The Weeknd has the number one album in the country this week:
The Weeknd’s Dawn FM hits No. 1 for the first time on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, as the album re-enters atop the list (dated Feb. 12), following its CD release on Jan. 28. The set sold 37,000 copies in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 3 (up 2,547%), according to MRC Data – nearly all from CD sales. The album had previously only been available via streamers and as a digital download.
Benny Horowitz, drummer of The Gaslight Anthem, is on the latest episode of the Podioslave Podcast.
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” from Disney’s Encanto, makes a magical move to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.
The ensemble song – by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto Cast – rises from the Hot 100’s runner-up spot and becomes just the second No. 1 ever from a Disney animated film.
“Bruno” also marks the first Hot 100 leader for the song’s sole writer, Lin-Manuel Miranda. He and Mike Elizondo co-produced it and earn their first and second trips to No. 1, respectively, in those roles.
The New York Times has purchased Wordle for seven figures:
The sudden hit Wordle, in which once a day players get six chances to guess a five-letter word, has been acquired by The New York Times Company.
The purchase, announced by The Times on Monday, reflects the growing importance of games, like crosswords and Spelling Bee, in the company’s quest to increase digital subscriptions to 10 million by 2025.
Wordle was acquired from its creator, Josh Wardle, a software engineer in Brooklyn, for a price “in the low seven figures,” The Times said. The company said the game would initially remain free to new and existing players.
Blink-182 have released some new merchandise for their 30-year anniversary.
Third Eye Blind have announced a new nail polish collaboration:
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of their self-titled debut, Third Eye Blind and Smith & Cult have collaborated on a line inspired by songs from the album. Some of our most iconic shades have been renamed Jumper, London, God of Wine, Semi-Charmed, and The Background.
A portion of the proceeds from “Jumper” will benefit True Colors United, in efforts to combat homelessness in LGBTQ youth. “Their mission goes to the core of “Jumper’s” simple message,” says Stephan Jenkins. “That no one should be stigmatized for who they are. We have more understanding to give than we sometimes show.”
Sunny Day Real Estate reportedly will be doing a reunion tour:
Influential emo band Sunny Day Real Estate is reuniting for the first time in 12 years for shows this spring, but without original bassist Nate Mendel, SPIN has learned. According to people familiar with the situation, this incarnation of the group will include original vocalist/guitarist Jeremy Enigk, guitarist Dan Hoerner and drummer William Goldsmith playing with as-yet-unnamed additional musicians. No additional details were available and group members were unavailable for comment.
On the first Friday of the month since March of 2020, we’ve waived our revenue share to help support the many artists who have seen their livelihoods disrupted by the pandemic. Over the course of 17 days, fans paid artists and labels more than $70 million dollars, helping cover rents, mortgages, groceries, medications, and much more. If you’re among the nearly 800,000 fans who participated, thank you.
It will likely be several months before live performance revenue returns in full. So we’re going to continue doing Bandcamp Fridays in 2022, on February 4th, March 4th, April 1st, and May 6th. As always, isitbandcampfriday.com has the details.
Bob Dylan is selling his catalog to Sony Music:
Sony Music Entertainment (SME) today announced it has fully acquired Bob Dylan’s entire back catalog of recorded music, as well as the rights to multiple future new releases, in a major expansion of SME’s six-decade relationship with the artist.
This landmark agreement, concluded in July 2021, comprises the entirety of Bob Dylan’s recorded body of work since 1962, beginning with the artist’s self-titled debut album and continuing through 2020’s highly acclaimed and successful Rough and Rowdy Ways.
The Encanto soundtrack is the number one album in the country:
The Encanto soundtrack returns to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart for a second nonconsecutive week on top, as the set steps 3-1 on the list dated Jan. 29. The companion set to the Disney animated film earned 104,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Jan. 20 (up 9%), according to MRC Data. Encanto was released on Nov. 19, 2021, via Walt Disney Records and first topped the chart dated Jan. 15, 2022.
A second date, featuring the exact same lineup, has been announced for the When We Were Young festival.
Read More “When We Were Young Festival Adds Second Date”
Meat Loaf has passed away. He was 74.
Avril Lavigne is on the latest episode of After School Radio.
I was really excited to work with you. To be honest, you’re one of my favourite artists. ‘Dude Ranch’ and ‘Enema Of The State’, those were the records I was listening to in high school and as a teenager and I feel like they were really impactful on me as I was coming into my own musical identity.
”So when I had the opportunity to work with you, which was over Zoom, which was different. I was so excited and I was really impressed with how efficient you are in the studio. You write, you record yourself, you can engineer, you sing, you’re playing. So having you on the album is a huge honour for me. So I’m really excited about our collaboration.
Marc Barrowclift wrote the most comprehensive guide to iOS music playing apps I’ve ever read:
There’s new and exciting developments every year in the realm of iOS third-party music players, and 2021 was no exception. While 2019 enjoyed an explosion of new players like Power Player and Albums that through time came to lead the space, 2020 in contrast received only a modest handful of new players and is instead remembered for the impressive growth the established player base received that year. This past year, 2021, managed to do both with a dizzying array of five new players and impressive growth across nearly all existing players.
A long, but extremely detailed and informative article. My favorite remains Marvis, due to its customizability, widget, and Last.fm integration.
Good Riddance’s bassist, Chuck Platt, was hospitalized after being hit by a car. A GoFundMe has been created:
While Chuck gratefully does not have any life-threatening injuries, he has sustained life-altering injuries that will have a significant impact to him physically and financially. Chuck was airlifted to a Bay Area Hospital where he is currently being treated. Chuck sustained the following injuries: right ankle break, left knee injury, broken collar bone, and lacerations to his face and hands. His right ankle and knee injuries were extensive and will require surgery(s) and rehabilitation.