Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande

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Ariana Grande's 'Sweetener' Earns Her Third No. 1 Album

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The popstar unseats Travis Scott's top spot on the Billboard 200 with her fourth studio album, making this her third No. 1 debut
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Aug 27, 2018 - 3:19 pm

Ariana Grande's  highly anticipated Sweetener is out and the numbers are in. The GRAMMY-nominated popstar's fourth album, released on Aug. 17, has dethroned Travis Scott's No. 1 album spot on the Billboard 200. Her latest chart-topper marks her third No. 1 album debut.

Sweetener has sold 231,000 equivalent album units (which accounts for digital purchases, streams and traditional album sales) in its first week ending Aug. 23. This will place the album at the top of the latest Billboard 200 chart dated Sept. 1, replacing Scott's Astroworld, which also debuted at No. 1. The songs on the new album collected a total of 126.7 million streams in this first week, making it the biggest streaming week ever for a pop album by a woman.

Of the four studio albums the artist has released, this is her third time debuting at No. 1. Last year's Dangerous Woman was the only one to miss the mark, yet it wasn't far behind, debuting and peaking at No. 2 on the chart, behind Drake's Views.

We want to know what you're listening to right now – is Grande's "God Is A Woman" pumping you up as summer comes to a close?

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran

Photo: Simone Joyner/Getty Images

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Ed Sheeran, Mariah Carey & More Broke Big Music Records In 2018

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Find out which artists made massive waves with record-breaking numbers this year, including GRAMMY winner Sheeran, whose Divide Tour made the most money in a single year of any tour ever
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Dec 28, 2018 - 9:37 am

Before you can listen to all of your favorite songs from this year one more time, we'll be saying "Thank U, Next" to 2018 and ringing in the New Year. As we jump into 2019, let's take a look back at some of the biggest music records your favorite artists broke this year. From Ariana Grande's viral "Thank U, Next" earning the popstar her first No. 1 song while breaking YouTube and other streaming records to BTS earning the title of the first-ever Korean artist with a No. 1 album in the U.S. to Drake beating a record previously held by the Beatles, 2018 was a landmark year for music. Read on to learn more about the big achievements these artists, along with Mariah Carey, Ed Sheeran, Cardi B and Queen, hit this year.

GRAMMY nominee Grande really lived up to her name in 2018—in addition to releasing her currently-GRAMMY-nominated fourth studio album, Sweetener, and her third No. 1 album, she landed her first-ever No. 1 single on Billboard's Hot 100, "Thank U, Next." Following the release of the song's hotly anticipated, 2000s-nostaglia-inspired video, she earned the biggest ever streaming week for a female artist with 93.8 million U.S. streams. A testament to the video's viral success, it also holds the current record for YouTube's most-viewed video in the first 24-hours of its release with 55.4 million views in its first day on the platform, taking the place of BTS' "Idol," which racked up 45.9 million upon its release earlier in the year.

Speaking of the K-pop phenoms, BTS had a record-breaking year as well. They made news in May when their album Love Yourself: Tear debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making them the first K-pop artist with a No. 1 album in the U.S. on the all-genre chart. As the songs are sung mostly in Korean, this was the first primarily foreign-language album to reach No. 1 in over 12 years. This follows their previous record as the first-ever K-pop group to break the top ten on the same chart when Love Yourself: Her hit No. 7 after its release in October 2017.

Sep 13, 2018 – 12:42 pm

BTS On What They're Listening To Now & More

GRAMMY winner Drake also had a big year, thanks to the June release of his eighth studio album, Scorpion, which earned the rapper several more GRAMMY nominations for the upcoming 61st GRAMMY Awards. The double album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, earning his eighth in a row to do so, tying him with fellow GRAMMY winners the Beatles, Jay-Z and Kanye West, who all also have eight No. 1 albums.

In July Drake broke another record previously-held by the Beatles: having the most songs in the top 10 of the Hot 100 at the same time. Drake had seven top 10 songs (from Scorpion) at once, while the Beatles hit the previous record of five back in 1964. With four of the album's singles debuting in the top 10 in the same week, he became the first artist with that many top 10 songs in a week; the previous record was J. Cole's three top 10 debuts earlier in the year.

