So many accolades were given
this summer. The always anticipated MTV Video Music Awards were held with Cardi
B leading the nominations with 12 nods out of which she won 3 including Best
New Artist. Childish Gambino also won 3 awards Video with a Message, Best
Choreography and Best Direction all for This is America. However, it was Camila
Cabello ft. Young Thug who took home the coveted Video of the Year for Havana. The
night included star studded performances including Nicki Minaj with a medley of
her newest singles Majesty, Barbie Dreams, Ganja Burns and Fefe, Shawn Mendes
with In My Blood, Ariana Grande with God is a Woman and Post Malone, 21 Savage
and Aerosmith with a medley of Rockstar, Dream On and Toys in the Attic.
However, the best performance of the night was from Jennifer Lopez, the
recipient of the Video Vanguard Award, who performed a medley of her hits
including Waiting for Tonight, On the Floor, Love Don’t Cost a Thing, All I
Have and Dinero. Other significant wins of the night included:
·
Artist of the Year: Camila Cabello
·
Song of the Year: Post Malone ft. 21 Savage –
Rockstar
·
Best Collaboration: Jennifer Lopez ft. Cardi B
& DJ Khaled – Dinero
·
Best Pop: Ariana Grande – No tears left to cry
·
Best Dance: Avicii ft. Rita Ora – Lonely
together
·
Song of the Summer: Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J
Balvin – I like it
Next up we have the 2018 Teen
Choice Awards where 5 Seconds of Summer was the clear leader with 3 wins
including Choice Music Group, Choice Summer Group and Choice Song: Group for
YoungBlood. In terms of performances Meghan Trainor performed a medley of her
hits No Excuses and Let You Be Right, Lauv performed I Like Me Better and Bebe
Rexha performed I’m a Mess. Other big winners include:
·
Choice Male Artist: Louis Tomlinson
·
Choice Female Artist: Camila Cabello
·
Choice Breakout Artist: Khalid
·
Choice International Artist: BTS
·
Choice Song: Male Artist: Ed Sheeran – Perfect
·
Choice Song: Female Artist: Camila Cabello ft.
Young Thug – Havana
·
Choice Collaboration: Zac Efron & Zendaya –
Rewrite the stars
·
Choice Summer Song: Selena Gomez – Back to you
Finally we have the 2018
iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards where Shawn Mendes swept 4 awards out of
whopping 8 nominations including Best Pop Artist or Group, Artist of the Year,
Fan Fav Artist and Fan Fav Video for In My Blood. Mendes opened and closed the
night as well with performances of Lost in Japan and In My Blood. Other
noteworthy performances were Halsey with a medley of Sorry and Bad at Love, 5
Seconds of Summer with YoungBlood and Marshmello & Anne Marie with a medley
of 2002 and Friends. Some of the other major victors were:
·
Video of the Year: Logic ft. Khalid &
Alessia Cara – 1-800-273-8255
·
Best EDM/Dance Artist or Group: Marshmello
·
Best Director: Drake – God’s plan
·
Best Collaboration: Bebe Rexha ft. Florida
Georgia Line – Meant to be
·
Song of the Summer: Loud Luxury ft. Brando –
Body
·
Fan Fav Single: Selena Gomez & Marshmello –
Wolves
The music industry suffered a
massive blow in August as cancer took its latest victim, this time the Queen of
Soul Aretha Franklin. Franklin passed away in her home in Detroit at the age of
76 after battling pancreatic cancer for a while. She is one of the best-selling
artists of all time and is the recipient of 18 Grammy Awards. She held the
record for the highest chart entries in the US till the 2010s and remains an
icon and a legend for those succeeding her legacy. Her contribution to music
and the industry as a whole is unmatched, and her achievements shall remain
historic compared to the discrimination suffered by her gender and ethnicity
during her heyday.
In other news Sir Cliff
Richard has announced a new album called Rise Up to be released in November.
This will be Richard’s first new material in 14 years. Speaking of new material
Culture Club has been re-branded as Boy George & Culture Club and they
released a new song in nearly two decades called Let Somebody Love You. It
appears you may have to wait a little bit longer for Ed Sheeran’s Minus (-)
which will complete the set, as the pop star has expressed that the next record
will not be a pop record but something experimental. Nevertheless, the fans may
not have to wait as long as a big pop record as Sheeran has stated the new
material may be out as early as next year.
Boyzone began their 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour and their first gig was in Sri Lanka where they paid
tribute to their former band mate Stephen Gately as well as going on to perform
their newest single Because live for the first time (catch a glimpse of the
live debut on the Major Maestro FB page). Meanwhile, Alan Walker was announced
to play live in Sri Lanka during the Asian Leg of his global tour.
In chart news first and
foremost congratulations to the Billboard Hot 100 which celebrated their 60th anniversary since its launch on 04th August 1958 with Ricky Nelson’s
Poor Little Fool as the first ever No.1. At present Drake’s reign in the US
continued with In My Feelings throughout the month with no competition to its
position whatsoever boosted by the Kiki Challenge going viral on social media. During
the month 6ix9ine featuring Nicki Minaj & Murda Beatz’s Fefe, Tyga
featuring Offset’s Taste, DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper &
Quavo’s No Brainer and Travis Scott’s Sicko Mode all entered the top 10.
In the UK too, Drake continued
atop the charts with In My Feelings which was ended by George Ezra’s Shotgun in
the fourth week of the month and continued its reign in the final week as well.
During the month DJ Khaled’s No Brainer, Loud Luxury featuring Brando’s Body,
Calvin Harris & Sam Smith’s Promises and Benny Blanco, Halsey &
Khalid’s Eastside all entered the top 10.
Other songs which became
popular during the month were:
1. Jess
Glynne – All I am
2. Marshmello
& Bastille – Happier
3. The
Chainsmokers ft. Emily Warren – Side effects
4. Martin
Garrix ft. Bonn – High on life
5. Meghan
Trainor – All the ways
6. Bazzi ft. Camila Cabello – BeautifulTill the next beat...
At Ease!!!
