Ariana Grande is holding the top spot for a second week on the Billboard 200. Her latest LP, eternal sunshine, Grande’s run at No. 1 landed with the equivalent of 100,500 album units in the United States, followed closely by Kacey Musgrave, who debuted at No. 2 with 97,000 album units.
Justin Timberlake’s sixth album, Everything I Thought It Was, is a new entry on the Billboard 200. It enters at No. 4 with 67,000 units. The album had a strong 31.13 million official streams of the project’s songs, measured by Luminate and reported by Billboard.
GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Ariana Grande has achieved yet another milestone in her illustrious career, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her latest single, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love).” This marks Grande’s ninth #1 hit on the chart, making her the first artist in 2024 with multiple #1 hits, following her earlier success with “yes, and?”.
Moreover, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” has not only topped the Billboard Hot 100 but also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Global 200 Chart, solidifying Grande’s status as one of the most influential female artists of all time. With record-breaking global streams and chart-topping positions on Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes, Grande’s latest release has made an indelible mark on the music industry, cementing her position as a global superstar.
GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Ariana Grande has achieved yet another milestone in her illustrious career, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her latest single, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love).” This marks Grande’s ninth #1 hit on the chart, making her the first artist in 2024 with multiple #1 hits, following her earlier success with “yes, and?”.
Yesterday, Grande’s highly anticipated album eternal sunshine also made waves, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200, marking her sixth #1 album. This simultaneous #1 debut on Billboard 200 and Hot 100 charts is a first for Grande, setting a new precedent among all artists in 2024.
Moreover, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” has not only topped the Billboard Hot 100 but also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Global 200 Chart, solidifying Grande’s status as one of the most influential female artists of all time. With record-breaking global streams and chart-topping positions on Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes, Grande’s latest release has made an indelible mark on the music industry, cementing her position as a global superstar.
If you or your kids use TikTok, don’t feel bad because pretty much every social media user does; then you may have noticed a lack of certain music from your favorite artists on the platform. There’s a standoff regarding royalty payments and AI policies. Variety reports that it has “resulted in a near-complete blackout of all music owned, distributed, and published by the company on the platform.” Now get this: the videos are still on and popping on the platform, but the actual music is being muted – yikes.
Now it gets murky because new songs from UMG artists, like stars Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello, and Niall Horan, can still be discovered on TikTok as of yesterday, but what is the reason is the real question? Variety didn’t have any comment from reps at UMG and TikTok, who both declined.
So, if you don’t know how the whole music on TikTok thing works, it goes like this, as Variety reports: Rights-holders, such as record labels, are not the only way music can be uploaded onto TikTok. Pretty much anyone uploads music and displays it as “original sound” on a user’s post. Then, said sound can be used by virtually anyone on TikTok, including artists. Once that music is on the platform, the rights-holders lose control over the content, and all they can do is send off takedown notices and other notifications via legal means. So it falls on TikTok to follow through by detecting, policing and muting the unauthorized music floating around on its platform. Are you exhausted from that rundown? We are.
Even though reps from the label declined to comment to Variety, UMG spoke on the situation broadly. They’re, in essence, directing fault to TikTok’s detection software. They dropped a letter to artists breaking down the ban. “TikTok makes little effort to deal with the vast amounts of content on its platform that infringe our artists’ music and it has offered no meaningful solutions to the rising tide of content adjacency issues, let alone the tidal wave of hate speech, bigotry, bullying and harassment on the platform,” from an excerpt of the letter. “The only means available to seek the removal of infringing or problematic content (such as pornographic deepfakes of artists) is through the monumentally cumbersome and inefficient process which equates to the digital equivalent of ‘Whack-a-Mole.’ … We will always fight for our artists and songwriters and stand up for the creative and commercial value of music.” It seems like this is not going to end soon.
Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine shows that she knows heartbreak quite well. In the same vein, she learned to allow her aching pain to metamorphose into sugary pop and R&B pieces of confectionery. On the chart-topping 2018 single “thank u, next,” Grande held out hope for a forever love but still entertained feelings of doubt. “God forbid something happens… Least this song is a smash,” she sang, tiptoeing between consternation and temerity. Five years later, the worst had happened.
But on eternal sunshine, her seventh album, Ariana Grande deals with her latest heartbreak and everything surrounding it rather ruefully. It’s evident that the pop sensation’s emotions are heightened, but in an almost vampiric sense, she’s venturing back into the night. Her latest album is a diary entry projected to the world on the template of her overwhelming success. The verdict? She sees and hears what you’re all saying, but she stopped giving a damn a long time ago. If anything, eternal sunshine is Ariana Grande’s reminder to the world that she won’t stop putting herself first.
Since 2018, Ariana Grande has repeatedly made herself clear about rising above negativity. The pipeline from “no tears left to cry” to “yes, and?” is laced with several IDGAF prompts. As with most child stars, growing up under the intense scrutiny of the public eye can have detrimental effects. However, Grande has chosen herself, resulting in some of the most vulnerable music in her catalog. On eternal sunshine, she continues the trend of returning the middle finger to her naysayers. However, this time, it’s with more sleek cheekiness, because now the joke’s on everyone else.
Eternal Sunshine Is Woeful Pop At Its Sexiest
A master of cheerful cheerlessness, Grande is a definitive lyricist. Post-divorce, her words prove a lack of malice, choosing the amicable exit from her ex-husband. The culmination of her feelings has left her shaky, but not unsure of her decision. Indeed, the obvious subjects of eternal sunshine are her past and present loves. While the latter offers a glimmer of hope, there’s a melancholy attached to the references to the former.
Tracks like “bye,” “i wish i hated you,” and “we can’t be friends” are lyrically on the nose. However, it’s on the latter that her bleeding heart is loudest. Moreover, it’s the delivery that drives home Grande’s point. Regardless of her breakup, which she saw coming, there’s no hate involved. “we can’t be friends” also has the privilege of being the artist’s second single.
The music video borrows from the movie Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. In it, Grande attempts to let go of the memories of her lost love. It’s one of the most vulnerable moments in her musical career. But the summary remains: It’s over.
Indeed, the soft ballads are a worthwhile addition to the album’s overall cohesion. But Grande’s no-nonsense lyricism is her greatest contribution to eternal sunshine. “the boy is mine,” which interpolates the classic song of the same name, is the perfect example. Everyone can remember how the news of her new beau rocked the media. As a result, Grande was labeled everything, from “homewrecker,” to “not a girl’s girl.”
While she has since shared that the allegations are, in fact, false, her music takes a rougher approach. In “the boy is mine,” she’s conflicted in her emotions. But that won’t stop her from giving the man in her sights a try. Overall, Grande’s excited; almost addicted to what’s right in front of her, and she’s going all in. The track may not spend 11 weeks atop the Hot 100 as Brandy and Monica did. But “the boy is mine” is the sharpest, wittiest song on eternal sunshine, and where Grande shines brightest.
Chasing Imperfect Perfection
Altogether, eternal sunshine is a serious improvement over 2020’s positions. This is why it’s rather bittersweet that heartbreak and controversy bring out the deepest parts of the pop star. Ariana Grande is moving on from the weight of her past and in a cheeky, powerful fashion. Despite her newfound romance, she’s still madly in love with herself.
That’s what makes eternal sunshine some of her boldest, rawest, most authentic work. R&B and pop sit side by side with experimental Scandi-inspired music. Through the use of synthesizers and electronic influences, Grande sounds even more otherworldly, letting the music guide her crisp vocals, and not the other way around. Surely, the star is still evolving.
In an electrifying collaboration, Ariana Grande and Mariah Carey have joined forces on a new remix of “yes, and?” This marks the first non-holiday collaboration between the two vocal powerhouses, igniting excitement among fans worldwide.
