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Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Becomes Fastest-Selling Album in Modern Music History

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Taylor Swift has done what even pop icons with decades-long careers couldn’t: sell more than 4 million copies of a single album in just one week. According to Billboard, Swift’s 12th studio LP, “The Life of a Showgirl,” moved 4.002 million units between October 3 and 9, combining traditional sales and streaming numbers. The figure marks the largest opening week for any album since modern tracking began.

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Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift Makes History by Taking Over Entire Top 10 US Singles Chart

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Taylor Swift became the first artist in history to claim every slot in the top 10 US singles chart after releasing her album “Midnights.” She overtakes rapper Drake, who held the previous record of taking over 9 of the top 10 singles in September 2021.

Before Drake, the Beatles scored 8 of the top 10 singles back  in 1964. Midnights also became the fastest-selling album of 2022, and all 13 songs on the album made it to the top 15 chart.

Billboard tweeted about Swift’s historic achievement on Monday.

“@taylorswift13 scores one of the most historic weeks in @billboardcharts history, as she becomes the first artist to claim the # Hot100’s entire top 10 in a single week.”

Taylor Swift shared her excitement over the news, retweeting Billboard.

“10 out of 10 of the Hot 100??? On my 10th album??? I AM IN SHAMBLES”

The song “Anti-Hero” sits at the top of the list, taking over the number one spot. The track has also become a TikTok trend, with colorful lyrics like “I’m the problem, it’s me.”  

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In August, Swift announced the new album during her acceptance speech at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards after winning video of the year for her short film “All Too Well.”

“You guys. I’m just so proud of what we made. I know with every second of this moment that we wouldn’t have been able to make this short film if it weren’t for you– the fans – because I wouldn’t be able to re-record my albums if it weren’t for you. You embolden me to do that. So, I had sort of made up my mind that if you were going to be this generous and give us this, I thought it might be a fun moment to tell you that my brand-new album comes out Oct. 21.”

After revealing the record’s release date onstage, she took to Instagram to describe the upcoming tracks in more depth.

“This is a collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams. The floors we pace and the demons we face. For all of us who have tossed and turned and decided to keep the lanterns lit and go searching – hoping that just maybe when the clock strikes twelve … we’ll meet ourselves.”

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Midnights is Swift’s tenth studio album and fifth release in just over two years. 

Part of its success is due to its release in multiple formats, such as “moonstone blue marble” vinyl, CD, cassette and digital download. The four vinyl editions can be combined to make a functioning clock using a unique mount available for purchase on Swift’s website. 

Midnights also topped the US album chart, selling 1.58 million copies. More than half a million of those were on vinyl, which is uncommon in the streaming era. Midnights sold 62,000 copies on vinyl in the UK, becoming the highest weekly sale for a vinyl album in the 21st century. 

The rest of the top 10 singles chart includes album tracks like Lavender Haze, Maroon, Snow On The Beach, Bejeweled and Karma.

According to Billboard, streams of the album alone would have taken over the chart, before even counting sales and radio plays, helping Swift break several records. 

Midnights also became the most streamed single album on Spotify, Apple and Amazon Music in one day. Swift now holds the most top 10 hits among female artists with 40 songs in total, surpassing Madonna’s 38. 

Music Awards

2020 Billboard Music Awards Recap: Post Malone Wins Big In Nine Categories 

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Post Malone proved to be the big winner of 2020’s Billboard Music Awards, taking home nine awards including top artist for the year. Kelly Clarkson hosted the ‘Covid-19 style” award show that involved many remote performances, a crowd less Dolby Theater, and plenty of distancing for the artists that were there to accept their awards. Eight of Post Malone’s awards were delivered to him via cart by Clarkson. 

The show was originally scheduled for April, but obviously the pandemic through a wrench in that plan. Since this award show was meant to take place six months ago, it mainly awarded songs, and albums from last year. For example, Lil Nas X took home four prizes for his 2019 shit single ‘Old Town Road.’

