• Dakota Johnson on 'Fifty Shades of Grey' and Hollywood's "Brutal" Acting Industry

    When the film adaptation of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' hit theaters, it took audiences by storm, introducing some to the world of BDSM and making a killing at the box office. The 2015 film's leading lady, Dakota Johnson, is now gracing the cover of the February 2016 issue of 'Vogue UK.' During her interview with the magazine, the actress reveals why she's thankful to have starred in the sexy movie and just how "brutal" Hollywood's acting industry can be.

  • Dakota Johnson Talks '50 Shades Darker' and New Director

    Despite having a powerful opening weekend in the box office, 'Fifty Shades of Grey' received mixed reviews from both critics and fans of the book. Topping best-seller lists around the world, the 2011 erotic novel of the same name has taken readers by storm with its introduction to the taboo world of BDSM (bondage, dominance and submission and masochism). As the makers of the sequel, 'Fifty Shades Darker,' prepare for production, the trilogy's leading lady, Dakota Johnson, spilled the beans to Empire about the film and its new director.

  • Soundtracks Dominate Billboard 200 as 'Pitch Perfect 2' Debuts on Top, Joined by 'Fifty Shades' and 'Furious 7'

    Another week and another soundtrack atop the Billboard 200, as the song collection from 'Pitch Perfect 2' grabs the no. 1 spot by moving 107,000 equivalent albums sold. The original film's soundtrack peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard 200, although its single "Cups" was a smash on the download charts. The current film already out-earned the first installment, which brought additional attention to the album as well.

  • Mumford & Sons Drops, Tech N9ne Sets Personal Record on Albums Chart

    This week Warner Music became the first major label to report higher earnings from streaming than digital downloads, but album sales seem to be doing alright for Mumford & Sons, which tops the sales chart by selling 249,000 copies of 'Wilder Mind' this week. That's a sizable number but more than a 50 percent drop off from the band's previous album, 'Babel,' which debuted with 600,000 copies sold (the biggest rock debut of the decade thus far, in the band's defense).

  • Alabama Shakes and 'Sound & Color' Becomes First Independent Release Atop Billboard 200 during 2015

    Alabama Shakes and 'Sound & Color' brought an air of independence to the Billboard 200 this week, as the album became the first independent label (ATO) release to top the charts during 2015. It was easily the band's bestselling week ever, moving 96,000 equivalent copies during its first week. Yet it seemed almost inevitable: The band got to no. 6 with its previous release, 'Boys & Girls', but nearly a year after it debuted. Listeners caught on to the band just a hair too late, and made up for it this time around.

  • 'Handwritten' and Shawn Mendes Youngest Performer Since Justin Bieber to Top Billboard 200

    We may be witnessing the emergence of the next big young superstar as Shawn Mendes topped the Billboard 200 this week with his debut LP Handwritten. He becomes the youngest performer to top the chart since 2010, when Justin Bieber also did it at the age of 16 (albeit six months younger than Mendes). What makes Mendes' accomplishment more impressive is that he did so without a single on the Billboard charts, drawing almost entirely from hype built as a Vine star (and as an opener for Taylor Swift on tour). He moved 119,000 copies of his debut.

  • 'Furious 7' Tops Billboard 200 Thanks to Wiz Khalifa; Taylor Swift Sets Mark and All Time Low Hits All Time High

    If you've watched Fast Five, you know that Vin Diesel's character Dominic Toretto knows that it's all about how you finish, not how you begin (although he allows Paul Walker's Brian to win the four-man street race in Brazil). The Furious 7 soundtrack is living that philosophy as it reached the no. 1 place on the Billboard 200 four weeks after its release. Part of last week's 111,000 equivalent album sales is thanks to the film's continued success at the box office, but an even bigger part of it is the popularity of "See You Again," the single from Wiz Khalifa that's tearing up the download charts. All Time Low and Taylor Swift place well as well.

  • Kendrick Lamar, 'Empire,' Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt Help Hip-Hop Dominate Album Sales Chart

    The past few weeks have been amazing for hip-hop, as the Empire soundtrack and Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly have led both the Billboard 200 to three straight weeks of rap at no. 1. Although it's only been a two-week streak on the Album Sales chart (Empire was outsold by Madonna's Rebel Heart during its first week), this week is still newsworthy as the Top 3 spots on the chart are all held by hip-hop albums.

  • Kendrick Lamar First Performer with Two Weeks Atop Billboard 200 Since Taylor Swift; First R&B/Hip-Hop Artist Since Beyonce

    Kendrick Lamar and To Pimp A Butterfly pulled off something that few performers outside of Taylor Swift have managed to wrangle in the last few months: holding the no. 1 position on the Billboard 200 for more than one week. The album spent a second week at the top spot on the chart-the only performer aside from Swift (who spent a total of 11 weeks at no. 1 with 1989) to have done so since November, having sold 123,000 equivalent units during its second full week of sales. The accomplishment is even more relevant for the R&B/Hip-Hop genres, where Butterfly becomes the first album since 2013's Beyoncé to spend multiple weeks at no. 1.

  • Director Sam Taylor-Johnson Leaves 'Fifty Shades' Franchise

    'Fifty Shades of Grey' may have grossed more than half a billion dollars at the box office, but there is one key player who has no intention of returning. There have been rumors swirling for weeks now that director Sam Taylor-Johnson would leave the franchise rather than return to film the sequel, 'Fifty Shades Darker.' But yesterday, March 25, that rumor was confirmed. She was also rumored to have had conflitcs with series author E.L. James.

  • Sleeping With Sirens, Mark Knopfler and Awolnation Crack Albums Chart Top 10 with New Releases

    The good news about the albums chart is that it gives performers who didn't crack the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 to make their stand without worrying about streams and singles, but that will still have to wait until after Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly.' The rapper's third album, and first to top the albums chart, sold 319,000 copies, nearly quadrupling the next highest total on the list.

  • Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly' Dominates Billboard 200—'Empire,' Modest Mouse and 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Contend for No. 2

    Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly has become his first release to top the Billboard 200 despite dropping a tad earlier than expected. The album went on to sell 363,000 equivalent copies, including single downloads and streams-breaking Spotify records in the process- on its way to the top. That was also the second largest debut of the year—behind Drake—giving hip-hop the two biggest albums of the year so far.
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