bergamot-infused men’s fragrance that debuted this month is inspired by romance and “having a good time at 3 a.m. with a woman.” That sex appeal is on full display in the steamy new commercial where he and girlfriend Cassie getiton — unsurprising, given his clothing of choice at 3 a.m. is “nothing.” But as for those rumors that the cops were called to the set? Demuring to comment, Combs jokes, “They…

“If there are women around, j might take his shift off in church.” THE GAME WARM LAVA CAKE WITH VANILLA ICE cream,” says Jason Derulo. “That shit is unbelievable.” For a man as obsessed with staying fit as he is with making hits — the 25-year-old is on the verge of scoring his 11th million-selling single, according to Nielsen Music, with “Want to Want Me,” now at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 — this qualifies as dirty talk. Lava cake is the food he fantasizes about most. And on this Tuesday afternoon, fantasize he must, because his menu consists of tuna straight from the can, water and a couple of spoonfuls of energy powder. He has a Billboard photo shoot tomorrow and swears by the fish as an…

When Beyoncé ascended the stairs at the Met Gala on May 4, her sheer Givenchy gown made the best-dressed lists — but it was her killer curves that stole the show. Her secret? Marco Borges, 43, the guy who convinced Bey to replace guilty pleasures like fried chicken and pizza with vegan alternatives. Those recipes and the plant-based diet are the subject of Borges’ new book, The 22-Day Revolution, for which Beyoncé wrote the forward. “It’s based on the idea that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit,” he says, and during that time people can lose up to 22 pounds by exercising daily and eating only fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes and nuts. Borges has also teamed with Bey and Jay Z to offer a $600…

BRAZILIAN BUTT-LIFT When It comes to the quest for the Ideal backside, the booties of Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj and Kim Kardashian are motivating patients to get butt-lifts. The procedure, which costs between $12,000 and $20,000, inserts fat from other areas of the body (like the stomach) into the badonkadonk. “Since implants aren’t involved, it’s safer,” says Ourian. “It just might need a touch-up every two to three years.” SILK LIP INJECTABLES The best-kept secret on — and in — everyone’s lips is Restylane silk injectables, a filler so thin patients leave the doctor’s office with barely a bruise. “Before, we could just make the lips bigger; now we can sculpt them,” says Ourian. Priced at $500 to $2,000, it will last for about a year and has only a…

THE KABBALAH CENTRE Formed by Rav Yehuda Ashlag in 1922, it initially rose to fame with help from Madonna. Britney Spears has visited the Los Angeles location. 1062S. Robertson Boulevard, Los Angeles ST. AGNES CHURCH Led by Father Juan Carlos Paguaga, this Catholic church in a tony neighborhood of Miami is frequented by “A Dios le Pido” singer-songwriter Juanes. 100 Harbor Drive, Key Biscayne, Fla. THE HAMPTON SYNAGOGUE Rabbi Marc Schneier’s congregations have included such high-powered guests as Russell Simmons and Hillary Clinton. 154 Sunset Ave., Westhampton Beach, N.Y.…

FLORENCE & THE MACHINE How Big How Blue How Beautiful Island SINCE FLORENCE WELCH MADE HER DEBÜT in 2009, she has created music that turns heads and widens eyes. There’s no doubt she’s a flamboyantly imaginative writer and a captivating vocalist and performer. Yet her first two albums, with their mixture of cabaret exercises and stadium-scale anthems, never quite conveyed a sense of lasting consequence. her art-rock models, such as Kate bush and Bjork, were clear, but Welch, 28, often seemed like she shared their love of grandiosity more than their nervy willingness to follow a concept to its end, even when it means making music that’s not so pretty or easy to like. Welch had the sweep but not the swerve, and the result was songs that were ravishing…

MIKA For his third album No Place in Heaven (due June 16 on Republic), British power-pop singer Mika, 31, is embracing his many theatrical quirks: “I think it’s important to be an unusual artist.” What was the inspiration behind new single “Last Party” It’s about Freddie Mercury when he found out he was HIV positive; he closed himself up in a club and had this mad party. It’s probably a myth, but it’s a story that’s well-known. I know [Queen’s] Brian May and Roger Taylor, so I sent them the song, worried I was invading sacred territory. And they loved it. Did being a judge on The X Factor ItalyandThe Voice Franceaffect your music? I decided to consolidate that gap between who I am as a person and my public…

