USA
Billboard Report (excerpt)
Lumineers' 'Brightside' debuts at no.6
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
by Keith Caulfield & Gary Trust, Los Angeles

Encanto returns to no.1 on Billboard 200 Album Chart. It's the first soundtrack with more than one week at No. 1 since Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s A Star Is Born spent four

nonconsecutive weeks in the lead in 2018-19. And, Encanto is Walt Disney Records’ first No. 1 album to spend more than a week atop the list since Frozen ruled for 13 nonconsecutive weeks in 2014. (In between Frozen and Encanto, Walt Disney Records topped the chart with the soundtracks to Descendants, in 2015, and Frozen II, in 2019, each for one week.) Encanto continues to profit from the popularity of its hit songs, all written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, including “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” “Surface Pressure” and “What Else Can I Do?” — all of which were in the top 40 of the most recently published Billboard Hot 100 songs chart (dated Jan. 22). As reported last week, “Bruno” rose 5-4 on the chart, marking the highest-charting song from a Disney animated film since 1995. Of Encanto’s 104,000 equivalent album units earned, SEA units comprise 84,000 (up 10%, equaling 125.33 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs),

album sales comprise 17,000 (up 4%) and TEA units comprise 3,000 (down less than 1%). Gunna’s DS4Ever falls to No. 2 in its second week (96,000 equivalent album units earned, down 36%), while The Weeknd’s Dawn FM also slips a spot in its second frame (2-3), with 61,000 units (down 59%). A pair of former No. 1s are next on the chart, as Adele’s 30 is a non-mover at No. 4 with 43,000 units (down 10%) and Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album is also stationary at No. 5 with 41,000 units (down 5%). The Lumineers’ Brightside debuts at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, scoring the act its fourth consecutive, and total, top 10 album — the entirety of its charting efforts. The act’s fourth full-length studio album launches with 37,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 26,000 (making it the top-selling album of the week), SEA units comprise 11,000 (equaling 14.33 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The Lumineers previously visited the top 10 with III (No. 2 in 2019), Cleopatra (No. 1, 2016) and their self-titled full-length debut (No. 2, 2013). The Weeknd places a second album in the top 10 for a second straight week, as his best-of set The Highlights slips one spot to No. 7 (34,000 equivalent album units earned, down 6%). Drake’s former leader Certified Lover Boy is steady at No. 8 with nearly 34,000 equivalent album units earned (down 3%), Olivia Rodrigo’s chart-topping Sour falls 7-9 with 33,000 units (down 8%) and Doja Cat’s Planet Her dips 9-10 with 32,000 units (down 4%). Adele‘s “Easy on Me” claims a 10th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. With her latest week at the summit, she equals her longest reign, previously established by the 10-week command of her 2015-16 smash “Hello.” Adele's 'Easy On Me' tops Billboard Hot 100 for milestone 10th week. “Easy on Me,” released on Columbia Records and which first led the Hot 100 in late October, drew 99 million radio airplay audience impressions (down 1%) and 14.3 million U.S. streams (down 5%) and sold 5,200 downloads (down 14%) in the Jan. 14-20 tracking week, according to MRC Data. The ballad spends a ninth week at No. 1 on the Radio Songs chart; drops 5-7 on Digital Song Sales, following two weeks on top; and rebounds 16-9 on Streaming Songs, after five weeks at No. 1. “Easy on Me” becomes the 41st single in the Hot 100’s 63-year history to spend 10 or more weeks at No. 1. It’s the first since BTS’ “Butter” logged 10 weeks on top in June-September 2021. “Easy on Me” also matches Adele’s longest Hot 100 domination, after “Hello” reigned for 10 weeks in 2015-16. She is the seventh artist with at least two No. 1s that have each ruled for double-digit weeks, joining Boyz II Men, Drake (each with three such leaders), The Black Eyed Peas, Mariah Carey, Santana and Pharrell Williams (two each). “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto Cast, ascends 4-2 for a new Hot 100 high. It drew 32.4 million streams (up 12%) and sold 9,400 (up 17%), as it tops Streaming Songs for a third week and pushes 3-1 to take over atop Digital Song Sales. Notably, as “Bruno” dominates in streaming and sales, it drew a modest 457,000 in airplay audience among Radio Songs reporters, with over half its reach in the tracking week from adult pop KIOI San Francisco’s 34 plays (up from four the week before); the Walt Disney label is not actively promoting the song to radio. Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” holds at its No. 3 Hot 100 high, as it leads the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Alternative Songs charts, both of which use the same multi-metric methodology as the Hot 100, for an 18th week each. As previously reported, it hits No. 1 on the Pop Airplay chart. The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” slides 2-4 on the Hot 100, after seven weeks at No. 1 beginning in August 2021, and Kodak Black’s “Super Gremlin” rises 6-5 for a new best, as it tops the multi-metric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts for a second week each. Ed Sheeran’s “Shivers” dips 5-6 on the Hot 100, after hitting No. 4; Gunna and Future’s “Pushin P,” featuring Young Thug, repeats at No. 7 in its second week on the chart; and GAYLE’s “abcdefu” ascends 9-8 for a new best rank. Elton John and Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)” rebounds 10-9 on the Hot 100, after reaching No. 7. John expands his span of top 10s to 52 years and a week, dating to his first week in the top 10 with “Your Song” (Jan. 23, 1971), the longest such stretch among all acts not involving holiday songs. Concurrently, “Cold Heart” tops the multi-metric Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart for a 15th week. Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Encanto track “Surface Pressure” by Jessica Darrow darts 14-10. The song reaches the bracket with 22.5 million streams (up 2%) and 6,500 sold (down 6%). It holds at No. 4 on both Streaming Songs and Digital Song Sales.