Many of the winners for the evening used their speech time to urge their fans to get out and vote. Lizzo took it all a step further and wore a simple black dress with the word ‘Vote’ repeated all over it while she accepted her award for being the Top Song Sales Artist. 

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“Let me tell y’all something, when people try to suppress something, it’s normally because that thing holds power. They’re afraid of your power. So whether it’s through music, protest or your right to vote, use your power, use your voice, and refuse to be suppressed.”

Billie Eilish picked up three awards throughout the whole night including top female artist and top new artist. When Eilish won the new artist award she stood on the stage and simply said “Please vote, please wear a mask, and please wash your hands and be safe.” Demi Lovato also performed her new politically charged single ‘Commander-In-Chief” which takes aim at President Trump and his harmful policies in terms of the pandemic and other areas of reform.

NBC censored the part of Lovato’s performance which displayed the word “Vote” on the screen, as the broadcasters felt it would be seen as a call to vote against the current president, instead of a neutral call to action. NBC did, however, tweet out the image of Lovato with the word displayed behind her. 

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John Legend gave an emotional performance of his song ‘Never Break,’ which he dedicated to his wife Chrissy Teigen, who suffered a misscarriage a couple of weeks ago. There were several other performances throughout the three-hour show, including a performance of ‘Love Looks Better’ by Alicia Keys and ‘Better Together’ by Luke Combs. The two performances have been regarded as heartfelt and empowering. Combs also won the award for Top Country Artist this year. 

“I know everybody out there has been through so much this year. I want to thank the crew that is working on this show tonight, because they have gone through some insane stuff to make this happen for you guys. I hope everybody’s staying safe at home.”

BTS gave a remote performance of their hit single ‘Dynamite’ from South Korea, where they shortly after won the award for Top Social Artist; an award that’s voted on by the fans. Doja Cat then gave a ‘Chicago’ inspired performance of her songs ‘Say So’ and ‘Juicy.” 

The real winner of the night was Post Malone, and unsurprisingly so as well considering what a year 2019 was for the young artist. In 2019 alone Malone scored two multi-platinum singles in the US with ‘Sunflower’ and ‘Circles,’ while his third studio album ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’ sold three million copies. The singer-songwriter and rapper, 25, said he was “blown away, just by the love that everybody’s shown to me.”

For a list of all the winners, click here. 

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Mary J. Blige Is Getting Her Own Documentary

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Legendary actress, singer, and performer Mary J. Blige is getting her very own, and long overdue, documentary. With two Oscars and nine Grammy awards, Blige has obviously earned her keep as one of the most iconic performers in the industry. So much so that she’s finally getting her own film to tell her devoted fans all about where she came from, and how she got to be where she is today. It was almost 28 years ago that Blige made her musical debut with her album What’s the 411? which was a massive hit. Two years after her debut she released her sophomore album My Life and now, nearly 25 years later, she’s getting the chance to really tell her audience about her life. 

Blige is from the Bronx, and according to Deadline Magazine, her documentary will be centered around her time growing up in New York and how she managed her struggles with heartbreak, abuse, addiction, and poverty. Simultaneously, the documentary will follow the singer as she embarks on a special concert tour for her sophomore album, My Life, as it approaches its 25th anniversary. This will be Blige’s first time performing the entire album, which has appropriately been listed on both Time’s and the Rolling Stones’ lists for top albums of all time. 

“I have long admired Mary as an artist, an icon, and a strong, fearless woman. The story of her life has inspired us enormously and we are thrilled to be making this project with her and her team, Ashaunna and Nicole.  Mary’s album My Life is both iconic and tremendously impactful, we hope that by bringing it to screens we can continue to inspire audiences around the world as her music has done for decades,” said Tara Long of eOne to Deadline. 

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Tara Long will be one of the documentary’s executive producers, and Blige will be filling the same executive role. Alongside them will be Creature Films’ Mark Ford and Kevin Lopez, as well as Sean Combs, Ashaunna Ayars and Nicole Jackson, all of whom work for Blige’s Blue Butterfly production company. In addition to Blige hiring Long from eOne productions to assist with creating the film, she’s also bringing in producers from Amazon studios. 