WHEN GREGG ALLMAN GOT THE CALL TO JOIN MORE THAN a dozen acts in a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute concert in late 2014 at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, he quickly signed on, and not just because he and the band are long-standing members of the Southern-rock brotherhood. The “One More for the Fans” show not only honored Skynyrd, it was also part of a yearlong celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Fox’s rescue from the wrecking ball. Today, the Fox is one of the country’s busiest theaters, hosting private and community events, Broadway road shows (Motown: The Musical opens in August) and concert tours (it ranked No. 2 on Billboard’ 2014 Boxscore tally of theaters with fewer than 5,000 seats). But the gilded Peachtree Street edifice, which opened as a movie…

Ed Sheeran’s new archival EP box set, 5, debuts at No. 30 on the Billboard 200, shifting 14,000 units in the week ending May 17, according to Nielsen Music. The 32-track digital set — issued on Sheeran’s new Gingerbread Man imprint through Atlantic Records — collects his five pre-fame, independently released EPs for their first U.S. release. They also are available individually, though none of them debuts on any of Billboard’ charts (they sold a combined 2,000 copies). The box, which sells for around $30, sold 6,000 in traditional album sales, enabling its No. 51 bow on Top Album Sales. Its launch on the Billboard 200 is more robust in its overall unit total (14,000) as it profits from track equivalent albums and streaming equivalent albums, which power 58 percent…

Following the death of blues great B.B. King on May 14 (see story, page 24), sales of his albums and songs grow tremendously. In the week ending May 17, his catalog of albums saw a 1,643 percent sales gain, to 34,000 sold for the week. His biggest seller of the week is Live at the Regal, which debuts at No. 28 on Top Album Sales with 9,000 sold (up 5,257 percent). King also dots the list at No. 59 (The Complete Collection; 5,000 — up 5,938 percent) and No. 62 (Greatest Hits; 5,000 — up 2,590 percent). On the Billboard 200, which ranks titles based on a blend of album sales, track equivalent albums and streaming equivalent albums, those above sets can be found at Nos. 56, 59 and 118,…

Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea’s new collaboration, “Pretty Girls,” is the top debut on Streaming Songs (viewable at Billboard.com/ charts) as the diva duet starts at No. 16. The opening is owed to the May 13 debut of its official music video on Vevo. The duo, who performed the song during the Billboard Music Awards on May 17, which surely helped increase its exposure, earned a 374 percent rise in streaming points coming primarily from plays of the video (81 percent), resulting in 5.5 million U.S. plays for the week. Further down the chart, DJ Snake’s “You Know You Like It,” a club remix of the song by AlunaGeorge (which is co-credited on the remix), launches at No. 35. The debut arrives after steady week-over-week increases in popularity (up 15…

Snoop Dogg (above] returns to No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, marking his sixth chart-topper, as Bush arrives with 27,000 copies sold (according to Nielsen Music) in the week ending May 17. The set consists mostly of R&B tracks, in turn qualifying for the R&B Albums chart, where it debuts at No. 1. (It does not appear on Rap Albums.) On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, second single “California Roll,” featuring Stevie Wonder, lands at No. 49. It’s Wonder’s 74th hit on the list, where he first appeared in 1963. On the Billboard Artist 100, Snoop re-enters at No. 31 (his current peak] amid activity surrounding the album release. Meanwhile, DJ Khaled scores the Hot Shot Debut on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, coming in at No. 23 (his highest arrival yet on the…

Steve Aoki (above) bows at No. 2 on Top Dance/ Electronic Albums with Neon Future.II, his follow-up to Neon Future.I. The new set starts with 7,000 sold, according to Nielsen Music, a bit off Neon Future.I’ 10,000-unit No. 1 opening (Oct. 18, 2014). Neon Future.II would have topped the chart were it not for David Guetta’s surge with the heavily discounted Listen (2-1, 29,000 sold; see the Billboard 200, page 66). Aoki also ascends Hot Dance/Electronic Songs with “I Love It When You Cry (Moxoki),” his collaboration with Moxie Raia (44-22). Aoki’s new team-up with Linkin Park, “Darker Than Blood,” reached No. 36 on May 2. Continuing with Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, Zedd zooms in at No. 20 with “Beautiful Now” (featuring Jon Bellion). It’s the third track to chart from…

After winning the 14th season of Fox’s American Idol on May 13, Nick Fradiani enters the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 93 with the celebratory “Beautiful Life,” which starts with 50,000 downloads sold, according to Nielsen Music. The bow matches the No. 93 start (and peak) of 2013 Idol champ Candice Glover’s “I Am Beautiful,” which began with 48,000 sold. 2014 winner Caleb Johnson missed the Hot 100 with his coronation single “As Long As You Love Me,” although it charted on Hot Rock Songs. 28 RACHEL PLATTEN Fight Song The empowerment anthem hits the Digital Songs top 10(21-9), soaring by 67 percent to 87,000 sold, after she sang it on ABC’s Good Morning America on May 14. Its official video arrived May 19. 67 MAROON 5 This Summer’s Gonna…

