Xposition - November, 2017

Attention!!!

The awards season was in full swing this November. First up was the 2017 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. Chris Stapleton was the big winner of the night winning Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for From a Room: Volume 1. The other winners were:

·         Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert

·         New Artist of the Year: Jon Pardi

·         Entertainer of the Year: Garth Brooks

·         Single of the Year: Keith Urban – Blue ain’t your color

·         Song of the Year: Little Big Town – Better man

·         Vocal Group of the Year: Little Big Town

·         Music Video of the Year: Brothers Osborne – It ain’t my fault

·         Musical Event of the Year: Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson – Funny how time slips away

Next up we have the MTV European Music Awards which was hosted by Rita Ora at the Wembley Arena, London. She gave a brilliant performance of her songs Your Song and new hit Anywhere and was also bestowed with the Power of Music Award. Other good performances of the night were Camila Cabello’s Havana, Eminem and Skylar Grey’s Walk on Water, Shawn Mendes’ There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back and Clean Bandit’s medley of Symphony, Rockabye and I Miss You with Zara Larsson, Anne-Marie and Julia Michaels. Shawn Mendes was the big winner of the night taking home four awards including Best Artist and Best Song for There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back. Other significant wins include:

·         Best Video: Kendrick Lamar – Humble

·         Best New Artist: Dua Lipa

·         Best Pop: Camila Cabello

·         Best Electronic: David Guetta

·         Best Rock: Coldplay

·         Best Hip-Hop: Eminem

·         Global Icon: U2

The 2017 Latin Grammys were also held in November with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee both leading with 4 awards for their mega hit Despacito winning Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Urban/Fusion Performance and Best Short Form Music Video. Some of the best performances of the night included CNCO with Reggaeton Lento (Bailemos), Luis Fonsi, Bomba Estéreo, Victor Manuelle and Diplo with Despacito and Maluma with Felices Los 4. Some of the other significant winners were:

·        Album of the Year: Rubén Blades with Roberto Delgado & Orquesta – Salsa Big Band

·         Best New Artist: Vincente Garcia

·         Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album: Shakira – El Dorado

·         Producer of the Year: Eduardo Cabra

·         Best Urban Song: Residente – Somos Anormales

The 2017 American Music Awards is the final major award ceremony for the year. Bruno Mars had an almost clean sweep grabbing 7 out of his 8 nominations of the night including Artist of the Year, Favorite Male Artist Pop/Rock, Favorite Male Artist R&B/Soul and Video of the Year for That’s What I Like. There were amazing performances by Marshmello and Selena Gomez with Wolves, Imagine Dragons and Khalid with a mashup of Thunder and Young, Dumb and Broke, BTS with DNA and Diana Ross who was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award sang a medley of her hits I’m Coming Out, Take Me Higher, Ease on Down the Road, The Best Years of My Life and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. The other major wins include:

·         New Artist of the Year: Niall Horan

·    Collaboration of the Year: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito

·         Tour of the Year: Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams

·         Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock: Lady Gaga

·    Favorite Song - Pop/Rock: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito

·         Favorite Artist - Rap/Hip-Hop: Drake

·         Favorite Artist - Latin: Shakira

·         Favorite Artist - Electronic Dance Music: The Chainsmokers

·         Favorite Soundtrack: Moana

Lastly in awards news, we have the most anticipated nominations in music - Grammys. The 2018 Grammy Nominations were announced at the end of the month with Jay-Z leading with 8 nominations followed by Kendrick Lamar with 7 and Bruno Mars with 6. The following are the nominees under the 4 main categories:

1.       Record of the Year

·         Childish Gambino – Redbone

·         Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito

·         Jay-Z – The story of O.J.

·         Kendrick Lamar – Humble.

·         Bruno Mars – 24K Magic

2.       Album of the Year

·         Childish Gambino – Awaken My Love

·         Jay-Z – 4:44

·         Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.

