Month: September 2021

BTS and Coldplay unveiled their new collaboration “My Universe.” Produced by Max Martin, the two band’s collaborated on the songwriting as well, which features lyrics in both English and Korean.

BTS’ last two singles — “Permission to Dance” and “Butter” — became their third and fourth back-to-back No. 1 hits. “My Universe” will serve as the second single off Coldplay’s upcoming ninth album Music of the Spheres, following “Higher Power.”

Take a listen to “My Universe” – here.

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Drake’s Certified Lover Boy remains at No. 1 on Billboard 200 for third straight week, with Billboard reporting that the album garnered 171,000 equivalent album units in the past week. Only two other albums have occupied the top position for at least three weeks this year; Billie Eilish’s ‘Happier Than Ever’ was at No. 1 for three straight weeks, and Morgan Wallen’s ‘Dangerous: The Double Album’ for 10 straight weeks.

Lil Nas X’s album ‘Montero’ debuted at No. 2 on the chart with 126,000 equivalent album units. NCT 127’s ‘Sticker: The 3rd Album’ was No. 3 on the Billboard 200, marking the second top 10 and highest-charting release for the act, while Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour” slips from No. 4 to No. 5 with 51,000 units. Doja Cat’s ‘Planet Her’ stays at at No. 6 with 47,000 units, Wallen’s ‘Dangerous: The Double Album’ rose one spot to No. 7 with 39,000, The Kid LAROI’s ‘F*ck Love’ falls to No. 8 with 38,000 units and rounding out the top 10 are Eilish’s former No. 1 ‘Happier Than Ever,’ and Kacey Musgraves’ ‘Star-Crossed.’

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Elton John and Charlie Puth have released a new song, “After All,” off Elton’s upcoming album of collaborations, ‘The Lockdown Sessions,’ due out October 22nd. ‘The Lockdown Sessions’ also features collaborations with Dua Lipa, Eddie Vedder, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Gorillaz, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, Young Thug, and Nicki Minaj.

John says in a statement: “With ‘After All’ Charlie and I were in the studio, just the two of us. He’s got a little home set up with his keyboards, synths, and Pro Tools. I played electric piano and actually wrote the song all the way through and then Charlie wrote the lyrics pretty quickly. He’s incredibly quick, Charlie. We just had an amazing chemistry in the studio.”

Puth added, “As a songwriter, I have admired and looked up to Elton John my entire life. It is truly incredible how the melodies and chords seem to come to him instantly whenever he sits down at the piano. I got to witness that firsthand when we wrote this song together. He is world-class and the true definition of a musical genius. Being a part of his musical journey is a dream come true.”

Take a listen to “After All” – here.   John and Puth are both set to perform at the upcoming Global Citizen Live event in Paris, which will air on September 25th. They’ll also go live together on TikTok on September 26th at 2 p.m. ET/7 p.m. in the U.K to discuss “After All” and The Lockdown Sessions.

The Weeknd, along with collaborators Nicolas Jaar and Frank Dukes, are being sued by Suniel Fox and Henry Strange, who make up the group Epikker. The lawsuit accuses the Weeknd, Jaar and Dukes of plagiarizing their 2015 song “Vibeking” for his 2018 single, “Call Out My Name.”

The suit alleges, “Both works are in a minor key. Both works are in a 6/8 meter that is less common in popular music. Both works are played at a similar tempo. And both works use features of electronica, ambience, pop, hip-hop, rock, and R&B to achieve a particular atmospheric and melancholic sound.”  Fox and Strange allege they were in correspondence with the Weeknd’s DJ and engineer PNDA, who told them that he wasn’t going to credit them on the song. The two artists seek all profits that “Call Out My Name” has amassed, along with legal fees, and want the Weeknd blocked from performing the song until the case is settled. Universal Music Group and other entities that back the Weeknd were also named in the suit.

“Call Out My Name” peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and amassed over 700 million YouTube views and 836 million Spotify streams. Fox and Strange’s “Vibeking” is currently unavailable on any streaming services.

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