Features
Justin Bieber Conquers Elite 100; A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Tame Impala Reach Top 5
Courtesy of 117 Live – Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber slows things down during his show at The Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates April 28.
It was a good week for artists with new releases, as the Top 4 entries on the Elite 100 Artists chart all had new music out, but Justin Bieber was king of the hill for the week, as he led the chart in album sales and in total units.
The Biebs released Changes Feb. 14 and his legion of Beliebers ate it up. He racked up 150,700 album sales and 158 million on-demand streams for the week ending Feb. 20. Combined with 51,900 song sales he logged 273,600 total units for the week.
Bieber announced a major arena and stadium tour in December that will take him throughout North America from May to September. The tour was a welcome return from Bieber as he canceled the end of his “Purpose World Tour,” in 2017 as he felt the need to make sure his career, mind, heart and soul to be sustainable.
Before its cancellation the “Purpose” tour was big business worldwide. Bieber grossed millions in markets on every continent outside of Antarctica, including $2.5 million in India, $3 million in South Africa, $6.3 million in Israel, $1 million in the Dominican Republic and $3.6 million in New Zealand.
Right below him at No. 2 on the chart is A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, who released Artist 2.0 on Feb. 14. He led the chart in on-demand streams, with 181.6 million for the week. He also sold 2,700 albums and 10,500 songs for the week, for a grand total of 134,000 units.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie is scheduled to play Wireless Festival in London and Rolling Loud Festival in Portimao, Portugal, in July. He reported multiple headline dates in 2019, including a $254,000 gross at Westchester County Center in White Plains, N.Y.
Billie Eilish dropped the James Bond theme “No Time To Die” on Feb. 13. She led the chart in song sales for the week, with 72,000 for the week. She reached No. 3 overall for the week with 103,300 total units.
Eilish is quickly becoming one of the music industry’s biggest stars after cleaning up at the Grammy Awards. She was paid a reported $25 million (according to Billboard) by Apple for the right to stream a documentary about her on Apple TV+.
Tame Impala also finally dropped its new album, The Slow Rush, Feb. 14. The group logged 65,200 album sales for the week, besting everyone except Bieber in that category for the week. Overall, the group reached No. 4 with 101,600 total units.
After headlining Coachella in 2019, Tame Impala has arrived as a leading rock act with a full arena tour booked from May into August in 2020. The band moved over to CAA earlier this year when the group’s agent, Kevin French, made the switch from Paradigm.
French, who also represents The National, Sharon Van Etten and The Decemberists, spoke to Pollstar in January 2019 about getting a coveted headlining spot at Coachella for Tame Impala and the journey the Aussie band has taken to get to its current position, “Over the summer, I began discussing Coachella with Paul (Tollett), and entertaining the idea to play 2019. He really believes in Tame, and we both agreed with new music on the horizon, they were ready to headline.”
Further down the chart, Monsta X reached No. 18 after releasing its first English-language album, All About Luv, Feb. 14. The group logged 42,300 album sales for the week, which made up the bulk of its 46,400 total units for the week.
Monsta X recently signed with UTA and was discussed enthusiastically by the agency’s Head Of Music David Zedeck at Pollstar Live! 2020. The group has a North American tour planned to hit arenas and theaters in June and July.
At No. 36, $uicideboy$ came in with 32,700 total units after the release of STOP STARING AT THE SHADOWS. The group reported a massive tour in 2019, grossing hundreds of thousands in every market. The “Grey Day Tour” was a package featuring a combination of Denzel Curry, City Morgue, Night Lovell, Pouya, Shakewell, Shoreline Mafia, and Germ on various nights.
A new name on the chart is Natanael Cano, who released the song “Corazon Tumbado” Feb. 14. Cano, who hails from Mexico, reached No. 82 for the week, mostly on 20.6 million on-demand streams.
Eden also came onto the chart at No. 90 after the release of the album no future. The Irish singer-songwriter logged 18,700 total units for the week, with a healthy blend of album sales and on-demand streams.
Next week’s charts will include data on new releases from Youngboy Never Broke Again, BTS, Ozzy Osbourne, Grimes, Royce da 5’9, Pat Metheny, King Krule, Best Coast, Purr, Sonny Landreth, David Starr and Guided By Voices.
Also, be on the lookout for new music from James Taylor, Lil Baby, Five Finger Death Punch, Tycho, Soccer Mommy, Jadakiss, Sergio Mendes, Sierra Hull, Real Estate, Trea London, Kristy Cox, and The Secret Sisters.