“We all know Mary J. Blige as the two-time Oscar nominee, Grammy Award winning, multi-hyphenate who has sold over 80 million records. But through this documentary, audiences will see a raw and honest side of Mary J. Blige opening up about her personal journey of redemption and healing. We are thrilled to share with our worldwide Prime Video customers this exclusive, never-before-seen, an inside look into the global legend, Mary J. Blige,” said Matt Newman, Co-Head of Movies at Amazon Studios.

Blige is a well-decorated individual. Besides her Grammys, she’s also won four American Music Awards. According to Deadline, she also was the first person ever to be Oscar nominated in both the “best supporting actress” and “best original song” categories simultaneously. She’s also won 12 Billboard Awards, who also ranked Blige as the most successful R&B/Hip-Hop artist within the past 25 years. Billboard came to this conclusion based on the fact that Blige has over 4 million different listeners on Spotify every month. 

With all of these awards and accolades, it makes sense that Blige is finally getting a film to tell the world about her super-stardom. However, it makes even more sense that the documentary will focus a lot more on Blige’s personal life and upbringing. Knowing how an artist grew up, learning about their struggles and potentially resonating with that is what audiences look for in their heroes. Blige has truly overcome so much throughout her personal life and career, and she still came out on top as one of the most successful R&B artists in music history. It’s high time the entertainment world honors her and shares her story with all of us who admire her so much. Blige is finally giving her fans My Life in the most literal sense of the phrase.

Singer

Taylor Swift To Receive ‘Artist Of The Decade’ Award

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The 2019 American Music Awards will be honoring Taylor Swift as the “Artist of the Decade.” The prestigious award was announced by Dick Clark Productions and ABC Studios this past week according to Forbes Magazine. Swift recently celebrated the 13th anniversary of her first album and the start of her long and successful career. With both of these major accomplishments occurring within the same week, Swift is truly having an Artist of the Decade moment. 

Mark Bracco, Dick Clark Productions’ Executive Vice President of Programming and Development, released the following public statement along with the Artist of the Decade announcement this past Wednesday, October 30th:

“Taylor’s impact on music this decade is undeniable and her performances on the American Music Awards have been truly spectacular. We’re thrilled to honor her as our Artist of the Decade and can’t wait for her to blow everyone away with an epic, career-spanning performance unlike any other!” 

This year Swift is nominated for five American Music Awards for her seventh studio album Lover. The album has been one of Swift’s most well-received projects and is the first album she wrote and recorded under her own control and management. Swift made recent controversial headlines when Scooter Braun, manager to artists like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, acquired the master recordings of her first six albums. Since then Swift has announced plans to re-record her entire discography to regain creative control over her own work.

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CBS reported that this year, her album Lover has earned her nominations for favorite female artist, favorite adult contemporary artist, and artist of the year. The album itself is nominated for favorite pop/rock album and her music video for her second single “You Need To Calm Down” is nominated for favorite music video.  Swift is up against some serious competition including other artists who had successful years such as Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Halsey and Lil Nas X. However, Swift is the most decorated American Music Award female recipient in history, already claiming a total of 23 awards, and with the already secured Artist of the Decade title, I doubt she’s nervous. Michael Jackson currently holds the record for the artist with the most American Music Awards, however, Swift is only two away from beating his record, something she could accomplish this time around. 

Besides her first self titled Taylor Swift album released in 2006, every single one of her albums has scored the number one spot on the Billboard top 200 for albums; Fearless, 1989, Red, Speak Now, reputation and Lover. The singer-songwriter has also earned five No. 1 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 with her popular singles “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space,” “Bad Blood”, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “Look What You Made Me Do” (Forbes). 

According to Billboard, Swift is the first person to receive this award since the 2000 American Music Awards where Garth Brooks was given the prestigious title for the 90’s. That same show also included fan-voted Artist’s of the Decade for the ’50s (Elvis Presley), the ’60s (the Beatles), the ’70s (Stevie Wonder) and the ’80s (Michael Jackson). This year the American Music Awards will be taking place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on November 24th on ABC.