·         Lorde – Melodrama

·         Bruno Mars – 24K Magic

3.       Song of the Year

·         Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito

·         Jay-Z – 4:44

·         Julia Michaels – Issues

·         Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid – 1-800-273-8255

·         Bruno Mars – That’s What I Like

4.       Best New Artist

·         Alessia Cara

·         Khalid

·         Lil Uzi Vert

·         Julia Michaels

·         SZA

In other news, Selena Gomez was named the Billboard’s 2017 Woman of the Year. The singer was honored at the annual Women in Music gala at the end of the month. This year the Rising Star was awarded to 2016 America’s Got Talent winner Grace VanderWaal.  The other honorees were:

·         Rulebreaker Award – Kehlani

·         Icon of the Year – Mary J. Blige

·         Breakthrough – Camila Cabello

·         Powerhouse – Kelly Clarkson

Meanwhile in chart news, in the US, Post Malone ft. 21 Savage’s Rockstar reigned supreme throughout the month although Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug’s Havana peaked at No.2 and came extremely close to dethroning Rockstar. During the month Ed Sheeran & Beyoncé’s Perfect, Lil Pump’s Gucci Gang and Maroon 5 ft. SZA’s What Lovers Do all entered the top 10.  

In the UK, Rockstar opened the month at the top although here Camila Cabello managed to overthrow Post Malone and stayed at the top for the remainder of the month. During the month Rita Ora’s Anywhere, Charlie Puth’s How Long and Eminem ft. Beyoncé’s Walk on Water all entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were: 

1.       Selena Gomez & Marshmello – Wolves

2.       Big Shaq – Man’s not hot

3.       Taylor Swift – Call it what you want

4.       Clean Bandit ft. Julia Michaels – I miss you

5.       NF – Let you down

6.       Sam Smith – One last song

7.       Post Malone – I fall apart 

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - September, 2016

Attention!!!

September started off with a surprise gift from the Black Eyed Peas as they released a new version of Where is the love? stylized as #WHEREISTHELOVE featuring The World. Although it is exciting to see the quartet back together, it is not in any way leading to another album. The new release features additional vocals from Justin Timberlake, Jamie Foxx, Ty Dolla $ign, Mary J. Blige, Diddy, Cassie, Andra Day, The Game, Tori Kelly, V. Bozeman, Jessie J, French Montana, DJ Khaled, Usher, Nicole Scherzinger, ASAP Rocky, Jaden Smith and a 40-member children's choir. All proceeds from the song will go to will.i.am's non-profit foundation, i.am.angel., a which charity funds educational programs and college scholarships. 

As summer draws to a close the UK and the US have released their songs of the summer lists, as the figures of streaming, sales and airplay are finalized. Drake ft. WizKid & Kyla’s One Dance takes the top spot in both countries as it flooded the dancefloors, radios and clubs throughout the summer worldwide. The top ten in the UK are as follows:

1. Drake ft. WizKid & Kyla – One Dance
2. Kungs vs. Cookin’ On 3 Burners – This girl
3. Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna – This is what you came for
4. Drake ft. Rihanna – Too good
5. Calum Scott – Dancing on my own
6. Justin Timberlake – Can’t stop the feeling!
7. The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – Don’t let me down
8. Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber & MØ – Cold water
9. Clean Bandit ft. Louisa Johnson – Tears
10. Jonas Blue ft. JP Cooper – Perfect strangers

Leading the annual Song of the Summer chart in the US from start to finish, Drake grabbed the coveted crown after staying at the top for all 14 weeks. It’s the third song this decade to rule from start to finish, following Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX’s Fancy and Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg’s California Gurls. The top ten in the US are as follows:

1. Drake ft. WizKid & Kyla – One Dance
2. Justin Timberlake – Can’t stop the feeling!
3. The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – Don’t let me down
4. Sia ft. Sean Paul – Cheap thrills
5. Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna – This is what you came for
6. Desiigner – Panda
7. Rihanna – Needed me
8. Twenty One Pilots – Ride 
9. Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign – Work from home
10. Adele – Send my love (to your new lover) 

On 7th September 2016 the music video of Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth’s See You Again entered the exclusive 2 billion views club which logically means that more than a quarter of the world’s population has watched it. Taken from the Furious 7 soundtrack it was dedicated as a tribute to Paul Walker who died in a tragic car accident months before the completion of the movie. This video follows K-Pop viral sensation Gangnam Style by PSY which first hit the 2 billion mark back in 2014. 