The remix of “yes, and?” follows closely on the heels of Grande’s original release just one month prior. The track debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, securing Grande’s eighth #1 and twenty-first Top 10 hit on the chart.
“yes, and?” serves as the lead single from Grande’s highly anticipated seventh album, eternal sunshine, set for release on March 8 via Republic Records. With this dynamic remix, Grande and Carey are poised to elevate the anticipation surrounding the forthcoming album to new heights.
If you were watching the Super Bowl, like the rest of the world, you probably saw a few film teasers or trailers. Let’s get into Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Wicked is the first of two Universal Pictures films directed by Jon M. Chu.
As reported on Shadow and Act, Wicked tells an untold story of the witches of Oz, and stars Erivo as Elphaba, “a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power” and Granda as Glinda, “a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.”
The official description of Wicked reads “The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.”
Wicked also stars Michelle Yeoh as “Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince, Ethan Slater as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student, Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister and Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz. Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James and Keala Settle round out the cast.” As reported in Shadow and Act.
Expect Wicked to release on Nov. 27 … Hopefully in theaters.
It happened: Universal Music Group has removed its artists’ songs from TikTok. As of today (February 1), official songs from artists signed to UMG labels no longer appear under the “Sounds” tab on the TikTok app, and previously published videos that featured those songs now have muted audio.
UMG has officially started removing their artists’ catalogs from TikTok.
Official songs are no longer appearing for UMG artists under the ‘sounds’ tab, with the exception of fan-made edits. pic.twitter.com/Aw8MRpPDe4
Impacted artists include Taylor Swift, Drake, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, SZA, Olivia Rodrigo, Steve Lacy, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Harry Styles, Rosalía, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Adele, U2, Elton John, J Balvin, Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, Post Malone, and many others.
TikTok and UMG had a licensing agreement that expired yesterday (January 31), and the day before it did, there were clear indications that negotiations on a new contract were not going well.
“As our negotiations continued, TikTok attempted to bully us into accepting a deal worth less than the previous deal, far less than fair market value and not reflective of their exponential growth. How did it try to intimidate us? By selectively removing the music of certain of our developing artists, while keeping on the platform our audience-driving global stars.
TikTok’s tactics are obvious: use its platform power to hurt vulnerable artists and try to intimidate us into conceding to a bad deal that undervalues music and shortchanges artists and songwriters as well as their fans.
“It is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters.
Despite Universal’s false narrative and rhetoric, the fact is they have chosen to walk away from the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle for their talent.
TikTok has been able to reach ‘artist-first’ agreements with every other label and publisher. Clearly, Universal’s self-serving actions are not in the best interests of artists, songwriters and fans.”
At the moment, it’s not clear when or if a new licensing agreement between TikTok and UMG will be reached, and when/if the artists’ music will return to TikTok.
Every week, Billboard unveils the top 10 songs on the latest Hot 100 chart. The most recent rankings, for the chart dated January 27, are out now, so let’s run down who had this week’s biggest hits.
10. 21 Savage, Travis Scott, and Metro Boomin — “Née-nah”
21 Savage’s new album American Dream made a splash on the Hot 100 in its opening week, as the rapper has two songs in this week’s top 10: This Travis Scott and Metro Boomin collab, and another song coming up on this list.
9. SZA — “Snooze”
While SZA’s No.-2-peaking “Snooze” appears to be on its way out of the top 10, it remains at No. 1 on the Hot R&B Songs chart for a 25th week.
8. Teddy Swims — “Lose Control”
Last week was a major career milestone for Teddy Swims, as “Lose Control” became his first top-10 single. It debuted at No. 8 and hangs onto that same spot this week.
7. Doja Cat — “Paint The Town Red”
A former No. 1 for three total weeks, “Paint The Town Red” had a slight slide this week, down from No. 5 to No. 7.