Record Of The Month
A shining song pearl with a fantastic, heartwarming video-clip from the last year.
The American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Julien Baker is noted for its moody
quality and confessional lyrical style, as well as frank explorations of issues including spirituality,
addiction, mental illness, and human nature. 'Hardline' comes from her third album 'Little Oblivions'.

United Kingdom
Music Week Report (excerpt)
A Disney song tops the chart
Monday, January 24, 2022
by Alan Jones, London
 
The soundtrack to the Walt Disney studio’s new animated blockbuster Encanto continues to charm audiences, with three of its songs climbing the Top 20, including the new No.1, We Don’t Talk About Bruno, an ensemble piece performed by Adassa, Stephanie Beatriz, Mauro Castillo, Rhezy Feliz,

Carolina Gaitan & Diane Guerrero. Climbing two notches to become the first original soundtrack recording to top the singles chart since Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper’s Shallow (from A Star is Born) in 2018, We Don’t Talk About Bruno is effectively – and ironically, since its entire premise is that he isn’t talked about - a three and a half minute diss of anti-hero Bruno. The song’s lyrics suggest Bruno has a "seven-foot frame’, ‘rats across his back’ and a somewhat gloomy outlook on life. Negativity can be a very positive thing in the charts, however, and We Don’t Talk About Bruno is the 46th No.1 with ‘don’t’ in its title. Its consumption up 27.11% week-on-week to 45,684 units, ‘Bruno’ is being chased up the charts by fellow Encanto offcuts Surface Pressure (8-5, 29,466 sales) by Jessica Darrow and The Family Madrigal (29-15, 19,621 sales) by Stephanie Beatriz & Olga Merediz. Two more songs from the soundtrack are ‘starred-out’ of the Top 40, these being

What Else Can I Do by Diane Guerrero & Stephanie Beatriz (16,633 sales) and Waiting On A Miracle (12,119 sales) by Stephanie Beatriz. Bruno’s coronation means that 17-year-old American newcomer Gayle’s debut smash Abcdefu – which ended 28 weeks of UK rule last week – dips to No.2, despite best-yet consumption of 41,780 units. After stalling at No.6 last week, Peru resumes its climb, advancing to No.4 (30,308 sales) for Fireboy DML & Ed Sheeran. The rest of the Top 10: Easy On Me (2-3, 35,757 sales) by Adele, Seventeen Going Under (5-6, 27,291 sales) by Sam Fender, Fingers Crossed (4-7, 25,474 sales) by Lauren Spencer-Smith, Overseas (7-8, 25,367 sales) by D-Block Europe, Coming For You (9-9, 23,825 sales) by SwitchOTR feat. A1 & J1 and, starting its third stint in the Top 10, Flowers (11-10, 22,008 sales) by ArrDee. Singles consumption is up 3.18% week-on-week at 23,770,838 units – 14.45% above same week 2021 consumption of 20,769,231 units. Paid-for sales are up 0.23% week-on-week at 326,864 – 23.32% below same week 2021 sales of 426,246. The Wombats pouch their first No.1 album with fifth release Fix Yourself, Not The World debuting atop the list on consumption of 13,812 units (5,997 CDs, 4,984 vinyl, 1,084 cassettes, 356 digital sales and 1,391 sales-equivalent streams). The lowest tally for a No.1 for 17 weeks, it is nevertheless The Wombats’ largest first week sales since second album, This Modern Glitch, sold 23,357 copies debuting and peaking at No.3 in 2011, and is No.1 on all physical format charts. The Wombats also reached their previous peak of No.3 with their last album, 2018’s Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life, albeit on significantly lower sales of 11,265 copies. A chart regular since 1977, Elvis Costello has his highest charting studio album since Brutal Youth got to No.2 in 1994, with The Boy Named If debuting at No.6 (7,603 sales). It is the 67-year-old singer/songwriter’s 34th Top 75 album, his 14th Top 10 entry and his third and highest-charting accompanied by The Imposters. No.1 on debut last week, Dawn FM dips to No.4 (9,744 sales) for The Weeknd. The rest of the Top 10: = (Equals) (2-2, 10,805 sales) by Ed Sheeran, 30 (3-3, 9,793 sales) by Adele, DS4Ever (4-7, 5,353 sales) by Gunna, Between Us (6-8, 5,018 sales) by Little Mix, Sour (7-9, 4,992 sales) by Olivia Rodrigo and The Highlights (9-10, 4,472 sales) by The Weeknd. Overall album sales are up 2.14% week-on-week to 2,016,015 – 17.73% above same week 2021 sales of 1,712,372. Physical product accounted for 298,236 sales, 14.79% of the total.