Innholdsfortegnelse for February 16, 2019 i Billboard Magazine

When he was president of Warner Bros. Records, Lenny Waronker signed Prince and worked with Eric Clapton. Now 77 and senior vp A&R at Warner, he says Gary Clark Jr. is unlike anyone on his celeb-studded CV. “There was something I couldn’t articulate” about him, he says of their first encounter a decade ago. “He was more than a blues guitar player.” Three albums in, Clark and his “singular” talent continue to surprise Waronker. What does working with Clark entail? Not much. He’s one of those artists that marches to his own drum. He likes to have the freedom to create, and will open up at some point but not necessarily at the very beginning. There’s very little creative input [from me]. He’ll listen, but mostly it has to…

ANTEL ARENA MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY CONCERT CAPACITY: 10,000 Colombian reggaetón singer Maluma, Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat and English soprano Sarah Brightman were among the first artists to play Antel Arena, which opened Nov. 18, 2018, with a celebration attended by Uruguay President Tabaré Vázquez. The arena, which is bathed in exterior lights that change color based on the type of event booked, is operated by AEG and one of the first multiuse entertainment/convention/sports facilities of its kind in South America. BONUS ARENA HULL, ENGLAND CONCERT CAPACITY: 3,500 Even before their venue opened last August, the staff at the SMG Europe-operated Bonus Arena proved exceptionally adept at social media promotion. After a dis of the seaport town of Hull by Oasis co-founder Noel Gallagher was captured by a fan on…

Hoodie Back At No. 1, Grande Up Next In a slow week on the Billboard 200, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s Hoodie SZN returns to the top of the tally for a third nonconsecutive week as the set earned 47,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Feb. 7 (down 1 percent), according to Nielsen Music. Meanwhile, the previous chart-topper, Backstreet Boys’ DNA, dives to No. 24 in its second frame (19,000 units; down 92 percent). The latter’s sharp decline isn’t surprising, considering the album’s first week was largely powered by sales generated from a concert ticket/album sale redemption offer. (The album doesn’t have many redemption-generated sales in its second week, so it takes a tumble.) As for the next No. 1, watch for Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next…

AIRPLAY DATA COMPILED BY RADIO SONGS: The week’s most popular songs, ranked by radio airplay audience impressions as measured by Nielsen Music. Stations are electronically monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. DIGITAL SONG SALES: The week’s top-downloaded songs, ranked by sales data as compiled by Nielsen Music. POP/RHYTHMIC/ADULT: The week’s most popular current songs at mainstream top 40, rhythmic, adult contemporary and adult top 40 formats, respectively, ranked by radio airplay detections, as measured by Nielsen Music. Songs are defined as current if they are relatively recently-released titles, or songs receiving widespread airplay and/or sales activity for the first time. Stations are electronically monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See Charts Legend on billboard.com/biz for complete rules and explanations. All charts © 2019,…

Khalid Turns 21 With A No. 1 Khalid (above), who celebrated his 21st birthday on Feb. 11, claims his first No. 1 on the Rhythmic airplay chart as “Better” rises 2-1 in its 18th frame on the ranking. The track ascends with a 6 percent boost in plays in the week ending Feb. 10, according to Nielsen Music. “Better” also breaks into the top 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs with a 12-10 stride. It’s Khalid’s fourth record to reach the tier, following breakout hits “Location” (No. 8), “Young, Dumb & Broke” (8) and a shared featured billing with Alessia Cara on Logic’s “1-800-273-8255” (2). Plus, “Better” posts a No. 1 showing on Hot R&B Songs for a fifth straight week. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs also features a new top 10:…

Ozuna’s record 23 nominations for the 2019 Billboard Latin Music Awards underscore a significant moment for Latin music in the United States. The genre is not only at the forefront of pop culture — the Grammy Awards telecast opened with Camila Cabello, J Balvin and Ricky Martin — it’s seeing outsize success with streaming, urban music and collaborations. Ozuna is competing against himself in a variety of categories. For the top Latin album of the year, his 2018 LP, Aura, goes head-to-head against 2017’s Odisea; for hot Latin song of the year, he’s featured on “Taki Taki” and “Te Boté,” a trap/reggaetón who’s who that also includes Nicky Jam and Bad Bunny. Meanwhile, “Te Boté” and “El Farsante,” his duet with Romeo Santos, are both nominated for streaming song…

Michael Bolton, 65, has written with everyone from Bob Dylan to Lady Gaga. To celebrate 50 years in the music business (he signed his first deal with Epic Records at age 16), the legend released A Symphony of Hits on Feb. 8, a collection of his best-loved ballads newly recorded with a 65-piece orchestra. Bolton, who has had nine top 40 albums on the Billboard 200, offers his four key rules for career longevity. 1 “You will find yourself with an inner circle who you need to trust. Get an attorney, then get another attorney to watch that attorney. The people you trust the most can do the most damage.” 2 “While I’m traveling, I [review] every single check. I put question marks, and the one person who is…

