• Now 53 Outsells Taylor Swift, Becomes First Record to Top Albums Chart but Not Billboard 200; Kid Ink Cracks Top 10

    The new Billboard 200 format has been hot on its incorporation of streams and single downloads into arranging the most relevant chart in music, yet the folks at Billboard failed to notice one thing this past week: For the first time ever, the top of the 200 was different than the album at the top of the albums chart. Although Taylor Swift and 1989 was no. 1 on the chart everyone was watching, it only sold 77,000 actual copies. That's a boost from last week, but not enough to take no. 1 on the albums chart from Now 53, which sold 98,000 copies.
  • Sam Smith, Joey Bada$$, Tove Lo Added to Hangout Festival 2015 Lineup

    Alabama's 2015 Hangout Festival already had a stacked lineup when it announced its lineup in January of the Foo Fighters, Grammy Award-winner Beck, Skrillex, My Morning Jacket, Paramore, Spoon, Major Lazer and others, but it got greedy and decided to add even more names to the lineup. The second wave of artists is not a lot of names, but Hangout makes it count, with four-time Grammy Award-winner Sam Smith leading the charge, flanked by Tove Lo and Joey Bada$$ at his side.
  • Taylor Swift Tops Billboard 200 Again, Fifth Harmony Shows Up, Bob Dylan and Diana Krall Cover, Nicki Minaj Sets Interesting Mark

    Taylor Swift and 1989 is at no. 1 in the Billboard 200 for the 11th time, tying Fearless for the performer's most weeks at the top of the charts with one album. The record shifted 108,000 equivalent units, a slight uptick from last week. 1989 is one of four albums that have spent at least ten weeks at no. 1 since 2010, the others being Fearless, the Frozen soundtrack as well as Adele's 21. Swift's album is followed this week by Now 53, the newest edition of the hits collection, at no. 2 with 99,000 units moved.
  • Grammys 2015 Best Pop Vocal Album Nominees, Who Should Win & Will: Ariana Grande and Ed Sheeran Attempt to Beat Out Sam Smith's 'In The Lonely Hour'

    Though the Grammys are all about every genre, if we're being real, it's all about the pop music. So, when it comes to the pop music categories, the stakes are high. For Best Pop Vocal Album, there are some powerhouse nominees, two of which are up for Album of the Year (Ed Sheeran's x and Sam Smith's In The Lonely Hour). Add in megastars like Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Coldplay, and there's a category that's too close to call.
  • Sam Smith "Lay Me Down" Music Video: "Stay With Me" Crooner Takes on Gay Marriage in the Catholic Church in Emotional 'In The Lonely Hour' Clip [WATCH]

    It's a big week for Sam Smith. Not only is the British crooner in the running for a mess of Grammys this Sunday, but he's also released an important new single and music video. Today (Feb. 5), Smith released the emotional clip for his new In The Lonely Hour single "Lay Me Down," and he's taking on the Church's stance on gay marriage - an issue near and dear to his heart.
  • Taylor Swift Tops Album Sales Charts as Ne-Yo, Charlie Wilson and the Bethel Music Group Debut in Top 10

    This week's Billboard 200 didn't reflect much in terms of new music but the Albums Chart has better news, introducing two new debut discs. Taylor Swift and 1989 are at the top again however, selling 71,000 copies. As we mentioned yesterday, that makes her only the second female performer to top the chart for at least 10 weeks with two different albums (the other being Whitney Houston). Also interesting: This week's stop at the top marks the first time since Lecrae's Anomaly during September that an album went to no. 1 with less than 100,000 in sales.
  • Taylor Swift Sets Records with '1989' on Billboard 200, While Maroon 5, Ne-Yo and Grammy Nominees Resurge

    One week after a surge of new releases and the Billboard 200 has gotten back to the same ol' as Taylor Swift and 1989 reclaim the top spot on the charts. The album moved 101,000 equivalent albums as it earned its tenth week atop the Billboard 200 and the first time in three weeks. This makes Swift openly the second woman ever to have two separate albums that have spent at least 10 weeks at no. 1, with Whitney Houston being the other.
  • Grammys 2015 Best Pop Solo Performance Nominees, Who Should & Will Win: Sia Battles Sam Smith, John Legend, Taylor Swift & Pharrell

    The 57th Annual Grammy Awards hosted by LL Cool J will air live from the Los Angeles Staples Center this Sunday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS. We've examined the biggest categories and have put in our two cents on who we think should win and who we think will win each award. Vote for your pick in the poll at the bottom of the page. Sia's "Chandelier" is one of the only pop songs that instead of getting really old after a while actually gets better with time. Every new performance seems to bring out more layers. It's a truly powerful song that will stand the test of time. The range of notes Sia hits and the texture of her sound blows the other nominees out of the water. This song is also up for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Music Video, but Sia shines especially bright in this performance category. You can hear the pain in her voice, you can feel her struggle.
  • Sam Smith, Iggy Azalea Lead iHeartRadio Music Awards Nominees Alongside Taylor Swift & Ariana Grande

    Everyone may be buzzing about the 2015 Grammys this week, but that’s not the only music awards ceremony In town, of course. Today (Feb. 4), iHeartRadio announced the nominees for its second annual iHeartRadio Music Awards. Like the Grammys, Sam Smith and Iggy Azalea lead the pack with five nominations apiece, followed shortly by Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift, who’ve notched up four nods each.