Brandi Carlile performs "The Joke" at the 2019 GRAMMYs

Brandi Carlile performs "The Joke" at the 2019 GRAMMYs

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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Brandi Carlile's "The Joke" Sees GRAMMY Effect As It Tops Rock Charts

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The GRAMMY-winning song entered Billboard's Rock Digital Song Sales chart for the first time this week at No. 1 and is now the folk singer's biggest hit to date
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Feb 20, 2019 - 1:31 pm

Folk singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile has been on a roll lately, following her big night at the 61st GRAMMY Awards. She took home her first three GRAMMYs on Feb. 10: Best Americana Album for By The Way, I Forgive You along with Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song for "The Joke," which she also offered a stunning live performance of during the show.

Now, Billboard's latest numbers are in, with "The Joke" charting on Rock Digital Song Sales for the first time, at No. 1 nonetheless.

"The Joke" was released in Nov. 2017 as the lead single for her sixth studio album By The Way, I Forgive You, which followed on Feb. 16, 2018. As reported by Billboard, the GRAMMY-winning song has seen a huge boost since the show, earning the aforementioned No. 1 spot thanks to a 2,865 percent increase in digital song sales totaling 20,000 downloads according to Nielsen Music's data for the tracking week ending Thurs. Feb. 14.

Related: Brandi Carlile: Women "Getting More Involved In The Building Blocks Of The Infrastructure Of Our Business"

Billboard also notes that the song has also reached No. 4 on their Hot Rock Songs chart this week, making a return after spending one week at No. 43 in March 2018 following the release of the album. "The Joke" also had a huge boost in streaming numbers, seeing a 678 percent increase in U.S.-based streams for the latest tracking week.

One week after Carlile's powerful performance of "The Joke" on the 2019 GRAMMYs stage, she took to Twitter to reflect on the big night and what apparently turned out to be a subsequently big week of experiencing the GRAMMY Effect! "Throwback...Sunday? Since this night: I've heard from folks from all over the world, had dinner with Joni Mitchell, appeared on @TheEllenShow, and postponed the family vacation to @FSMaui for a few exciting projects. Our lives are changed!"

You can watch her show-stopping GRAMMY performance of above and listen to By The Way, I Forgive You wherever you consume music. You can also catch her live as she makes her way across the U.S. this spring and summer, check out her website for tour dates and more.

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Teddy Walton

Teddy Walton

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Behind The Board: Producer Teddy Walton On Working With Kendrick Lamar & What Makes A Great Track

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The Memphis-based producer/songwriter explains his essentials for crafting the perfect song
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Feb 22, 2019 - 10:17 am

Producer/songwriter Teddy Walton, born Travis Walton, has a simple yet clear approach to making a great track, one of the essentials being that everyone is having fun, which Walton says is the most important part of making music.

He has worked with a range of underground and big-name artists, including hip-hop heavy-hitters Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and Nipsey Hussle. Walton first worked with Kendrick on "LOVE."—from the GRAMMY-winning album DAMN.—and most recently with on "King's Dead," which won Best Rap Performance at the 61st GRAMMY Awards.

Teddy Walton Shares How He Got Behind The Board

Walton also explains how growing up in Memphis, Tenn. has influenced his music and who he is as a person, allowing him to work well with all kinds of artists. He got his start working with his brother, rapper June, and while they didn't really grow up in a musical family, they learned together, releasing an album called EVOL in 2012.

No matter who he works with, Walton keeps the setup simple, working mostly with a laptop out of his home.

He elaborates on how he likes to work organically and connect the dots as he works: "While I'm making the beat I'm thinking up some words. That's just me, really, I can't even finish the beat if I don't really know that at least the hook's gonna be tight."

He also talks about his two biggest musical influences—his brother and Kendrick—and how working with June has shaped who he is today.

Watch an exclusive interview with Walton above to learn more about his craft.

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Jay Rock

Jay Rock

Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images 

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Jay Rock: "This Is A Real Big Redemption For Me"

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The GRAMMY-winning rapper shares the powerful backstory behind his first win at the 2019 GRAMMYs
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Feb 15, 2019 - 11:06 am

Los Angeles rapper Jay Rock had a great 2018; he worked with longtime friend and label-mate Kendrick Lamar on a big single from Black Panther: The Album and released his third studio album, Redemption, which also included the hit song.

The track, "King's Dead," also features Future and James Blake and garnered two GRAMMY nods. It won Best Rap Performance at the 61st GRAMMY Awards, Rock's first-ever win.