U2 + SALESFORCE With more than 1 million tickets sold, U2’s Innocence + Experience tour is already a juggernaut. And cloud-computing company Salesforce is entering the music space with a bang by laying out an estimated $12 million (including media) to sponsor it. Executive vp Lynn Vojvodich cites a “shared commitment to innovation and philanthropy” as key reasons for pairing with the band. THE WHO/FOO FIGHTERS + CITI Much like Citi’s support of The Rolling Stones’ 2013 tour, the credit card’s VIP packages for the Who Hits 50! trek include access to preshow soundchecks and backstage parties. Citi also will host VIP cardmember lounges at several U.S. locations on the Foo Fighters’ 2015 tour. Both partnerships are estimated to be worth $1 million in total spending. TAYLOR SWIFT + XFINITY…

With the music business trade fair midem set to draw more than 6,000 attendees from 70-plus countries to Cannes from June 5 to 8, an annual industry report finds that 67 percent of the world’s music is still sold outside the United States. That figure for 2014, which has fluctuated only a few percentage points during the past decade, is a reminder of the importance of international markets to American artists and to U.S. music companies whose executives attend MIDEM. The statistic comes from Recording Industry in Numbers, published each spring by the international trade group IFPI. The world’s $15 billion music market was effectively flat in 2014, dipping by 0.4 percent, the report states. But for the first time, digital music sales ($6.9 billion) edged past physical sales ($6.8…

In April, Diplo tweeted that “skipping Coachella is the new Coachella,” and got thousands of social media high-fives in response. As overstuffed mega-fests like Bonnaroo and Las Vegas’ Electric Daisy Carnival swarm with kids, peacocking bloggers and aggressive brands, a growing contingent of fans yearns for simpler times. On the rise: such boutique festivals as Desert Hearts and Basilica Soundscape, which average a couple of thousand attendees and offer intimate experiences and obscure lineups aimed an older, in-the-know crowd. The concept isn’t new — California’s Lightning in a Bottle, which combines DJs and wellness lectures, and the artist-curated All Tomorrow’s Parties have been running for more than 10 years — but it’s gaining momentum. Some boutique events, like the Burning Man-inspired Further Future, held near Vegas, are invite-only. Others, like…

FROM THE MOMENT TAYLOR SWIFT HIT THE RED CARPET WITH A squad of famous friends to roll out her “Bad Blood” music video, all eyes were on — and never left — her. She scooped up eight awards and shared congratulatory PDAs with Calvin Harris, who sat next to her in the front row. But the three-hour telecast had room for plenty of other winners, including Iggy Azalea, Meghan Trainor and Sam Smith — who, due to his recent vocal hemorrhage, gave a Love Actually-style cue-card “speech” via video to accept the top male artist award. One Direction scored a pair of honors, with the now-foursome shouting out “our brother”Zayn Malik. “You’ve put on a lovely spread,” 1D’s Harry Styles complimented Billboard backstage. And with an average audience of 11.1…

Tove Lo The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart “It’s about a [fictional] psychologist who uses dice to make decisions. Like, ‘If it says four, I’m going to punch my neighbor.’ I had to take breaks because it got really depressing.” Maddie Marlow, Maddie & Tae The Book “It’s a modern translation of the Bible, so you can actually understand it. I never understand what the Bible is saying! I read it just about every day.” Jim James, My Morning Jacket Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand “Politically, there’s so much fighting: Everybody says they’re far right or far left, and people think Rand is far right. That’s not unfounded, but it’s still one of the greatest books I’ve read, and a cool example that we can learn from each other.” Janelle…

FROM Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn AGE Unknown HOW YOU SAY HER NAME Leh-kay-lee — or 47 for short WHO SHE IS Leikeli47 dons ski masks, raps and produces songs that evoke both Tink’s disarming sweetness and Odd Future’s menace, but won’t reveal her name or age. In her words: “You want to know about me? Press play.” HOW SHE CAME UP Two terrific mixtapes of booty-bass provocations and femme swagger, plus a string of vibrant videos, led to her new self-titled debut dropping via RCA’s Hard Cover on April 17, just days after she signed. “It was my time,” she says. “It’s like you play in college for four years and you’re like, ‘I’m going to the league!’” CO_SIGNERS After endorsing 47’s tracks on SoundCloud, Diplo and Skrillex brought her out as…