Moving on to reality TV news, after a drought of four years, a singer has won America’s Got Talent. Twelve year-old singer, songwriter and ukuleleist Grace VanderWaal won the 11th season of AGT beating psychic duo The Clairvoyants and magician Jon Dorenbos. She is the second female and the second child act to win in the show’s history. 

The Latin Grammys 2016 nominations are in and leading the way with four nods each are Colombian star Fonseca nominated for two albums: Conexion up for Album of the Year and Homanje (A La Musica De Diomedes Diaz) up for Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album along with Mexican duo Jesse & Joy, Brazilian singer/songwriter Djavan, sound engineer Ricardo Lopez Lalinde and producer/engineer Julio Reyes Copello (the last two for their work with Fonseca, Andres Cepeda and Diego Torres). Marc Anthony has been named the 2016 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year who will be honoured during Latin Grammy week on November 16, the night before the awards ceremony in Las Vegas. 

Selena Gomez has been accumulating her fan base on a monumental scale as she becomes the first person to reach 100 million Instagram followers. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga released her latest single Perfect Illusion accompanied by a less than mediocre video, as the lead single off her highly anticipated upcoming fifth studio album Joanne. The Weeknd who’s last album Beauty Behind The Madness, which has been certified multi-platinum worldwide, announced that his next album will be called Starboy.

Omarion and DJ Mustard have been sued by BMG Rights Management for intellectual property rights infringement for a whopping USD 300,000. Back in 2014, Jon Redwine penned a song called Came To Do for Chris Brown and assigned 50% of the rights to BMG which was produced by Nic Nac. BMG alleges that Omarion’s most successful hit to date Post To Be, a collaboration with Chris Brown and Jheine Aiko is a sampling of the music from Came To Do. The lawsuit is not only seeking damages but BMG is also seeking an injunction to prevent Omarion from performing the song and preventing any sales and/or airplay. 

Moving on to chart news, in the US, the reign of Sia ft. Sean Paul’s Cheap Thrills came to an end as The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey’s Closer took over and remained at the top for the rest of the month. The Chainsmokers succeed on their fourth attempt to reach the top after #Selfie in 2013 and Roses in 2015 and Don’t Let Me Down in 2016. Meanwhile, they are the first duo to reach the top since Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in 2013 and also the first EDM song to top the chart since Baauer’s Harlem Shake in 2013. During the month Twenty One Pilots’ Heathens rose to a peak of No.2 and Ride ascended to No.5. Moreover, Shawn Mendes’ Treat You Better and Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez’s We Don’t Talk Anymore entered the top 10. In addition Drake’s One Dance ended its monumental run at the top and inside the top 10 as it exited the top 10 during the month, ending Drake’s streak of 51 consecutive weeks in the Top 10. With this feat Drake becomes the best streak ever by a male artist to remain within the top 10, second among all acts only to Katy Perry’s 69-week run in 2010-2011. 

In the UK, Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber & MØ’s Cold Water continued its stay at the top extending its reign to five weeks but The Chainsmoker’s Closer grabbed the top spot in the UK as well and remained there for the rest of the month. During the month Martin Garrix ft. Bebe Rexha’s In The Name Of Love, Sia ft. Kendrick Lamar’s The Greatest, Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj’s Side To Side and James Arthur’s Say You Won’t Let Go all entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1. Calvin Harris – My way
2. Zara Larsson – Ain’t my fault 
3. Dua Lipa – Blow your mind (mwah)
4. D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – Broccoli
5. Hailee Steinfeld ft. Grey & Zedd – Starving 

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - November 2014

Attention!!!