In an exclusive backstage interview with Rock after his big win, he shares the organic nature of the collab and reveals the deeper significance of his first time at the GRAMMYs.

Jay Rock One-On-One Interview | 2019 GRAMMYs

"Big shouts out to Kendrick Lamar…We were working next door together and I just so happened to walk in while he was working on the Black Panther Soundtrack," Rock said. "I'm still speechless right now, I'm just overjoyed and excited."

Rock and Lamar have been working together since the early 2000s with Top Dawg Entertainment, the label they are both signed to. Rock explains that he was planning on attending the 58th GRAMMY Awards with Lamar, but didn't due to a bad motorcycle accident he was in the day of the show. That year Lamar earned 11 nominations and took home five wins—the most of any artist that night. Now, three years later, Rock had his big moment as they both earned a win.

"This is a real big redemption for me. Three years ago I was supposed to be at the GRAMMYs with the homey, with Kendrick and the TDE fam, unfortunately I got into that real bad bike accident. Now three years later I won a GRAMMY. It's crazy man, it's just so unreal."

Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake Tie Anderson .Paak To Win Best Rap Performance | 2019 GRAMMYs

Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa

Photo: Lester Cohen/Getty Images 

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Silk City & Dua Lipa Win Best Dance Recording For "Electricity" | 2019 GRAMMYs

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Silk City & Dua Lipa take home Best Dance Recording at the 61st GRAMMY Awards
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Feb 10, 2019 - 5:00 pm

Silk City, aka Diplo and Mark Ronson, along with featured artist Dua Lipa, won Best Dance Recording for "Electricity" at the 61st GRAMMY Awards.

This is Lipa's first GRAMMY win; she also won Best New Artist later in the evening. It is Diplo's third career GRAMMY and Ronson's seventh, as he also took home another win as a songwriter on Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's "Shallow."

Silk City & Dua Lipa Win Best Dance Recording

During the speech, Diplo gave a shoutout to all of the collaborators on the record, along with the fellow nominees, who he is a "huge fan" of all of them.

Fellow nominees for Best Dance Recording for 2018 were Above & Beyond featuring Richard Bedford ("Northern Soul"), Disclosure featuring Fatoumata Diawara ("Ultimatum"), Fisher ("Losing It") and Virtual Self ("Ghost Voices").

Silk City and Lipa released "Electricity" in September 2018. The song has since become a popular hit, peaking at No. 5 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.  

Lipa is a first-time GRAMMY nominee and winner. Diplo earned his first two career wins at the 58th GRAMMY Awards for Jack Ü, his collab with Skrillex. They won Best Dance Recording for "Where Are Ü Now" featuring Justin Bieber and Best Dance/Electronic Album for Skrillex And Diplo Present Jack Ü. 

Ronson's previous GRAMMY wins include recognition as a producer on Amy Winehouse's 2006 studio album, Back To Black.

Full Winners List: 61st GRAMMY Awards

Firefly Fest 2018

Firefly Music Fest 2018

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

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Firefly Music Fest 2020 Returns To Four Days Of Music

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"We just couldn't resist the opportunity for more music," Firefly Marketing Director Kyla Lombardo said
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 22, 2019 - 11:49 am

On Oct. 21, Firefly Music Festival announced the dates for its ninth annual event, along with the news that it will return to a four-day event, after throwing a three-day fest this past June. The woodsy camping fest will return to its home at the Woodlands in Dover, Del., on June 18–20, 2020, and will be offering presale tickets to past attendees tomorrow, Oct. 23.

"After wrapping a successful event in 2019 we evaluated fan feedback and saw the overwhelming request for the return of Thursday," Firefly Marketing Director Kyla Lombardo told the Delaware State News. "We just couldn't resist the opportunity for more music."

The newspaper reports that while last year's event had lasted for three days, the prior five years had lasted for four days.

The lineup has yet to be announced, but last year, the 2019 lineup was revealed on Dec. 11. The fest always brings in a diverse lineup; last year's topline acts included Panic! At The Disco, Tyler, The Creator, Zedd, Post Malone, Travis Scott, Kygo, Death Cab For Cutie, Vampire Weekend and DJ Snake.

A 24-hour "loyalty presale" is taking place tomorrow, beginning Oct. 23 at 12 p.m. ET, for past attendees. The paper reports access codes went out via email on Monday, and the fest website notes you can email them at loyalty@fireflyfestival.com if you didn't get it and should have.

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