Full Moon in Virgo Feb. 19 This is a grounding moon offering an opportunity to break out of self-destructive habits. A good day to do stream-of-consciousness writing to release analysis paralysis. Mercury Goes Retrograde March 5 Communication can get delayed. If you’re trying to make a plan, trying to fit everything into an exact timeline, like [an executive] trying to corral an artist, just let go. New Moon in Pisces March 6 A day to set intentions relating to themes of trust, surrender and letting go. The more we move into acceptance of what is, the more our life flows. Pisces season is a beautiful time for creativity.…

1985 RAP EN ESPAÑOL AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF MÚSICA URBANA DJ Negro and rapper Vico C meet and popularize rap en español, a Puerto Rican-based version of rap in Spanish. Their collaboration lays the groundwork for the genres that will define música urbana — particularly reggaetón, and eventually Latin trap. When the two later split, DJ Negro goes on to found San Juan nightclub The Noise, a seminal space in the creation of reggaetón. 1992 DJ NEGRO, DJ PLAYERO AND EARLY REGGAETÓN DJ Negro recruits local artists to The Noise, where they emulate the Panamanian reggae en español records then gaining popularity. At the same time, DJ Playero launches his Playero mixtapes, showcasing the budding sounds of proto-reggaetón or “underground,” featuring young talent like Daddy Yankee. DJ Negro soon…

Ronstadt Returns, Metallica Charity Album Arrives Linda Ronstadt is back on the Billboard 200 chart with Live in Hollywood. The set, her first live release, enters at No. 97 with 9,000 equivalent album units earned (mostly from album sales). The effort also debuts at No. 7 on Top Album Sales — the first time Ronstadt has had a top 10-selling album of the week since April 7, 1990, when Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind spent its seventh and final week in the top 10. The tracks on Live in Hollywood were culled from a 1980 concert recorded for HBO. The album, released on Feb. 1, was supported by an interview with Ronstadt on CBS’ Sunday Morning on Feb. 3. The singer performed her last concert in…

‘This’ Is McCreery’s Second No. 1 Scotty McCreery (above) notches his second Country Airplay No. 1 with “This Is It” (39.6 million audience impressions, up 8 percent, according to Nielsen Music). He co-wrote it for then-girlfriend Gabi Dugal and sang it at their wedding last June. “The fact that so many couples are now using the song in their own weddings gives me chills,” McCreery tells Billboard. The ballad is the second single from his 2018 album, Seasons Change, following his first leader, “Five More Minutes.” Riley Green also earns his first top 10 on Country Airplay with his debut single, “There Was This Girl” (11-9; 21 million, up 6 percent), and Michael Ray nets his third with “One That Got Away” (12-10; 20.1 million, up 6 percent). Meanwhile,…

Fonsi’s Third No. 1 Luis Fonsi (above) is back at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums after nearly eight years. He debuts atop the chart with his 10th studio album, Vida, earning him his third No. 1 and first since Tierra Firme spent three weeks at the summit in July 2011. Vida opens with 22,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Feb. 7, according to Nielsen Music, with 16,000 of those in album sales. Vida earns the biggest week for a Latin pop album (in units) since Shakira’s El Dorado launched at No. 2 with 29,000 on the June 24, 2017-dated tally. Vida also logs the biggest sales week for any Latin album since Romeo Santos’ Golden bowed with 26,000 in its premiere frame (Aug. 12, 2017).…

S’more Marshmello As Marshmello (above) surges to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his Bastille collaboration, “Happier” (see page 3), he makes inroads on assorted dance/electronic charts following his in-game Fortnite concert on Feb. 2. On Top Dance/Electronic Albums, the DJ’s Apple Music-exclusive Marshmello: Fortnite Extended Set becomes his second No. 1, starting with 13,000 equivalent album units, according to Nielsen Music. The sum is a weekly-best for Marshmello, surpassing the 5,000 earned by his inaugural leader, Joytime II (July 7, 2018). Plus, Marshmello returns to the chart with both 2018’s Joytime II (No. 12; 3,000 units, up 316 percent) and his 2016 debut, Joytime (No. 14; nearly 3,000, up 175 percent). On Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, “Happier” reigns for a 21st week as Marshmello re-enters the top…

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GROWING UP BLACK IN THE RED STATE OF Texas, Gary Clark Jr. considered racism par for the course. He remembers someone leaving dog feces in the mailbox of his family’s home when he was only a kid. When he was 23, a white store clerk told him “those ain’t for you” after he inquired about a vintage microphone. The most recent brush — a shouting match with his neighbor who refused to believe Clark was the owner of his 50-acre Austin home — had the most visceral effect on the now 34-year-old, mainly because the explosive exchange happened in front of Clark’s 3-year-old son, Zion. “I don’t want to be that angry guy, but I’m pissed that in 2018 we still got to deal with this after everything my…

On Feb. 7, longtime Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich told the Associated Press that Grande felt it was “too late” to pull something together for the show’s 61st annual edition on Feb. 10. Grande immediately shared her side of the story, tweeting, “i’ve kept my mouth shut but now you’re lying about me. i can pull together a performance over night and you know that, Ken.” The twice-nominated pop star claimed that she offered to perform three different songs. She ultimately decided not to attend because her “creativity & self expression was stifled.” Grande was not the only A-lister who reportedly turned down an offer to perform: Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino all declined and skipped the ceremony (though Drake did stop by to accept his award). During…

AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE AMPHITHEATER MILWAUKEE CONCERT CAPACITY: 23,000 The anchor venue of Milwaukee’s famed Summerfest, which marked its 50th anniversary in 2018, the American Family Insurance Amphitheater is undergoing a two-phase renovation through 2020. Ahead of this summer’s performances (June 26-30 and July 2-7), improvements will give the venue one of the largest and most flexible production rigs in the nation for sound and lights. Also planned: 19 top-line dressing rooms, new production offices, backstage dining facilities for 150 and nine loading docks able to accomodate 13 semitrailer trucks at one time. Before the 2020 season, the amphitheater will unveil expanded food and beverage options for fans, improved handicapped access and new hospitality and VIP areas. AVENIR CENTRE MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK CONCERT CAPACITY: 9,500 (in the round) Drawing from…

Set It Off Ignites Set It Off (above) debuts at No. 3 on Emerging Artists as the Tampa, Fla.-based quartet’s fourth LP, Midnight, arrives at No. 8 on Alternative Albums and No. 86 on the Billboard 200 with 9,000 equivalent album units, according to Nielsen Music. The set marks the group’s first Alternative Albums top 10 following the No. 11-peaking Upside Down in 2016 and Duality (No. 14) in 2014. Plus, Guadalajara, Mexico-based garage-punk band Le Butcherettes debuts at No. 32 on Emerging Artists as the act’s fourth studio set, bi/MENTAL, opens at No. 4 on Heatseekers Albums and No. 88 on Top Album Sales (2,000 sold). The album is the first Billboard chart entry for the Teri Gender Bender-fronted group. —Xander Zellner CHART BEAT POP RADIO SPINNING 45s…

21 Savage Surges Post-Arrest The Feb. 3 detainment of 21 Savage (below) by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials due to him overstaying his visa returns him to the Social 50: He re-enters at No. 9 to equal his careerbest rank. His Wikipedia page gained 513,000 hits during his detainment (in the week ending Feb. 7; up 3,254 percent), and he was mentioned on Twitter 160,000 times, according to Next Big Sound. The media attention helps bump his album I Am > I Was 8-2 on the Billboard 200 with 40,000 equivalent album units earned (up 14 percent), according to Nielsen Music. Meanwhile, Marshmello shoots 33-2 on the Social 50 thanks to social engagement following his Feb. 3 in-game concert on the Fortnite platform (see page 3). Along with…

Ghost Dances Back To No. 1 Ghost (above) snags its third consecutive and total leader on the Mainstream Rock airplay chart with “Dance Macabre.” The second single from the band’s 2018 album, Prequelle, follows “Rats,” marking the Swedish rockers’ first set with multiple No. 1s on the list. The act first led with “Square Hammer” in 2017. Also on Mainstream Rock, Disturbed breaks into the top 10 with “A Reason to Fight” (12-9). The song is the band’s 21st top 10, tying for the 10th-most since the chart launched in 1981 and matching the sums of Five Finger Death Punch, Robert Plant, Seether and U2. Tom Petty, both solo and with The Heartbreakers, leads with 28. Plus, “Sweet Victory,” David Eisley and Bob Kulick’s contribution to a 2001 SpongeBob…

‘Name’ Recognition Tasha Cobbs Leonard (above) notches her 10th top 10 on the streaming-, airplay- and sales-powered Hot Gospel Songs chart as “You Know My Name (Live)” flies 11-3. The song becomes her third No. 1 on Gospel Streaming Songs (1.2 million U.S. streams, according to Nielsen Music), following “Your Spirit” (13 weeks on top in 2018) and “Break Every Chain” (three, 2015). The original studio version of “Name” (featuring Jim Cravity) reached No. 8 on Hot Gospel Songs last June. The artist-pastor ties James Fortune & FIYA for the third-most Hot Gospel Song top 10s, dating to the chart’s 2005 inception. Kirk Franklin leads with 13, followed by Marvin Sapp (11). Joining “Name” at No. 3 on Hot Gospel Songs, Cobbs Leonard’s “This Is a Move” ranks at…

LEGEND Bullets indicate titles with greatest weekly gains. Album Charts Recording Industry Assn. of America (RIAA) certification for physical shipments & digital downloads of 500,000 albums (Gold). RIAA certification for physical shipments & digital downloads of 1 million units (Platinum). Numeral noted with Platinum symbol indicates album’s multi-platinum level. RIAA certification for physical shipments & digital downloads of 10 million units (Diamond). Numeral noted with Diamond symbol indicates album’s multi-platinum level. Latin albums certification for physical shipments & digital downloads of 30,000 units (Oro). Latin albums certification for physical shipments & digital downloads of 60,000 units (Platino). Numeral noted with Platino symbol indicates album’s multiplatinum level. Digital Songs Charts RIAA certification for 500,000 paid downloads and on-demand streams where 100 streams equal 1 download (Gold). RIAA certification for 1…