Another former No. 1 (but for just one week), Bryan and Musgraves’ collab is hanging around the top 10 still, at No. 6.
5. 21 Savage — “Redrum”
And here’s the other new Savage song in the top 10. Notably, “Redrum” is Savage’s first top-10 single that features no other artist beside himself.
4. Tate McRae — “Greedy”
The current all-time high for McRae sits at No. 3, a spot it held last week, so it had a slight demotion in the latest frame.
3. Taylor Swift — “Cruel Summer”
The staying power of Swift’s 2019 single “Cruel Summer” has been phenomenal, as it’s been in the top 3 of that chart for what feels like forever at this point.
2. Jack Harlow — “Lovin On Me”
“Lovin On Me” previously spent three weeks at No. 1, but this week, it made way for a new champion.
1. Ariana Grande — “Yes, And?”
Grande has the first song released in 2024 to hit No. 1 on the Hot 100. “Yes, And?” is Grande’s eighth chart-topper of her career, and if you want to get super granular with the trivia, it’s the first No. 1 song with the word “yes” in its title.
This week’s #Hot100 top 10 (chart dated Jan. 27, 2024)
Ariana Grande, the GRAMMY® Award-winning and multi-platinum sensation, has once again conquered the charts with her latest single, “yes, and?”. The track debuted at an impressive #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Grande’s eighth chart-topping hit and her twenty-first song to secure a spot in the Top 10. This achievement solidifies her status as the only artist whose lead singles from all seven studio albums have debuted in the Top 10.
But that’s not all – “yes, and?” not only dominated the domestic charts but also soared to #1 on the Billboard Global 200 Chart, marking Grande’s third #1 on the global stage. The song also clinched the top spot on the Digital Song Sales Chart.
Ariana Grande’s Spotify reign continues with “yes, and?” making an explosive debut at #1 on the Spotify Global Chart, amassing 11.2 million streams. The single also claimed the #1 position on the Apple Music Top 100 Global chart, while its official music video secured the top spot on YouTube Trending for Music.
“yes, and?” serves as the lead single for Grande’s much-anticipated seventh full-length album, eternal sunshine, slated for release on March 8 via Republic Records. The single is a collaborative effort, with Grande taking on writing and production alongside Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh, while Christian Breslauer skillfully directs the official music video. Ariana Grande continues to prove her musical prowess and dominance on a global scale with yet another remarkable chart-topping success.
As fans eagerly await Ariana Grande’s new album, there was a growing interest in identifying her most popular tracks on music platforms and how much she earned per stream. By analyzing the number of listens on popular music platforms, three top tracks were identified – “7 rings,” “Save Your Tears,” and “One Last Time,” due to their significant streaming numbers. These songs have amassed impressive stream counts – for instance, on Spotify, “7 rings” reached 2.17 billion streams, “Save Your Tears” garnered 1.41 billion, and “One Last Time” hit 1.35 billion. In comparison, her new album’s track “yes, and?” accumulated 72.15 million streams on Spotify and 40 million on YouTube Music. The comparison team at CasinospotFR estimates that the new release has already earned Grande $288,605.09 on Spotify and $70,000 on YouTube Music, while the beloved “7 rings” has generated an astounding $8,683,932.51 on Spotify alone.
Ariana Grande has set the stage for an eagerly anticipated musical journey by announcing her seventh full-length album, eternal sunshine, scheduled for release on March 8 under Republic Records.
The excitement kicked off last Friday with the release of the album’s lead single, “yes, and?” – a creation of Grande, along with renowned producers Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh. Accompanying the release was a visually stunning official video directed by Christian Breslauer.
The impact was immediate, as “yes, and?” soared to the top of various charts, securing the coveted #1 spot on the Spotify Global Chart and Apple Music Top 100 Global. The official music video also claimed the #1 position on YouTube Trending for Music, underscoring Grande’s global influence and solidifying the anticipation for “eternal sunshine.”
