Billboard Magazine

Written for music industry professionals and fans. Contents provide news, reviews and statistics for all genres of music, including radio play, music video, related internet activity and retail updates.

Billboard

Glass Animals’ ‘Heat Waves’ Completes Slow Burn To No. 1

OFF THE CHAIN • WEB3 PRESENTS GAME-CHANGING POTENTIAL FOR VIRTUALLY EVERY FACET OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, BUT WILL IT REVOLUTIONIZE OR FURTHER FRAGMENT THE BUSINESS?

From The Desk Of… Ron Bension • PRESIDENT/CEO, ASM GLOBAL

OSCAR MUSIC PREVIEW • The music nominees for the 94th annual Academy Awards include Oscar veterans such as Diane Warren (her 13th nomination) and Hans Zimmer (his 12th), as well as six first-time nominees — Germaine Franco, Van Morrison, DIXSON and Beyoncé, and Billie Eilish and FINNEAS. Three of the nominated songs are by individual songwriters — Lin-Manuel Miranda, Warren and Morrison. This runs counter to the prevailing trend on the Billboard Hot 100, where collaborations rule. Meanwhile, Encanto was the only film to land nods for both best original song and best original score. It is the first film in three years to register in both categories — Black Panther and Mary Poppins Returns both achieved the feat at the 91st Oscars. Ahead, song and score nominees discuss what the recognition means leading up to the ceremony on March 27.

PLAYERS ONLY • Young Thug and Gunna have used chart-topping albums, singular flows and a capital-P Potent catchphrase to command the hip-hop world’s attention. But their current hot streak isn’t enough for the Atlanta duo

LEAP OF FAITH • For years, Shawn Mendes delivered one inescapable radio hit after another. Now, ahead of his fifth album and a massive world tour, he’s figuring out what kind of artist he really wants to be

ENCANTADO • With his knack for pop melodies and triple-threat talent, Sebastián Yatra broke through the reggaetón boom. Now he’s the voice of the Oscar-nominated song from Disney’s Encanto — and ready for a much bigger stage

NORWEGIAN IN PARADISE • With music that takes listeners to a tropics of the mind, Kygo became one of dance’s biggest stars. Now, with his Palm Tree Crew, he’s establishing a brand, and a legacy, with an unlikely inspiration: Margaritaville

WOMEN IN MUSIC 2022

LAUREN SPENCER-SMITH • The rising pop artist leaked a song snippet — and unintentionally helped “Fingers Crossed” become a major TikTok hit