November was indeed fantastic month for the music industry with three major awards ceremonies and the charts around the world being reformed. The 2014 Country Music Association Awards AKA the CMAs was held on November 5, 2014 and hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. Miranda Lambert was the lead nominee with 9 including one for the Entertainer of the Year and she also made history when she won her eleventh award of the evening making her the most awarded female artist in CMA history. Some of the big awards of the night included:

• Entertainer of the Year: Luke Bryan
• Album of the Year: Miranda Lambert - Platinum
• Male Vocalist of the Year: Blake Shelton
• Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert
• Vocal Group of the Year: Little Big Town
• Vocal Duo of the Year: Florida Georgia Line
• Single of the Year: Miranda Lambert - Automatic
• Music Video of the Year: Dierks Bentley - Drunk on a Plane

The 15th Annual Latin Grammy Awards was held on November 20, 2014. Eduardo Cabra led the nominations with 10 each whilst Joan Manuel Serrat was honored with Person of the Year. The other big wins of the night included:

• Record of the Year: Jorge Drexier ft. Ana Tijoux - Universos Paralelos
• Album of the Year: Paco de Lucia - Cancion Andaluza
• Song of the Year: Enrique Iglesias ft. Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona - Bailando
• Producer of the Year: Sergio George
• Best Short Form Music Video: La Vida Boheme - Flamingo
• Best New Artist: Marianne Vega

The 42nd American Music Awards, the biggest night of US music was held on November 23, 2014 hosted by Pitbull. Iggy Azalea led the nominations with 6 nominations. Taylor Swift opened the main show with a brilliant performance of her global hit, Blank Space. Other great performances included Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX of a medley of Fancy and Beg For It, Pitbull & Ne-Yo of a medley of Don't Stop the Party, Fireball and Time of Our Lives, Selena Gomez on The Heart Wants What It Wants and Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj on Bang Bang. Some of the significant wins were:

• Artist of the Year: One Direction
• Favourite Pop/Rock Male Artist: Sam Smith
• Favourite Pop/Rock Female Artist: Katy Perry
• Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist: Iggy Azalea
• Favourite Soul/R&B Male Artist: John Legend
• Favourite Soul/R&B Female Artist: Beyonce
• Favourite Alternate Artist: Imagine Dragons
• Favourite EDM Artist: Calvin Harris
• Favourite Latin Artist: Enrique Iglesias
• Single of the Year: Katy Perry ft. Juicy J - Dark Horse
• Top Soundtrack: Frozen
• New Artist of the Year: 5 Seconds of Summer
• Dick Clark Award for Excellence: Taylor Swift

In the US, Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass ruled the roost for the first two weeks before being overthrown by Taylor Swift's Shake It Off after struggling at second place for eight weeks when it was initially displaced by Trainor in early September. Shake It Off regained the top spot after Swift's new album 1989 debuted at No.1 on the US Billboard 200. Shake It Off was replaced by Swift's own single Blank Space in the last week of November, where her performance at the AMAs would certainly have helped it to propel it to the top spot. By doing so she became the first female artist to replace herself at number one. We also saw Ed Sheeran's Don't peaking at number 9 and also Ariana Grande ft. The Weeknd's Love Me Harder peaking at Number 7. Meanwhile, Hozier's controversial single Take Me to Church, Sam Smith's I'm Not the Only One and Nick Jonas' Jealous all entered the top 10.

In the UK, Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass remained at the top spot for the first week, but Ed Sheeran with his new single Thinking Out Loud dethroned Trainor, ending her rule in the UK as well. The third week belonged to Cheryl Cole with her second single off the new album I Don't Care. In the fourth week Avicii's Wake Me Up cover by Gareth Malone's All Star Choir took the top spot while Band Aid 30 with Do They Know It's Christmas? reigned in the fifth and final week of the month. Other popular songs in the UK and US over the month of November were:

• Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding - Outside
• The Veronicas - You ruin me
• David Guetta ft. Sam Martin - Dangerous
• Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne - Real love
• Olly Murs ft. Travie McCoy - Wrapped up
• Fergie - L.A. Love
• Meghan Trainor - Lips are movin'
• Imagine Dragons - I bet my life

Till the next chord…

At Ease!!!