This year was a huge year for hip-hop, with GRAMMY nominee Cardi B also helping lead the charge for the genre. Her debut studio album, Invasion Of Privacy, also earned her several more GRAMMY nods and other big accolades, including the title of the first female artist to have an album with all of its songs certified gold or above by the RIAA. The LP itself was certified gold only hours after its release in April and ends the year with a double-platinum stamp in the organization's end of year count, tying it for No. 1 with Post Malone's Beerbongs & Bentleys and Migos’ Culture II.

It was a big year for music overall, with 2018 clocking in as the biggest-earning year to-date for live music. Global concert sales hit a record-setting high of $2 billion dollars in 2018, up from $1.8 million in 2017. Leading the charge was GRAMMY winner Ed Sheeran, who's Divide Tour made the most money in a single year of any tour ever, earning $432 million across 94 events in 53 cities.

It was also a good year for movies about music, with the Queen film, Bohemian Rhapsody, taking the place of highest-grossing music biopic of all time. As of Dec. 12, the movie had earned $608.7 million globally, surpassing 2015's Straight Outta Compton, the film about gangsta rap pioneers N.W.A.

Ending the year on a festive note, Mariah Carey's holiday classic "All I Want For Christmas" ended 2018 with another record broken. On Dec. 24, the 1994 song broke Spotify's one-day streaming record, racking up 10.8 million streams on Christmas Eve.

Which music records will be shattered in 2019? We'll have to wait for the next viral hits and game-changing albums to find out…

Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" Breaks Streaming Record

JPEGMAFIA

JPEGMAFIA

Photo: Dave Pedly/Getty Images for SXSW

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Bhad Bhabie, JPEGMAFIA & Lil Skies Named Bandsintown's Fastest Growing New Artists

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The platform released its year-end report, revealing the most popular artists among their users
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Dec 19, 2018 - 1:10 pm

Bandsintown, the concert discovery platform, released their 2018 Year in Live Music report, revealing trending artists from their over 50 million global users, featuring the artists who were RSVP'd (GRAMMY winners Twenty One Pilots top the list), as well as their top five "fastest growing new artists," led by Bhad Bhabie and JPEGMAFIA.

In addition to the more than 50 million fans who use Bandsintown, the company reports that over 500,000 artists are registered on the platform. The "Artist With The Most RSVP's" list comes from the numbers of users who said they planned on going to an artist's show (regardless of if they actually bought tickets).

The highest number of users wanted to catch Twenty One Pilots on their 2018 Bandito Tour, followed by GRAMMY nominees Panic! At The Disco and Shawn Mendes. Number four on the list is The 1975, with GRAMMY nominee Ariana Grande the No. 5 most RSVP'd artist, with fans preparing for her 2019 Sweetener World Tour.

Bandsintown’s "Fastest Growing New Artists" list is led by Bhad Bhabie, the rap moniker of 15-year-old internet personality Danielle Bregolli, followed by L.A.-based socially conscious rapper JPEGMAFIA, who was recently announced as support for Vince Staples' 2019 tour. No. 3 on the list is hip-hop/spoken-word artist Hobo Johnson, followed by rapper Lil Skies and psych rock group Blac Rabbit.

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Twenty One Pilots Wins Best Pop Duo / Group Performance | Acceptance Speech | 59th GRAMMYs

Report: Ticket Sales For Tours Thrived In 2018's Digital Music Environment

Vampire Weekend

Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend

Photo: Joshua Brasted/Getty Images

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Vampire Weekend, The Lumineers, GRiZ & More Make Stacked Hangout Music Fest Lineup

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The "music vacation" on the beach in Gulf Shores, Ala. just revealed an incredibly full lineup of artists for its 10th anniversary festival in May
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Nov 29, 2018 - 1:53 pm

On Nov. 29, Hangout Music Fest released the lineup for their 10th anniversary event, which they've coined a "music vacation," is set to take place May 17-19, 2019 alongside the ocean in Gulf Shores, Ala. A quick glance at the performers shows six big-name headliners from across genres: GRAMMY-winning indie rock heroes Vampire Weekend, GRAMMY-nominated folk/pop favorites The Lumineers, GRAMMY-nominated hip-hop powerhouses Cardi B and Travis Scott, fellow GRAMMY nominee and rising R&B star Khalid, plus tropical house DJ/producer Kygo.

The incredibly stacked lineup definitely points to quite the musical retreat, featuring over 50 performers reveals an equally exciting mix of artists and genres, sure to keep festival goers dancing all three days. It includes big names in dance music such as GRAMMY winner Diplo, GRAMMY nominees Mura Masa and Sofi Tukker, plus GRiZ, Alison Wonderland, Hippie Sabotage and Gorgon City. There are also notable names of the pop/indie-rock arena, including GRAMMY nominee Hozier, as well as The 1975, Walk The Moon and Jimmy Eat World.

There are also plenty of talented rising artists performing that you may very well likely already be a big fan of, such as Bebe Rexha, Bishop Briggs, Bazzi and Pale Waves. Hangout Fest 2019 seems like just the event to see your favorite artists as well as find your new favorite.

Tickets go on sale Dec. 4. For more info and to see the complete list of artists, visit the event's website.

Envision Festival 2019 Is Dance Floor Ready: Bedouin, GRiZ, Tycho, Lee Burridge & More

Lorde

Lorde

Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

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Lorde, Amy Winehouse, Lana Del Rey & More Named Most Influential Women Musicians Of This Century

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NPR listeners voted for the most inspiring female artists, what do you think of the list?
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Nov 21, 2018 - 10:41 am

Three weeks ago NPR asked its listeners who they think are the most influential female musicians currently making waves of change. The question inspired over a thousand fans to participate in the poll and on Nov. 20, they shared the top 25 artists from the responses, which put GRAMMY winners Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Taylor Swift in the top five, along with more current-day sheroes, among them fellow GRAMMY winners Lorde, Amy Winehouse and St. Vincent and GRAMMY nominees Janelle Monáe, Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande.

Feb 1, 2018 – 2:18 pm

Watch Camila Cabello Speak Up For Dreamers

The list also includes GRAMMY winners P!nk, Alicia Keys and Adele and GRAMMY nominees Florence + the Machine, Sia, Halsey, Cardi B, Kesha, Kehlani, Demi Lovato, Lana Del Rey and Katy Perry.

NPR highlighted that while most of these talented artists fall under the umbrella of popstars, their style and influence is far from cookie-cutter, with authenticity playing a prominent role in responders' answers. In NPR's words: "While the majority of the artists you picked are pop singers, your comments show that this commonality doesn't mean they all exert influence in the same way. You remarked on artists' command of their instruments…their inventiveness around genre; their ability to be honest and authentic in their songwriting."

Others on the list include M.I.A., whose hit "Paper Planes" took over the airwaves in 2008, along with Camila Cabello, whose debut single as a solo artist took over the airwaves in 2017, as well as rising star Hayley Kiyoko, who sits at No. 4 on their list, although she only released her debut album, Expectations, earlier this year.

Sep 25, 2018 – 12:42 pm

Hayley Kiyoko On 'Expectations' & "What I Need"

The poll also solicited comments from voters. "[Kiyoko] has influenced an entire new generation of youth to be comfortable with their own sexualities and does this with dreamy pop music that lifts spirits," Manpreet told NPR.

Another response pointed to the importance of Beyoncé, who took first place on the list, as a role model for young black girls. "Her mere presence is enough to encourage young black girls to strive for greatness," fan Niharika Palakodety said. "She doesn't shy away from saying things as they are, and her focus on every detail of her music makes it that much more important." 

The superstar herself seems deeply aware of this, which she reflected on during her acceptance speech for Best Urban Contemporary Album for her groundbreaking Lemonade at the 59th GRAMMY Awards. A then-pregnant, glowing-goddess Beyoncé shared during the show:

May 15, 2017 – 1:50 am

Beyoncé wins Best Urban Contemporary Album GRAMMY

"It's important to me to show images to my children that reflect their beauty, so they can grow up in a world where they look in the mirror, first through their own families, as well as the news, the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the White House and the GRAMMYs, and see themselves and have no doubt that they're beautiful, intelligent and capable. This is something I want for every child of every race."

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