Most people associate surfers with wet suits, but on June 5, Bill Pohlad’s Love & Mercy biopic about The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson reveals an unlikely fixture in California surf culture: plaid. “The Beach Boys wore shirts by Pendleton,” explains Los Angeles-based costume designer Danny Glicker(Milk, Up in the Air), who outfitted the actors in checkered blue button-ups to re-create the cover of the band’s 1962 album, Surfin’Safari. “At the time, the shirts created a distinct visual that came to embody the fantasy of Southern California.” Proof of the brand’s comeback? New fans include castmembers John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks, who along with the crew were gifted with wool Pendletons of their own at the film’s wrap party.…

Apparently, working out with the stars can actually be detrimental to your health. While hiking with “close friend” Kanye West in Hawaii, celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak and West were nearly blown to bits in an abandoned military minefield. Then there was the time Pasternak bicycled alongside Alicia Keys across Vancouver Island with a broken ankle and full leg cast. Only slightly less intense are basketball standoffs with Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine. But when it comes to the nuts and bolts of his fitness philosophy, Pasternak, 41, is strictly no-nonsense. The gluten-free fad? “Truth is, less than 1 percent of Americans are actually allergic to wheat.” Working out for hours? “It just makes you hungry.” Instead, Pasternak instructs his superstar clients — from Lady Gaga to Ariana Grande — to…

CLAY CLEANSE What it is Consuming negatively charged bentonite clay, which can be served in juice form, supposedly helps detoxify the body by expelling positively charged toxins. Reported devotees Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz (pictured) Allen says “It will make you feel full, but for those with preexisting conditions, it can be bad because it alters the ability of your digestive tract to absorb some nutrients.” THE WEREWOLF DIET What it is Also called the Lunar Diet, you only drink water and juice during the full moon or new moon. The theory is that the moon’s gravitational pull on the water in our bodies can affect weight. Reported devotees Madonna (pictured), Demi Moore Allen says “This is a weird fad diet, yet strict restrictions to one’s diet do result in weight…

HAIR LOSS For rockers looking to thicken their locks, platelet-rich plasma injections, which involve centrifuging the client’s blood and turning it into an injectable serum, “help stimulate growth on its own or with transplants,” says Dr. Brian Bonanni of Gotham Skincare. Just be prepared to shell out $600 to $1,000 per injection. VOCAL-CORD INJURIES Though surgery is sometimes the only option, vocal-cord injuries can also be treated with acupuncture. “Even something like a sprained ankle can affect the voice,” says acupuncturist Shellie Goldstein, whose sessions cost between $100 and $240. “We look at the big picture.” BACK AND NECK PAIN Specializing in kinesiology (the study of human movement), Dr. Ilan Bohm — who has worked with David Geffen and Patti LaBelle — subdivides the body into 12 muscle systems to…

Top yoga destinations: New York, Los Angeles... and Nashville? “The scene has really exploded,” says Daphne Larkin, who founded Sanctuary for Yoga nearly a decade ago with partner Tom Larkin. The studio, which specializes in vinyasa flow, has done private sessions ($100/hour) with Ashley Judd, Jennifer Nettles, LeAnn Rimes and, recently, Christina Aguilera, who was in town to shoot Nashville — Dierks Bentley has been known to stop by for regular group classes ($15) too. “Tom and Daphne are geniuses,” says yoga devotee Rimes, who adds: “Not only has yoga strengthened muscles I never knew I had, it has calmed my mind. It has given me a space to open my body and heart.”sanctuaryforyoga.com -…

BAT0N ROUGE, LA., HOMETOWN hero Boosie Badazz (formerly Lil Boosie) has always rapped with palpable urgency. HÍS voice, arguably his most distinctive feature, is a piercing drawl that demands attention and drips with pathos. but after finishing a five-year prison sentence for weed possession in 2014 (and dodging a murder charge in 2012), he has a new fire in his belly. the 32-year-old rapper, born Torrence hatch, recorded his first verse as a free man before his ride home from the Louisiana state Penitentiary was even finished. the biggest hits of his 15-year catalog are predominantly party songs (“Wipe Me Down,” “Zoom”), but on his sixth studio album, Touch Down 2 Cause Hell, he seems to have lost interest in the ratchet bacchanalia of his pre-prison days. Boosie has years…

EARLY IN HIS CAREER, GERMAN producer-DJ Zedd was heralded as the next Skrillex, EDM’s newest innovator. Instead, after leaving the dubstep pioneer’s OWSLA imprint for Interscope in 2012, he has become the next Calvin Harris, a dance-pop maestro with mainstream cred. Zedd has huge Billboard Hot 100 hits; a Grammy for 2012 smash “Clarity”; writing and production credits for Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga; and even a pop-star girlfriend, Selena Gomez, who appears on “I Want You to Know,” the hit from his second album, True Colors. The 25-year-old, born Anton Zaslavski, has said in interviews that the LP would put the M back in EDM, but it’s more mish-mash than musical, with way too many ingredients in one pot. Hopscotching between house bangers and electro ballads, the…

THE PITCH PERFECT 2 SOUNDTRACK SINGS out at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 as the album debuts with 108,000 units earned in the week ending May 17, according to Nielsen Music. Pitch Perfect 2 — which, like the first film, focuses on the trials and tribulations of the fictional Barden Bellas a cappella group — opened May 15, three days after the soundtrack arrived. The album marks a milestone for soundtracks in 2015, becoming the third to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 after Fox TV’s Empire show and the theatrical film Furious 7. It also marks the most No. 1 soundtracks in a calendar year since 2010, when three Glee albums topped the chart. Traditional album sales of Pitch Perfect 2 comprised 92,000 units, giving the set…

The season finale of Fox’s American Idol and the 2015 Billboard Music Awards telecast shine on the charts, as both shows spark gains for an array of acts. The latest season of American Idol came to a close on May 13, crowning Nick Fradiani as the 14th winner of the series. But before he was named champion, a bevy of stars played the Idol stage, including Andy Grammer, Fall Out Boy, Vance Joy, Pitbull (above), Echosmith and Idol judge Keith Urban. All of the aforementioned acts profit on the Billboard 200, with Grammer posting the largest percentage gain as Magazines or Novels zooms 35-19 with a 55 percent gain. Grammer performed “Honey, I’m Good” on the show. Additionally, Pitbull — who performed twice on the Idol finale — rallies 63-49…

The soundtrack to the new film Mad Max: Fury Road, by Junkie XL, drives into the No. 1 slot on Heatseekers Albums, as the set sold 4,000 copies in the week ending May 17, according to Nielsen Music. Junkie XL previously visited the list with two other soundtrack efforts, both in 2014: Divergent (No. 13) and 300: Rise of an Empire (No. 31). On Soundtrack Albums, the new Mad Max set starts at No. 8. The release of Mad Max: Fury Road — the fourth film in the Mad Max series — on May 15 comes nearly 30 years after the last Mad Max film was released: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, on July 12, 1985. That soundtrack peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the No. 2…

Tyler Farr toasts his first Country Airplay No. 1 as “A Guy Walks Into a Bar” rises 2-1. Farr leads after reaching No. 3 with his prior two singles, and first top 10s, “Whiskey in My Water” (2014) and “Redneck Crazy” (2013). Those two tracks are from Farr’s debut album, Redneck Crazy, which debuted and peaked at No. 2 on Top Country Albums (Oct. 19, 2013) and has sold 187,000 copies, according to Nielsen Music. Sophomore set Suffer in Peace, which features “A Guy Walks Into a Bar,” likewise launched at No. 2 (May 16), and has sold 55,000 in its first three weeks. The new album’s “Withdrawals” is Farr’s next single. Farr isn’t the only Tyler making notable country chart news: Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler soars onto Hot Country…

Prince Royce (above] earns two debuts on Hot Latin Songs, including the highest bow, as “Back It Up” (featuring Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez) enters at No. 27. The chart showing reflects digital sales and streaming data for the Spanish-language version of the pop track (originally released in English), as well as airplay stemming from Latin stations. Total sales for both versions reached 23,000 downloads during the week ending May 17 (a 201 percent increase), with 29 percent of overall sales attributed to the newly released Spanish version. Royce performed the track alongside Lopez and Pitbull on the season finale of Fox’s American idol (May 13). Royce simultaneously debuts at No. 42 as a featured act on Anthony Santos’ “Que Cosas Tiene el Amor.” The entrance gives Santos, a prominent figure…

Kenny Chesney (above] makes his 2015 Boxscore chart debut with the first box-office totals reported from his Big Revival Tour that launched in Nashville. The 52-city North American trek is set to play 20 stadiums during its five-month span, 10 of which will feature Jason Aldean as co-headliner. Topping the chart is the first of those pairings, a concert at the new home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Chesney and Aldean logged more than $4.7 million in ticket sales from their May 2 concert at the stadium that opened last summer. Eric Church also is joining the tour for stadium shows in five markets during the summer run. The first one, at No. 3, is a concert at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis…